GUARDING THE SINGLE MOTHER is an intense beginning to the SEAL Endgame series by Leslie North. Leila needs protection from her abusive, gang member ex-husband who is now out of prison on an early release for “good behavior”. Yeah, right. He’s coming after her and her son Thomas and she’s promised herself she will not run but it’s hard and she needs a gun. Which brings her to the man who never looked for forever, Clint. Ex-SEAL, gun shop owner, gun trainer. He knows she got trouble written all over her frightened face, and buying a gun with no clue how to handle it is not happening on his watch. But when she returns with determination in her eyes Clint will step up to teach – and ultimately to defend a woman and child who swiftly capture the heart he was certain was stone cold.

I enjoyed GUARDING THE SINGLE MOTHER very much. It’s very easy to fall into the story, the plot is intense at places, sexy at others, and laugh out loud moments as one very sexy SEAL learns how to charm a baby into doing what he says… and often funny results. I get that Leila is afraid to trust anyone again, yet it seemed to take a long time to put her trust into a man who stood beside her during some of the most dangerous and difficult moments in recent memory. Clint knows he wants this woman, this baby boy as his – now he just has to convince the woman he loves to take a risk on him and trust in them being perfect for each other. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series with GUARDING HIS PRETEND WIFE.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of Guarding the Single Mother in exchange for an honest review.

Wow doesn’t cover how well the book inside this book was handle. It doesn’t include either how respectful and nonintrusive, the main male character is.

1. She's a strong, badass woman.
2. He's very kind and giving.

I truly enjoyed my way throughout this story. Can't wait to read the other books.


Trigger Warning: Mention of domestic violence, guns and the use of those guns, mention of jail and a brief mention of gang violence, mention of ex-husband stalking, fear of their live and baby.

This book was an ok read for me. I would have liked this book more if Leila wasn’t such an idiot. Not one of my favorite type of heroine.

I enjoyed this fast paced story.. I especially liked Clint; a buff, bad ass retired SEAL, but his humility made him more realistic. Watch out for Leila if she goes Mama Bear on you! Likeable characters. Mild steam. Fun read.

This was a good, fast read, if a little predictable. I feel like this author is writing a lot of books lately!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

This book was cheesy to the max. Storyline was promising though fell short in delivery for me. Couldn’t connect or understand what the MC saw in each other besides basically lust. There were some cheesy lines that had me rolling my eyes. And for some reason when I read the endearment, “honey” in a romance novel it makes me cringe. Just seems out of place for me. Easy and quick read. For my happily ever after fix. Could have had more sex though haha

Great, quick read. Leila is a single mom coming out of an abusive relationship. Clint is a former Seal with a damaged past also. Together they form a bond and he helps her move on from her past. Great, steamy read!! Definitely recommend

Guarding the Single Mother is everything you'd expect from a Leslie North romance. A hunky hero who is just a bit leary of forming relationships, a strong woman beaten down by her past which she is determined to overcome and a kick ass storyline that brings them together in the best way possible. This novel is a short and to the point-good guy saves single mom from bad guy...or does she save the good guy? Do they save each other? Either way, this first book in the SEAL Endgame series is a must read. The writing is well done and flows from one scene to the next with no gaps or feeling that you missed anything. The characters are fully developed with back stories that are easy to follow and allow you to relate emotionally, with how they handle the situations they are thrown into. The characters, Clint and Leila, are also very like able, which to me is very important. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

I read this book but didn't really feel much of anything towards the characters. Both were supposed to be damaged by previous experiences with domestic abuse and the fostering system, but that was background not something really explored within the story line. I felt it was very much a surface book rather than in depth character development

4.5 Stars
The first in SEAL Endgame, Guarding the Single Mother was a great short read. The characters were engaging the storyline well written and delivered. I will be reading more and recommending this to other readers

Guarding the Single Mother
(SEAL Endgame #1)
by Leslie North

Kindle Edition, 147 pages
Published September 12th 2019 by Relay Publishing (first published September 9th 2019)


Goodreads synopsis:
Retired Navy SEAL, Clint Backwater, enjoys his solitary life as owner of the Ask Questions Later gun range. It’s the kind of place you find because you know a guy. So when Leila Ortiz, a petite woman with a “baby on board” sticker on the back of her car—and an 18-month-old boy in her arms—shows up at the range, panicked and desperate for a gun, he knows something is wrong. Having grown up in the foster system, Clint has seen what happens when you let yourself get too invested—things get messy, people leave. He made himself a promise to never get emotionally involved again, but the former SEAL in him feels the tug to help this woman and her child.

Leila’s ex-husband is being released from prison early on good behavior and she found out too late. He was supposed to serve five years, not two, and Leila is unprepared to protect herself and her son. She promised him they’d never run again—they’ve made a nice life for themselves and the last thing she wants to do is leave it all behind. 

When Clint refuses to give Leila a gun without lessons, she agrees to return to the range to learn. At first, Leila won’t say why she’s so desperate for protection, but when the threats from her ex escalate, it becomes clear what she’s afraid of.  

Clint is a loner. Always has been, always will be. So when Leila and her little son enter his life, it hits him—hard— maybe being alone isn’t what he needs. Still, having his solitary life disrupted when he invites the little family into his home is a bit tougher to take than he thought. With Leila and her son in danger, though, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe—even putting up with stray toys and changing a nappy or two. 

But the biggest danger might be to his heart, when it starts to look like the safest thing for Leila and her baby might be to leave her problems—and her budding relationship with Clint—behind.

***

4.25 Stars

This is the first book in the SEAL Endgame series by Leslie North.

North has a great way of drawing us in and getting us invested in the characters and the situation. I was immediately drawn into the whole situation almost from the word go. Who doesn’t feel for a mother who is being put on the spot by a nasty ex? Especially a nasty ex who is also an ex-con and just fresh from his jail orange jumpsuit and let out into the world.

I am not sure this entire scenario would have unfolded like this in real life. You just don’t walk into a gun range to buy a gun from a stranger (no matter how nice and polite) and end up staying with the guy at his home. It is not something I would really encourage without a pretty good background check and a vast knowledge of his relationship history. I understand that the whole “she’s desperate” thing kinda throws off the whole dynamic but still… I am not sure I would have acted in the same way myself.

The kid in this book was probably the best behaved baby in all of book-dom. Barely ever misbehaved and seemed to like Clint from the get-go. This was all based on the conclusion that babies have good people radar and will act nice around those who are nice.

Despite my reservations about how they initially meet, this book has a lot of ups and downs that make you wonder if the two will ever get together. Even when he rushes to the airport and stops her from leaving, they don’t have the “I will love you forever” speech and “I will never let you go” was only spoken by Clint and it took longer than I thought necessary for Leila to accept the possibilities between them. I wanted to back hand her and shake her at that point. What in the world was she thinking? The little dim-wit. I doubt you will find a thirty-five-year old male who acts more like a dad than most dad’s I know.

Overall it was a great book. But despite my liking of their match-up, I felt the chemistry a bit lacking based on other North books I have read. I wanted a bit more sizzle and burn. But I guess I can’t always get what I want. But this might just be your speed. Check it out if you love romance.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This book is by far Leslie's best work. I absolutely loved this book. Of course I'm a sucker for SEAL romances and the reason I wanted to read this. I was not disappointed. This is the first book in the new series and if they're anything like this, it will be one of my favorites.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I found this book hard to relate to. I didn't connect with Leila or Clint. This was not one of my favorites. I rate this 3 stars.

It was Leila's lucky day when she walked into Clint's gun shop. She sure did get more than she bargained for. More than Clint bargained for too. I enjoyed, Guarding the Single Mother, and wonder who the next book in this series will be about.

I’m a huge fan of Leslie North! I have read many of her books and she never disappoints. She has a talent for writing books that you can’t put down and need to keep reading! Absolutely loved reading about Clint and feel glad that they both got their happy ever after in the end.

Retired Navy SEAL Clint Backwater owns Ask Questions Later gun range. His protective instincts go on alert when Leila Ortiz walks into his shop with her 18-month-old boy in her arms looking panicked and desperate wanting to buy a gun. She found out too late that her ex-husband is being released from prison early.

Clint refuses to give Leila a gun without lessons so she agrees to return to the range to learn. The threats toward Leila and her son escalate to the point that Clint offers to let them stay with him.

Clint is a loner and Leila is determined to take care of herself and son without relying on anyone. They try to fight the feelings that are growing between them. Maybe it's time to accept what's in the heart.

A good storyline. Quick read. Leila is determined to protect herself and her toddler son. Clint steps in to help after meeting them. Good chemistry. It should be interesting to see what's next in this series.