Another great read from Jodi, this romantic suspense / single dad read is also a spin off from The Protector but very much its own standalone...... sexy, swoony, funny and cute with drama and suspense to keep you on your toes, I read it in one go, an engaging and riveting read from start to finish.

Ryan is ex MI5 and works with Jake Sharp (The Protector) and loves nothing better than returning back to his home village, where nothing ever changes and there is no danger around, loving his own built log cabin and the peace and quiet it provides.

Hannah is new to the village having just opened up and art shop, she is cute, quirky and fun and loves nothing better than painting all day.

Ryan and Hannah bump into each other in the most unexpected of ways, their chemistry and attraction undeniable. But Hannah is full of secrets and must try and keep her feelings for Ryan from being involved, knowing she cannot stay long. But the man is stunning and gorgeous, calming and protective and she is in real trouble. Ryan knows something is off somewhere but doesn't press Hannah to much, she tends to be skittish and he has to tread carefully around her at times, but he is determined to win her over and make her his.

I loved the characters and the story line, the English village setting and the way of life it portrays. Cabbage brought an interesting and quite funny twist into the story, endearing and too grown up for her age, yet reckless and wild. A great read from start to finish, fast paced, sexy and funny, add in the dramatic suspense and you have a great read here. Loved the parts with Jake, Cami and the family involved in here, added a lovely layer to the story. Highly recommended reading.

I AM BREATHLESS! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic's Read

I completely loved this story. It's full of Heat, Love and Suspense.... So friggin good!!

Ryan and Hannah are defiantly drawn to each other. He wants everything from her, all her love, dreams and even more for her to trust him enough to share her life with him even her past. When he dives into her past he finds so much more than he bargained for, also finding that he has to protect her.

Hannah just wants to live a life not in constant fear. When she gets involved with Ryan she finds that she wants to live an even fuller life one with him. She has to figure out how to let him in fully and get past her fear.

I found myself laughing at his sassy as hell daughter, Alex just made this story so much better.

Leave Me Breathless is another great standalone from Jodi. A little lighter than what we typically see from her, a sweeter more earthy romance this time around. The novel centres around the Hero Ryan Willis, an ex MI5 agent, turned private security who has decided to pack it in and live the quiet life to raise his 10 year old daughter Alex. Ryan is a burly alpha male with a strong protective moral compass, he is an amazing father and has a huge heart, I found the contrast of his tough exterior Vs his gentile persona very endearing.

The heroine of the story is Hannah Bright as clumsy, artistic type, a bit of a loner and the new woman in town. You get the sense that Hannah is running from something and this serves as the underlying plot to the story throughout. As the novel goes on obviously things begin to unfold and this brings the suspenseful elements to the book. Hannah is a likeable character, she is easy to warm to and when she does let loose and free's herself from the demons keeping her hidden away you get to see what an independent woman she is.

There is a secondary character in this book that was a stand out for me, and that is Alex - Ryan's daughter. She was like the glue that held this story together and kept it moving forward. She is a clever and sassy little thing that has her Dad wrapped around her finger. At times I found elements of the story verging on being linear and repetitive; but insert a scene with Alex and it lifted the moment and things felt like they were progressing then. She was a total ray of sunshine and I loved the dynamic between her and the adults of the story.

Overall Leave Me Breathless was an enjoyable read, the cameo's from Jake and Cami (character from The Protector) were a nice touch. I felt the plot was somewhat predictable but Jodi's writing as ever is quality and the characters well developed. Occasionally pacing was a little slow and a lot seemed to happen in the last quarter of the book that maybe could have happened sooner. That said if you are looking for a sweet and steamy romance with lovable characters that you can just kick back and read away the day with then Leave Me Breathless is your book.

"I'm uncomfortable with how comfortable this woman makes me feel. She's like a precious box of adorableness."

As I'm sure is the case with most of us, the buzz about this author started with her This Man series, we were curious to meet Jesse Ward, right? She definitely has a gift for writing beautifully broken characters. What I found interesting about Leave Me Breathless is that it's the female that is broken.

Hannah is most definitely adorable. She's a creative free spirit that loves to escape into her artwork. She surrounds herself with color. Her painting, her wardrobe, and her heart. Despite the fact that her past is absent of color, full of darkness, she still has the ability to shine her light on others. I couldn't help smiling while reading about her, she's just that awesome of a character. Which makes it that much harder to imagine what she might be running from.

She hides it well, but Ryan has worked in security long enough to read between the lines. He knows she's got secrets that are keeping her from letting him in fully. He can see that she feels the same attraction that he does. The desire between them is intense, but she's fighting the idea of a relationship between them. What is she afraid of?

Of course, the less she shares, the more he wants to know about her. "—as if her wildness isn't enough of a draw to me, the secrets I sense she's keeping are only amplifying my curiosity." IKR? Mine too! I was hanging on the edge waiting to learn the details as the story unfolded.

I found myself thrown back and forth between heartbreak and hilarity. Sighing one minute and laughing the next. I don't want to spoil anything for those that haven't read it yet, so I'll just say that the females stole the show in this one. I'm totally in the girl crush zone here, unable to stop smiling at their antics.

Don't get me wrong, Ryan is perfection. And he's oh so smart as well. He knows when to advance and when to withdraw. She's like a skittish colt and he doesn't want to risk spooking her. So, I'll just call him a 'Hannah Whisperer', though he's just as effective when silent. "He said nothing. But everything I needed to hear."

This story has just enough sweet, sassy, sexy and suspenseful to leave you sighing in satisfaction. Did you catch that? Five S's and five stars. Fingers crossed that this one will end up as a movie on Passion Flix too! 🤞

Such a great read, read it in one sitting, it took me by surprise and I loved it!I like the story amd I loved the characters!It isn't a unique story but still it catch my interest and kept me until the end!

Hannah and Ryan were great together, Hannah is sweet and cute!I loved her and Ryan is sexy and so protective!He is swoon worthy, and will make you melt!

It has suspense and the romance is sweet,sexy and intense!Overall, it was fast paced!

THIS BOOK. I have NO words for how much I loved this story, Ryan, Hannah and Alex. I completely devoured this story. I was hooked from the very first word to the very last word. Its breathtakingly beautiful.
Ryan and Hannah had an instant connection from the moment he ran into her (literally) and that connection only seemed to grow stronger and more explosive as the story continued. I loved Hannah’s quirkiness. She was sweet, fun, carefree, but also guarded and heartbroken. Ryan is protective, 100% alpha and has a romantic side.
For those who have read The Protector this is a great follow up to that book. You get some more Jake and Cami, which I LOVED those scenes. Jake and Ryan’s friendship was great and the joking between them added a few laughs to the story.
This story was emotional, it was sweet and it was suspenseful. Leave Me Breathless is one of my top JEM books and Ryan definitely moved his way up the JEM Alpha ranks in my eyes. A MUST READ and a TOP READ for 2019.

5 Star Review Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas

I have been looking forward to reading this new book by Ms. Malpas ever since she announced it. I found myself totally invested in Hannah and Ryan’s story. I also fell hard and fast for Ryan's daughter Alex; what a delightful and funny 10 year old she is.
This is a spin off from The Protector and had Jake reprising his role as Ryan’s partner initially. It was great to touch base and see where he and his family are now and that added to my enjoyment of Leave Me Breathless. Truth be told, I enjoyed this book more The Protector as I found it easier to connect with Ryan and Hannah.
Leave Me Breathless is told in dual POV’s and was well written and so descriptive that I found myself wanting to visit Hampton. The characters were likeable and well rounded and I found myself laughing at the banter between Ryan, Hannah and Alex.
Ryan is ex-military and a man not to be taken lightly; add in a pairing with Hannah who is obviously hiding from a dangerous past and there are sure to be fireworks. Ryan is troubled by the fear that he sees in Hannah’s eyes and calls in a favour from his ex-employer, determined to keep Hannah safe at all costs.
There is so much more to Jodi Ellen Malpas’s characters, they are flawed, human and not afraid to show their vulnerability and it is here that Ms.Malpas weaves her magic.
Will Ryan’s ex cause even more heartache for them? What will happen when Hannah’s past comes back to haunt them ? Can they escape the past and make a future and a family together? One click and find out.

Jodi Ellen Malpas knocked it out of the park with this steamy romantic suspense. I absolutely LOVE books that can combine drama, suspense, secrets, and romance so seamlessly—and Jodi did just that! It’s also no secret that I’m obsessed with all of the alphas that JEM creates in that wonderful mind of hers, but Ryan might be quickly rolling into first place. He’s strong, formidable, protective, and patient. He has many soft spots which made him so much more appealing. Hannah is the perfect heroine. She’s cute, quirky, messy, and is hiding many secrets from her dark past. This was one heck of a ride and I enjoyed every second of their sizzling romance. If you’re looking for a book that has the perfect mix of steam and suspense, this is the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley, Social Butterfly PR, and Forever Romance for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Leave Me Breathless did exactly that to me in the end. I really enjoyed Ryan and Hannah’s story. The angst as I turned every page while I waited for Hannah’s past to catch up with her was real and I loved the anticipation... until I didn’t. I just wish that the excitement had happened a little sooner in the book, to be honest.

If you don’t fall in love with Ryan Willis, then we are not reading the same novel! He’s a swoon worthy, panty dropping alpha that will steal your heart with one of his crooked smiles. He has all the attributes that you’d expect from an Ex MI5 agent and protector but with a caring and sweet nature that we all want our men to possess. He’s just perfect in my opinion!! I loved the chemistry and connection that he and Hannah shared and I adored his relationship with Alex, who really is the most incredible character who added to the story perfectly!

Hannah Bright arrived in Hampton like a breath of fresh air. She is such a likeable character and she fitted into the small town perfectly. She has a past that she has ran away from and although I would have acted differently in certain scenes, I can’t say that anything Hannah did was wrong as we all deal with similar situations in different ways. I appreciated her strength and how hard it must have been to make some of the decisions that she did. I loved having some of the chapters written to reveal her past. I felt that this, along with the dual POV, gave me a greater understanding of what the characters were going through and feeling.

Leave Me Breathless brought out all the emotions in me and I know you are going to need some tissues close to hand. I did wonder if having not read The Protector would spoil my enjoyment of this novel, but it didn’t. However, since this book is a spin off, the main characters of The Protector do make an appearance, and now I’m wishing I had read that book first - I shall rectify this soon.

I loved this story!! I was anxiously awaiting Ryan's story. I loved how him and Hannah 'ran' into each other. They have a very quirky relationship and I love every second of it. The steaminess is off the charts and what Hannah endured was terrible. I'm glad she found someone like Ryan. And Ryan's cabbage- she is great. Ryan is a great dad - I love seeing him interact with his daughter in this book. Plus I love that we got a glimpse into Jake and Cami too. Great read- definitely recommend!

Leave Me Breathless is classic JEM. Ryan is an alpha male who happens to also be a single dad. A double threat to the ladies ... oh wait he’s a triple threat because hello he is drop dead gorgeous. He says goodbye, or so he thinks, to his adrenaline junkie ways, settling in to small town life to be closer to his daughter full-time. His return coincides with the arrival of the town’s newest resident Hannah. Hannah brings with her a complicated past. She tries hard to stay under the radar but Ryan finds her intriguing and is constantly drawn to her. Before long it’s clear that this temporary attraction is not temporary at all.

As Hannah’s past unfolds both she and Ryan are faced with some impossible decisions. Past and present meld together to create a fast moving plot with excellent secondary characters. Perfectly balanced romance and suspense make Leave Me Breathless a hit for me.

If you loved The Protector than you will love Leave Me Breathless.

Just when you start to think Ryan and Hannah's romance might be just a little bit more lighthearted than others in Jodi Ellen Malpas's books, Malpas reminds you that she is in charge, and in her world, true love requires a fight.

Ryan, a former MI5 agent, wants to head home to Hampton, England, where life is slower and a lot less complicated. No bullets flying, no threats or dangers. Unless the woman you instantly feel a connection with happens to be hiding something Quite Serious. Hannah is hiding something, but what is it?

When you first meet Hannah, she reflects her last name: she is bright, sunny, helpful, and playful. You know something's going on with her and that she's hiding something, and you sense she is very much in the dangerous, theatening situation Ryan hopes to avoid. But as Malpas shows, you can take the boy out of MI5, but you can't take the MI5 out of the boy. Ryan becomes suspicious, and the more he finds out, the more he realizes that Hampton won't give him the peaceful idyll he hoped.

As Malpas weaves her tale, she also builds and builds the romance between Ryan and Hannah. It is COMBUSTIBLE, dear readers. You will feel their chemistry burn off the page. You also see them open up to each other in ways they won't--they can't--with other people. You hope and hope that Ryan and Hannah can figure out her history so she can be saved and he can have the love he wants and needs.

When I talk about Jodi Ellen Malpas's books with friends, they're shocked (shocked, I tell you) that my least favorites are the This Man books. For me, those stories are two people yelling at each other. I love all the other Malpas couples, and now I can add Ryan and Hannah to that list. So strap on your vibrators and get to reading this one.

4.5 stars

Leave Me Breathless did just that, it left me breathless! Ryan and Hannah’s story is not what I was expecting as the story was something not a normal read for me. That being said, I adore this book. The relationship between Hannah and Ryan (and Alex, Ryan’s 10-year-old daughter who steals the show!) is brilliant, the twists and turns caught me by surprise, AND THAT ENDING!! I was hanging on for dear life at the end of this book! I love the secondary characters as they all brought so much to the story. I was so engaged with the characters and their story, I could not put this book down!

I was really looking forward to reading this and was so excited going in so it kills me to say that I just wasn’t feeling it. I tried so hard to connect to the story and the characters but they seemed so disjointed and I was not feeling their attraction at all. The writing felt way to fast-paced and slightly stilted with a lot of telling not showing happening. I am missing the depth and detail that really pulls me into the story. I did like the storyline introduced and was curious about Hannah and her secrets so I tried to keep reading, but unfortunately, I wasn’t enjoying it and started skimming. I’m sorry to say this one wasn’t for me.

I'm a fan of the author but really struggled with Leave me Breathless. I didn't tell a connection between Ryan and Hannah. I thought the book turned a corner for me at the 30% mark but it seemed like it was more focused on the suspense thriller part than the romance between them.
The one character that I wanted more of was Darcy. She was an entitled princess but she turned around but the end. I liked her transformation.
I'm the end it was a bit predictable and reminded me of Sleeping with the Enemy.

What a fantastic read from Jodi Ellen Malpas, I didn’t think anyone of her characters could top The Lord, but Ryan has for me.
Hannah and Ryan are perfect together, she is sweet to his broody and sexy overprotective tendencies, and his relationship with his daughter was wonderful. This story is a suspenseful and sexy ready, and quite intense at some points, I loved watching their love blossom with a very HEA of course.
It was great to get a glimpse into Camille and Jake, this was a great follow up to The Protector, and hopefully we can get more stories in this series.

Title: Leave Me Breathless

follow up to her wildly popular standalone romance The Protector.

Author: Jodi Elleen Malpas

Pages:387

Genre: romance

November 5,2019

Rating: 5

Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued.



Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.



Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store...and hiding too many secrets. It's why she won't let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn't even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk

My thoughts

Would I recommend it ?yes

Would I read more by this authour?yes

This is the first time I've read anything by this authour and after read this I can't wait to read more by her ,once again thanks to Forever for introducing me to a new author , because once I started reading I couldn't stop ,I was hooked and there was times I was laughing at the interactions of the two main character Hannah and Ryan, other than I loved was how sometimes it seemed like Hannah had put her foot in her mouth without meaning too. Other thing is how sweet they were together and that made the story even more cute and adorable. And while the story is a romance there is suspense as well that mixes well with the romance and that helps the story to come even more to life , with that said I want to thank Netgalley and Forever Romance for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion ,and a big thinks to Forever for sending me a copy of it as well.

Hannah loves her new art shop and hopes she can stay for a while. She's on the run from her past and will probably have to leave again. Ryan is happy to be back home in the little town where his daughter lives. He's completely taken aback when he meets Hannah mostly because he accidently runs her off the road while she's biking. She's like no one he's ever met before and even though he's retired from the protection business he knows she needs his help. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense novel!

It had been a while since I read The Protector, so I didn't have that just finished-I can't wait to see what happens next feeling. But it was just so good. It was nice to get a little more of Jake and Cami (I remembered right away!) and then I just fell in love with Ryan and Hannah. They were both so real and you could really feel their emotions and struggles through the story. I loved the fun that Alex brought to the story and how her responses and interpretations of situations really made the story more fun. This is a great hero/personal struggle and growth love story. You want to know Jake and Cami, but it isn't required to read them first.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Romance for letting me read and review! It was a pleasure.

Compared to her other novels, I was disappointed with this one. I did love a lot of aspects of this book but felt like it drug on a little bit and the suspense that was there just didn't do it for me. I wish it had been more suspenseful throughout the novel. But, it did make you fall in love with the characters. Hannah's story was just a little on the unbelievable side. I wish that we would. have gotten to do deeper into her feelings and her past, the times that we did, I really did love it. I loved Ryan and his daughter Alex. I was not expecting for him to have a daughter but without her, I think this novel would have been even dryer.

Overall, not my favorite from Jodi Ellen Malpas but I did enjoy her characters and going on this journey with them.