Ryder's Guardian by T.L. Travis & Ann Lister

For Maiden Voyage guitarist, Ryder Hampton, life is great. He and his bandmates are embarking upon an epic European double headlining tour with their friends from Social Sinners with the band Embrace the Fear opening for them.

Since joining Maiden Voyage in his twenties, Ryder’s life has been a whirlwind of the cliched, “Sex, drugs and monumental doses of Rock ‘n Roll. And he’s loved every minute of it from the sold out shows to the revolving door of bed partners.

Max Hightower has always been a team player. Whether it was working with his team in the Marines or now with the private security company, Ventura Security. These days, his job was to have the backs of a band of musicians. One band member in particular he'd allowed to get too close and now emotions were involved.

Ryder Hampton had left his mark on Max's closed-off heart and now Max's job was in jeopardy. Falling for your principal wasn't safe – nor smart. Neither was missing the mark on protecting him and now Max was guilty of both. The security detail he'd begged his boss for had turned out to be the one that could ruin him and shatter his heart too. Max couldn't allow either option to happen.

Maiden Voyage series must be read in order as each book starts where the last one ended but is from another band members point of view.

Book 1
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~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This book felt like coming home to me. I just love the rocker-bodyguard/security romance. I couldn't put this book down. Ryder and Max are so hot and steamy together. Throw in a stalker and you got a little danger as well. This is the first book in the series and I can't wait for the next one. This book also combines characters from several other series by the authors, which makes it that much more like coming home to me.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is another sexy rock star-bodyguard romp. Ryder is the bratty guitarist for Maiden Voyage and Max is the security guard protecting him on a European tour. When his boss forbids Max from any non-professional contact with Ryder, the forced separation just makes the attraction between the two men burn hotter.

After so many Rock Gods books – and spinoff Rock Gods books – there isn’t anything particularly new or fresh in Ryder and Max’s story, but it works. The sexual tension between Max and Ryder is almost unbearable for the first half of the book and their connection is pretty special in the second half. I didn’t feel the same emotional connection to the characters in this book as I felt with the characters in the first few Rock Gods books, but I enjoyed the story and liked the characters. This is a steamy read with several BDSM-lite power exchange scenes that are pretty hot.

I liked the European tour setting for the book but I had to laugh when the guards are confronted with fully armed baddies. I’m not sure the American authors understand how rare guns are in most of Europe and how difficult it is to get hold of the kind of weapons described outside of the USA. The strength of this book lies in the relationships. I found the action scenes too easy to predict and a little bit exaggerated – but no more exaggerated than in some of the previous books.

This book is described as the first in a new series. The book might work on its own, but it follows on from nearly 20 previous Rock Gods books and subsequent spinoff series. Readers will probably need to have read at least a few of the Rock Gods books to understand the constant references to characters, bands, and incidents in the previous series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in the new series, but it gives fans of both authors a reunion with some familiar friends from previous books. I really enjoy rock star tour chaos stories and this one certainly did not disappoint. Add in a very sexy, devoted to his duties, ex-military bodyguard who had fallen for his charge, and we are inevitably in for a treat.

Once Max gives in to the chemistry which fizzes between him and Ryder, the intensity certainly matches the danger. As they actually spend time with each other, they both admit to themselves that this is more than just a fling. Now they have to broach that fact with each other...

I had a lot of fun following their tour adventures; how could one not enjoy the dynamics between the guys, the bands, and the bodyguards? I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the Maiden Voyage journey!

PS – I did really feel skeptical about the amount of summer skiing/snowboarding that they managed, and the danger. It was, however, a useful plot device.

T.L. Travis

T.L. Travis is the published author of a plethora of LGBTQ+ Erotica and Erotic Romance musings that have earned her a “Best Selling Author” status in the US as well as Internationally.

In her spare time, when she’s not weaving erotic webs, she enjoys fishing, wine tasting and people watching. Everyone has a story to tell, what would yours be?

She’s rescued 4-legged souls in need for as long as she can remember, and would like to remind you to “Adopt, not shop.” Saving that lost soul may very well save yours too.

Connect with T.L.

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Ann Lister

Ann Lister is a native New Englander currently living on the island of Martha's Vineyard with her husband. She has pulled details from her years living in the New England area and uses many local settings and landmarks in her novels. After graduating art school, marrying, and raising two daughters, she established her own video production company. Her nearly two decades working in video production included work within the music industry and won her a coveted Telly Award.

Her 'behind-the-scenes' exposure to the music world and her love of rock music is the inspiration for her erotic rock star romances. Her rock star romance, “Fall For Me”, Book One in The Rock Gods series, was a Finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Award and Book Three, Make You Mine, established her as an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Each book in The Rock Gods series brings her two favorite elements together: musicians and the love between two men.

Her stories focus on what it truly means to love; love unconditionally, love without restrictions or labels, love without fear or judgment – to just simply love.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ryder's Guardian (Maiden Voyage #1) by T.L. Travis & Ann Lister to read and review.