Rival Hero

Redleg Security, Book 4

De: Jackie Walker

Narrado por: Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon

I never planned on sleeping with him. Nor did I intend to make him my enemy. I only went into the bar to scope out my competition–him. The scorching hot night that followed was a mutually pleasurable accident. Of course I knew we were in the running for the same position.

It’s not my fault he didn’t know who I was.

Gathering intel is my specialty.

Maybe if he were better at it, he would have gotten the job instead of me.

I tried my hardest to resist our chemistry, but he was too damn hot.

Too charming. Too funny. Too masculine.

And he smelled so freaking good.

My hormones took over.

Now we're working together on the Redleg Security intelligence team. Every day. High stress. Close quarters. Sexual chemistry off the charts.

But he hates me.

The thing is… he should hate me. I treated him like a pawn.

But he’s a real man with dreams, passion, and pain.

And I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want him.

But it’s too late for us.

I made us rivals when we could have been so much more.

Note: Rival Hero is a bodyguard romantic suspense story with rom-com vibes. It features a strong heroine who's a former CIA intelligence officer and a swoony former Army Ranger hero who will make you laugh one minute and swoon the next. There's action and all the feels, along with a healthy dose of humor and tons of spice. There is an HEA, no cheating, and no "other woman" drama. Content warnings are available on the author's website.

Tropes: One night stand to office rivals to lovers, good boy goes bad, and forced proximity.

Listening Order: Rival Hero is Book 4 in the Redleg Security Series. Each of the first four books in this series features a different couple, including their happily ever after and is a "complete story" with no cliffhangers. However, the series is best enjoyed in order to avoid suspense-related plot spoilers. Each book starts right where the prior book ends. If you do not wish to listen to them all, then you can listen as a stand-alone.

©2023 Jackie Walker (P)2024 Jackie Walker

I laughed, I enjoyed, and I loved this book!

Fantastic book. Haven't read much by this author but that's going to change. Erin Mallon nailed MFC. OMG, the things that came from her mouth had me laughing so hard. I was getting the side eye from people around me from spontaneous laughter. Jason Clarke, well what can I say, I love when he narrates anything. He always does a great job. Story was great and the spice was on point. Can't wait to read more of this series.

Narration PERFECTION 😍

🧡 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🖤 Former CIA FMC
🧡 Found family
🖤 Alzheimer’s rep
🧡 Co-workers
🖤 Veiny arms
🧡 Hidden Dom
🖤 D!rty tǎlk 🥵🥵🥵
🧡 Cake vs Pie

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rival Hero might be my favorite in the Redleg Series. With each book I think it’s the best, but they just keep getting better and better! This book has the perfect amount of suspense, spice, witty banter, and heart. My gosh I love Jackie Walker so freaking much! What an absolute legend she is 😍

Mia has a past that she has been trying to reconcile with for years. Leaving the CIA to work for Redleg may be just the opportunity she needs in order to “fix” things. Her inner p!mp NEEDS information. Which is what leads her to Klein, aka Cal. This ‘chance’ encounter ends in a heated night, though each feels something more. Weeks later, it all comes to a head when Cal finally sees Mia again. And her betrayal causes Klein to want to punish her, a feeling he’s never had before. This sweet as pie mama’s boy has an inner Dom just waiting to be unleashed.

What can I say about the narration of this book except that it was utter perfection?! Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon are two of THE BEST in the business! They did a stellar job or narrating this entire story. Clarke and Mallon embodied each character to a T. They made me laugh (a lot!), swoon (also a lot!), gasp, cry, MELT, and added that extra something to the suspenseful parts that made them so nerve wracking and exciting! I seriously am in awe of their talent and skill. No matter where you land on the “Cake vs Pie” debate, we can all agree that Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke bring decadence to our ears 🖤🖤

This book is so much more than the EPIC SPICE that it contains. Whew 🥵 it’s freaking fantastic! But the story itself, the guilt, the burdens, the self discovery, the forgiveness…THAT is what makes this story so good. Well, that and the absolute off the charts witty banter! 😂 I straight up CACKLED throughout the story. I don’t want to give too much away on this story, just know that this book is an absolute ‘must read!’

Some thoughts while reading:

The heartbreaking dynamic between Klein and his mother made me cry more than once. He cares so much for her and what she’s going through is destroying him. My heart is shattering for him.

Mia has so much trepidation and vulnerability because of what her past holds, how she “met” Cal. But I love the way he helps her figure out how to open up.

The heartache of chapter 43 but then the sweetness at the end of it?

The conversation at dinner between Klein, Shep, and Sawyer had me absolutely rolling with laughter! And the revelation of one of their guys 😳🤯 but I can totally see it! Now I can’t wait to read his story!

Holy sh!t! That bonus epilogue was one of the sweetest, hottest, and funnest chapters I have EVER READ! Each time I think Jackie Walker has outdone herself, she proves me wrong!

🍰 For a moment, I envy him, wishing my cup of f***s was empty. It used to be, and it was easier to live with myself that way. But I have f***s now. Too many f***s to give.”
🥧 “Prove it. Make me believe you. Earn me.”
🍰 “Oh, motherplucking chicken biscuits!”
🥧 “Yes. I want more from you, tiger. You need to be p^nished. You haven’t earned my fingers f***ing your wet p***y yet. You haven’t earned my tongue on your cl*t or my c*** in your tight h0l3. Have you?”
🍰 “He was but mere moments from frosting my lady cake.”
🥧 “I’m not sure if you’re being a good girl or a dirty girl. Sucking your ar0us@l off my fingers seems like something a dirty girl would do, but I told you to do it, and you obeyed instantly like a good girl.”
🍰 Her fingertips, glistening with her ar0us@l, skim along my lips. “Open for your dirty girl, Cal.”
🥧 “That’s my perfect f***ing girl.”

Loved this!

Rival Hero is book #4 in the Redleg Security series. Cal is hoping to get promoted to the intel/security team. He needs the stability of being around for his mother (Alzheimer's) and the extra cash to afford a good home for her. When he finds out he has been passed up for the job and he sees who has been hired, he loses his sh!t. It's the woman he had a one-night stand with and had ditched him before breakfast! Now he has to work alongside her. Mia has an agenda and it includes using Cal as a mark. She's ex-CIA and a truly gifted hacker. These two...too funny. Cal is a total cinnamon roll, but reluctant to trust anyone fully. They both have enemies that rise up and wreak havoc. I must say, the ops scenes...VERY realistic! Kudos, Ms. Walker! This is a standalone, but you don't want to miss this series!

The narration was 10/5 stars. Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon are two veteran narrators that bring their best every single time. Loved these two!

Mia & Cal

I’m loving this series so much, I’ve listened to all of them on audio and the narrators have all been amazing. Each book has gotten hotter too, the spice here 🥵🪭 Perfect blend of sexy, suspenseful, funny and sweet!

I love him

Klein and Mia are by far my favorite couple in the redleg series. The heat between them damn it was intense soo good must read. I have a deep deep love for this book. I am always recommending it and I wish I could read it for the first time again it’s that imprinted in my head and heart. There is something about the sweetness in Klein and his affection for the well being of his mom that gets me. The way my sweet Klein wants to release the dark side in him but keeps bringing it back to hide it made the story so good. When he unleashed that side of him jesus it made the relationship between him and Mia so good. I love that she knows she own him and is willing to give in to him. These two are security gold. Klein potty mouth 🫠 .

The narrator made these two come to life I have never wanted anything so good to end. I am definitely going to be listening to this audio books for months to come. I love Klein and Jason nailed it.