Heartbreak Hero

Redleg Security, Book 1

By: Jackie Walker

Narrated by: Troy Duran, Savannah Peachwood

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

My name is Sue O’Malley, and I’ve been keeping it awkward since 1996. Another thing about me? I might be in love with my bodyguard. Leo Mason is all I’ve been able to think about since he broke my heart and left me standing alone on my front porch six months ago.

But now he’s back. He says someone is after us and insists we hide in his remote cabin until the threat is neutralized. It’ll be just the two of us with one bed, along with all his muscles, tats, and those f--king smoldering glances that burn up my skin.

I trust him to keep me safe from danger, but can I trust him to protect my heart too?

My name is Leo Mason. As a bodyguard with Redleg Security and a former Army Ranger, I’ve got lots of secrets and even more enemies. Six months ago, I did the unthinkable when I fell for a woman I was protecting.

She’s too young for me—too innocent—and being with me comes at a cost. One I won't force her to pay. So I did the best thing I could do to save her—I left.

But now there’s a new danger threatening her, and I’ll stop at nothing to protect Sue, my angel. I broke her heart before, but this time things will be different. This time, I’ll be her hero.

Heartbreak Hero is a medium slow-burn romantic-suspense novel with some rom-com vibes, plot twists, steamy times, foul language, and binge-worthy action. This novel features a plus-sized, neurodivergent heroine and a protective hero who helps her see her quirks as strengths and loves her exactly as she is. There is a happily ever after, no cheating, and no other woman drama. Tropes: second chance, age-gap, and forced proximity. Check the front of the book or the author's website for content warnings.

©2022 Jackie Walker (P)2023 Jackie Walker

The narration is perfection!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Audiobook Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5


Savannah and Troy were impeccably cast as Sue and Leo.

Savannah's narration had the exact amount of sass and quirkiness needed to let Sue's relatable personality shine.

Troy's deep, smoky voice as Leo was the perfect balance of commanding alpha and comforting warmth.

The narration was top notch and I recommend this audiobook for anyone who is a fan of romantic suspense!

Thank you Jackie Walker and Home Cooked Books for the ALC and the opportunity to give my honest review.

Heartbreak Hero is a medium-slow burn, romantic suspense novel with some romcom vibes, plot twists, steamy times, foul language, and page-turning action.
This novel features a plus-sized, neurodivergent heroine and a protective hero who helps her see her quirks as strengths. There is a happily ever after and no cheating.

Tropes:
Second Chance
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Bodyguard
Romantic Suspense with RomCom Vibes
Neurodivergent Rep
Plus Size FMC
Tatted "Gentle Giant" former Army Ranger MMC
He loves her exactly as she is; stretch marks, curves, quirks and all

Sue & Leo

Such a cute couple! The Protector and the awkward girl who is perfect for him. Who is out to get them? The surprise of the reveal is great. New to me author but love this and it’s going to be a great series.

Emotional, Brilliant and Romantic!!

This story has all the feels! Sue has six siblings and is troubled with anxiety and “peopling”. When her brother is in danger, she gets her own bodyguard from Red Leg Security - Leo. Leo does not take issue with her peculiarities, in fact they sync wonderfully, play word games and become close.

Leo feels he is not right for Sue, so walks away when the threat is over, purposefully hurting her in the process. This throws Sue into a quandary. Did she misread things? She is not good with people.

When danger reappears, the gloves come off, and true feelings can no longer be ignored - but it may be too late. This one will stick with you. It is an amazing story. I listened to the audio, which was superb.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

A Geeky Girl Favorite of 2023

I LOVED getting to hear this story, it was just as fun and amazing as reading it the first time. The narrators' voices fit the story very well, I can't wait to listen to it again!

I'm already claiming this as a favorite of the year.

I know I loved and adored Sue and Leo largely in part because I am the mother of a child on the autism spectrum. I LOVED seeing Sue get her HEA...it gives me hope for my kiddo.

I also LOVED Sue's quirks and mannerisms...Jackie did a fantastic job in her representation of ASD, anxiety, etc. While being broad enough to not typecast or stereotype (and reading her notes after the story explains why...thank you for putting your RL experience into your characters, Jackie)

Let's not forget to mention that Leo was dream MMC material...he was just so darn swoon. Big beefy bodyguard with his own issues and his big gooey heart. Couldn't resist if I wanted to.

I really enjoyed the world-building and the side characters that were introduced,. I can already sense several of the stories/pairings that are going to be coming in the series.

There were plenty of steamy bits....Plenty of suspense and who done its to keep this reader happy...but in the end, it was the glimpses at a neurodivergent adult lifestyle, the heart-to-hearts, the confessions and professions that really did me in...it's been awhile since a book touched my heart so much. 💜🩵

deliciously voiced narrators that take the characterization to the next level

Updated review! When three of my favorites (author Jackie Walker, narrator Troy Duran, & Home Cooked Books) collaborate to celebrate a new audiobook, there's no reason not to have super high hopes!

One of my favorite things in life as a reader is when I actually LAUGH OUT LOUD while I’m reading. It feels so stinkin’ good! Jackie Walker is such an amazing story teller. I’ll say it again in my review, but her characters’ voices speak clearer to me than maybe any other author. And all the feels at all the surprising moments—I’ll for real laugh out loud on one page and be tearing up or straight up crying on the next page.

Thanks to Home Cooked Books for the ALC & chance to give my candid review.

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Audiobook Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) or maybe 🔥🔥🔥 but lots of it and descriptive!

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 First-person dual POV—such great characterization: you know them, feel them, hear them, and definitely want to touch them.
🤩 Perfectly cast and definitely deliciously voiced narrators that take the characterization to the next level. What phenomenal romance audiobook entertainment!
🤩 Fabulous MCs: “burly, tatted, former Army Ranger bodyguard hero & neurodivergent heroine”! 😍
🤩 Romance Suspense—if you’ve been wanting to try one, I highly recommend it! All the feels you are looking for (love, longing, lust, & laughs) PLUS CLIMAX! Sorry, I can’t think of any good L words for suspense/thrill and I just can’t help myself. There is climax of all kinds in this beautiful story.
🤩 Chapter Titles—I know some of you are hoping for some chapter titles in your life.
🤩 Body positivity!
🤩 Second chance romance in such a clever and interesting plot.
🤩 Bad guys & danger but never having to doubt the HEA would happen.
🤩 More HEA than you even expect!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Creepy cabin in the woods—okay, actually an amazing cabin in the woods, but pretty creepy feels. I’m such a wimp—I definitely read past my bedtime all the way to the end because there was no way I was going to sleep with those cabin feels going wild. But, oh wow, was that cabin worth it! There was steam coming from every room in that cabin!

Steamy and Sweet

Its easy to fall into Heartbreak Hero and not come up until it ends. The characters are incredibly engaging. Sue is the awkward girl we all are on the inside, and sometimes on the outside. Leo is the dreamy hero, protector and family guy its impossible not to fall for. The characters balance each other beautifully and the story itself is full of true to life, and hysterically funny situations. The two narrator format is beautifully balanced and lend themselves perfectly to the characters. A completely relatable and infinity enjoyable read.

Fun Romantic Suspense

Heartbreak Hero was my first book by Jackie Walker and book one in her Redleg Security series. It took me a minute to settle into the prologue because I hadn’t read the previous series. Once I realized Leo and Sue’s fling happened at the end of that series, I connected with the characters more easily. The adorkable opening made me snort-laugh. After a lifetime of feeling like an outsider because of her unique personality, Sue O’Malley thought she had finally found someone who accepted her…until she was left alone and brokenhearted. Leo Mason is a former Army Ranger, professional bodyguard, and natural-born protector. When a personal connection with his client weakened his ability to perform his duties, he knew he had to disconnect. Six months after their whirlwind fling ended, Sue and Leo are thrown together again by fate or maybe a psycho stalker. I instantly felt a kinship with Sue and her sweet quirkiness. She is shy, brilliant, kind, and enchanting. Leo is supportive and flirty yet tries to distance himself when his connection to Sue weakens his bodyguard acuity. Heartbreak Hero is a terrific balance of suspense and romcom with a real-bodied, neurodivergent heroine and a hot & growly hero. This slow-burn, age-gap romance is a fun adventure.

Troy Duran and Savannah Peachwood make a terrific pair in the Heartbreak Hero audio. Savannah’s performance delivers Sue’s jovial, fast-talking, cute personality perfectly. Troy’s low timbre and smooth pace impeccably match Leo’s easy-going yet guarded personality. Leo and Sue’s differences in age, experience, and confidence are conveyed beautifully in their narrations. The balance of Troy and Savannah’s performances brought Jackie’s story and characters to life with levity, emotion, and seductive spice.

Loved it!

The narrators did an amazing performance and truly brought Sue and Leo to life. I absolutely love this book and how it brought light to a disability that is so hard for people to understand. I love how Sue's struggles are made lighter by Leo. They are each others missing piece. This book is so heartbreaking and life reaffirming at the same time. Jackie Walker wrote an amazing story full of suspense, humor, angst and love. I can't wait to read the next story in this series.

I was sent a free audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

These characters stole my heart

This was my first read by Jackie Walker, & I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this book.

Sue O’Malley is the baby in the family and has always been a little special. She has pretty severe social anxiety & after a family stalker situation is resolved, her security detail—which has become almost a security blanket for her—leaves her on a whim. A sense of abandonment now overtakes her psyche.

Leo Mason has sacrificed a lot in the military & now in private security, but in the process, he’s created potential enemies. Working as a security detail for Sue, a forced proximity brings them to form a close bond. But to truly keep her safe, he must leave when his detail is over.

When a new threat arises, Leo drops everything to be at Sue’s side. While the source of the threat is still unknown, he is very persistent & the danger is escalating. Leo’s cabin in the woods seems to be the perfect safe house…until it isn’t.

The level of slow burn here was extensive, but wow…was it worth the wait. Leo & Sue’s relationship was solid before the intimacy & it only strengthened after. The was the they meld & compliment each other was astounding. Leo’s acceptance & love of all of Sue's eccentricities warmed my heart. He truly loved her exactly as she was.

This book had several twists and turns & had me on the edge of my seat over a “who done it” scenario. I loved how these two worked out.

Audiobook Review:
Troy Duran & Savannah Peachwood both delivered a stellar performance, per usual. Their voices complimented the characters perfectly. Troy’s voice was perfect for Leo’s take no mess persona, while Savannah as the voice of the innocent & socially awkward Sue was an impeccable choice.

Love it

These characters were so fun. The story is well written. It’s funny & suspenseful. Exactly what I expected from Jackie.