Solid 3 star read, just engaging enough to keep the pages turning. Very easy to read.
The author feels it necessary to remind the reader that the MMC is a Navy SEAL every other page, which becomes very distracting.
So much happens in such a short amount of time, but it is simple, easy to read, small town romance with a dash of danger.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Mandy and Chance. They were high school sweethearts. They broke up when Chance went to the navy. Chance comes back home because his father has cancer and dies. He goes by Mandy’s family auto repair shop to pick up a part. She is being harassed by a loan shark. Chance helps her to get rid of the loan shark and they fall in love to each other.

Chance and Mandy were once high school sweethearts, but their relationship ended when Chance joined the Navy without telling Mandy. Now, 12 years later, Chance returns to town for his father's funeral and discovers Mandy struggling with her father's gambling debts. Determined to help her, Chance starts working as a mechanic in Mandy's garage. As they reconnect, they must confront their past and navigate the dangers posed by loan sharks. Chance's military training comes in handy as they devise a plan to save Mandy's garage and their budding romance. Despite challenges, they hope for a second chance at love. The story tackles realistic issues while delivering a heartwarming romance.

Whoohoo, some yummy ex-military guys in a happily-ever-after threesome. Well, not that kind of threesome… (LOL), but again three more books of one of my favorite authors: Leslie North.

The McCalister military brothers are all ready to move their life from the military to the civilian world. First, there is Chance, who comes back to his hometown and former sweetheart Mandy. While Chance went away (and broke Mandy’s heart), she stayed behind and took over the auto repair business when her father abruptly died. But keeping afloat is difficult, especially since her father left her with some gambling debts as well.

Chance needs a job and although he should steer clear of Mandy, he can’t help but feel attracted to her. Even when she keeps pushing him away. And when it appears that Mandy is in trouble, Chance knows he has to step up to keep her safe.

Per usual, I wonderful story of Leslie; four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

protecting mandy was a quick paced and enjoyable read. It was a second chance romance with dual pov (I always love being able to see the story from both sides and it worked particularly well in this book). This book is the first of three which follows the romances of three brothers, I really enjoyed seeing the brothers relationship. Mandy's friendship was also a great addition to the romance.
This book isnt all romance though as theres a bit of a mystery in there too, while I won't spoil it , it was a great addition to the book.

There was a brilliant ending that rounded the story off well. If your considering reading this book I would recommend it as a great quick read!

I have read many books from this author in the past. I’m actually quite a big fan and most books from her are usually request on NetGalley. So when I saw this it was an instant click and it did not disappoint. I loved the quick pacing of the seal aspect, I absolutely adore the romance on a sexual tension. It just was everything I love an expected from this author.

While our library may not be purchasing this book, I know I will for my personal collection. This is the first thing by Leslie North I have read and let me tell you.. I finished it within one sitting. I loved the "plot" and the spice throughout the book.

Beautiful second chance romance. High school sweethearts Chance gies off to the Navy and comes back to town Mandy and feelings come back. While Chance is dealing with the funeral and Mandy dealing with the fact that her father owed money to loan sharks. Its not just romance. Its sweet sexy and romance but also suspense feeling. I would read again and recommend this book.

I have read several books by Leslie North and this one did not disappoint!

Mandy is a mechanic who inherited her dad’s garage and Chance just retired from the SEALs and returned home when his father passed. They were high school sweethearts who broke up when Chance left for the service.

This has a ton of steam and a great balance of suspense and pace. I also loved being introduced to Chance’s brothers who have their own books in the series.

A great quick read! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

First book in the series McCallister Military Brothers by Leslie North. The story of Chance and Mandy and second chances. Not bad at all, easy to read, nothing complex and a very basic plot.

I’m a sucker for second chance romances. Although this story was short and brief it had a few nice twists and interesting storyline.

This was a quick read. It was a little lacking in terms of depth and characterization. The story line was good but I felt like the story could have been told with more angst, suspense, etc. I think it was supposed to have a dark romance feel but it fell flat for me.

This is the 1st book in the “McCalister Military Brothers Series.” Chance is a former Navy SEAL who broke Mandy hearts when she was a teenager. Mandy’s father died leaving behind a mountain of debt owed to a bookie. Mandy owns and operates the family-owned auto mechanic business and to add injury to insult her mechanic has just quit. Chance comes home after being in the military for 12 years and to be with father in his final days. Chance is working on his dad’s car when he needs a part for the car and sees Mandy who is running the mechanic shop. He sees that Mandy is in need help. The two are still very much attracted to each other with great chemistry.

Will Mandy hire Chance to work in the family garage that she is in need of a mechanic, will she forgive Chance and open up her heart again to love, will the couple have a second chance at romance?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Relay Publishing and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Protecting Mandy is the first book on in the McAllister brothers series. After retiring as a SEAL and watching his father pass away from cancer Chance finds himself back in his home town and back in front of the one that broke his heart. Mandy can't believe she is face to face with the boy now man that tore her heart to pieces and left for the Navy. She is trying to stay one step ahead of a ruthless loan shark that is after the money her dad gambled away. I enjoyed this quick read and look forward to reading the other brothers stories.

This was a pretty fast-paced second chance/romantic suspense book. I honestly thought the rapid pace at the end was a bit unrealistic. The villain being defeated happened way too quick to be realistic. It didn't seem status quo that FBI could mobilize that quickly for a secondary case they're working. But what do I know?

Mandy and Chance were high school sweethearts, but when Chance decided to enlist in the Navy without telling Mandy, she broke things off with him (he had planned on proposing that same day, oops). Fast forward over a decade and Chance is retired and back home after burying his father. He figured he'd avoid Mandy, but that's not how life goes, especially when he's visiting the garage she owns to pick up a part for his dad's vintage car. They rekindle their relationship pretty quickly. Sure, there's still some hurt from how things went down when they were teens. But it's like they fell right back into a routine at work and in bed. Their chemistry is hot and believable and I was really pulling for them to get their second chance.

Mandy definitely needed a break. Life had treated her pretty crappy for 2 years as she was trying to pay off her dead father's debt to a loan shark. When Chance catches the perv bullying Mandy, he can't just sit back and let her be treated that way. Mandy was pretty stubborn and didn't want Chance to step in, which was annoying. But eventually she sees that Chance is a very capable SEAL who can hold his own against thugs. He handles business efficiently and they get their HEA.

I wish we had seen more of Chance's brothers. I know they'll get their own story, but they were only briefly introduced before the author sent them on their way across county.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishing company and or the author for giving me the chance to read and review Protecting Mandy.

Loved the concept of the book but I feel like that the characters where a little flat and boring.

A new series this one has Mandy who stayed in town and worked with her father at his garage as a mechanic. She had dated and was in love with Chance but he broke her heart when he told her he was joining the military, so she broke up with him. Now twelve years later he is back in the home town wanting to see her, but see’s she is in trouble. He finds out that her father left her with his gambling debt with a loan shark and wants to help. A good story that deals with both the present and the past. I liked the characters as well a good story.

This book was great, loved the romance between the main characters, all the spice and the suspense. I loved it and read it in one sitting as I just couldn't put the book down.

Mandy is trying her best. Her father died unexpectedly, leaving her with an enormous gambling debt and a suffering business. She has just lost her only employee when her ex highschool sweetheart, Chance, walks back into her life. Chance has returned to town when his dad’s health becomes terminal. After his dad’s passing and his retirement from the Navy, he didn't know what to do next. He finds out that Mandy needs help running the garage that they spent many days together back in high school. Chance soon figures out that Mandy is in over her head with a ruthless loan shark. Chances uses his military training to help save the love of his life.

PROTECTING MANDY is a romance about second chances. Neither Mandy nor Chance ever got over each other, and they are now back in the same town with the chance to see if the love they once shared is still burning. This book takes some pretty heavy topics; losing loved ones, gambling, breakups, and manages to keep the overall story pretty light-hearted. Some of the lines were cheesy. The romance and sex scenes read like they were written independently and awkwardly placed in the book. This is my first Leslie North book, and overall, I did like it.

Thank you, NetGalley, Relay Publishing, and Leslie North, for the opportunity to read this digital ARC for my honest review.

"Protecting Mandy" is a gripping second chance romance novel that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you breathless.

The story centers around Mandy, a woman who is facing quite a few problems following the death of her father. Left heartbroken and buried in crippling debt, Mandy struggles to keep her auto repair business afloat. Just when it seems like things couldn't get any worse, Chance McCallister, a former Navy SEAL and Mandy's teenage love, walks back into her life. The chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was in their youth, but Mandy is hesitant to hire Chance as her new mechanic. After all, they both broke each other's hearts.

The story's pacing is perfect, with a good balance between heartwarming moments and heart-pounding action.

If you're a fan of heartfelt romances with a healthy dose of suspense, this book is a must-read. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you captivated from the first page to the last, and it will remind you that sometimes, the past is worth revisiting for the chance at a brighter future.