GLBTQ, MM,
Trope: Hurt Comfort, Best Friends to Lovers, PTSD, Brain Injury, Peril, Found Family
Released: 17 June 2022
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Series: Ellery Mountain
Length: 60,000 words
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60866260-the-soldier-and-the-bodyguard
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-soldier-and-the-bodyguard-ellery-mountain-book-10-by-rj-scott
All Buy Links can be found here: https://rjscott.co.uk/read-soldierbodyguard
Available – Wide Release, all platforms
ISBN – 9781785643583
Someone wants JC dead, and Adrian is the only thing standing in the way. Has war followed them home? Or is something more sinister at play?
JC struggles to understand his place in the world, and despite being wealthy beyond imagination, he's never found real happiness outside of his friendship with Adrian. Enlisting in the army is his attempt at finding purpose, but tragedy strikes, and only the Ellery Veterans Center can help put back the pieces of his shattered life. With a bullet fragment in his brain and seemingly no chance of ever being the man he once was, he begins to lose hope.
Adrian didn't hesitate to follow his best friend to war, but with their unit decimated in an ambush and JC bleeding into the dirt, Adrian buries his hopes for the future to keep the man he loves safe. Acting as JC's bodyguard means he is secure for now, but threats from an unknown person escalate to attempted murder, and Adrian has no choice but to take JC and run. When the Sanctuary Foundation intervenes and takes them into their care, they might be safe, but revealed secrets could destroy everything.
Sometimes, even if love finds a way through tragedy, it can be impossible to imagine forever.
This book features characters from my action-adventure romantic suspense Sanctuary series, but you do not have to have read Sanctuary to enjoy this story. This best-friend-to-lover, hurt-comfort romance has bodyguards, threats, found family, and a guaranteed love-filled happily ever after.
This book features characters from my action-adventure romantic suspense Sanctuary series, but you do not have to have read Sanctuary to enjoy this story. This best-friend-to-lover, hurt-comfort romance has bodyguards, threats, found family, and a guaranteed love-filled happily ever after.
4 - 4.5 Stars
4 - 4.5 Stars
I really loved JC and Adrian - man they just pull at the heartstrings! I originally read this as part of serial in RJ Scott's newsletter, then as a full release and this story really has it all! There's romance and mystery and suspense and above all two wonderful men who deserve to find happiness - with each other!
There is a lot to this story, JC and Adrian's friendship and history, their time in the military together and where we find them now, on a journey of recovery after JC is injured. The recovery process is hard enough on it's own but for these guys you have to add in JC's famous, attention loving parents (if you can call them that) and a new threat to JC's life. There are challenges all around, but what is constant is their love.
I really adored Adrian and how truly devoted he is to JC, how he tries to protect him and help him, no matter what. JC, oh he breaks my heart sometimes, struggles to recover and get back to the man he wants to be. These two have such a deep love for each other but it takes some time for them to really be able to express it the way they want to. But it's oh so beautiful when they do. These two find so much strength together and show just how powerful love and trust can be, what is can truly mean. A wonderful, emotional journey, one of my favorites in this series!
Excerpt
Every time I lied to him another small part of me died.
"At this time, given everything I have here, our recommendation remains one of therapy…"
I glanced over at JC's grandmother, Georgina, who was sitting upright in her chair and showing no emotion. That was her upbringing, her station, her belief in what was right, but I'd seen her cry. Hell, I'd held her when she sobbed; so, I knew that the surface was calm, but under it all, there was indescribable grief. The three of us left the office—JC still holding my hand, leaning on me for support—and we made our way back to the car with careful and slow steps. The chauffeur opened the door for us, and as soon as we were inside, Georgina turned to me with determination.
"I found a place in Tennessee, rehab, horticultural therapy. There are stables nearby, no paparazzi, no one would know he was there. I want JC to go."
My chest tightened. What would he do without me next to him? What would I do without caring for him and loving him the best way I could?
"To Tennessee?"
JC used my shoulder as a headrest and closed his eyes, mumbling something under his breath.
"They won't come to us here," she pursed her lips, "but I understand why. There's affection at the center, warmth, love, and support."
"Okay, if it's the right place for him, then I'll take him there," I insisted. But I wouldn't leave him. Hell, I was already making plans to rent close to wherever he was, just a small place where I could see him every day. I didn't care if we were co-dependent because I knew him better than I knew myself, and I was staying.
"I don't want you just to take him; I want you to go with him and stay. As his…" She waved a hand as if she expected me to fill in the words.
"Friend?" I suggested with caution.
"You're his friend already. At this moment in time, he needs more than just a friend; he needs you to step up and keep him safe from the threats that circulate around this damn family." She dipped her head, as if she couldn't believe she'd cursed. "Away from his parents, and I need you to create a security team. I need you to be his bodyguard."
"Okay."
"To never leave his side."
"I won't ever leave his side."
"To keep my grandson safe."
"You have my word."
She reached over and took my hand, glancing at JC, who had drifted into sleep. "I know you love him more than you let him know." She couldn't know how much I loved JC. Could she? Not even JC knew what I really felt.
"I don't…" Words were hard, but her perception was legendary.
"You don't need to lie to me. Love my grandson, wholly and completely, and keep him safe." She laced her fingers with mine.
I nodded. "Always."
SERIES OVERVIEW
Books should probably be read in order to get the best out of the series, but each can be read as a standalone
RJ SCOTT
RJ Scott, author of M/M romance.
Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred anf fifty romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.
She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn't with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week's break from writing, she didn't like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn't defeat.
RJ'S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS IN FULL
