Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series comes a sexy and emotional follow up to her wildly popular standalone romance The Protector.

Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued.

Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.

Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store... and hiding too many secrets. It's why she won't let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn't even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have waited for this one since it was first introduced, and I couldn't wait to start it when it hit my Kindle. It is a wonderful story that is filled with suspense and WOW!

Ryan works with Jake (from The Protector) and both are on the job when the story starts. Ryan decides that he is done with his job and wants to build houses close to where his cabin is. The cabin is near Hampton, a small town in the country where everyone knows everyone and everything. When he notices a new shop on main street, he doesn't think an art shop is a good thing for the little town.

Hannah has been running from her past for many years, always looking over her shoulder. She can never let her guard down. As she sets up her shop, she thinks she might stay a little longer in Hampton. Although she knows she can't stay forever, it is too risky to stay in one place for too long.

When Ryan meets Hannah the sparks fly and she is struck speechless. Several times she can't speak. She is drawn to him, he almost kisses her twice, the third time he finally does and it is perfect. And he walks away after.

Can Ryan show her that she can stay and let him love her? Will she get spooked and run again? Will her past come back to haunt them both? Will they both get a chance at a future together?

I loved this story, and Ryan and Hannah are perfect. And don't forget Alex, she is great too. Ryan is another alpha male to add to my JEM stable of men. If you haven't read Jodi Ellen Malpas yet, you will love any of her books, she is a fantastic author and a go-to author for me. I hope you love this one as much as I did.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Ryan is used to being on edge. It's kept him alive and saved countless lives. However, he wants to take a step back and be able to enjoy his life. So, he leaves his work and returns to his favorite place. He also wants to see his daughter more than the little he's been able to. He loves her with everything he is.

Hannah is finally able to have a little piece. She loves where she is living and her life. With the past still able to haunt her, she wants to just make the most of what she has now, before she has to move on.

Ryan and Hannah are great characters. They seem to have an easy friendship and while it wasn't an overly steamy or great romance, their easy friendship led to an easy transition to potential love interest. I really enjoyed watching Ryan's daughter stir everything up. She was hilarious.

Malpas has created an ideal place to live and with it, ideal circumstances for walls to come down and pasts to be revealed. With the typical obstacle thrown in the story, it made for an entertaining read. The knight in shining armor saves the woman, who, while she can save herself, likes that someone else wants the job too.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a very enjoyable read from the talented Malpas. It is set mainly in the English Peak District, although really, any small town would have offered the same protection, it did however provide the village fete and the snooty lord and lady of the manor, so in that was quintessentially British. I am still questioning their sanity at going repeatedly into a woodland lake though, as the water must have been absolutely freezing!

Ryan is off duty, kicking back and looking forward to spending time with his daughter when he crashes into a tree avoiding a woman on a bicycle. Their connection is powerful, but she is without a doubt hiding something, and it is something she fears. As the story unfolds, the fear remains, but it is only slowly revealed just who and the depth of why.

Hannah is a likeable character, although her wisdom in opening a specialist shop in the middle of nowhere is more about her love of art than any business sense, that is for sure! It works as a vehicle for drawing her into the community life, and undoubtedly her growing relationship with Ryan helps her settle too. I enjoyed the events that take place, and the crazy of the 'ruling' gentry, which was sadly all too realistic.

Alex, Ryan's daughter, is an absolute hoot, and does a great job of pulling the two of them together, when they are floundering between should they shouldn't they moments. She acts beyond her years, but boarding school can definitely do that to an only child.

There are some really rather sad moments, some funny moments, and some very sexy ones – in just about the right proportion for me. A good read from cover to cover – and I could happily read it again for some fun escapism.

[p.s. I am still a little confused as to why the moving bicycle didn't raise any concern sooner, (or the jewellery) – I couldn't see why it was mentioned but not used as a vehicle, (no pun intended) for making her at least wary. And even later, it is just ignored.]

Jodi Ellen Malpas wrote her debut series, The This Man Trilogy, in secret, worried about what people might think if they knew what her imagination was capable of. She was shocked herself. But she finally found the courage to unleash her creative streak and self-published This Man – the first book of the This Man Trilogy – in October 2012. She took a chance on the story with a hero who soon became one of modern day fictions most prolific alpha male characters. Jesse Ward – also affectionately known as The Lord of The Manor, sparked incredible reactions from women across the globe and catapulted Jodi into the world of romance.

She was soon signed by Grand Central Publishing, part of the Hachette Book Group, and the third book of the trilogy, This Man Confessed, took Jodi to the top of the bestsellers lists, earning her the proud title of #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. This Man has since been voted one of the top romance novels of all time. With so much love and enthusiasm for her words, Jodi suddenly wasn’t afraid of her imagination anymore and has since let it run riot. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.

Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her real-life man, her boys, and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Her work is now published in more than twenty-five languages across the world.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas to read and review.