The Protector

By: Cooper West

Narrated by: Paul Morey

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Guardsmen are always matched in a bonded pair. The Protector can shift into a weredog, and the human partner is his Handler. They are incredibly rare and highly valued, but people also fear them for their mystical abilities. No Protector in living memory has outlived his Handler - until Alex Taylor.

Now a widower, Alex lives a lonely half-life and faces day after day of grief with no hope for happiness in the future. When he unexpectedly bonds with the young and vibrant Handler Marcus Stephanek, Alex is angry and unwilling to leave the memory of his former Handler behind. He pushes Marcus away and tries to distance himself from their bond. But then a mysterious villain who has been secretly shadowing Alex for years sets his plan in motion. Alex and Marcus must learn to trust their bond and love each other, or risk not only their own lives but the lives of those closest to them.

©2014 Cooper West (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

missing something to make it to four

I found this book because of the narrator, whom i really like - he has a pleasent deep voice and always puts the right amount of feeling in his reading. The story is quite good, but somehow it really didnt get the emotions between the two MCs to shine. The animosity was believable and felt right but the eventual love between them i couldnt really feel - so instead of being great it kind of became a just above average love story.

Narration is great

Any additional comments?

3 Stars (Story = 2 Stars; Narration = 4 Stars)

I would have actually rated this much higher if it weren't for two things: gross stupidity and the ending. Would you like to hear of this stupidity? Well, then, kiddies, gather up close for I have another story to tell you...

Our story actually begins really well. Alex Taylor is a "Protector" guardian, able to shift into dog form. Alex is super special for a great many reasons, some of which are that he first presented as a guardian at eight years old (well before other children present), he bonded with his "Handler", Theo, earlier than usual as well, but the most special thing about Alex is when his Handler (and Husband) Theo is murdered, Alex doesn't die with him.

You see Handlers and Protectors usually bond sometime in their late teens, but no later than early twenties, and a kind of empathic telepathy develops. There is also a biological and neurological need for daily physical contact (doesn't have to be sex) so the pair bond is strengthened and if a Handler dies their Protector dies as well - though if a Protector dies the Handler may survive.

I enjoyed the world building. It's actually quite interesting most of the time.

After Alex survives the death of his Handler everyone waits for him to die. Thing is, he doesn't. So over the next three years while Alex mourns Theo he's tested regularly to give the scientists some idea as to why he survived. On one of the testing weekends Alex notices the scent trail of another Handler, Marcus Stephanek, and realizes this means he's going to bond with another. This is not joyous news. Alex is gutted by this.

Marcus is ecstatic at having finally found his bond-mate, being that he is twenty-six, well past the age Handlers normally find a Protector to bond with. He's happy until Alex makes it clear that he's not a welcome bond, that Alex doesn't want Marcus.

It's difficult because the pair is now bonded, no matter that neither is happy about it, and Alex is determined to shut Marcus out.

That's how the story goes for a good three-quarters...with us drowning along with Alex in the grief of having lost his husband, of having this interloper in their home, and struggling against the bond, and we are additionally grieving with Marcus over being bonded to a shell of a Protector after wanting nothing more in his life that to find his other half.

All of this was really well-written and flows well. It's frustrating and maddening, and I wanted to find Alex and beat the shit out of him...but I got it. I got that he had years to build a life he never thought he wouldn't have with Theo, only to have it ripped away and for him to still be there, and then this other guy all happy and, "Yay! We're together now!" So I can see how that would not go over well.

But then at 72% the story takes a turn for the stupid...and I just can't take it. Won't. It never rectified itself for me.

The only reason I didn't DNF was because I was enjoying Paul Morey's narration. I don't know yet if that's a good thing or not.

An exceptional tail...

Initially, the story was a bit confusing but as I continued the tale wrapped me in and took me to a place I never knew existed. My first experience with Cooper West's work and I look forward to losing myself in her other works. An exceptional read!

First read this on my Kindle and then it came to audiobook and for the price, couldn't resist. Paul Morey is an exceptional narrator and did a fantastic job...

Dystopian sort of Shifter romance

Would you listen to The Protector again? Why?

Yes, I planned on it. The story is captivating and passionate.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Protector?

The knotting scene.

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

Oh yes, I go an look for books he has narrated and I'll purchase an audible just because he is reading it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was a little annoyed with the angst level at times, but overall, I really enjoyed the story.

Any additional comments?

4.5/5 stars...

Alex Taylor was the youngest Protector in the history of the Guardsman to manifest his abilities at just eight years old. He’s always known who he was and what his destiny was, and knew exactly who Theo was, his bond mate, his Handler. After surviving the death of his Handler, Alex is lost and for the first time in his life, doesn’t know who he is anymore without Theo.

Highly accomplished Handler Marcus Stephanek is an anomaly as well at the ripe old age of twenty six, he has yet to bond with a Protector. He has more degrees and accolades than anyone else his age and yet, he’s unfulfilled in his life without his bond mate. Fate has a funny way of answering your prayers, and Marcus is certain he’s been screwed when he bonds with Alex Taylor.

Alex goes out of his way to avoid Marcus and try to push him out of his life, he feels like he is betraying the memory of Theo to even entertain the thought of a life with another Handler. Marcus bends and sways and takes it all in stride, as much as he can, in an effort to prove to Alex that they can be a successful team. Handler and Protector, bond mates, partners, lovers and friends.

This was a very emotional, angst filled story of how life continues to evolve and change and even the deepest rooted traditions continually evolve, especially when science and man stick their fingers in the pot. As the story progress you learn that Alex, Theo, Marcus and so many more are just pawns in one man’s sick and twisted attempt at fame and glory. But the core of the story is the relationship between Marcus and Alex, how they go from angry bond mates to friends and eventually, lovers. How they get past their own ideals and visions of what their life is or was supposed to be, and learn to make their own life together.

My biggest, well my only complaint about this story was the angst. There were a few times I wanted to bang my head against the wall, or bang Alex and Marcus’s heads together, at the very least! But the society that West created with the Guardsman and the Institute, the history and the science was spectacular. This was basically a dystopian novel in my opinion with the way everything was conveyed and written, and I love a good dystopian novel. The push and pull between Alex and Marcus was all encompassing, all be it annoying, but when they finally stopped fighting and started working together, they were lethal.

Morey’s narration was spot on as usual. I could actually feel the pain in Marcus’s voice as he tried everything he could think of to break down the tough exterior Alex has placed around his heart since Theo’s death. Only to be tripped around every corner. Lots of drama, emotion, angst and action make up the words of this odd romance. Definitely a must listen though, I was completely captivated by the world West created from start to finish, to spite wanting to spank Alex and Marcus a time or two.

Awesome!!!

Loved this easy listening with twist and turns that leaves you wanting more..
As always Paul Morey does an excellent job with the narration he is the reason why I purchased this book in the first place and he doesn't disappoint..
This is the first book I listen/ read of this author and I will be purchasing more I hope it's not a long wait for the next in this series and I hope he keeps the same narrator..
All in all fantastic story...

I like!!!

Any additional comments?

This had a little bit of heartache, mystery, action, and romance.

A fairly decent read, I only wish the performer would have used his own voice for Alex and Marcus. Both are young guys and that was lost in the weird voice pitch made for them.

Other than that, I enjoyed this story and was impressed with the other voices created fit the background characters.

Interesting concept (in a good way)

Would you consider the audio edition of The Protector to be better than the print version?

Yes. In a book form the dragging middle, I may have lost interest, but with an audio book it holds your interest better.

What other book might you compare The Protector to and why?

More realistic than werewolf stories. It allows for the weredog idea to live along side the human world as a normal.

What about Paul Morey’s performance did you like?

Pretty good, some differentiation of voices, but needed a little more. Holds your attention. Deep rich voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, over two days.

Any additional comments?

It had a great beginning, new and unusual concept and got off to a great start and a great ending. The middle dragged some. Don't want to give away anything, but still a good story.

Amazing book but poor reader performance

I love this book to the point I own it 3 times now. I own it physically, on kindle, and now on Audible. I do however wish I didnt own it on Audible because the reader makes so many mistakes during the reading of the book, such as wrong words and wrong character names during parts of the book and his voice was just...not good for what I always imaged the two main characters sounding like...it was just...gross to put it simply. I can highly HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone into gay shifter romance stuff, as well as it's sequal but unless the sequel is read by someone else, I'll be passing on it on audble. Thankfully they let you know who the reader is so I can avoid them completely like the plaque I see them to be.

Narration was not good

I'm going to read this in text instead. I found the narrator distracting at best and un-listenable at worst.

Different take on shifter stories

I really liked this book. There are handlers (humans) anf protectors (shifters) that bond but are not necessarily mates. The shifter lost his handler husband and is expected to die at the sametime but doesn't. He is living a lonely existence. Then along comes a handler who is past the due date for meeting his protector and doesn't expect to. The process usually happens in the late teens or early 20's. Both are older.. Protectors don't have more than one bond.
There is a school where protectors and handlers go to learn how to interact with one another. They meet at the school while attending different functions. The school is also a research facility. Once they meet and recognize they are fated they can not be seperated for more than several days at a time so they have to have some physical contact almost everyday whether it be a hug or holding hands or sexual interactions. The problem being the protector is still in love with his dead husband.. This is not a one size fits all.