For my first read of Lexi Blake this definitely wet my appetite for this authors story telling. What I liked about it was that it drew me in from the start. She grabbed my attention and had me wanting to find out where she was taking us with these characters. There is a mix of likable, unlikable and some mysterious characters that kept things moving in the story.

Win, the female lead was one of those likable characters. She did make some bad choices that put her in a bad place and the story begins at her healing. What grew of that was a woman who overcame and matured into a lovely young woman who dealt with problems in a reasonable manor. I loved that she wasn't prone to jumping to conclusions or acting out. She's a heroine you can genuinely like and wish the best for.

Henry, the male lead of the story is a bit more of a mix of likable and unlikeable. He's made his own bad choices in life and what came out of it was a man who was also more mature but still held onto some bitterness that made him judge unfairly. I liked him but then he had moments where I didn't like him. He never crossed a line that was unforgivable, but for me it kept him from becoming a character that I truly loved.

There were plenty of side characters that added to the intrigue of the story. Some may surprise you, some are predictable and some you will love and want to find their books to read about them. Since this is my first read, I'm assuming here but I got the feeling a few of these characters do actually have their own books. I will be researching that.

As for the story itself, there was good mix of drama to the story if a tad unrealistic. Only these things can happen to the uber rich in a book. Maybe that is why it pulled me right into the story and had me wanting to see how it all ended. Some of it was predictable and some unpredictable. I like that I didn't guess every single clue.

Now I'm off to see if those delicious bodyguards and their wives have their own books! ARC provided by NetGalley.

What a great story, I enjoyed reading Order of Protection!The first book in a new series from Lexi Blake!It was a long time since I read a book from Lexi Blake and I missed her writing!I loved the beginning in this one and the characters are interesting!

Henry and Win stole my heart!!Win is strong and Henry is sexy. I like how they met, they have a great chemistry!They are passionate,hot and sensual together

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!Order of Protection isn't a simple romance, it has action and drama to keep your interest till the end!

Order of Protection is the first installment of the new Courting Justice series by Lexi Blake. This series ties into Lexi's other series involving the Lawless family and the McKay-Taggert guys. It seems that this series will follow some of the attorneys that we met in the Lawless series, and heavily features Noah Lawless, who has joined the firm. I am interested to see how these stories play out and entwines with the other two series.

Our heroine in this story is Taylor Winston ("Winnie") Hughes, known as the Million Dollar Baby after her miraculous survival when the rest of her family was lost in a yachting accident. We meet Taylor after she has left a reality television show and been released from treatment for a severe eating disorder. I'm not usually a fan of Hollywood-type heroines, but I liked Winnie. I felt like she was down-to-earth for how insanely wealthy she was, and she was philanthropic and hard-working.

Our hero is Henry Garrison, a high-powered criminal attorney known as the Monster of Manhattan. After being put through the ringer by his famous ex-wife, he wants nothing to do with Hollywood types. Henry is also a recovering alcoholic, who is still struggling mightily with his addiction. I'm not big on this character flaw in my heroes, and this was my second in the the last week, so I was not excited. To top it off, Henry was an asshole. I hated him more than I liked him. The way he treated Winnie was way over the top and out of line. It's odd that I hate a hero and like the heroine, but that is what happened here.

The relationship between these two was hot and cold, mainly due to Henry being a douche canoe. Because of his behavior, I had a hard time getting behind the relationship. However, when he got over himself, Henry and Win were good together - very good. They had chemistry and they brought out the best in one another. They were supportive of the other's issues. But Henry was just too judgy, reluctant and downright mean at times.

The suspense plot was great. I loved how it was laid out. Someone was out to get Winnie Hughes, and there were plenty of candidates in her life. While it wasn't completely unpredictable, I loved the suspense and trickling of details as the story progressed. I enjoyed the secondary characters, particularly Henry's law partners. I am definitely interested in their books going forward.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

Put aside a few hours for this one…you will NOT be able to put it down! Order of Protection by Lexi Blake is full of lust, lies, deceit, thrill and mystery and so much more. Win and Henry will steal your heart and their story will keep you full of angst and on the edge of your seat. A sexy story of who-done-it and who’s who, you may think you know what is going on….but just you wait!

Win, Taylor Winston-Hughes, The Billion Dollar Miracle Baby - this woman is simply amazing. Although she is well off monetarily and is a former reality TV star she is one of the most grounded people I’ve read about. She doesn’t care about the money, she cares about the people that she can help through her family’s foundation. Win is going to continue her education so that she can run the foundation one day. She has been fighting an ongoing battle but her goals are strong and she won’t let anything get in the way. And then she meets Henry Garrison and his dirty mouth ;)

I don’t intend to get you off, sweetheart. That’s too juvenile a word for what I’m going to do to you.

Henry Garrison - The Monster of Manhattan - a ruthless lawyer caught up in his own scandal after his divorce from a movie star. This man is an enigma. Battling addiction and fighting to get his life back. Nothing is going to stop him this time. He is going to earn back everything that he lost, he also will not let anything stop him. Then Win practically falls into his lap, quite literally, and his whole world is turned upside down.

You know, sometimes storms come along and they seem fierce, but you wake up the next day and the sun is shining again.

Two weeks, that’s what they promise each other. From the start of that agreement you will see that it’s never going to work. Nope, not at all. It’s meant to be so much more from the very beginning. Win and Henry compliment each other in so many ways. They fit so perfectly, no Win doesn’t like that term, they are just so right for each other, she pushes him to open up and accept that he deserves to be happy and he makes her feel beautiful just buy looking at her.

…she was betting everything on him. Her heart. Her freedom. Her life. The were all in this man’s hand.

I could not get enough of this story. The twists and turns will keep you guessing, it will be impossible to walk away from this story.

People in love didn’t merely share the good times. The shared it all. The good, the bad, the horrific. The joy. The sorrow.

A new series from talented Ms. Blake is a must read. As an avid fan, this new series is a lovely start for a contemporary erotica. From the very beginning, the story pulls a reader in. Why? Because of the characters. Character creation and relationship building are the foundation of Ms. Blake's writing. They are why I read her books.

In this series, the tying thread seems to be lawyers. In this first one, Henry Garrison is our anti-hero. He is a man who lost sight of himself and when he crashed back down, it was a hard landing. I felt bad for Henry to a degree. The mistakes he made with his ex-wife are too easy to see nowadays. Sometimes, people bring out the worst in each other. This kind of toxic relationship is all too common and Henry fully immersed himself in it. He lost his brand and his reputation became undesirable. Humbling himself, Henry finally gets back to his roots and starts over again.

I like redemption stories. Giving Henry a second chance is what America is all about. A chance to dream and work hard to make that dream come true is all he wants. So when Henry meets an adorable jogger at his Grandfather's cabin, he thinks this may be a nice start to a possible healing rebound fling. What he doesn't count on, is falling for Win Hughes.

This is where my four star loses half a star and becomes a 3.5 star. Henry's treatment of Win starts out so caring a sweet. When new to him information comes out about Win, Henry does an about-face and is cruel. The way he treats Win is abusive and callous. I can not forgive him for this. In her time of need, his harsh words and actions can never be retracted. I lost quite a bit of respect for him and quite frankly, hoped that Win would find another man. Because when Henry learns something he doesn't like, his holier-than-thou attitude reigns supreme. He is a jerk in the highest order. Win deserves better. This is where my love for him turns into loathing. I never recovered over it, even if Win does. Henry seems to be given chances after chances. What a lucky guy.

I loved Win. She is a woman who also lost herself so she can relate to Henry. The betrayals she's had over and over again is depressing and all to easy to visualize. And yet, Win is still a loving, forgiving and patient person. Her capacity for compassion and doing the right thing is impressive. She makes the hard decisions and walks the talk.

This story is more than a romance between a man and woman. There is a bit of intrigue and the plot twists are like daggers to the gut. Win takes each jab with a stiff upper lip. I liked how the true face of each character, including secondary ones, is revealed. It just goes to show that actions speak louder than words and a wise person watches actions instead of taking words and promise at face value.

Ms. Blake does an excellent job of creating a complex and rich story. The emotions generated by reading this story makes me feel more invested and connected. I love it. When it comes to getting into a book and really feeling it, be it anger, disgust, fear, sadness, joy, happiness or lust, Ms. Blake will make it happen. This story is an experience to remember. Recommended to contemporary romance readers who enjoy second chance themes and redemption.

I've been hooked on Lexi Blake since I picked up my first M&M book of hers. But her latest books just haven't been doing it for me (except Remi's). Yet I continue to read every new one she puts out in hopes that I can recapture the love I felt when I first started reading her. Unfortunately, this book was a whole heaping of hot mess.

There were things that were so far-fetched (AKA the ending. Which made ZERO sense IMO).There were also things that annoyed the hell out of me. For example, Henry is just six months out of rehab, and I am pretty damn sure relationships are frowned upon for the first year after getting sober. That aside, he NEVER goes to an AA meeting? Never talks with his sponsor? She is a recovering anorexic, yet NEVER goes to see her therapist? She is accused of murder, and he is thrust into a high profile case, yet neither ever need to have a chat with their sponsors to help them cope? And yes, maybe that is me being nitpicky, but it is the smalls details that can derail a book.

On top of that, the first 40% of this book was a major snoozefest. Nothing happened but a ton of inner dialogue. I felt no connection between Henry and Win. I found it impossible to believe that Henry wouldn't have recognized Win right away given he was married to an actress and lived in LaLa Land surrounded by the entertainment industry. She was a famous heiress that was on a super popular reality show. I mean...COME ON. Things did pick up at the 40% mark, but then Henry turned into this giant whiney a$$hole, and I hated him. I get he was butthurt she didn't tell him who she was (although she never actually lied about who she was either), but if anyone understood that things are not always portrayed accurately in the press, it should have been him. But...NOOOO. This douche acted like she murdered a litter of puppies and buried them in his backyard! "You lied to me...whaaa." "You betrayed me...whaaa." <-- HOW he came to THAT conclusion, I have NO idea since she never actually did a single thing to him. He just kept whining about it over and over and over again. I spent most of the last half of this book wanting to throat punch him and tell him to GROW THE F-CK UP.

On the positive side, I did like Win. She was a super sweet heroine. I thought she should have told Henry to go f-ck himself on several occasions, but I didn't get the doormat vibe from her...thankfully. I also liked the secondary characters of David, and especially Noah Lawless and Micheal Malone. Plus we get cameos from a couple of guys from the M&M series (Chase and Remi). So yea, a bit of a mixed bag with this one.

Order of Protection is the first book in author Lexi Blake's new Courting Justice series. This story begins with high-end defense attornry Henry Garrison at his childhood home in Chappaquiddick packing up personal possessions so the house can be sold. His life is a mess, financially and personally, after a very messy divorce from his Hollywood star wife. His drinking hasn't helped any. Rehab over Henry needs to get his life back together. He meets a beautiful lady who is jogging on the beach past his house. Win Hughes trips, falls and looks up to see her rescuer, Henry. So Boy meets Girl. Boy and Girl are very attracted to each other and begin a two week fling. Girl recognizes Boy but Boy doesn't recognize Billion Dollar Baby, reality TV star Taylor Winston-Hughes. Boy has sworn off interacting with any more Hollywood types. The revelation of the truth doesn't go over well in spite of their feelings for each other during their two week fling. Things get even more complicated when Win is accused of murder and asks Henry to defend her.

Lexi Blake has a most devious mind. The plot twists in this story kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. To add to the enjoyment of the story we get to read about some of our favotite characters from Lexi's other series. In my eyes that is a super bonus. It looks like another winning series for this author!

What a great story, I enjoyed reading Order of Protection!The first book in a new series from Lexi Blake!It was a long time since I read a book from Lexi Blake and I missed her writing!I loved the beginning in this one and the characters are interesting!

Henry and Win stole my heart!!Win is strong and Henry is sexy and sweet. I like how they met, they have a great chemistry!They are passionate,hot and sensual together

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!Order of Protection isn't a simple romance, it has action and drama to keep your interest till the end!

This book was an excellent read. I very much love the characters. As usual Lexi Blake combines the right amount of drama, intrigue and romance to make a book that is exciting and enjoyable to read.

There are a few times that a book is read that leaves me speechless at the end. This was one of those books. I was hooked from the beginning, trying to figure out what would happen next, what kind of turn was coming, and who really did it. To say I was on the edge of my seat is an understatement. The characters where so life like.
Henry was an a$$, but we have seen it before. The man fighting the love he obviously has for his woman. Win, a strong woman who know who she wants. sidelined by a little murder.. I loved how Henry gives in and the Monster of Manhattan does something he never does. Ask if his client did it. The end is oh so sweet, and also a very hard fought for HEA.

After a devastating divorce and his ex-wife launching a public smear campaign, Henry Garrison's reputation in Los Angeles was left severely damaged, to the point that he can hardly land a single client. Between the divorce, losing his business, and just about everything he owns, he turns to alcohol to numb the pain, but all that managed to do is get him in more trouble. So after a stint in rehab, he decides it's time to return to what he knows, which means returning to New York again, where he will partner with some friends to open a law office and hopefully rebuild his reputation in his field. While preparing his grandfathers home to be sold, he spies a beautiful girl face planting on the beach, so he rushes to rescue her and winds up meeting the most interesting person to come into his life in a long while. The chemistry between them is immediate, and it spawns a little vacation love affair,that he knows it won't lead anywhere special since they have different plans for their lives, so he decides just to enjoy it while it lasts. But once he arrives back at the law office he gets the surprise of a lifetime, when his beautiful woman crashes into his world once again, and brings along some secrets and a job offer that he can't refuse!

Order of Protection is a scintillating tale that is sure to pull readers in from the very first page and keep them completely enthralled until the last. With it's suspenseful and steamy story line it's a can't miss read, and it was one of the most impressive first reads that I have experienced in a long while! These wonderful characters' story packed a powerful punch, both damaged from their pasts, both struggling to keep their demons at bay, and both fighting like hell to come out on the winning side of things... you couldn't help but root for them. This was quite the literary journey for me, the suspenseful side kept me on my toes, the steamy side had me swooning throughout, and the emotional side put a squeeze on my heart! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Lexi Blake has the ability of drawing you right into the story and you just can't put the book down until you know the what, hows and whys. It's what makes her an outstanding storyteller in the Romantic Suspense genre. Order of Protection is the first installment in her brand new Courting Justice series and has ties loose to her Masters and Mercenaries and Lawless series.

In the first book we meet Henry, also known as the Monster of Manhattan, a ruthless lawyer who doesn't care if his clients are guilty. It's what makes him so excellent at his job. His very public marriage with an actress and all its escapades has made him despise the limelight and after his divorce he's happy to have nothing to do with it any longer. Until Win stumbles into his life, a reality star and the Billion Dollar Baby, born to a wealthy family and only survivor of an accident that took her parents away.

***It wasn’t just the sass that got to him. It was the combination of strength and sweetness. Of brains and that rich vein of kindness everyone who knew her talked about.***

Both Henry and Win fight a darkness that can overwhelm them at any time they give in to it. The lawyer is a recovering alcoholic and Win a recovering anorexic. Their connection is instant and for a short time they find solace with each other, their brief affair is supposed to be over when Henry leaves to go back to New York and Win to start her first year of her Master's degree at Duke. The death of Win's best friend brings Henry back into her life. And he's livid when he finds out who the woman, he spent two peaceful weeks with, really is.

Oh and how mad he is. The man she met on the island, the one who lit up her world, who was lover and a friend, is replaced by the cold, detached lawyer, whose job it is to get Win out of custody and make her look innocent. Henry is a real jerk when he meets Win again. He feels betrayed and lied to - I get the lying part - omission is a form of lying...but Win never betrayed him. When I started this book I fell in love with Henry's character right away but the way he treated his client was horrible. He really hated the superficial world his wife and now Win were a part of. However, once Win dug out what crawled up his butt Henry returned to his sweet, protective, playful, sexy self.

***Our problem is I think you’re too good to be true. I want you to be real. I want you to be everything you seem to be, but I can’t quite make myself believe. Make me believe, Win.”***

It's Win who makes him eat his words. I loved her sass, courage and smart brains. Henry didn't stand a chance once she opened her mouth. The way she argued with him was sarcastic, straight forward and honest. She really knew how to make a point. Win went through a lot and her life is constantly in danger but she's a survivor and a fighter but there is also a soft heart which made her shine. She's probably one of my favorite heroines by Lexi Blake so far.

***He really was an idiot when it came to the whole emotional thing. Men.***

The combination of an alcoholic who drinks to let go of his iron control and an anorexic who didn't eat because it was the one thing she had control over was intriguing. While these two were broken apart from each other they made each other whole and made a whole lot of sense to me.

***"Nothing is guaranteed. The world doesn’t work that way. All we can do is love as hard as we can for as long as we have."***

The suspense is great - it's a classic who-dun-it and even though I guessed some aspects of it others completely surprised me.

There are two characters whose story I'm looking forward to. One of them is Noah Lawless, a brother of the Lawless siblings from the series with this name and David, NFL star turned lawyer whose book will be up next. I always have a fabulous time when I pick up a book by this author and Courting Justice definitely has great potential. Order of Protection was a solid introduction - it held my attention all the way until the end. It's suspenseful, romantic and hot and sexy (although it's a lot tamer than Ms Blake's Masters & Mercenaries) and I'm looking forward to what else the author has in store for Garrison, Cormack and Lawless!

I am huge fan of Lexi Blake's work. I love that this book had a minor crossover with Masters and Mercernaries series and the Lawless series.

I found parts of the this book going to slow. There was a lot of drama. When I thought the book was over and everything was resolved something new popped up.

Henry is a high powered attorney who just wants to be left alone after the divorce scandal he's been through with his actress ex-wife. When he meets Win he is struck by her girl next door quality and they begin a red hot relationship. When he finds out that she is a famous heiress who has been on a reality show he is appalled and wants nothing more to do with her. Then when Win is accused of murder he realizes that he has to overcome his feelings to save her. Mystery and romance abound.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Two people paying the price for the mess they have made of their lives find healing, love and redemption in Lexi Blake’s ORDER OF PROTECTION.

Henry was a shark, an attorney who went for the jugular until his wife shredded his reputation, his life and the fiefdom he thought he couldn’t lose. Win is the little rich girl who hides her brains and her true self to please her “friends,” her public and the reality show she starred on. She also hides her true identity from Henry. Now both are re-grouping, and a chance meeting has them dancing in the sheets for a quick affair that means nothing, until it becomes everything to both of them. Can love and a relationship be based on lies or will murder reveal how much they have together?

While Henry was said to 37 and Win 29, they both came across as much less mature to me, which didn’t quite fit with their “positions” in life. The mystery of who the actual killer is WAS very well hidden and I definitely didn’t see that coming, but like a reality TV show, this was a little too shallow for me at times when I wanted more depth.

Ms. Blake can certainly write and her characters have glowing moments of humor and passion, and the plot had some dark twists, but overall, I wasn’t trapped in the pages, refusing to let go.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley Publishing Group.

Series: Courting Justice - Book 1
Publisher: Berkley (June 5, 2018)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I loved this book! (Though the title does not fit the central relationship.) Well developed characters and plotting made it a page turner. I was rooting for Win and Henry. A great read.

For some reason I started this book two or three times, but didn't continue reading. Could be because I am a little tired of the "secret identity" trope. Anyway, I finally dug in today and finished Order of Protection. It was an enjoyable and engaging read (I finished it in one sitting). The twists and turns were pretty twisty and the end definitely not one I had seen coming until close to it. It was great to see cameos of familiar characters and great chemistry between Win and Henry.
Overall a fun read I rate at 3.5.

Order of Protection is an entertaining romantic suspense novel. The author ingeniously puts a spin on an otherwise predictable plot. The characters are extremely human and refreshingly flawed. All in all, it was a good read. I wouls recommend this novel to fans of Lexi Blake and the romantic suspense genre

***I received an Advanced Reading Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**"

2.5 stars
I love Lexi Blake's books, but this one was a miss for me. I couldn't get into it and wasn't invested to even finish it. I skimmed it.

I'm a fan of Lexi Blake. I love how she weaves mystery and suspense into a hot romance. So I was super excited to read the first in her newest series. Order of Protection won me over by the end, but let me tell you, those first few chapters were rough. Knowing where the story ended up, it's clear why there was insta-love but if I hadn't had my love of Lexi Blake to fall back on I would have given up. Thankfully it ended on a high note and I look forward to reading what she writes next.