Vow of Protection

Personal Protectors, Book 1

By: Brittany Cournoyer

Narrated by: Kenneth Obi

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Walker ~

Living a life of privilege isn’t always what it seems to be. While Walker has never wanted for anything material-wise, the two things he doesn’t have are his parents’ love and support. Walker tries his hardest to be the perfect son by allowing his father, the Governor, to dictate his life for him. All that changes when an awful day leads to a brutal night, causing Walker to fear for his safety and hire the only person he knows can protect him. 

Beckett ~

Peace and an easy way of living, that’s all Beckett wants after serving 12 years in the army. Working for his Uncle Rusty’s bar as a doorman and occasional bouncer, the last thing the tattooed man with the take-no-crap attitude needs is to have to save the obnoxious kid who gives him attitude at the door. After ensuring that he’ll survive, and having a not so pleasant run-in with the guy’s parents, he leaves the hospital never expecting to see him again. 

Walker and Beckett come from two different worlds. Where Beckett fought for his country and now enjoys the simple life, Walker works as his father’s campaign manager and lives a life of luxury. But when Walker’s safety is threatened, and he offers Beckett a job as his bodyguard, their lives became entwined and the two men begin to find that maybe they aren’t so different after all. Soon bickering and fighting turns to friendship and something…more. The only problem is, Walker’s straight…isn’t he? And can Beckett figure out who is behind the attacks in time to save Walker? 

*Vow of Protection is book one in the Personal Protector series. This book contains situations for adults only and also talks about past drug use and rape.*

©2018 Brittany Cournoyer (P)2018 Brittany Cournoyer

Cringe Worthy

The cover of this book looks nice enough and well the summary, though nothing new, did stir up my interest. Let's just say my interest stayed there. With the summary. The plot to this story was so banal it read like an over the top FANFICTION and nothing that screamed revenue-gaining published writer. Given I've never read anything from this writer, I'll just leave this at being my first and my last read from this author if all her books read like this. Now here goes my breakdown:

Miner Spoilers. So don't go down this review if you want to read this book/audio.

PLOT:

Despite it being fiction...COME ON! At least make the story somewhat believable to where readers aren't rolling their eyes at each turn. I won't be the first or the last to feel this way either. The politician father isn't believable. Yes most politicians are lying assholes but hey, they are masters at good publicity through fake smiles. Nobody VOTES for a straight-in-your-face-mean-cruel politician. Nope - we all vote for smiling liars. That's just a fact of life. The politician father in this story however, offered nothing, natta, not a damn coherent quality to how he even became governor - the character couldn't even lie about being nice. And by reelection he just got nastier - publicly. Yes this is an important factor for this story because it does revolve around this man. The progression of the story itself is just on-going rambling inner monologues by the two main characters. This whole book is nothing but "oh what if this, what if that, Oh if I did that he'd feel this way, Oh god, why do I feel this way..." blah. Seriously, I like inner monologues to some point if they serve an area of the story but to use it throughout the whole book is just lazy and not creative at all. Also I'd like to say that if you're going to make one MC a 12-year-former army man - oh I don't know...how about not making him so DUMB. Yes DUMB. This is the first book I've read where the MC, who's supposedly knowledgeable about military antics with a decade long service under his belt, doesn't come to realization until much later about why his party is so easily tracked. Cell Phone, much? That's just really mind boggling. And well I don't have shitty parents, but I do watch and read the news, and I've an aunt who runs a foster home for children whose parents are drug addicts, so yes I know that they are really fucked up folks out there. My problem is, this is the first story which I've come across with the theme of shitty parents and didn't buy into their shittiness, if that's even a word. The whole setting was off, not researched. The characters even more so. There's a difference between good fiction and just plain nonsense fable. If it's nonsense fable, please label it as such so we know what we're buying.

The MCs:

First MC: Walker is a WHINY (yes, in all caps) dumb poor rich princess young man who shrieks at everything. I've read and listened to plenty of books, finding a handful of MCs that are annoying. But even then I don't usually leave reviews. But this, I had to. Because this is the first book that I cringed so much while listening to the audio. I dragged my ears to listen to this idiot character's nagging for only one reason - I bought the damn audio. For a self-proclaimed straight guy whose only ever been with woman - minus one time due to a mistake, Walker sure turned gay quickly at the flip of a coin. Well at the sight of his bodyguard going all macho. That's just...UGH. Fanfiction cliche. Also it made no sense that he was the one to hire his inexperienced bodyguard only to question the man every freaking step of the way. Note to one, how about not hiring one if you won't follow protection rules. Yeah, I know why the author made it that way - to create cute banters between the MCs but holy hell, that really didn't work out here. It just made me, the reader, shake my head at the stupidity of the plot.

Second MC: Beckett is an asshole. Not a likable one either. For someone with PTSD, he didn't exactly exude symptoms. We are just told he has it to a certain degree. Beckett was written as a leading man with big bad attitude with a constant reminder that he served 12 years in the army to justify his big bad behavior. Again of all the freaking cliche. As a bodyguard, he also treated his boss like some 13 year old girl who needed to be kept in the dark about his protecting tactics - which he didn't have any. I imaging that a good bodyguard would communicated with their client about a daily schedule/route and their protection without snapping at supposed client like they annoyed the shit out of him. Worst bodyguard antics ever.

Narrator: This is my first from Mr. Obi and hopefully not my last. I think he just chose a shitty story. His voice wasn't bad. My problem, again more with story, was that Obi pulled a level of pitch difference to define the characters which didn't sit well with me - at all. Walker was made to sound like I said up there, a whiny boneless poor rich teenage girl in a man's body. And Becket was made to sound like the Alpha Male from the planet of TOP-DOG. Shrugs. It's probably what the author approved of so I'll this one by Mr. Obi slide.

Overall: Read if you like Top-Dog-Alpha-Man and Teenage-Girl-Man couple. If it's not your cup of tea, you can skip this one. I promise you're not missing much - or anything at all.

story just ok, narration is good

I thought the premise for this story was interesting and I liked the characters, but overall I found this audiobook just OK. This book grabbed my attention in the beginning and I was on the edge of my seat for the first part of the story. Then few things didn't add up and later more things didn't make sense to me. I wished I could ask the questions and maybe then the story would make more sense, I kept listening hoping all will be explained, but I was not as engaged anymore. I loved the narration, Kenneth Obi did a great job with all the characters and his voice was the best part of the listening experience for me. This was my first book by this author and I might listen to other books if they have better story development.

The story just couldn't grab me

Despite a very solid narration from Kenneth Obi, it couldn't save this story for me. I just never felt connected to the characters or even really liked them, and too many things seemed over the top. Things just didn't work for me with this one.

Amateurish

While the author is clearly creative in character development and even plot, the writing was terribly unsophisticated. Was there even an editor? This story really had potential but the poor execution was frustrating. It seemed like a good effort by a talented 8th grader who could become an excellent writer with more education and maturity. Sadly I won’t be continuing the series because I don’t think I can take any more of the irritation I felt at the unrealized potential of this book.

Vow of Protection

It was a good story with a lot of potential to be added into the next books of the series. The writing was good and the story flowed throughout. But I wasn’t really feeling these two men together. They didn’t really seem to have the chemistry to make me feel like their relationship would be long term and lasting. I can totally see them arguing and driving each other absolutely crazy until either one or the other bails. Lol. I did like the amount of action in this book and that it was not totally predictable as to what happens, who’s does it, and why. I am really looking forward to seeing if Carter gets a book though. I’m hoping we learn more about him soon.

At first I kinda felt like Walker deserved the Karma for everything that happened to him. I thought he was pretty shallow. But.... As time went on, my thoughts and feelings totally changed. Poor Walker. He has the worst luck. When it comes to jobs and relationships *friends and lovers* and family. He’s like a bad luck magnet. Things just happen and he is so dumbfounded by it all you really do feel bad for him. And his parents really, really suck as people. Walker’s dad is a real piece of work.

Beckett drove me nuts. His personality and the way he acted some times was so freaking immature and rude I wanted to smack him upside his dang head. He was a jerk to Walker right from the start and that made me dislike him a bit. He’s former military so you would think he wouldn’t be so ruffled and irritated with the smaller things that happen along the way. Anyhow. Beckett did grow on me after some time. It just took a little bit of getting used to his rough personality and mannerisms.

Audio - Kenneth did a good job overall, and I’m glad I listened to it. But this was not my favorite, it was just somewhere in the middle ground between love and dislike. He Totally nailed the voice and personality for Walker but I felt like some times Beckett’s gritty deep voice was a little forced and off depending on the situation these two guys were in at the time.

A great Mystery Suspense

I love a good suspense and after listening to one of Brittany Couroyner’s I fell in love with her writing style and stories. The characters are great, and the suspense is page turning. I loved the way Walker and Beckett argued and the slow burn in this book. I was a bit shocked at the outcome.
I love Kenneth Obi’s narration. I liked the voices he chose for the characters and he acts out the books more than just reading. If you can get the audio, I recommend it.
If you like Mystery/Suspense, Gay for you, slow burn, body guards, twists, and a great climatic ending this is for you

OMG! So GOOD!

What's better than a spoiled, rich young man and a battered ex military? I'll tell you...this story because their love was so real. no relationship is sunshine and rainbows all the time and these two fought and made up and loved like real couples and it was simply amazingly refreshing. Once again, Mr. Obi made these men come to life with his voices and intonations. Anyone can read a script but it takes a special person to make it real! Well done!

An excellent book

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook by Brittany Cournoyer, narrated by Kenneth Obi. She is a good author and the late Kenneth Obi was among the ranks of the best narrators out there.

FANTASTIC story

I was actually surprised by the wonderful quality of the story. I gradually fell in love with the characters. There was significant character development of BOTH men. And of course, as always, the narration was fitting, sexy, and wonderful overall.

Exciting

Loved this story. It is exciting and interesting. Loved the narration and storyline. Can’t wait to listen to book 2

Entitled rich kid falls for body guard

Walker, rich, entitled, overbearing father, distant mother, finds his life crumble losing his girlfriend, best friend, job and apartment in quick succession. Who is trying to ruin his life? Beckett, hardworking, ex-army, PTSD, is hired to protect Walker’s safety. I didn’t mind this although I found it a little hard to relate to the two main characters - they said too many contradictory things. I did enjoy the mystery of who was behind Walker’s downfall but felt the showdown was a little slapstick. 🎧 I received a free copy of the audiobook in tribute to the late Kenneth Obi. He made the characters work and I really enjoyed his expression and pacing.

as great as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. Kenneth Obi is one of the top 5 narrators (so far) for me, I can listen without break and have no problems to follow. I'm just not yet finish with the book, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Brilliant

Loved this, especially the suspense of who was trying to kill Walker. The chemistry between Walker and Beckett sizzles. Carter was a fun side character. Obi was excellent with his narration and can't wait to continue their journey

Fantastic

I loved this book, It kept me in suspense for until the end, and the narrator told it so well, distinguishing each character with their own tone.