Author: Jackie Walker
Series: Stand Alone in the Redleg Security World
Category: Romantic Suspense
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
"I miss my Kri. So I wait at the hospital with her. Wait for her to come back to me. She's more than a coworker to me. More than a friend. She's the future I want. And I know I can be the man she needs." - Shep
I loved Kri and Shep, I ship them hard. The beginning of the book was brutal, there were tears and heartbreak before the story got started. And throughout it all, Shep was there for Kri even when she wanted to be left behind.
"Even when she tries to push me away - which she does every day - I'm still here. My shoulders are broad enough to help carry her burdens until she's healed enough to do it herself." - Shep
I was mildly afraid that Kri was going to be as annoying as Sammy from book 2. However, Kri snotty attitude softened and she got over her hang-ups with Shep pretty quickly considering everything that was going on with her health after the attack. Despite being rough around the edges and standoffish, Kri's character development was profound. She went from trying to prove herself to everyone, to her lowest point of shame, to accepting her faults and becoming the best version of herself she could be.
"Before this nightmare, I was a strong independent woman. But now? I'm not sure who I am. I can barely face myself in the mirror after failing this badly." - Kri
Shep was so dedicated, so loving, and so supportive, he was perfect for Kri in every way. He might not be the sole reason she came so far after her assault but it probably helped to have the ultimate partner and lover at your side. He understood her inside and out, knew her pride limitations, and knew she just needed someone to give a damn. With his patience, there was no way Shep wasn't going to find a way to get into Kri's heart.
"Somewhere along the line, he figured out that being perceived as fragile is my biggest fear. He wants to be my partner, not my savior." - Kri
I rated the other books in this series high in spice, but this one takes the cake! Who knew Shep was going to play so dirty? I was there for every minute of it! Shep calling Kri "baby girl"....swoon and fire all at once.
"'Come here. Give me those kips,' I demand. 'I need to fucking kiss you like I need air.'" - Shep
Val was hell on wheels but such a great kid. I mourned her losses but loved how strong and determined she was. The banter between her, Shep, and Kri kept things funny and light despite all of the tragedy Val endured. You could tell both Shep and Kri loved her very much and were there for her no matter what came next. I would love a book about Val when she is older, conquering the world and taking names.
We got a lot of time with the rest of the security crew in Comeback Hero, after all, they are one big family at Redleg Security. Big Al only gets more intriguing with every book, I need to know when he is going to get his own book so I can review it.
This book was a perfect blend of two souls with past and present trauma, coming together and bringing out the best of each other. Comeback Hero is most definitely my favorite of the three in the Redleg Security World.
Tropes and Themes: Forced Proximity, Bodyguard, Workplace Romance, Friends to Lovers, Military.
Blurb
Being one of the only female bodyguards at the elite Redleg Security, you’d think I would thrive in difficult situations. But not even my past experience as an Army operative has taught me how to handle the frustration of living with my scorching hot coworker and not being able to ride his face to pleasuretown every night.
What makes it worse is that Shepherd is up for giving me a ride in all the filthy ways you’re imagining.
But he’s my coworker.
And I don’t date coworkers. Ever.
Full stop.
I won’t let myself fall for him.
Even though he stayed by my side in the hospital after I almost died.
Not even when he stubbornly moves me into his house where he insists I stay until I’m healed.
But when he kisses me, every cell in my body wants to surrender to him and throw my rules out the window.
As if living with him wasn’t challenging enough, we have a houseguest in the form of an unruly teenager we’ve been assigned to protect. And she’s not making anything easy.
But I’ve got this. I will recover, protect our client, and avoid falling in love with Shep. After all, this is my comeback story, not a romance.
Then again… maybe it can be both.
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