A review by natreadsalot14
Protect by Paisley Hope

4.5

What to expect:
🔥 Single mom
🧑🏼‍🚒 Brother’s best friend
🔥 Firefighter MMC
🧑🏼‍🚒 Second chance
🔥 Mutual pining
🧑🏼‍🚒 A man that stands up for both mother AND daughter

I am fully, unapologetically OBSESSED with this series—and Protect might just be my favorite of the bunch. I didn’t think I was a second chance romance girl but this is the second second chance romance I have loved this week so maybe the tide is turning??

Paisley was able to keep the essence from Fight and blended small-town comfort with deep emotional wounds and just enough spice? Perfect. I loved how real this felt—Vi and Rowan had history, baggage, and heartbreak, but also this magnetic pull that you couldn’t help but root for. Their connection was intense but tender, and it was obvious from the start that this wasn’t just about heat—it was about healing and building something that could last.

Rowan Kingsley, THE MAN!!!, absolutely melted me. This man was hot, hilarious, and so deeply in love with Vi that he didn’t even try to hide it. He waited years for her, and when he got the chance again? He didn’t hesitate. He showed up for her and for Hollie constantly—no grand gestures necessary, just consistent, thoughtful care. And yes, the man had a filthy mouth, do not worry.

Vi was a great heroine too. I loved how grounded she was—tough, but not hardened. Watching her balance motherhood, grief, and opening herself back up to Rowan was such a journey. The dual timeline worked SO well here. It let you feel every bit of their past—how it unraveled and why—and it made their present reunion feel incredibly earned.

Also… the spice. Lord. There’s a secret tattoo reveal. There’s a sponge bath scene. There are lines that had me blushing and giggling like a teenager. But none of it felt out of place—it was raw and emotional and fit their story.

What really sealed the deal for me was how well Paisley handled the grief and the legacy of Vi’s brother, Jacob. His presence was felt throughout, and the way he served as a kind of invisible thread pulling them back together? I was wrecked. Completely teary-eyed. Rowan and Vi weren’t just healing themselves—they were honoring the memory of someone they both loved, and it gave their story so much depth.

Just wow—extremely raw and emotional, and yet again, nothing of what I was expecting… but not mad AT ALL