Atlas Kincaid just barely survived when he and his fellow Marines were attacked by mysterious creatures while on a mission. The attack left Atlas emotionally and physically scarred and he is still haunted by the nightmares. Now, Atlas works for his sister, Bea, at her security agency. When she offers him the assignment as a bodyguard to the son of a local businessman, it seems like a great option, as they are willing to be flexible with Atlas’ needs (such as having sensitivities that trigger migraines). The fact that no one else has been able to stick it out on the job doesn’t scare Atlas off either.

At first, Christian Slava just seems like the spoiled son of a wealthy businessman. He tries his best to run Atlas off, but grudgingly accepts him when Atlas isn’t so easily cowed. It is soon clear that the job is a lot more than watching the party boy son of a rich man, however. The threats against Christian are real and his life is on the line. As Atlas becomes more aware of who (and what) Christian and his family are, he is horrified and his past nightmares begin to resurface. So when a chance comes up to potentially put a stop to them, Atlas can’t help but be tempted, despite the betrayal.

But the longer Atlas works with Christian and gets to know him, the more drawn to him he becomes. Soon, Atlas is developing feelings for Christian and realizing that he not the enemy Atlas once thought. But the threats against Christian and his family aren’t stopping, even as Atlas realizes he wants to protect Christian with all he has. Now that the danger has increased, it will take all of Atlas’ skills to keep Christian safe and fight the enemies conspiring against him.

Rare Vigilance is the first book in M.A. Grant’s new Whitethorn Agency series and it sets the stage nicely for the upcoming story. This is a supernatural series, though Grant doesn’t disclose the exact nature in the blurb, so I am not going to discuss it directly here either (though it is included in the post tags if you are interested). That said, it didn’t take me long to figure it out, and the story is less about the mystery of what Christian is than about Atlas’ reaction to him and his changing feelings about it all. I think the set up is interesting here as Atlas’ first reaction to learning the truth is horror. It all brings back nightmares from his past and Atlas is genuinely scared and angry. So when the chance comes to take some action that may turn the tables, Atlas seizes the opportunity. It sets up a really nice dynamic as Atlas is at once secretly, but actively, moving against Christian and his family, but also building a real bond with Christian that eventually leads to more. Of course, there is a turning point where Atlas realizes he has made some big mistakes, and ultimately he is completely behind Christian. But it makes for a nice conflict and develops well.

The world building here is interesting, from the politics, to the complex family dynamics, to the supernatural side of things. There are a lot of moving parts here and this book feels largely focused on setting the stage, versus making major advances to the storyline. I’ll admit to feeling a little eager to get things started. This is a long book and I felt like it could have been trimmed down to really hone in more on the action and key elements. So much felt like set up to me and a lot of the story is the day-to-day side of Atlas watching Christian go to clubs or meetings. While a lot is introduced, by the end I didn’t feel like much actually happened. The story ends on a cliffhanger, which was exciting, and there are definitely thrilling moments, particularly at the end, but I did find things a little slow.

We learn the basics of what happened to Atlas and it is connected to a related, but different, supernatural group than Christian and his family. It was sort of confusing to me, because Atlas’ reaction to learning the truth made it sound as if Christian’s beings had been the one to attack him, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, so I am not fully clear on Atlas’ response. I’ll also note that the blurb is a little misleading here. It says that “Consumed by the need to find out what happened to him” Atlas takes the security job. But Atlas has no idea that Christian and his family are anything but human when he takes the job, so I don’t think that makes sense. The blurb also suggests that the people after Atlas have knowledge that they are going to share with him about what really happened to him, presumably in exchange for his help, but that doesn’t really seem to be the case in the story (they may know, but there is never a suggestion of a trade of knowledge for Atlas helping them). So there were a few small areas here that seemed a bit muddy.

However, even with some issues, I really enjoyed this one and it sets things up nicely for the series. The ending gives us a lot of excitement and suspense and I am eager to see how the next stage plays out in the second book. So if you are looking for a well-done paranormal with a bit of a different twist and tone, consider checking this one out.

This was so good & I can't wait for the next book in the series. Atlas is a veteran who came back totally messed up. He has major PTSD & debilitating migraines. His sister is the owner of a security agency and offers him a job. Since light can bring on his migraines, this job is right up his alley as it is at night. His protectee is a the spoiled son of a very rich businessman & he can't keep his son under control. When Atlas arrives, Christian is less than thrilled & works on getting rid of him, like the numerous security details before Atlas. What Atlas doesn't know is that the family are vampires and someone is out to destroy the family. Once Christian accepts Atlas, they are a great couple. The book does end on a end on a sort of cliffhanger as things are left open & someone close to Atlas knows what the family is, but never told him. I can't wait to see where this goes from here.

Rare Vigilance was a rare treat for me! I will always love reading vampire books and this one delivered with great characters, a slow burn romance, and a plot filled with twists, danger, and a liberal dose of angst. Atlas Kinkaid gets way more than he signed up for when he's tasked with being Cristian Slava's bodyguard. Cristian does his best to make life difficult for Atlas and try to get him to quit, but Atlas is not deterred and uses his expert experience and training to keep his client safe. Their bond and the things they experience in the story had me on the edge of my seat, both worrying for their safety and rooting for their relationship.

The vampire world building and hierarchy is really well done and intriguing. I like that aspects of vampire society and biology are gradually revealed as they become important to the plot rather than being told in an info dump. I also liked the supporting characters, especially Atlas's sister. This book ended on a major cliffhanger and left me hungry for more! Come for the vampires, stay for the unforgettable characters and killer story.

This book starts a trilogy set in a paranormal world. Atlas provides protection for the agency owned by his sister, and he suffers from PTSD from the military and from an attack he suffered at the hands of mysterious creatures. He’s given the assignment of protecting Christian, which is presented as a difficult assignment as every other agent assigned to Christian has walked off.

The book spends a lot of time trying to set up the world and trying to keep things mysterious. I never got the full effect of the style and at some point it’s helpful to know what is going on. I didn’t gravitate to either Atlas or Christian, so it was a lot of just moving along with them as Atlas starts to piece some things together.

I was left looking for more from both the relationship end and the larger story of the paranormal world.

M.A. Grant has been on my radar for a while, but I haven’t yet managed to get around to reading any of her books, so when I saw she was starting a new series, it seemed the perfect time to jump in. Rare Vigilance is book one in her Whitehorn Agency trilogy and the well-paced, wonderfully balanced combination of action, paranormal suspense and slow-burn romance had me captivated from start to finish.

Note: This is a trilogy with an overarching plot and this book ends on a cliffhanger, so don’t go into it expecting an HEA or a firm conclusion.

Former marine Atlas Kinkaid returned from his military service in Eastern Europe with scars both inside and out, the result of an attack on his unit from which he emerged the sole survivor. He has PTSD and lingering health issues – sensory sensibilities and debilitating migranes which can affect his balance and vision – so finding work hasn’t been easy, but his half-sister Bea, the owner of the successful and rapidly growing Whitehorn security agency, has been able to offer him enough work to enable him to keep body and soul together. Her biggest client is Decebal Vladislavic – the businessman and investor who is almost single-handedly revitalising the small previously industrial town of Scarsdale, and who has business interests in pretty much everything in town, from medical facilities, to housing to entertainment. Recently, Decebal has experienced “complications” with some of his business deals, and he wants an agent to provide security at home. He’s asked Bea to provide someone who is happy working night shifts – which is perfect for Atlas, who agrees to take the job.

Arrived at Decebal’s impressive home on the outskirts of town, Atlas is waiting to meet his new employer for the first time, and hears the unmistakable sound of an argument – not in English – coming from the office he’s waiting to enter. The raised voices quickly stop and then a strikingly handsome young man emerges, muttering under his breath and clearly annoyed – until he notices he’s not alone and his whole demeanour changes. Suddenly all effortless poise and charm, the rudeness with which he treats Atlas is clearly designed to make him re-think his desire to work there. Atlas is, however, undaunted and refuses to be put off; and it’s just as well, because of course this man is to be his new charge – Cristian Slava, Decebal’s son and the heir to his business empire.

Rare Vigilance starts out as a regular-enough bodyguard romance in which the protectee is convinced they don’t need protecting and takes every opportunity to be rude and to give their minder the slip. Cristian clearly expects Atlas to quit just as his other bodyguards have, but when Atlas proves himself to be surprisingly tenacious and impervious to Cristian’s attempts to drive him away, Cristian starts to gain a reluctant respect for him. And as Cristian begins to accept Atlas isn’t going anywhere, Atlas gets intriguing glimpses of a different side of Cristian, seeing a quieter, more thoughtful and capable man behind the charming party-boy image – and starts to actually like him a little.

After a few weeks, they’ve reached a détente and have settled into a routine of sorts, but there’s a seismic shift in their relationship – and the direction taken by the story – when Atlas takes Cristian to what is supposed to be a business meeting, but which instead sees them being attacked by – well, I’ve seen other reviews mention it, but I’m not going to because it’s a neat plot twist the author has been carefully seeding all along – and if you’re been paying close attention you’ve probably figured it out by now anyway.

What follows is a gripping, tightly-plotted story in which a dangerous family feud threatens to explode into all-out war and Atlas comes face to face with his worst nightmare – which turns out not to be a nightmare at all, but something very real and utterly lethal. Secrets, lies, betrayals of the worst kind, mysterious night time deliveries and unexplained animal-like attacks all combine to make Rare Vigilance a real page-turner, and I raced through it in a couple of sittings, unwilling to put it down.

While all this is going on, Atlas and Cristian are growing closer and the author does a really good job with their slow-burn romance. They have terrific chemistry and there’s lots of lovely UST along the way as the attraction that sparks between them at their first meeting starts to grow into a bond that transcends their status as employer and employee, and Atlas’ competence and protectiveness slowly win Cristian’s trust. I liked them both; even when Cristian is at his most brattish, there are hints that his brash, cocky persona is an act to prevent people getting close, and there are hidden vulnerabilities beneath Atlas’ stoic, take-no-crap exterior that soften his hard edges and make him rather endearing. We don’t know much about either character right now, but I’m hoping that will change as the series progresses; what we do get is a good start and a pretty solid foundation in terms of their characterisation and relationship, and I’m eager to find out where things are going to go.

Having Atlas as the sole PoV character means that the reader finds things out at the same time he does, and that works really well here, especially in the early stages of the story were the author creates a real sense of edginess and of something being not quite as it seems. The only negative comments I can really make are that there’s one aspect of the world-building that could have used a bit more detail, and WTF is with that cover? but neither spoiled my enjoyment in any way, and I guess the world-building issue may be addressed in a future book.

Rare Vigilance is a terrific read and a superb start to this new series. The cliffhanger ending has me chomping at the bit for more, and I’ll be pouncing on book two, Crooked Shadows as soon as it appears.

Grade: A-/4.5 stars

Maybe I’m the odd one out here, but I didn’t love this book. The cover is a bit deceiving and I initially thought it was a romantic suspense or a histrom? This doesn’t scream vampire to me at all. I could overlook the cover if the book about vampires was good, but I sadly just don’t think it was. I loved the author’s Prince of Air and Darkness, but I’m afraid the joy I got from that book is lost here. The story is definitely part of a trilogy because the romance here is a VERY slow burn and this book does end with a bit of a cliffhanger.

Content notes include MC used to be military (a Marine), PTSD, anxiety, violence, death, blackmail, mentions of parental figures dying before the book starts, and mentions of a grandmother and another dear friend with deteriorating memories of their loved ones.

This book is told entirely from Atlas Kincaid’s point of view. He’s a (former) Marine and after a particularly vicious attack on his men by the supernatural, he was discharged from the military and now works for his sister’s elite security agency. His latest assignment takes him to work for the very kinds of people he both hates and fears the most – vampires. Atlas is hired to look after an unruly son of the most powerful vampire in the town. Cristian Slava has run off every bodyguard who’s ever been assigned to him and he thinks Atlas will be more of the same. He very soon discovers that Atlas might a little bit smarter than those other bodyguards.

So, I think this book was very interesting in the beginning?? I was intrigued by the attack Atlas went through in Romania and how that would affect his looking after Cristian. Atlas still has the scars, the headaches, and the nightmares from that day four years ago, but working as a bodyguard for a vampire means he gets to keep vampire hours. This gives a much needed relief for his light sensitive eyes, even though working with vampires is not ideal.

I LOVE a good slow burn romance that takes awhile for the MCs to hook up. But this book takes what feels like forever and a day, and maybe it’s because of a plot point that gets thrown into the mix that mad it seem even longer? This whole middle part of the book did not work out for me.

***THERE ARE DEFINITELY SPOILERS AHEAD***

Look. I don’t actually hate a double cross storyline. If the character doing the double crossing is on the side of their love interest and, you know, working to double cross the villain. But if we’re not going with a villain origin storyline like The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, then it’s not really going to work for me. I really don’t like that this book has Atlas so willing to betray Cristian and his family. I do get that Atlas doesn’t trust Cristian or his very powerful father, Decebal. But do we need a whole storyline where Atlas is actively trying to get them KILLED? It definitely puts a damper on the romance and it made the book feel like an absolute drag to read.

The people Atlas works with ultimately winds up threatening him with his weak spot, but we see no pay off here since their threats amount to absolutely nothing when he decides to tell them to take a hike. How powerful are these people? Very powerful apparently, but there’s really not enough to convince me they’re scary in the text itself. We’re just supposed to believe it.

Atlas also never winds up telling Cristian he was working for the enemy and I wonder will they EVER talk about it? Maybe this will be a thing in a future book, but I HATE the not knowing limbo we’re stuck in and I’m not sure I’m interested enough to wait for the rest of the books to come out in order to find out. Why drag it out at all?

Also…I’m beginning to think that bodyguard romances aren’t my thing. But especially when it doesn’t make sense. WHY is it necessary for a human to be a bodyguard for a vampire? Logically, it doesn’t make sense no matter how they try to explain Atlas’s presence, because it just seems silly to me.

Which brings me to vampires. This book tries to breathe some life (ha!) into the vampire lore and makes vampires a living species that isn’t part of the undead. There are vampires here born and those who are made. But. Do any of the vampires here have abilities besides enhanced senses or a longer life than your normal humans? The way a vampire dies in this book seems at odds too. Because I thought they just momentarily stunned one, but it turns out…that vampire is now dead? It’s very strange. The world of vampires is unclear to me. This particular family of vampires in this book are Romanian and the book takes place in the United States. Are there United States vampires? Canadian? We simply do not know.

One of the main reasons Atlas takes the job is because it actually seems tailor made for him (minus the vampire bits) and his condition to light and noise sensitivity. But I wonder how that works since it’s like the book only remembered he was light sensitive and not noise sensitive like it was previously introduced, since Atlas has to drive and accompany Cristian and his vampire friends to a night club. Often.

And I know the bodyguard job isn’t glamorous but Atlas doesn’t really…do much? The rare times it does feel like he’s doing his job, it seems at odds with the supposed Marine he’s supposed to be. It’s like he doesn’t actively keep a look out for threats as the book goes on. It seems like amateur hour. He’s more like a glorified chauffeur most of the time and only good for making quick getaways. I feel like Atlas also needs to see a therapist at some point because for a bodyguard to freeze up when he should be protecting his client is probably not ideal.

I can forgive a lot of plot missteps for a good romance, but there’s just a lot of yearning and a slow burn that barely sizzles. If you’re someone who hates waiting until the end of the book for some action…well, you’re not going to love this one.

This romance is playing the long game and I just don’t think the plot is enough to distract me from a romance that barely gets off the ground. Yes, Atlas and Cristian are attracted to one another, and you see them eyeing each other frequently, but that’s about as much as you get in this book. I feel like there are similarities to the Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara in the way Atlas and Cristian’s relationship seems much like Cooper and Oliver in the human and supernatural aspect, but this book just doesn’t quite have that same pull or mystery to keep me engrossed in the story.

***END OF SPOILERS***

It’s hard to say whether I’ll continue with this series since book 2 is a long ways off. Well, less than a year really, but I’m not that patient. I’m not particularly in love with the storyline or all that convinced of the romance here. And it seems like the same audiobook narrator for The Darkest Court series will be narrating this series as well, so that’s going to be a miss for me since I’m not a fan. I like Atlas and Cristian well enough as characters, but considering this is a single POV book where we only see the story from Atlas’s POV? It’s aggressively fine, but nothing really pulls at me to continue the series at all. This makes me sad because I was looking forward to a new book by the author and hoped for something more exciting than what we got.

***Thanks so much to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC for review!***

I've loved this author since I finished [book:Prince of Air and Darkness|41550787] and went "Wow". So, when that series (unfortunately) ended , I was on the lookout for anything else being released by M.A Grant and the MOMENT I saw this on Netgalley, I hit that request button so quickly I think I sprained something. 😂😂

This book, while also paranormal, is more on the vampire end of the paranormal/fantasy spectrum than the fae political intrigue we got with the other series so this gives the reader another opportunity to marvel at the writing chops of this author.

Right from the very beginning, we get pulled into a world where everything is not as it seems, where there are plots within plots WITHIN plots. I could not get enough.

The author also did quite a good job of weaving in the world building into the story and dialogue rather than an "info dump" that is usually the case.

This book was more plot-focused than relationship-focused and as such, we spend most of the time on the slow evolution of the interpersonal relationships among the members of the various social groups in the book; especially between Cristian and Atlas who are our protagonists.

I liked Atlas and much later Cristian but neither of these men were perfect. Actually, I would say their imperfections made me root for them even more. Cristian's unwillingness to let anyone in and Atlas' past trauma led these two to make less than sensible decisions but eventually, none of the baddies counted on the inherent stubbornness of these two men. Lol

The only reason this book did not get a straight 5-star rating was the ending. I really should've known better but somehow I forgot how M.A Grant loves her cliffhangers. I , do not like them.

I get that this is the first book of a series, I get it. I certainly do not expect the author to finish everything in one book when it's clearly a series, but I would've preferred a bit more closure with this book rather than it leaving me with anxiety over the next book.

Others might not mind, but cliff hangers get to me like nothing else and I prefer to stay FAR away from them regardless of how great a book was/is.

Sometimes the word that best describes how you feel about a book is just a big WOW. M.A. Grant’s Rare Vigilance, book one in the Whitethorn Agency series, is some gorgeous, suspenseful, slow-burn dark fantasy, and while the series might never go on to eclipse my love of her Darkest Court trilogy, I can say with some confidence it’s prepared to step up to the challenge. This book is more than a mere contender to make my Best Of list this year.

Atlas Kinkaid is a sympathetic hero, clever, up to the challenge of the job ahead of him, and yet vulnerable to the panic attacks, migraines, and sensory sensitivity he suffers following a horrific battle he and his platoon fought, and ultimately lost, against an enemy so terrifying Atlas still carries their scars—both the physical and psychological ones. The latest assignment he has accepted from his sister, Bea, who owns the Whitethorn Agency and is Atlas’s only real source of emotional support, sounds like a dream job—excellent pay and he gets to work nights. It should be a quiet assignment suited to his needs, but neither Decebal Vladislavic nor his son, Cristian Slava, are anything like typical clients.

The forced proximity trope is given great mileage here, in the form of Atlas serving as Cristian’s bodyguard, but this is not a case of lust at first sight. It’s not even a case of like at first sight thanks to Cristian’s determination to drive Atlas off just as he’s done all his previous guards. So what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Friction. Lots of friction. It’s not until Atlas discovers what Cristian (and his father, and everyone else in his father’s household) is that everything blows up and causes Atlas to panic into a betrayal he will soon come to regret.

First impressions, and many more after, are proved wrong as Atlas begins to see the man behind the façade Cristian presents. Cristian is composed of nuances and layers that Atlas can’t help but be attracted to, but Atlas has also set something in motion he isn’t sure how to stop, or even if he can stop it now. There are secrets and lies of omission that are in play, things that, once revealed, could spell disaster for his slowly morphing relationship with Cristian. A war between families is brewing, and one side has a weapon that may prove to guarantee the end of Decebal Vladislavic’s empire.

Excellent suspense, both the mysterious and romantic kind, combined with fantastic characterizations, a richly imagined world, and this author’s gift for captivating me as I lose myself in her stories all apply in Rare Vigilance, from the moment Atlas is introduced all the way to leaving me on the hook for Crooked Shadows, thanks to this book’s ominous tease of an ending.

Oh this was good! Rare Vigilance was my first read by M.A. Grant and I wish I did my research about this book because now I have to wait (hopefully not long) for the next book to come out. I was hooked from the very beginning and just curious about Atlas and Cristian. These two definitely have so much to learn about one another and with how the pacing went, it wasn't until the end where we start to see them open up a bit more.

I do love vampire reads and how different is this with a human as a bodyguard?! Can't say I've read a book with that element before, but I quite liked it. Atlas suffers from PTSD resulting from his time in the military. We get glimpses of what happened, which sets him on a path of loathing for "certain things".

And then we have Cristian, who is as aristocratic as they come and definitely comes off as the spoiled rich guy.

My favorite part was seeing these two shed their walls a little bit, to share more of their truths to hopefully start trusting one another. The romance burns slow between them since there are some misunderstandings. Can't wait to see more of their relationship develop as we get through this series.

This one did end on a little bit of a cliffhanger, but nothing drastic, just eager for the next book.

Can't wait to get to M.A. Grant's addicting writing with their backlisted books!

3.75 stars

I dont know what i expected when I started reading this book but it wasn't to be this good. This was fast paced and full of action.
I adored Atlas, he was amazing from the moment he appeared till the end.
Cristian took me a little bit to warmed up to but by the end I was rooting for him.
This was an interesting twist to vampire books and I really liked it.
Now I'm very curious about the next book and about reading more of this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

4.5 Stars. I'm new to M.A. Grant but definitely plan to read more. I'm so glad I decided to read this book despite the cover which IMO is just not good. Unlike some other readers I knew going into this book how it fit in the paranormal world but I think as a reader even if you don't you'll figure it out quickly. However, when it first begins it reads very much like a typical bodyguard/client book where the client's son who is being protected doesn't want the protection so there is plenty of antagonism between the two. It becomes very clear, quickly that something else is going on in the family.

I really liked Atlas from the beginning but it took a bit for Christian to grow on me as he was acting out to get rid of his bodyguard. Despite that there are things about Christian that don't quite add up and I knew there was a lot more to him. Throw in the family politics, a plot that leads back to Atlas' reason for his PTSD, a great sense of suspense and a slow burn romance story and this one was a hit.

There were a few twists and turns along the way and the MC's as well as several secondary characters continued to reveal more and more depth as the story unfolded. The overall plot doesn't get completely wrapped up (which is expected in a series) but it doesn't end on a big cliffhanger. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Christian, a seemingly spoiled rich man wants nothing more than to get rid of his latest bodyguard Atlas. Atlas gives as good as he gets and they settle into a sort of truce. Then the weird stuff starts happening.

Nicely written book with numerous surprises. World building occurred throughout the book. Strong characters, mostly likable. Bad guys were easy to dislike. Very slow burn and ended in a mini cliffhanger. Hope it’s not to long until the next book.

This story grabbed me from the beginning. I went into it without an idea of what it was about and was very surprised at the path it took. Hard to review without any spoilers. I’ll just say I really liked the spoiled man and his watcher.

I thought this had an intriguing blurb, so I thought I’d give it a go. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book since it’s much more of a character driven novel, and I prefer plot driven. However, it really didn’t take long before I was completely invested in this book. Atlas (very interesting name) and Mr. Salva (Cristian) had so much chemistry. Speaking of such, I appreciated that even though they are gay, I didn’t feel that they were nothing more than a couple of people attracted to each other. No big deal they were gay; that was just a side issue. Add to that the slow build-up, the great writing, and suspense on top of suspense, I couldn’t wait to see what happens. And the cliffhanger: what a huge surprise! I can’t wait to read the next! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I absolutely loved this MM romance.

Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.

I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite recommend!

Already a fan of Grant’s works, I was desperate for this one even though I’m not always a vampire fan. If you’re the same way, don’t pass this one up! It is so much more than a vampire story. It’s also a bodyguard/protectee book, a book that’s extremely suspenseful at times, and a book with plenty of twists and turns to keep you wondering what’s going to be coming next. This is definitely book one in the series, and we’re still getting to know the characters, but I definitely like what we’ve seen so far. Everyone’s a little bit prickly, but with good reason, and I truly can’t wait until we get to see them come completely out of their shells as more secrets are revealed as the series progresses!

3.5 Stars

Atlas Kinkaid has had a rough life. After he and his sister lost their parents, Atlas enlisted and found a new family with his platoon. While on mission in Romania, Atlas and his platoon were attacked by unknown, vicious beasts. Atlas was the only one to survive, left with both physical and emotional scars. But he was trained to protect, so he returned to civilian life as personal security for the Whitethorn Agency. Rare Vigilance is the story of Atlas and his newest client, Cristian Slava. Cristian is heir to vast fortunes, but Cristian and his father are keeping a lot of secrets from Atlas, secrets that will change everything - except Atlas’ growing attraction to Cristian. As nightmares from the past return, and world-shattering truths are brought to light, Atlas will have to decide what - and who - is worth protecting.

Overall, the writing and plot of Rare Vigilance was very well done. Atlas was a multifaceted character; he had a dark past, and it clearly shaped his personality. M.A. Grant did a wonderful job at shaping that personality through Atlas’ actions, rather than just lumping it all in his backstory. Cristian was a great love interest for Atlas, his opposite in so many ways, but readers will instantly feel that spark and tension between the two. I also thought Atlas’ backstory was interesting, and I spent much of the book wanting to know more about the creatures that attacked him. Cristian also had an intriguing story arc, going from snarky, privileged son to caring, worthy love interest.

Rare Vigilance is a paranormal romance, but it was not like most of the paranormal romances I’ve read. Atlas learns pretty early on that Cristian is a vampire, but it didn’t affect their partnership as much as I expected it to. The sexual tension between the two also simmered throughout most of the story, with only a few scenes that really got hot and heavy. The romance is definitely a slow burn, which I find less in paranormal romance than other romance subgenres. Rare Vigilance is also part of a series and ends on a cliffhanger. I felt like the plot was just heating up, really getting into the action that had been teased since the beginning, when the book wrapped up. I will definitely be checking out the next book, needing to know where Atlas and Cristian’s story goes from here, but I wish Rare Vigilance had more of a conclusion rather than seeming to end mid-scene.

Rare Vigilance covers a lot of ground for a paranormal romance: PTSD, grief, loss of a parent, love, and recovery. While definitely heavier on the paranormal aspect and lighter on the romance, there is a great relationship forming between Atlas and Cristian which will surely have a fantastic payoff in future books.

Rare Vigilance by M.A. Grant is the first book in the Whitethorn Agency series. Atlas Kinkaid has returned from military service with both physical and mental scars. He has found a safe place at his sister’s security agency. Beatrice approaches him with a tough case that has already run off several other agents, protecting Cristian Slava. Working to protect the son of a business mogul seems simple but it proves to be anything but as Cristian tries to get rid of him and the protection gets complicated with territory disputes, secrets being exposed and family fighting. Atlas finds himself becoming more attached to Cristian than is appropriate and struggles as the lines blurring between protection and affection. As danger from Atlas’ past comes to haunt them, Cristian and Atlas will find themselves caught in the crosshairs.

Atlas Kinkaid is a broken man who puts on a brave face day in and day out to get by. He has the support of his sister after returning from the attack overseas but it isn’t until he meets Cristian that he even begins to deal with his past. Atlas makes questionable decisions out of fear that will continue to impact him and Cristian more than we even know at the ending of this first book in the trilogy. The slow burn leading up to the men exploring their attraction was just right based on the two men’s backgrounds. Everything you learn about Cristian Slava is from Atlas’ perspective as this story is told from just the single POV. Cristian obviously struggles to allow his attachment to Atlas to show out of fear of rejection but takes brave steps knowing getting to know Atlas is worth it in the long run.

Rare Vigilance was not what I expected from being just from Atlas’ perspective to being a world building driven urban supernatural story with slow burn romantic aspects. That being said I enjoyed the book once I came around to the idea that I wouldn’t get Cristian’s POV and that this wasn’t going to be a burning up the pages romance. I am choosing to leave the supernatural aspect out of this review because readers will enjoy the story more discovering it themselves. I have every intention of continuing the series knowing that I was left on that cliff just wanting more.

3.5 stars for a good start to a new urban supernatural series

This is my first read of M.A. Grant's and I certainly enjoyed it enough to pick up more of her work. "Rare Vigilance" is a book about living with PTSD... and then coming face to face with fear in the guise of a potential lover.

Atlas is working in private security when his sister (and company owner) asks him to take over a job that happens only at night and is very important to the future of the company. Atlas thinks he'll be providing security for an infamous "boss" and businessman but, in fact, it's Cristian Slava he'll be protecting. Cristian comes off as a spoiled young man at first; he's snarky and full of vitriol and does his level best to avoid Atlas and make his job a lot more difficult. There are side trips that Atlas doesn't know about, meetings he isn't given details to, and trists with men that involve some embarrassing moments.

As Atlas gets the ground under his feet, he begins to realize there's a lot more to Cristian than he thought. It isn't until things get dangerous and lives are threatened that Atlas finally realizes what is going on. He's coming face to face with the paranormal that took his friend away from him and left him with a scarred body and PTSD.

Cristian is a lovely character. He has a facade he puts on... as the young, rebellious son of a businessman. There's much more depth to him that is brought out throughout the course of the novel. In fact, Cristian may be quite the opposite of what he seems to want people to see. There are lots of reasons for that, but primarily Cristian has faced a significant loss in his past that has molded him.

As Atlas is drawn to Cristian, as they become friends and potentially more - things get tricky. Atlas is making a lot of emotional decisions based on the things that have happened to him in the past. He seems to have an internal battle. Protecting Cristian seems to come naturally to him...but he also struggles with how to protect himself going forward. I don't want to give spoilers so I'm being a bit evasive about these two characters.

This is an interesting take on the world of vampires, but nothing completely original. There are the more typical vampires and there are Strigoi who are like monsters... machines who want to kill. I do like the fact that the social structure of vampires seems a bit more convoluted in this novel. There are definitely vampires who have significant privilege and those who don't and this plays out in how they face the threats of the Strigoi.

This was an enjoyable read and I will certainly be looking forward to the second book in the series. Please be aware that this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. There are some issues from the first book that are not resolved before the end of the novel... I am certainly curious about what will happen!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy. I enjoyed this!

I didn't know anything about this going in. I just saw this and requested it because I really liked M.A. Grant's other series and wanted to read this. I was expecting it to be sort of similar to her other series and it was, but with a different sort of paranormal element. There's definitely a bit less world building. There were parts of this where I honestly couldn't tell if vampires were a know entity in this world or not. Hopefully some of that will be fleshed out a bit more in subsequent books but I do think we got a good introduction in this book, especially as the story progressed.

I liked the characters. Christian and Atlas are both interesting. I still feel like I don't know them super well because they both spend a lot of this book being pretty guarded, especially Atlas. This is understandable for their characters but I am hoping that we'll learn more about them as the relationship progresses. There's still so much we don't know about their backgrounds so hopefully that will get fleshed out. There is an instant attraction between them but I do think the attraction developed naturally after that point and I'm excited to see where it goes.

This does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger. This book does have some interesting plot. Some points were frustrating for me as far as communication issues and Atlas trusting some people faster than I think his character would suggest but ultimately, I think this is a really good set up to a series and I'm excited to see where this goes.

J'avais adoré la série « The Darkest Court » avec laquelle j'avais pu découvrir MA Grant ! Il me tardait donc de pouvoir découvrir sa toute nouvelle série avec le premier opus « Rare Vigilance », et ce, en n'ayant pas lu le résumé ^^
Ce résumé reste d'ailleurs plutôt vague donc je vais essayer de ne pas trop en dévoiler...

Nous faisons la connaissance de Atlas Kinkaid, un ancien marine travaillant désormais pour l'agence de sécurité Whitethorn, dirigée par sa sœur Bea. Sa nouvelle mission est de devoir protéger Cristian Salva, de fils d'un certain célèbre homme d'affaire. Atlas va alors faire de surprenantes découvertes à ses côtés.

Si le récit démarre sur un schéma plutôt classique du bodyguard/protégé, le reste va être surprenant en fait. M.A. Grant nous embarque cette fois dans un univers paranormal, un New York peu différent du monde dans lequel on vit, à quelques exceptions près. J'adore ce genre d'histoire, celle où le paranormal se font au monde normal, où la frontière entre le fantastique et le réel est très fine et où l'auteur nous distille ces éléments au fur et à mesure.

J'ai adoré les personnages. Atlas est un homme qui a vécu de nombreuses batailles dans sa vie, il en porte certaines cicatrices pouvant en témoigner. Son boulot lui permet de payer ses factures, mais en acceptant le job proposé par sa sœur, il va être confronté à un autre type de danger.
Sa première rencontre avec celui qui deviendra son protégé est assez intense, glaciale. D'emblée, on sent qu'il y a un truc entre les deux personnages. L'alchimie est instantanée, la tension également et ce, une bonne majorité du roman.
Cristian, c'est un peu le fils à papa, il apparaît comme froid, imbus de lui-même. Petit à petit, tout comme Atlas, on va découvrir les autres facettes qu'il dissimule. Et j'ai adoré les découvrir ^^
Un lien va se créer entre les personnages, un lien particulier et j'ai bien aimé la façon dont l'auteur l'a développé. On va avoir droit à un slow burn dont je raffole, saupoudré du petit thème des « contraires qui s'attirent » délicieux ^^

C'est sans temps mort, j'ai adoré et dévoré ce roman en presque une bouchée. Mystères, attaques étranges, actions et révélations sont au programme. La romance est discrète, ce n'est pas à proprement parler d'une romance à ce stade d'ailleurs même si Cristian et Atlas se cherchent et qu'un lien étrange les réunit.
L'auteur prend le temps aussi de développer, pour mon plus grand bonheur, son univers, dont je ne mentionnerai rien étant donné qu'il pourrait mettre la puce à l'oreille XD
On sent tout le potentiel à venir et j'ai trop hâte de découvrir le second tome !