I loved the way Susan Boles tied Protecting Piper in with her series set in Mercy, MS and with the Brotherhood Protectors out in Montana, keeping the southern flavor of her books.

My favorite scene is the first one where Ian helps the Piper wash and dry her antique china. Little details like this which tell the reader he truly cares about her and her family. Then in a second scene when he helps her again, it feels like he will always help her in this way. I could picture them as an older couple do this as they have throughout the years.

Ham, Pipers guard dog, is fun. I wondered if he was ever going to like the hero.

This was a quick read with fun and intriguing characters full of the flavor of the south. Little details such as the southern porch, and the climbing flowers, help to transport the reader into the south. Characters from Susan Boles mystery series make an appearance and wonder why anyone who need a Brotherhood Protector in Mercy, MS. Such a quiet southern town where everybody know everyone else. So who could be a hit man or a murderer? I won't tell. You'll have to read to find out.

Readers who purchased the pre-order, as I did, might want to check to see if Amazon has sent the updated, correct version. On my kindle there was no update button. Hopefully Amazon will clear this up soon. This will explain some of the reviews posted. Readers who purchased afterward don't have this problem. ( )

The story’s protagonist, Piper McKenzie. has essentially led a marvelous life, and why not? To begin with her overprotective, widowed father, Matt, who’s is the mayor of their hometown; your typical, charming southern small town by the name of Mercy, MS.

While like any other southern belle she’s dates the charming men, who are continuously falling in love with her, the baggage of a previous love affair precludes all of her love to come to the surface for the fear of reexperiencing the same kind of misfortunate she had the last time she’d truly had fallen in love. Along with her father, Piper only has their family guard dog, a likewise overprotective, rescued pit bull by the name of Ham[murabi].

While Matt is essentially an honest man, recent events has put his life in perpetual danger as there’s a mob contract out to kill him. And, in order to protect himself and Piper he hires the services of Brotherhood Protectors, Inc, who uses retired veterans and their indispensable military knowledge of engagement in their assignments. This is where kismet steps in, for the individual they’ve selected for McKenzie is Ivan “Hawkeye” Elliot, a wannabee Navy Fighter pilot whose dream had been shattered when a busted eardrum stopped it from happening.

The thing is, not only has Ivan been away from Mercy for past years, he’s the guy who broke Piper’s heart the last time he was. He’s always completed every assignment he’s ever gotten from the Brotherhood without a single hitch, but this time, things might be quite different.
This time he must not only be the bodyguard for Piper’s father, as well as herself; he also needs to protect his heart, which longs to be her again despite her hating him for the broken he gave her when he left.

Will everyone survive the assault on their lives? Will Ivan be able to regain Piper’s love? These and other question that arise while reading this book will hopefully be answered by the last page. While the writing is quite engaging for its readers, it could use some editing which if ignored [like I did], will result in an entertaining Military Romance reading experience, for which I’ve given the author, Susan Boles, 4 STARS

I’d actually won a KINDLE copy of this book through a giveaway the author had on Amazon, which I received when the book first got released. I never got notified regarding an updated version, which I didn’t know about until after I posted my review on Amazon. Still the above is my honest opinion based on the version I read. ( )

REVIEW: I expected more about the dog but that wasn't really part of it. The story was good, well-written.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: A woman who couldn’t leave... A man who couldn’t stay...
When Fate brings him back to town to protect her daddy, can they resolve their differences?

Piper McKenzie has a great life. She lives in a plantation home that’s been in the family for generations with her overprotective father and Ham, the family guard dog. She dates, but keeps her broken heart under lock and key. Nobody will ever hurt her again like Ian Elliot did.

Ian “Hawkeye” Elliot lives his lifelong dream of being a Navy Fighter pilot until a busted eardrum clips his wings forever as a pilot. Brotherhood Protectors, Inc. throws him a lifeline working with other retired veterans offering valuable skills honed by military service. Until his latest assignment, nothing shakes him, but this job threatens not only the life of the woman he loves, but also his heart.

Using a visit to his mother as cover, Hawkeye arrives back in town to provide bodyguard services to Piper’s father. His challenge is to keep his charge alive while avoiding the glares and hostility from the girl he left behind. Complicating his job is Ham-the-guard-dog, who hates him.

The question is which is more deadly? Bullets, a mean dog, or emotions? Only time will tell. ( )