Guarding His Obsession by Alexa Riley Published by Self-Published on February 15, 2016
Pages: 109
Narrator: Alexander Cendese, Stephanie Rose
Audible
When Drake Hart's security team is hired to find a stalker, he has no idea what's in store for him. However, the day Zoey Lewis' picture lands in his lap, there's nothing he won't do to save her. He's always been quiet and shy, but seeing her changes everything.
Zoey is missing a filter when it comes to interacting with people. She's used to being lost in her computer and being taken care of by her sister. She's an oddball, and people find it hard to deal with. But when Drake Hulk-smashes his way into her world, she doesn't feel so out of place.
When Zoey is threatened and needs protection, will Drake save the day? With a body like his, all signs point to yes!
Warning: He owns a security firm. She's a little nerdy. It's a classic trope and a recipe for sugary-sweet erotica!
If this book was any longer, I probably wouldn’t have finished it. Admittedly, novellas are tricky to pull off successfully, but it can be done. Guarding His Obsession has three major problems: the story, the writing, and—since I listed to the audiobook—the narration. It’s a losing trifecta.
The synopsis sounds really interesting. I’m into bodyguard romances, but this one is pretty dull. I legit just finished and I’ve already forgotten one of the main character’s name. There’s a computer programmer who is receiving threats, so her sister insists on hiring a bodyguard. Lucky for Zoey, he’s super hot. It’s a nice setup, right?
I had issues from that point on, so here’s where I warn you that this review contains spoilers all over the place. Read on at your own risk.
If you’re allergic to insta-love, either don’t read the book or suck it up because the pair make out five minutes after they meet. The bodyguard claims that View Spoiler » her is the best thing he’s ever felt. Really? Better than massages, blow jobs, or, I don’t know, actual sex? Thirty minutes later, she agrees to View Spoiler » because she wants lots of orgasms—her words. By the way, Zoey has zero verbal filters, which is kind of cute but also kind of irritating. I am not at all exaggerating when I say that an hour after View Spoiler » he View Spoiler » if you can call it that.
Zoey is supposed to be this brilliant computer geek, but she lacks basic common sense and is terribly immature. At no point does she actually seem concerned about her safety. The great sex they’re having even distracts the bodyguard from investigating the death threats against her.
I’ve read three books written by Alexa Riley now, and none of them have worked for me. Perhaps it’s best that we part ways.
Audiobook Review
Stephanie Rose’s vocal performance is quite enjoyable. However, despite Alexander Cendese’s naturally rich and deep voice, he practically ruins the entire audio book. His delivery is over the top, but what really bothered me was his portrayal of the female characters. He uses an irritating, unnaturally high pitched voice that reminds me of Minnie Mouse sucking helium. It would be comical if a child-like voice delivering erotic words wasn’t so disturbing. I’m afraid this is a huge miss for me.
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