Shielding Lily

By: Alexa Riley

Narrated by: Laurie West, Hunter Millbrook

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's Lily Parker's first day at a new high school. She's a senior finishing her last semester, and all she wants to do is graduate and get out of town. Her home life is a secret hell, and she's trying to find a way out. But everything changes when Ren says hello and sees right through to her truth.

Ren Hendrick's succeeds at everything he touches, including football. But he's never been passionate about anything. He's quiet and keeps to himself, which pisses people off. But he can't find the desire to care. He's lived a life without color, until Lily walks in and lights up his world.

Their story is one of sweet young love and finding your forever before you can even dream of what that is. It's one of protecting what belongs to you and having the courage to follow your heart, no matter your age.

Warning: Call your dentist and schedule an appointment, because you're going to get nothing but cavities from this sugary book. Ren and Lily start off so innocent, but by the time it's over, you're gonna need to hose yourself off. We're talking two virgins who turn into maniacs. You're welcome!

©2016 Alexa Riley LLC. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

good performers, meh story

I knew going into this book that the story wouldn't be super original-- guy meets girl, they fall in love, she rescues her from a bad situation, more kissing, they live happily ever after. It was exactly the kind of story I needed with the stress and anxiety of the current pandemic, so I downloaded and happily listened to the whole story. It was in alternating first person perspective, which isn't my favorite, but I didn't mind it so much. The performers did a great job and were fun to listen to. I was ready to give this a 5/5 comfort food book rating, but then I hit the epilogues.

That's right, epilogues. Plural. more than one.

That's not how epilogues work, first of all. I actually could have dealt with multiple epilogues because whatever, rules are for breaking and the world is on fire and I've got bigger problems. It was the content of the epilogues that got to me and please quit reading my review now to avoid spoilers.












Ren was protective of Lily in the main story and had some serious old fashioned chivalry going on-- he wouldn't let her carry her bag, opened her car door, etc. I thought it was cute. Some guys are just like that.

In the epilogues, though, he gets way more possessive. He yells at a guy for checking Lily out at the campus bookstore. Straight up yells, "Get away from my wife!" and gets growly because a dude checked out his wife. The guy didn't even say anything to Lily, just checked her out. The guy leaves and then Ren chastises Lily for her very normal choice in clothes-- jean shorts, a tanktop, and flip-flops-- saying that of course guys are going to look what is "his" if she dresses like that. Ren then throws Lily over his shoulder (in public) and carries her home.

There were other parts in the epilogues that made me raise an eyebrow-- the way he ignores other women, for example. He won't even have female friends because Lily is "the only girl he sees". In fact, he ignores everyone except for Lily to the point of being incredibly rude.

I get not liking many people other than your SO. My SO and I are both introverts and prefer each other's company over anyone else's, but if we are in a social situation, we still talk to other people of all genders and it's not an issue because we know that as soon as we get home, we're going to take our pants off, cuddle, and decompress. I trust my SO to talk to women that aren't me and vice versa.

Ren's possessive behavior in the main story is fine. Ren's controlling behavior in the epilogues kinda ruined the book for me because now I wonder if Lily left one abusive relationship for another. The epilogues make it sound like he does care about her, but with that kind of controlling behavior, I can't buy that it's really true love and not possession.

Cute Instalove Romance

I thought this book was cute. It was such a quick listen and the characters were very cute and adorable that I couldn't help loving them a little bit. Ren is very protective and catering towards Lily. I love all the things he does for her and the thoughtfulness that goes into everything he does for her. These two fall in love almost instantly and the story is centered around them falling in love at first sight. Don't expect some in depth story with supporting characters because this isn't it. This is for those who want a quick sweet romance with an alpha male and slightly hot sex scenes.

I really liked both narrators as this is the first book I've listened to them narrate and thought they were easy to listen to. Their voices made for a very enjoyable listen.

Beautiful Story

This is one of my favorite stories by Alexia Riley and I loved the audible just as much. Laurie and Hunter nailed the characters. I recommend this to anyone and everyone 🥰🥰

Sweet and sexy young adults romance

I enjoyed this story of two people who fall into installments during the last part of their senior high school year. He’s a football star and she’s an artist. His family is a happy one, but hers is an alcoholic father who is verbally and then physically abusive. There isn’t a huge story, just sweetness mixed with some explicit sex scenes. Narration was well done.

5 Star Must Read

Alexa’s story hits my heart so hard and fast. The story is beautiful and moving. The innocence of the characters and love. I laugh and cried. Thank you

Wow, sweet story 😍

I have ready this sweet love story about 5 times now... I love how it was put together.. well done

Love Story

This was a true lobe at first site story.I adore Ren, he new his own mind at such a young age and kept his head around all that pressure from school. He is to be admired.

Heart warming

This was the sweetest romance I’ve read (or listened to) in a long time. I LOVE the characters! The story was lovely and low angst, some thing you just need some times. The epilogue(s) were perfect. I’m not usually a repeat reader but I’m glad I bought this one because I will probably be revisiting it in the future.💖

Short and heart-warming 💓

I love a quick listen love story and this delivers per the usual excellent story telling of Ms. Riley!

need a second book

I don't want the story to end it's so good I want more I need more it's so good and there needs to be more the story I want to see their children

OMG

This is a lovely story of you true love.

this hopeless romantic loves it and the narrators are brilliant.
this should be readable as well on kindle hopefully one day.

Loved it

I adore this book. It’s one of my top reread books. Now it’s one of my top re listen books now also. It’s an insta love book that’s just so comforting to read and listen to.

I love this book

I really enjoyed this book, I found Ren as a rare type of guy and lily relatable and tangible

the narrators were good I just wish that they could be more changeable in speaking instead just him and her