Her Secret Protector - Bonnie Vanak (HRS #2253 - Nov 2023)

Series: SOS Agency (Book 4)
 
To find her attacker
…he must stay in the shadows.
 
Assigned to protect sea turtle biologist Peyton Bradley from a dangerous stalker, former SEAL Gray Wallace is determined to save his headstrong charge -- even if she doesn't want to be saved. Their attraction is powerful. But damning rumors around the handsome bodyguard's past get him fired. Only when Peyton is kidnapped and loses her memory does Gray reveal his startling -- possibly deadly -- secret.
 
Terrific book that is romantic, intense, and informative. Peyton is a marine biologist passionate about sea turtles and the environment. The daughter of wealthy parents who don't understand her but still support her efforts become worried when she acquires a stalker. Though Peyton refuses to believe she is in danger, her father hires a bodyguard from the SOS Agency.
 
Gray is a former SEAL who is determined to keep Peyton safe despite herself. She hates having him follow her and calls him her "shadow." Gray has a secret in his past that has him super-focused on everything Peyton does, worried about history repeating itself.
 
When Peyton's dad becomes suspicious of Gray, he hires new security and fires Gray. But Gray refuses to walk away and keeps his eye on Peyton anyway. He's not far when the new security fails, and Peyton is kidnapped. When he finds her, she has lost her memory but feels that Gray is the only person she can trust. I loved watching her stand up to her family and stick with Gray as they try to uncover her stalker's identity.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Peyton and Gray. Under the antagonism she felt for him at the beginning were undeniable sparks of attraction, which she tried to ignore. Gray knows he shouldn't have feelings for his protectee and fights them as hard as possible. But when he discovers she has feelings for him, it becomes much more challenging to keep things professional.
 
I loved the real protectiveness Gray feels toward Peyton, not just the kind that comes with the job. Seeing his care for her and how he used her love for and knowledge of sea turtles to help her regain her memory was sweet. There are some sweet scenes as they connect over their mutual love of turtles and the environment. I especially liked his enjoyment of watching Peyton tear into a littering father in front of his kids. Gray is convinced he is wrong for Peyton, but ultimately, her determination and love win the day.
 
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. The stalking was nerve-wracking as it became evident that the stalker was very familiar with Peyton's life and activities. While I thought I had it figured out early in the book, later information made me doubt my first impression. I shouldn't have, as I turned out to be correct, but the author did a great job at keeping me guessing. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was all over.
 
I loved all the information about sea turtles, their lives, and their challenges. The way the information was presented made it easy to understand and never felt like either an infodump or a lecture.