Guarding the Quarterback

Champions of the Heart, Book 1

By: Liz Matis

Narrated by: Melissa Moran

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the best seller of the Fantasy Football Romance series comes an exciting new series, Champions of the Heart. Book One is Guarding the Quarterback - a Miss Congeniality meets The Bodyguard romp.

Alexa Reeves: The quarterback of the NY Kings has a body to die for, and as Dean Walker's bodyguard, I'm right in the line of fire. If that's not dangerous enough, I'm posing as his girlfriend to keep close. Yet, that isn't the worst part. He says I need a makeover to pass as his arm candy. Jerk. The more time I spend with him, the more my undercover role blurs with reality, and I'll lose more than my job if I step over the line and into his bed.

Dean Walker: Let's get something straight. I didn't ask for protection, especially in the form of a female. Isn't a death threat just another day in the life of a NY quarterback? Still, the owner of the team forces me to accept a security detail led by the tiny, but tough Alexa Reeves.

But who is the real Alexa? The bodyguard, sworn to protect me, or the made-over vixen, determined to drive me crazy? As the stalker closes in, I realize I've put more than my life in her hands. Will Alexa safeguard my heart as fiercely as my body?

©2016 Elizabeth Matis (P)2016 Elizabeth Matis

3.5 Quarterback Star’s

Dean Walker is the Quarterback for The Kings. He is cocky and arrogant. He doesn’t think anything can bring him down. So when he gets a summons to the owner’s office he starts to sweat. Football is his life. Turns out he has a stalker.

Alexa Reeves has wanted nothing but to be a police officer like the rest of her family but when that falls through, she finds a job with a security firm and has worked her way up the ranks.

It was funny when she was the one to guard Dean. He didn’t believe a woman could do the job. No that isn’t true he didn’t understand why she would want to.

Watching these two dance around each other was quiet fun to listen to. I also loved her best friend.

This for me was a feel good listen nothing to deep. A great HEA book. Also very much enjoyed the narrations. They brought out the fun and serious perfectly.

Super Sexy

If you could sum up Guarding the Quarterback in three words, what would they be?

soul mates

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guarding the Quarterback?

When Alexa drew her gun on Drew.

Which character – as performed by Melissa Moran – was your favorite?

I enjoyed them all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really enjoyed the end when Alexa put all of the pieces together. I loved that she professed her love and protected Dean.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book all in one sitting. It was a short and very sweet book.

A quick listen and enjoyable story

This book is quite short (less than a full workday or a one way trip to California) but it was easy to listen to and the story is enjoyable.

The plot moves along at a pace the requires a suspension of reality but the main characters have cute interaction and I will listen to the next book in the seris

Sexy and full of charm

Any additional comments?

I was provided a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The story is extremely cute, and the characters, both Alexa and Dean, are super likable.  Even when you want to smack Dean for being such a, well, guy! LOL.

I found myself smiling pretty much the entire time I listened to the story, just because it sucks you in and is so incredibly enjoyable. Melissa Moran did a fine job with the narration; her inflection and delivery was perfect. The only negative I have is with her voices, there wasn’t much distinction between her male and female voice.  My husband even remarked on it when he walked in on a certain scene and thought I was listening to a LGBTQ story.  However, once I got familiar with the story, the lack of male voices didn’t bother me. 

Overall; I thoroughly enjoyed Guarding the Quarterback: Champions of the Heart Book 1, it was surprising, sexy, full of charm, and a great read. Also, I never guessed who the bad guy was.  Point to Liz Matis....Sara 

Heart, Heat & Humor

This book has what I love most - heart, heat and humor. A sexy hero, blindsided by a take charge heroine - what's not to love? So many times I found myself smiling and laughing from the witty dialogue and play between the characters. Ms. Matis also did a great job in balancing the humor with enough conflict and intrigue to keep the story moving.

I also like the narrator's performance. I think she did justice to the characters voices.

Quaterback and bodyguard

Dean Walker lazy quaterback when faced with deatuh threats meets Alexa Reeves, smart and witty bodyguard. Listening was fun and quickly elapsed. Story is hot and steamy, characters exchange smart lines. All in all nice story.

Guarding the QB

Any additional comments?

This book was great I haven't read any of Ms Matis' books before so i was unsure as to what to expect! Well... I loved it!!!
Dean is the quarterback of the New York Kings and is gorgeous! On the field he kicks ass off the field he f*** it! When he recieves a death threat, it changes his life forever!!! Then the fun begins.

Guarding the Quarterback

I really enjoyed this story. The back and forth between Dean and Alexa is so fun. Alexa holding Dean at gun point was a fun scene. Narration was really good. As the playoffs come can the team protect Dean?

Guarding the Quarterback

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I liked the premise of the story: a female bodyguard defending a star Quarterback. I was expecting to see sparks, because what man wants to be guarded by a woman ?

What would have made this book a 5 star read for me, was if Dean had more respect for Alexa as a professional and as a woman.

From the beginning it was him thinking a man protects the woman, Alexa isnt his type etc., etc.

I wanted Dean to acknowledge Alexa's capability, her dedication to her work.

I didn't get that in the book.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

It has the making of a romantic comedy that will also appeal to lovers of sports.

WOW What an arm!!!

Have you listened to any of Melissa Moran’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not has the pleasure of listening to Ms. Moran perform a book in the past. However, she did a stellar job on this one. I look forward to listening to more from her in the future.

Any additional comments?

First and foremost, have a fan ready for this absolutely HOT read! Ms. Matis really knows how to write a romance novel that keep her readers enthralled! I am not going to give my version of the blurb. You have already read the one listed for the book. I will say that this romance is a bit different. Different that is this case the heroine, Alexa, is the hero, the protector, the bodyguard. And boy, does she have a body to protect, in more ways than one. Dean is A Super Sexy Hot Ornery Love Entanglement, but just as much the hero, both on the field and off. I really love the way Ms. Matis showed his more human side with the kids. No, I refuse to give anything away. You need to read this super-hot book to find out what I am talking about.I am a relatively new fan of Ms. Matis but in my opinion her books keep getting better and better! I cannot wait until this next book in this series Playing for Gelato, comes out later this year. Kudos Ms. Matis and Ms. Moran on an outstanding story. I did not want to quit listening.I was gifted with an ARC of this wonderful book for my honest opinion. GET THIS AUDIBLE BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! Thank you for reading my review. Now go exercise that index finger and order this book