A review by rjordan19
Protected by the Mountain Man by Hallie Bennett

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in, about 6%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one year later
Format: read the book through kindle unlimited

Should I read in order?
This is the first of Bennett’s Mountain Men of Suitor’s Crossing series.

Basic plot:
King has decided to keep Hannah at a distance, but when he finds her in pain at work, he can’t help but give in to his protective urges.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- small mountain town – Suitor’s Crossing
- almost a fated mates vibe for this series – the myth is that Suitor’s Crossing helps people find their ‘heart sparks’
- full figured heroine
- very protective and gentle hero
- mutual pining
- heroine works at the hardware store
- age gap (older hero)
- hero cooks for the heroine
- holiday romance
- shorter novel
- dirty talking hero
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shorter page count

Ages:
- the hero is 15 years older than the heroine, heroine is 25 and hero is 40

First line:
I shouldn’t have eaten those gingerbread cookies.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this super sweet yet spicy short story! Maybe I’m getting into my small town era? Do I need to start watching Hallmark movies too? Because I am eating these up!

I DO love my angst, and this is very low angst. They both have longed for each other but neither acted on it. So when they do it’s quick and explosive and delicious. Very cozy romance with a protective and gentle hero that also isn’t afraid to dirty talk our heroine.

Very excited for more in the series!

Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘bunny’ 


Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- heroine mentions growing up in the foster system
- toxic work environment and abusive boss – he won’t allow the heroine to take breaks
- minor physical violence where the hero takes care of the heroine’s rude boss


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
 
Safe sex: 
I don't think it specifically says 
 
Hows the consent? 
  It’s good 
 
22% - kiss
61% - her on top in the car
88% - oral for her in the epilogue