4-4.25 stars. This was a really good book! Leave Me Breathless is Hannah and Ryan's story. Hannah is on the run from her dangerous past. She is an artist who has moved to a small town with a new identity and opened her own art shop. Ryan is a former security professional who has decided to retire to his small hometown to spend more time with his daughter. There he meets Hannah and she sparks something in him he has never felt before. He knows she is hiding something and is scared, which brings up his protective instincts. They find a connection and begin a relationship, but they also have to deal with her past coming back to haunt her.

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense story. I liked that it was a standalone and was pretty low angst. I loved Hannah and Ryan. They made a great couple. He was protective and strong. She was so sweet for having been through so much. I loved her free spirit and ability to rebound from tragedy with a hopeful outlook. I also liked Ryan's daughter, Alex, even if she felt more like a fifteen year old than a ten year old. The story felt a little Lifetime movie-esque, but the writing was very good and I felt the emotion. I enjoyed the small town feel and the art aspect. There is a little ex-drama with Ryan's daughter's mother, but it was minor as they were never really together (one night stand resulted in a baby), nor did he like her at all. That did not really take away from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, this was a sweet, sexy, simple story with the perfect amount of suspense.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this great, low angst, easy read. This was my first book by Jodi Ellen Malpas and will definitely not be my last.

A new standalone from one of my favorite authors JEM. Ryan Willis, an ex agent, now on private security and raising his 10 year old girl Alex. Hannah, new woman in town, who has demons she needs to overcome. Loved seeing one of my favorite couple within the pages of this story. An overall great read, the plot might not be unique but JEM certainly made it hers.

I have never uttered the words “ I do not like Jodi Ellen Malpas’s books” and I am not going to start now.

Leave Me Breathless was lighter, fresher and has a healthy dose of humour which was unexpectedly good.

This book is set in a small town so for those that LOVE a small town romance, this book is it.

You are going to love Hannah and Ryan!
Hannah is stinking cute and adorable! Add into this mix Ryan, a guy who is the quintessential dream boat…ladies and gentlemen…we have ourselves the most lovely couple!
The chemistry between these two are without a doubt page turner! Did I forget to mention the fact that Ryan has an outdoor shower…yes… the fact that he has an outdoor shower is important hahaha

Can we say a book is cute yet be absolutely sexy and exciting?
I don’t how Jodi Ellen Malpas does it but she manages to write a book that is all that plus mysterious, sexy as hell and so romantic.

Leave Me Breathless is a tad different from what we are normally use to but in a true JEM magic, she has captured my undivided attention once again with her new release.

For those who loved her book The Protector, like myself……the characters Jake and Cami make a few cameos…and let me tell you, this girl couldn’t stop smiling.

I absolutely enjoyed reading Leave Me Breathless

5 Stars

Leave Me Breathless is the newest stand-alone novel by Jodi Ellen Malpas. I have been anxiously waiting for this story since it was announced and let me just say that it hit every one of my sweet spots. Romantic, a swoon worthy hero, a fierce heroine, and a bit of suspense- Leave Me Breathless was everything I thought it would be.

I absolutely ADORED Ryan. Seriously everything about him was pure perfection. From his protective nature all the way to his huge heart, he is everything I want in a hero. After a close call, Ryan decides to go to his cabin away from everything to relax and regroup. While there, he encounters the beautiful yet secretive Hannah who’s running from her past. They have an instant connection but Hannah is gun shy. As danger closes in on them, will Ryan be able to protect her all while protecting his heart?

I loved this book so much! The characters were relatable and real. They were both complex and I loved seeing each layer peeled back and exposed. JEM nailed it with the story and I am looking forward to seeing what’s next!

This much awaited book lands on my kindle and everything gets put on hold. I'm a sucker for Good Guy romances, ones where hero is a provider & takes charge in a "I got this" kinda way. Ryan Willis certainly made me go week in the knees with his shirtless sexy physique and crooked dimpled smile. “I’m talking about Ryan all-hot-and-outdoorsy-and-without-doubt-an-incredible-lay Willis.” Jodi makes my heart palpitate faster, harder like no other writer. Her Forte being the Oh-so-Macho alpha hero who sweeps in to protect the damsel in distress, and though he rides a truck instead of a steed, the utterly romantic notion of a Guardian/Protector makes me all giddy inside. I mean, who can forget the swoon-worthy Body Guard Jake Sharp who saves Camille in The Protector! This book is a spinoff in the same Galaxy of Guardians. Though the background plot reeks of mystery and danger, Jodi infuses Breathless sensuality in steamy love scenes. That delicate balance seems to heighten the frustrating passion that both seem to deny initially. Hannah Bright is the object of Ryan's desire and hiding a dark secret, deadly enough to give her nightmares, anxiety and panic attacks.......and a loaded sidearm!! "Ryan wants me. Just the way I am. He’s filling the empty spaces inside me. And I can’t help letting him. I can’t help admiring him more every day. This is the man I was always supposed to be with. And now I fear I’ve found him too late." An intense foreboding cloud looms just on the horizon and the few stolen moments the couple finds together, break the spell with exploration of bodies and lip- numbing kisses. Oh my lord, Ryan can KISS... I adore when Jodi writes her trademark bathroom sex scenes (there's one in every book), The outdoor shower heats up chilly weather with rising passions There's a particularly sinfully sensual scene in the lake that had me panting for Ryan and I'm sure the water was boiling with passionate frenzy!! Characterization is starkly black and white, there's pure goodness vs the evil black. The constant thread of suspense highlights Ryan's dedication and devotion to shield Hannah at all costs makes me swoon. The charming small town setting adds to the flavor. Ryan and Hannah's chemistry is pulsating & palpable, their trust building gets interrupted by an old enemy that just won't give up. Hannah's natural instinct to take flight is handled by Ryan with painstaking patiencE The adorable Alex being Daddy's Sidekick, is mouthy and sassy 10 year old who nudges the characters when they are at an impasse and her comic timing of stating the obvious just made me Laugh!! Another superbly written, inviting, Must- Read romance that should be on everyone's Kindle. Since her husband is the Lord now, Lady Jodi's cap just got another feather! 4.5 stars for Heart that swings on the Lake

Being a big fan of this author's work, I was so looking forward to reading this book. The blurb had me intrigued, and the chance to meet another JEM alpha male had me thinking that I would instantly fall in love with his story but sadly that was not the case. On the plus side the book has the making of a great story, it's plotline has a lovely romance between it's main two characters of Ryan and Hannah who I adored, but it just didn't deliver on it's promise of any real drama. It was quite a slow moving story that just didn't give me the suspenseful build up that it needed to keep it interesting. Nothing really eventful happens in the story until I got to about 90%, and then it felt it was all rushed to tie up the ending. I really came to dislike Ryan's ex Darcy who I thought was too big a part of the story and she wasn't really needed so much as all she did was irritate me, the absolute star of the book was Alex, she was totally adorable and really made me want to keep reading about her and what she got up to. It was great to catch up with Jake, Cami and Lucinda too. For me this was just an ok read and not up to the usual standard we have come to expect from JEM.

Leave Me Breathless is everything you want in a book: humor, suspense and romance! This book is connected with The Protector with Jake and Camille, and we are introduced to Ryan Willis, who gets his story in Leave Me Breathless. Both can be read as a standalone!

Ryan Willis is ready to hang up his protection hat and just live life in his secluded cabin. His work in the protection business had him running around full-speed in dangerous situations for years and now he's just ready to relax. But when he meets the intriguing and beautiful Hannah Bright, he's protectiveness gear kicks in again.

Hannah is new to the small town and runs a quirky arts and craft store. Her personality brings warmth and friendliness to the community. But there is something missing and secretive about Hannah. And Ryan wants nothing for to find out what that is and to protect her from any danger.

This book will take you on a wild ride of suspense about finding out the truth of one's past and doing whatever it takes to protect those you love. Ryan and Hannah had chemistry from the very first time they met.

Another. Top. Notch. Romance.
Malpas returns with a sizzling new love story told in dual POV between an ex-MI5 single dad and the new small-town resident. They found themselves literally running into each other and falling in love.
Ryan Willis needs some R & R, so he returns to his cabin in small town Hampton to spend time with his 10-year-old daughter- Alex. Alex is truly a scene stealer. Each time she graces the pages I dare say I love the story even more.
Hannah, an artist, moves to Hampton to open her own art store and gallery. Details of her past makes it obvious they are painful and immediately you know from the start she is trying to jump start a new life. Hannah’s story will have you on the edge and reading between the lines to figure out what she is hiding. Clues are dropped along the way and it will keep you eagerly reading to find the next piece of the puzzle. It’s this mystery that will keep you glued with interest and turning the pages.
The story is well paced and plotted. Malpas unravels the hidden plot slowly. Just a little too slowly for my preference. In walks Ryan’s daughter Alex to save those moments. Hannah’s previous life is told in small doses as flashbacks, however the angst is hidden from the reader as well as the characters in Hannah’s life.
Hang on tight, it’s surprising how the story unravels. The bittersweet ending may be the most satisfying and will leave you, well, gasping for breath...

Mile High Kink Book Club recommends for your fall travel plans inside your carryon!!!

If you loved The Protector, you will definitely be on board for Leave Me Breathless. JEM will have you smiling at the quirky paint covered shop owner and panting after the hunky, shirtless lumberjack. Or at least I was...

Leave Me Breathless is a second chance romance with an edge of danger, a bit of trepidation, and plenty of paranoia. Ryan may have quit his job but this man is all about protecting. She is his new mission in life.

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the story of Hannah Bright and Ryan Willis.
Ryan has been in the Security business after leaving the military. But now after a close call he has decided to return home to his family, daughter Alex. But it doesn't take him long to run into the new resident Hannah who has opened a craft store / art gallery. But there is something about her that he knows she is hiding something and he calls in a favor to find out what is going on with her after his feelings for can't be ignored.
Loved their story and of course this author's writing.

This was definitely worth the wait! I was left breathless for these characters.

Ryan’s character I knew I was going to love him right from the get go, I love when you start a book and instantly have that feeling of connection, the same with Hannah.

Small towns always bring big stories and Ryan’s and Hannah’s story crashed right into our world right from the beginning.

This book has all the feels and I loved getting lost in Jodi’s words I’ve been loving her releases, they truly are page turners.

Amo’s Book Corner
5 🌟

As always this author does not disappoint. This story was full of love, mystery, action, and suspense. I definitely recommend this book and this author.

Leave Me Breathless is one hot read that will suck you in from the very start. I love the pull between Hannah and Ryan. You feel the chemistry between them from the very first meeting. Hannah is stronger then she looks, sweet and you can feel she is hiding something. The more Leave Me Breathless goes on the more you really get pulled into who is Hannah. I love Ryan so much. He will make you swoon. He is an amazing dad and so protective of everyone. He stops at nothing to help Hannah and discover her secrets. Ryan and Hannah are amazing together. I really couldn't put this one down. I love what Jodi Ellen Malpas brings to these pages. Go one click this one.

Heart-throbbing and sensational.

I always seek the next book from JEM with rabid excitement. It gets better and better. All stories are original and give you more than expected. This one took my breath away a few times because of the beauty of the relationship. It feels authentic and oh so enviable. It also ties with characters in The Protector which I really enjoyed.

Both characters experience for the very first time what it is to be drawn to someone with intensity, craving their warmth and pleasure and safety. I felt that too with them.

Quaint little town, passion that overflows all limits, and two characters that are a perfect match. He is a protector, a man of action, and she is a woman fighting to overcome her wounds and a traumatic past.

The double POV works its magic to introduce Hannah and Ryan, their opposing lifestyles and their innermost thoughts. The suspense seed is planted early as a subtle foundation that laces the relationship from the moment it kicks off and as it grows into a huge storm of love and trust.
I loved the funny yet adventurous way they meet, the tidal wave of their chemistry and all-consuming feelings towards each other. Life at the little town is idyllic, but also fraught with family issues.

I adored Hannah's way of life there, and her sunny disposition despite her distressing circumstances. Ryan is a big, unapproachable fellow but he falls hard for her and protects her with his life. He is a total hero for her and for everyone her cares for. I loved how loyal he was with the women in his life.

The events in town merge with the secrets from Hannah's past as they are unearthed to Ryan's despair. It's a struggle between trust and love, fear and hope. It really becomes thrilling as they fight for their union but also for a future together. There are many funny moments, plenty of meaningful passion that stirs the senses, a few touching scenes that are too real to ignore, and a turbulent yet completely satisfying climax. I never want to miss a JEM story, and this is why.

This book was breathtaking ;) be back with my review!

Leave Me Breathless can be read as a standalone but it’s also a spin-off of The Protector. This book had me on the end of my seat the whole time trying to figure out what Hannah was hiding, what was her story. When Ryan Willis met Hannah Bright for the first time he was instantly connected. If that makes sense. There was a pull. He was constantly going to her or near her or just wanted to see her. He had never in his life felt that with anyone. He was always the type to just get his fix and move on. No relationship, no commitment. He was going crazy trying his hardest not to act on those feelings especially when at the beginning Hannah was trying to stay away from him, even though he knew she felt the magnetic pull. He had this feeling he had to go slow, easy and he had to protect her. So that was what he was going to do if it was the last thing he would ever do.

Hannah could not get attached to this wonderful town she moved to. She was there to hide. She would eventually move on and did not want to hurt herself or anyone else. Especially a person that would make her feel whole again. Someone that she felt safe with, someone that she was finally normal with. When she met Ryan she felt it right, the pull. They were two magnets that would not let up, no matter how much she tried to stay away from him, she always ended up face to face with him. She knew from the first moment they met that she would be devastated when she eventually had to leave, but she could not risk his life and especially not his daughters.

Hannah had secrets and Ryan knew she did, but the problem was she always avoided telling him and would always change the subject. She was scared of something and he had to know what it was. Because to him she was perfect, nothing she could tell him would change that. But, he needed to know what she was hiding from so he can protect her and keep her safe. He knew he could not live without her. He didn’t care about anything, only that she would stay with him forever. Could there love stay strong when the secrets Hannah has from her past find her in the present? Will she stay and fight for what she has with Ryan or will she run like she always does to protect the one person that loves her for the person she is inside.

This book is a must read. The suspense, the chemistry they had with each other was amazing and had me hooked the hold time. Received this book for my honest review.

This book is hard to review. Not because I didn't like it, the opposite actually, but because there is a lot going on through the story, a lot happening, and a lot to process as you read.

Ryan and Hannah aren't your typical couple in a romance story, there is a lot they don't know about one another, and a lot that they think they know that maybe isn't quite what they thought.

And, this pretty much sums up my feelings about this book. I thought i knew where it was going to go, and how it was going to get there, a couple different times. And, I was wrong both times. But, in the best possible way as the direction it took worked better than what I was expecting.

Part of what draws me to titles by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the suspense. The not knowing what is going to happen, and the sense that she is an author who is willing to push boundaries, to let characters act in ways that maybe they wouldn't always in more "traditional" romance and this adds tension as you honestly don't know if it is going to work out for Ryan and Hannah.

I am also being deliberately vague as there is a lot in this book, and all of it could be an accidental spoiler...from the way they meet and the reasons they each have for maybe not jumping right into a relationship, to the ways the story arc builds...so I am going to be vague, and say that I enjoyed this title, and avoid all spoilers.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Jodi Ellen Malpas’s Leave Me Breathless took me by surprise in the best way possible. It’s a little different than her other books with its rural village setting and heavy dose of intrigue and suspense, but it also features one of her signature swoon-worthy heroes and sassy, resilient heroines, so it still feels like a JEM romance. Ryan is a single dad and ex-military, and he has just retired from personal security and moved to the small town where he grew up. Hannah recently moved there and opened an art store, and their attraction is immediate and intense from the moment they meet. She seems skittish about getting involved and evasive about her past, but he’s gobsmacked and wants to unravel her secrets. But the truth could put them both in danger when Hannah’s past comes back to haunt her. I absolutely adore Ryan — he’s sexy, sweet, funny and patient while still being a strong alpha-male. He and Hannah make an endearing couple, and I found their romance entertaining, fast-paced and utterly sigh-worthy.

If you love romance this is a must read because this is romance at its best !!!!!
I was excited about this book from the time I started hearing about it but I was also a bit sceptical, I was afraid I would compare this book to previous books by one of my favourite authors, I should never have worried Hannah and Ryan’s story captivated me, it drew me in from the first page and there was no putting down until I had read the very last line, Hannah and Ryan maybe characters I fell for but I can’t leave a review without mentioning an adorable little girl named Alex who stole my heart.
I don’t want to write a review full of spoilers because I believe you need to read this first hand with no preconceived ideas but I will say this is a spin off from The Protector and we do touch base with a Jake and Camille which for me was an added bonus to a story I was already loving. This book has all the feels you want and expect in a great read, it’s told in duel POV, it’s got wonderful characters, it has the perfect mix of love, passion and humour as well as a few twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I guess all that’s left to say is Leave Me Breathless is the perfect title for a story that really did leave me breathless... Once again this very talented author has weaved her magic and given us a book I urge all romance lovers to one click.

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas is a heart warming story of fearless love. She creates emotional and swoony love stories every time. And this was no exception. Alpha hero. A vulnerable yet strong heroine. Tons of deep emotions with the edge of thriller. If you loved The Protector, this story is for your addiction and obsession.

Hannah Bright is running from her traumatic past and the small town in England countryside is perfect for hiding in plain site. She is still jumpy, scared and skittish. But she is determined to start a new life with her art store. And Ryan Willis with his sexy body, gorgeous smile, panty melting charm and alpha man bossiness is not the complication she needs. But Ryan is fascinated with her shy, sweet and loving personality. Even when he can sense with his protection service experiences that she is hiding something and she is in big trouble. He has own issues like a sassy as hell daughter and his dreams. Can they beat the danger or will Hannah run again before jeopardizing their lives?

I loved the small town romance vibe in this story! The small community with all the quirky personalities and the natural beauty had me hooked. The chemistry between Hannah and Ryan was hot,deep and intense. It was slow burn at the best. Ryan was trying to be soft, considerate and careful not to spooke her. And Hannah was unsure if she should take a chance on the relationship. So the build up was pure torturing push and pull. And then it explodes so beautifully and sensually. The romance cannot get any better than this. And then there was the suspense to keep you on the edge. JEM Alphas are my indulgence and Ryan fits the role perfectly. Only Jodi can create this unique combination of arrogance, protectiveness, confidence and sweetness. My heart and panties had no chance. And Hannah was a bright woman with all her fear and broken parts. I admire her fighter spirit and strength. And Ryan's daughter Alex is the most adorable kid ever!

Jodi Ellen Malpas put heart aching emotion in every word and romance in every sentence of Leave Me Breathless. A breathtaking love story that captured my heart and soul.

Received ARC for Honest review

Perfect balance of suspense, humor and romance. Ryan has been in the military and then working protection for years. His last assignment, well, it was enough to make him realize it was time to stop. Returning to his hometown of Hampton to return to the daughter he loves and the comfort of his cabin and the wilderness. He never expects to run a woman off the road on his return. Hannah has a passion for art and has a vibrancy to her messy, unconventional approach to life. But when you look deeper, you see fear and trepidation are just under the surface. Moving to Hampton seems to feed her spirit in a way she didn't expect. When she encounters sexy Ryan, as he almost kills, her, well, she finds new feelings being awakened. Hannah is struggling to embrace this wonderful life she has built for herself while running from her past. Will she get a happy ending with Ryan? Or will her past force her to leave? Ryan's relationship with his daughter is fabulous. These two have an amazing bond. Hannah connecting with Alex through art was beautiful to experience and the three of them together find an ease that none of them expect. All of this adds pressure to Hannah as she navigates the now while running from her past. How this would end, well, I really didn't know it everything was revealed. Loved the journey to get there. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.