Title: Dark Protector
Author: Celia Aaron
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 27, 2017
Blurb
From the moment I saw her through the window of her flower shop, something other than darkness took root inside me. Charlie shone like a beacon in a world that had long since lost any light. But she was never meant for me, a man that killed without remorse and collected bounties drenched in blood.
I thought staying away would keep her safe, would shield her from me. I was wrong. Danger followed in my wake like death at a slaughter house. I protected her from the threats that circled like black buzzards, kept her safe with kill after kill.
But everything comes with a price, especially second chances for a man like me.
Killing for her was easy. It was living for her that turned out to be the hard part.
Author's Note: This is a full-length romance novel. Explicit violence and hot sex included. HEA, no cheating.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
“These hands were violence and nothing more. Killing was my religion.
From the moment I read “Blackwood” I knew that this author was going to graduate to Stalker territory for me. Her ability to suck you in and make you Crave the darkness as if it’s your own light is what I love about her writing and I have no intention of ever going back to what we consider as “normal” reads.
Some say that you can sense evil before it comes and that saying has never been more true once you look into the eyes of Conrad Mercer. Being a contract killer, you have to be somewhat desensitized to certain things and having feelings is one of them. He’s trained to kill and take out anything that comes in his way but he also has a very complicated weakness. And she comes in the form of being a beautiful florist.
“She was my Collateral damage, a victim of the death and destruction that always followed in my wake.
Charlie has been through her fair share of heartbreak in her life and the only thing that’s been giving her a peace of mind lately is her job being a florist. Having a fairly quiet life now, Charlie realizes that she has a Stalker and he’s none other than the contract killer himself. You would think that knowing you’re being watched by a professional killer would scare the beejeezus out of her but for Charlie, there’s a calmness of knowing that he’s watching her and keeping her safe. That is until Con’s dangerous world collides with her.
How far will Con go to protect the woman he calls his Angel?
If I had to sum up this story, I would say it was sexy with a little bit of grit, suspenseful and action packed down to very last word. Con was a man who you truly did not want to mess with and when it came to protecting Charlie? He was damn near suicidal. I loved how he always put her first and even though I hated the insta lust, his feelings for her felt genuine.
Now as for Charlie, I loved the fact that she wasn’t this weak heroine who couldn’t handle anything. This was a tough chick that got sh*t done for herself and I admired that about her. Like I said before, I wasn’t a fan of the insta lust/love in this but somehow it worked out and we got one hell of a story. Now can somebody please get Nate his own book?! What do I have to do to make that happen? You want my first born? Done. You’ll probably bring him back within the first hour anyways.
If you love a hot action packed stories, this one has your name all over it.
Reading a string of books that I liked, but were “just okay”
left me on the verge of a major reading slump. With this being my first book by
this author, I was nervous going into it. Would this just be one more book that
sent me spiraling even further? I am ecstatic to report that I was worried for
naught! Thank you, Celia Aaron for pulling me off the edge! Gripping, suspenseful,
and action packed, Dark Protector was just what I needed!
Conrad “Con” Mercer spent most of his life as little more
than a trained killing machine. Numb, lethal, and loyal to the almighty dollar,
he took men’s lives without batting an eye. The organ inside his chest’s only
function was to keep him alive. Love wasn’t a word he really understood until
he laid eyes on Charlie.
Charlie, a florist with a devastating past, had been coasting
through life without really living. When she notices the mysterious man
watching her from outside her shop window, she quickly goes from feeling frightened
and alarmed to curious and protected. She knows she should probably be freaking
out that this guy is basically stalking her, but she’s not. If anything, she
wishes he would come in and introduce himself. Maybe then she would get to
finally see the face that is always hidden by the shadows. Charlie eventually
gets her chance, but not exactly the way she was hoping for.
Hanging out around Charlie turns out to be bad idea when the
wrong men take notice. Conrad and Charlie’s worlds collide in a way neither
wanted, but after one bloody night, there is no going back. Conrad has followed
orders his entire life. He pledges allegiance to the highest bidder. What
happens when the man with the money wants Charlie dead? Will he turn his back
on his entire way of life to save a woman he has never even spoken to?
I loved this book so much that I don’t even think I can do
it justice with my review. The writing is impeccable. Celia Aaron has a true
way with words. The dialogue and banter between the characters is some of the
best that I have ever read. The story is
exciting and entertaining with nonstop action and suspense from start to finish.
However, my favorite thing about this book had to be the
characters. They were flawed, complex, and totally endearing. I didn’t want to
say good bye to them, so I was very appreciative of the epilogues the author
included at the end of the story. Charlie, Conrad, and Nate (more about him
later) are phenomenal characters that I think everyone should get the chance to
meet.
Charlie may have found herself in a terrifying situation,
but she didn’t take anything lying down. Far from a damsel in distress, she was
always thinking about her next move and ready to defend herself if necessary. Her
awful past relationship resulted in only one good thing….turning Charlie into a
survivor. She can hunt, fish, and make a shiv from a toilet brush! How could Conrad
help falling in love with her? Strong, sassy, and a good shot, Charlie proved
over and over again that she was one hell of a woman!
Hitman or not, Conrad Mercer is a badass force to be
reckoned with that I fell in love with from the very first chapter! The man is
ruthless, hot, protective, and according to Charlie, has a tongue of legend!
Those that aren’t fans of push and pull will love this one. Conrad never wavers
when it comes to Charlie. Once he falls for her, he never get scared and runs
away. It makes sense when you think about it, because nothing intimidates him.
Did I mention he is a total badass? I loved the way he was willing to lay down
his life for Charlie without a moment’s hesitation. His life meant nothing
without her in it.
My review wouldn’t be complete without talking about the man
that completely stole my heart, Nate. Nate is Con’s friend and devoted side
kick possessing the uncanny ability to lighten any dark moment with just a few
choice words. His quick wit and light hearted attitude put a smile on my face
every time he entered the scene. Loyal, sweet, and absolutely hilarious, Nate
is one of the most amazing secondary characters I have ever encountered! In
other words, back off ladies! He’s mine! If the author doesn’t give him his own
book, it will be a tragedy of epic proportions. I will beg if need be. I’m not
too proud. I need more Nate in my life!
If I love this book so much, why didn’t I give it a full
five stars? One word. Instalove. The good news is that it didn’t interfere with
my enjoyment as much as it usually would. To be honest, the story was so
awesome I almost forgave it completely.
Overall, Dark Protector is a fantastic story that is
perfectly paced, captivating, and hot! I enjoyed it so much I will be reading
everything this author has ever written or will write in the future. If you are
a fan of romantic suspense or just romance in general, then I recommend this
one to you!
*P.S. This would make a great movie. Just sayin.*
*P.S. This would make a great movie. Just sayin.*
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