McKenna does it again. What a sweet love story this is. Zack has wanted Ava for a decade, secretly . It's his best friends little sister, no matter they are both adults now. So when she comes to him with a security issue his need to keep her safe drives him a little crazy. But his demands drive her a lot crazy.

Will they make it through the next seventy-two hours without killing each other?

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was ok, but only ok if I’m honest.

Ava and Zach have had a thing for each other for 10 years but never acted on it. Then, online trolls target Ava and Zach steps in to help.

This was ok, and it certainly filled a hole while I had a particularly lengthy bedtime with this kids but it didn’t have much substance. The characters didn’t have much of a back story and therefore had little depth and the story itself was secondary to the fact that Ava and Zach FINALLY got together.

This is the 3rd book in a series so it could be that a lot of the gaps in stories have already been covered in an earlier installment – like questions about why Ava has nightmares and why her family are pretty shitty with her and unsupportive. All in all though it was an easy read which kept me interested for an evening.

Ava Maddox is used to negative comments on social media. However, when they threaten her safety, she turns to Maddox Hill CSO Zack Austin to help unmasking who’s stalking her. All the red flags are raised in Zack’s head, who will do everything to protect his best friend’s sister. He even goes with her to LA, on Ava’s business trip, as her personal bodyguard. It is then when the sparks between them jump into the air.

Ava and Zack are very similar but different at the same time. They have known each other for 10 years. As soon as they see each other for the first time, the sexual attraction and chemistry ignites. They keep it hidden, despite what they feel for each other, because they both think it’s a forbidden feeling.

This story takes place chronologically in just a couple of weeks (perfectly justified, let it be clear) but, because they know each other for so many years, it doesn’t suffer from a lack of intensity. Also, what Ava and Zack have experienced in the past defines their personalities. At the same time, the environment around them, with family (Ava) and friends (Zack) surrounding both hero and heroine, create an ideal atmosphere for the couple’s relationship to flow organically.

It is worth noting that some secondary characters, especially Craig (Ava’s ex-boyfriend) and Ernest (her assistant), bring the surprise element to the plot. And it’s that the author knew how to play with the speculation factor in an effective and right way. Just as the pace is impeccable and the book is very well written, with detailed information on sustainable technology without the reader skipping pages.

This third installment of Men of Maddox Hill has been a very well developed story, full of intensity and some intrigue. A book that deserves to be read.

FULL REVIEW IN HARLEQUIN JUNKIE:
https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-tall-dark-and-off-limits-by-shannon-mckenna/

I did enjoy this book. The story is well done and I liked the characters.

Good book for a quick and easy read.

I had such expectations of Tall, Dark and Off Limits by Shannon McKenna and, unfortunately, none of them were met. The novel was boring. None of the characters were compelling and their relationship was mellow, at best. The lack of communication was really disappointing and made the novel worse for it. The steam was… not steamy. The novel lacked intensity, overall; it seemed to be going through the motions without any actual heart.
1 and a half stars.

I really enjoyed this romance with a hero and heroine that had immediate and instant chemistry that came across as natural and authentic. However, the premise of this book threw me since there was a lot of talk about the troll that made it necessary for Ava to have constant protection but it never seemed that serious to me. It was just an excuse to get Ava and Zack together and then seemed to be put on the back burner until McKenna needed it again for the dramatic ending. The business trip that Zack accompanied Ava on was wonderful and I enjoyed seeing them being together in close quarters. I did find the bedroom talk between them entertaining but clunky. Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was how upfront with their feelings both Ava and Zack were. McKenna could have gone the route of overusing the miscommunication trope but I think she handled it well. I always love in a romance when characters talk about and share their feelings so that was a big plus in this story. With that said, I was not a fan of the ending and how quickly things were wrapped up between them. Other than the premise not really working for me, I did think this book was entertaining and definitely delivered the steamy romance it promised.

It's bodyguard Zack's job to protect his best friend's sister. Just one problem: social media influencer Ava is also the woman he's had a forbidden crush on for years. Keeping her safe from a stalker isn't his biggest challenge. Keeping his hands to himself is. Especially once he realizes the attraction is mutual.

Zack and Ava are a great couple with a ton of chemistry. She's not the kind of woman to do as she's told, but he won't let anything get in the way of protecting her. If you like the bodyguard and best friend's sister tropes, you'll enjoy this steamy romance.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

It was an entertaining and sweet romance, I rooted for the characters and like the well plotted story.
It's fast paced, well developed and it can be read as a stand alone even if it's the third in a series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Tall dark and off limits by Shannon McKenna.
Men of Maddox Hill, Book 3.
Security expert Zack Austin is more than up for the task of protecting Ava Maddox. After all, she’s like family. But dealing with the dynamic beauty requires every ounce of patience…and sexual control. They’ve been denying their forbidden feelings for too long and soon passion erupts. Zack’s willing to face her overprotective family’s wrath, but will trouble explode in his face?
A good read with good characters. I liked Ava and Zack. I liked the ending too. 4*.

Tempting meets explosive and spills right over into the heart. With Tall, Dark and Off Limits, McKenna stirs up mischief while making a little bit naughty feel so nice. Zach and Ava are an adventure of heart that sets the senses aflame. A spicy delight that keeps readers craving more.

Glamor, chemistry, danger, and intrigue. Tall, Dark, and Off Limits has all that. The settings are rich and enticing, the romance is full of heat, and Shannon McKenna gives us a bit of danger and excitement to really spice things up. I liked Ava and Zack, and they were easy to root for. The relationship, of course, has some angst to deal with, but these two fit so well despite coming from different worlds. This is the third in the Men of Maddox Hill series, but it's my first introduction to both the series and the author. That said, I didn't feel like I was missing anything, so I'd say this book works fine as a standalone. I found the storyline engaging and intriguing, and I was surprised by the reveal of the villain. So, this may be my first read by Shannon McKenna, but it won't be my last.

Ava Maddox has finally hit the end of her rope. She's being trolled on social media and now someone has painted "slut" on the side of her garage. She goes to Zack Austin who is the head of security for Maddox Hill.

Zack has been intrigued with Ava since he first met her ten years earlier when her brother took him to their house. But Zack is from West Virginia and from a working class family. Ava is rich and talented and beautiful and, in his opinion, way out of his class.

Ava has always been intrigued by Zack, but personal issues revolving around the deaths of her parents and lack of respect for her career choices from the uncle who raised her after her parents' deaths, have made her into a workaholic who will do anything for her clients but leave her little time for herself.

Zack immediately assigns himself as her personal bodyguard since she needs to attend a trade fair with a couple of her clients. The clients are up for an award and have a marvelous new invention but need venture capitalists to invest. While there, and while sharing adjoining rooms, Zack and Ava begin a hot and heavy relationship. But her nightmares and his flashbacks to when another girl out of his class ghosted him along with the busy trolls, almost sabotage their relationship.

I enjoyed this story. I liked both Ava and Zack and thought they made a perfect couple. I liked the romance and found the identity of the villain to be surprising.