Oh be still heart, be still...

*Swoon*
Well firstly, I am not sure if I can even find the right words that will do this book justice. It's was sweet, funny, steamy and it wasn't exactly a unique kind of read, but it did have twists that only JEM can do and honestly, I love something different but I also love my comfort zones and this book sat very nicely inside that zone.

It's about two characters, Hannah and Ryan.


Hannah is a sweet, beautiful, witty, funny and caring woman and is hiding from her dangerous past.

Ryan is an ex-military, overprotective bodyguard that is needed to get away from an insanely demanding job. He's swoony, he's sweet, he's the father of a funny and adorable 10-year-old.

When Ryan bumps into Hannah, he can't help but see the fear that is lurking in her eyes and him being as protective as he is, he calls in someone he uses to work with to make sure Hannah stays hidden and safe. He's taken by Hannah and sparks fly between the two of them and things start to happen. But it's never that simple, is it? Ryan has a past too and that past could be something that could ultimately keep them apart and add in the fact that Hannah is in danger? Things are anything but perfect, apart from them. They are perfect for each other. But will it be enough? Or will Ryan tear them apart or will it be Hannah's? or both?


I loved this and I loved these two characters. I loved Ryan's daughter too. She was cute as hell, and the fun banter and laughter between all three of these characters left me smiling from ear to ear. Hannah and Ryan were meant to be. I could tell from their first encounter. Ryan is a dream, that overprotective side he has really does it for me and Hannah was the perfect kind of sweet that made this couple amazing. They balanced each other out, yet they bounced off each other with witty banter, and off the charts chemistry. Add in the fact that Ryan was a single dad and I was sold.

Jodi weaved her magic and delivered a profound, intense and sweet page-turner that kept my attention from page one, all the way to the last page. It was deliciously sweet, all-consuming, swoon-worthy, with a touch of angst. I absolutely loved it!


5 Stars!

Jodi ellen Malpas books always leaves me breathless. Her words and her writing is magical. This Book is Truly Mesmerizing, I Devoured it in One Sitting.

If you haven't one clicked this book yet Do it now people. Nobody should miss this amazing read. I Can't Recommend it Enough.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!! JODI HAS DONE IT AGAIN, SHE HAS LEFT ME SPEECHLESS!!!!

Leave me breathless was so good, I was on the edge of my seat wanting more. Ryan is EVERYTHING. I loved him so much, he was that sexy sweet alpha we all want in our life. Ryan is back into town and is ready to be with the people he loves. The last thing he expects is to go into town and find the newby. Hannah is trying to live her life, with many secrets holding her back she is trying the best she can do. I loved Hannah so much, i loved how she just kept trying to keep going and not give up even when thats what she wanted to do.

Ryan and Hannah, boy that chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS!!! These two were fire!!! I just loved how understanding and amazing Ryan was with Hannah, I loved seeing Hannah go out and give love a chance even when she tried to hid it. Jodi does such an amazing job with these characters, you will love every single thing about this story.

This is a MUST READ, you will not want to put this book down at all.

As a fan of Jodi’s books, I was very excited to read this book. From the reading the synopsis, this book sounded like the kind of book that I would enjoy. Unfortunately this left me feeling underwhelmed. I really wanted to enjoy this book. But I felt the pacing of this story was a little too slow for me that I lost interest from time to time. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for this book. But sadly I just couldn’t get into it.

This book was very difficult to get through.
I tried reading it thrice. But every time I tried, I just kept getting bored.
I think the start itself is too slow for my liking. The first chapter was full of action, but it didn't sort of serve any purpose for me.
But yea,
Eventually I gave up on it.

Jodi Ellen Malpas is a top fave of mine. Her books are always very well written, superbly plotted, and thoroughly engaging. This book was no different. I particularly enjoyed seeing previous characters while getting to know the new ones. The romance was stellar and the suspense kept me on my toes.

<b>Here’s what I loved: </b>

JEM writes some seriously hot male leads. I adored Ryan from the very beginning. Hannah was a total sweetheart. I love these two together. Ryan and Hannah’s chemistry is sizzling. I loved her backstory, well most of it. And he was a complete and total winner! Everything worked effortlessly with these two.

Definitely recommend this one! Loved the chemistry between these two! The characters, storyline, suspense really worked for me.

This book left me breathless. The author delivered an amazing book which kept me wanting more. With each turn of the page, I fell more in love with the characters. .

This was unfortunately a DNF for me at 35%. It was my first time reading a book from JEM and I liked it during the first third, but lost interest. I really struggled with the flashbacks of the heroine’s past relationship and found them a bit too triggering. I enjoyed the authors writing style and would try her books again.

Jodi really brought it with this read. I was sucked right back into the world of The Protector and it was fabulous.

This novel was a completely different read from that one and yet it took place in the same world and we ever got a little peek at our favorite couple!

I loved this page after page. Ryan was everything. I loved his personality and really getting to know who he was behind his job. Then we had Hannah. I really felt with Hannah. She is my spirit animal. I loved how free and bright she was. She was everything that I wanted her to be.

Then they got thrown together and it was beautiful. They were explosive without ever trying and even when he world was a little dark in their corner, their feelings shined bright.

Lots of surprises and even more secrets that you don’t see coming. I loved this read. I would love another novel with this family of friends but this novel wrapped up perfectly.

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas is a great follow-up to her novel The Protector. A great story filled with characters you'll fall for. I enjoyed it.

Leave Me Breathless was such an amazing story. I found the characters, especially Ryan, unlike anything Jodi had written before. And the story was full of love, hope, new beginnings but it was also quite action-packed! All planned to make the reader's heart beat faster with anxiety!

The story is set in a English countryside, in a cute small town where everyone knows one another. Ryan comes home after spending lot of time working when he encounters the new resident Hannah. Their first meetings is one of the best Jodi has ever written! Ryan is a very charming, laid-back guy who is surprisingly quite easy-going. Hannah is very sweet and friendly, but it's obvious she is hiding demons. Together though, Ryan and Hannah work perfectly! I grew fond of them really quick.

The book was overall really great. There were many plot-twists and surprises! Jodi also teased us with showing us bits and pieces of Hannah's demons from the beginning until they fell into place together like a puzzle at the end. It kept me on my toes!

5 stars! Love it!

A rugged hero, sweet heroine, action, suspense and danger...what more could I want? Oh, steamy romance! Check!!! Ryan was one of those single fathers that you instantly fall in love with. He's a protective, fun loving, all-in father. Hannah is one of those quirky, creative types. I love that they both were kind of instantly drawn to one another. Ryan is use to dealing with people with secrets and Hannah is the worst secret keeper. This story was just a swoonworthy romance with the big protective guy you can just fall head over heels for. He's pretty much the kind of guy the sweet heroine Hannah deserves plus you get the bonus daughter Alex. She's a hoot! Much wiser than her years and so mischievous. She stole many scenes and definitely made me crack up laughing! Just a feel good read.

Jodi Ellen Malpas is the QUEEN OF ROMANCE!!
I LOVED IT ALL- the chemistry, the characters and the storyline!

4.5 Stars
Jodi Ellen Malpas always writes the best stories with the best male characters. Leave Me Breathless has suspense and sweet romantic moments. Hannah and Ryan have great chemistry and are so cute together. This was a fast-paced book that I couldn’t put down. If you’re looking for a swoon worthy fast paced romance look no further.

Leave Me Breathless was one that I wasn’t able to finish but kept trying. It was just really slow and unlike any of her other books. I absolutely didn’t want to give this below a 4 because I love Jodi Ellen Malpas and ALWAYS look forward to her new releases.

I was hoping for more from this. I like the elements with Ryan and his daughter. I also liked much of the plot, but the characters seemed lacking to me. I didn't really care about Ryan or Hannah. Their relationship didn't really work for me and their chemistry seemed off.

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas - The number of stars I'd like to give this book would never fit the character count limit 🌟 💕.

“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔.” — 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 35, 𝑹𝒚𝒂𝒏.

She strikes again with another amazing novel, with another breathtaking tale!
Jodi with her growing collection of JEM men has written this beautiful book.
I cannot even begin to articulate how I felt during my read with any word other than – breathless.
Ryan and Hannah stay true to the title – they leave you breathless and awestruck, wondering how on earth you managed to fall for another one of her alpha men in just a matter of hours.
The number of lines I have highlighted would prove just that.
Hannah's strength is something to behold. She's such a strong woman, and I'm so inspired by her willpower to be free.
You will gasp, laugh out loud, curse, feel afraid and angry, but most of all – you'll feel the love. Feel those warm and gooey emotions while taking this sexy yet emotional ride of a book,
There is so much more I can fill this review up with but I can't close without mentioning Alex, because she connects to you in a way you'll be surprised, and will bring you childish joy…
I just had to read this book once again the moment I finished it because it's not easy to get over.
This is one of the best books 2019 has seen, and it will surely be one being read over and over again because that's how talented and gifted Jodi's writing is.

Thank you to JEM and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.8 stars

To be honest, I have always loved how Jodi writes. All of her characters become alive the moment her readers dive into her stories. Leave Me Breathless is her fourteenth work and of course, Ryan and Hannah are very much alive when I started to dive into the story.

I have rated this book a 4.8 star. The story originally is really attractive, I have been waiting for this to come live for a long time. I have deducted 0.2 stars since the start of the story was kind of dull compared to the rest of the story, I did struggle a bit in the beginning but not long after then I started to fall deep into the story.

I do enjoy reading Leave Me Breathless and would totally give this story a second go. Totally recommend this story to any reads but I will say it's better to read This man series. However, this story did give me a deep memorable kind of love, a love that can overcome any fear, a love for the most important person in your life, a love that you actually want to get a hold on for the rest of your life.

There's a reason why Jodi Ellen Malpas has as strong a following among romance readers as she does. She knows how to capture our attention from the first couple of pages that promises the sort of story and characters that will make us want to spend two or three hours with them and then reels us in, backing up that promise with her brand of enticing storytelling. Her latest novel is a standalone--although Jake Sharpe and Camille Logan from The Protector do make an appearance here, but you do NOT necessarily need to read their story in order to enjoy this new one--and if you're familiar with Malpas's writing, you'll recognize those familiar elements of romance and suspense that she mixes in her unique creative touch to, making Leave Me Breathless yet another winner of a read.

Ryan Willis is undoubtedly one of the best in the security business. He's vigilant and he's always made an effort to be prepared for any and all contingencies. With him needing to constantly be on his toes while on the job, unwinding after each assignment is necessary, but a longer break at his secluded cabin suits him better after going non-stop with work recently. When Ryan meets a stranger in his small town, he is taken by surprise...and by her beauty. Hannah Bright is unlike any woman his ever met, and he's completely beguiled by and enamored with her. But Hannah is keeping a cache of secrets, and keeping Ryan at a distance is a must. However, once he begins to delve deeper into her past, there may be no stopping it from coming back to not just haunt Hannah, but far worse.

On the surface, this may seem like your typical story of knight in shining armor rescuing his damsel in distress, but there are layers to both Ryan and Hannah and their respective back stories, as well as the story they share together. The romance and suspense were above par, as always, but then what else can you expect from this author? Jodi Ellen Malpas balances it out with some lightheartedness courtesy of the supporting characters, particularly, Ryan's ten-year-old daughter, Alexandra. Naturally, we can't forget that Malpas always brings the heat, and Ryan and Hannah certainly don't disappoint. With great pacing, an intriguing story, and main characters I was cheering on from the moment their paths intersected, Leave Me Breathless was three hours well spent. 4.5 stars. ♥

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have waited for this one since it was first introduced, and I couldn't wait to start it when it hit my Kindle. It is a wonderful story that is filled with suspense and WOW!

Ryan works with Jake (from The Protector) and both are on the job when the story starts. Ryan decides that he is done with his job and wants to build houses close to where his cabin is. The cabin is near Hampton, a small town in the country where everyone knows everyone and everything. When he notices a new shop on main street, he doesn't think an art shop is a good thing for the little town.

Hannah has been running from her past for many years, always looking over her shoulder. She can never let her guard down. As she sets up her shop, she thinks she might stay a little longer in Hampton. Although she knows she can't stay forever, it is too risky to stay in one place for too long.

When Ryan meets Hannah the sparks fly and she is struck speechless. Several times she can't speak. She is drawn to him, he almost kisses her twice, the third time he finally does and it is perfect. And he walks away after.

Can Ryan show her that she can stay and let him love her? Will she get spooked and run again? Will her past come back to haunt them both? Will they both get a chance at a future together?

I loved this story, and Ryan and Hannah are perfect. And don't forget Alex, she is great too. Ryan is another alpha male to add to my JEM stable of men. If you haven't read Jodi Ellen Malpas yet, you will love any of her books, she is a fantastic author and a go-to author for me. I hope you love this one as much as I did.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Ryan is used to being on edge. It's kept him alive and saved countless lives. However, he wants to take a step back and be able to enjoy his life. So, he leaves his work and returns to his favorite place. He also wants to see his daughter more than the little he's been able to. He loves her with everything he is.

Hannah is finally able to have a little piece. She loves where she is living and her life. With the past still able to haunt her, she wants to just make the most of what she has now, before she has to move on.

Ryan and Hannah are great characters. They seem to have an easy friendship and while it wasn't an overly steamy or great romance, their easy friendship led to an easy transition to potential love interest. I really enjoyed watching Ryan's daughter stir everything up. She was hilarious.

Malpas has created an ideal place to live and with it, ideal circumstances for walls to come down and pasts to be revealed. With the typical obstacle thrown in the story, it made for an entertaining read. The knight in shining armor saves the woman, who, while she can save herself, likes that someone else wants the job too.

Triggers: Abusive relationship, stalking


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a very enjoyable read from the talented Malpas. It is set mainly in the English Peak District, although really, any small town would have offered the same protection, it did however provide the village fete and the snooty lord and lady of the manor, so in that was quintessentially British. I am still questioning their sanity at going repeatedly into a woodland lake though, as the water must have been absolutely freezing!

Ryan is off duty, kicking back and looking forward to spending time with his daughter when he crashes into a tree avoiding a woman on a bicycle. Their connection is powerful, but she is without a doubt hiding something, and it is something she fears. As the story unfolds, the fear remains, but it is only slowly revealed just who and the depth of why.

Hannah is a likeable character, although her wisdom in opening a specialist shop in the middle of nowhere is more about her love of art than any business sense, that is for sure! It works as a vehicle for drawing her into the community life, and undoubtedly her growing relationship with Ryan helps her settle too. I enjoyed the events that take place, and the crazy of the 'ruling' gentry, which was sadly all too realistic.

Alex, Ryan's daughter, is an absolute hoot, and does a great job of pulling the two of them together, when they are floundering between should they shouldn't they moments. She acts beyond her years, but boarding school can definitely do that to an only child.

There are some really rather sad moments, some funny moments, and some very sexy ones – in just about the right proportion for me. A good read from cover to cover – and I could happily read it again for some fun escapism.

[p.s. I am still a little confused as to why the moving bicycle didn't raise any concern sooner, (or the jewellery) – I couldn't see why it was mentioned but not used as a vehicle, (no pun intended) for making her at least wary. And even later, it is just ignored.]