Review: Guarded by Cat Grant & L.A. Witt

Title: Guarded by Cat Grant & L.A. Witt
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance, BDSM
Length: 344 pages/Word Count: 105,000
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

On the surface, rock star Jordan Kane has it all. His band No Rules is burning up the charts and headlining a world tour. His bodyguard doubles as a hot, kinky boyfriend who knows just how to push all his buttons. But behind the scenes, he’s suffocating.

Jase Hewitt never imagined he’d have a shot at bedding the larger than life rock star – never mind dominating him – but now he’s worried he’s in over his head. Jordan’s kinks run deep, dark, and sometimes dangerous, putting Jase’s desires to both pleasure and protect him at odds.

They might have a fighting chance at finding the safe, happy medium between what Jordan needs and what Jase is willing to give, but there’s one problem: Daniel, Jordan’s childhood best friend, the band’s talented guitarist — and a volatile, hard-partying drug addict. Jordan is determined to save Daniel from himself, but Jase has been there, done that, and desperately wants to protect Jordan from the inevitable heartache of watching an addict self-destruct.

When Daniel goes off the rails again, Jordan calls off the tour to get him help. Tension within the band skyrockets and pressure from the record label sends Jordan into a dark spiral. Now his band — and his life — are balanced on a knife’s edge, and Jase is the only one who can pull him back… but only if the echoes of his own tragic past don’t push him over first.

The Review:

Guarded by Cat Grant and L.A. Witt is a hot, sexy and kinky romance that is full of deep emotions. This poignant novel is also a bit heartbreaking as Jordan Kane watches his longtime friend and band mate Daniel Barrett hit rock bottom then re-enter rehab. With his life slowly slipping out of control, Jordan eagerly submits to his dominant bodyguard and new lover Jase Hewitt. Will their newfound relationship withstand the stress of Daniel’s recovery and return to Jordan’s life?

Jordan loves performing and touring with his band No Rules, but he has become a bit jaded by his stardom. With little free time to cultivate a relationship, he has a reputation for sleeping with his road crew but these hookups are fairly short lived. His longest enduring relationship is with Daniel and their history is complicated by their own failed romance and Daniel’s longstanding battles with addictions.

In the beginning, Jase is charmingly unsure of himself when it comes to Jordan. He knows about Jordan’s secret kink and although he is hesitant to give Jordan what he needs, their first sexual encounter is explosive. Jase is quick to realize that Jordan is truly a submissive who thrives on pain. When Jordan begins to flounder while on break from touring, he and Jase fully engage in a BDSM relationship.

There is also a strong emotional connection between Jase and Jordan but Jordan’s loyalty to Daniel is a source of friction between them. Jase’s past experiences with an addict provide incredible insight into Daniel and Jordan’s troubled relationship but Jordan is too close to situation to recognize the truth to Jase’s astute observations. Jordan remains hopeful about Daniel’s future, but are his expectations realistic?

An excellent collaboration between Cat Grant and L.A. Witt, Guarded is gritty, compelling and intense but overall, there is very little angst. The plot is believable and beautifully executed. Jase and Jordan are superbly developed characters with well-detailed backstories that add depth the unfolding storyline. Their emotions and struggles feel real and their honesty with themselves and each other is refreshing. The sex scenes are exquisitely detailed and sizzling hot. Although the ending is little predictable, it is absolutely perfect.