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A review by snapcracklepoppies
Triple-Duty Bodyguards by Lily Gold
5.0
I have been meaning to try Lily Gold out for ages, I hear nothing about good things about her works and I'm so glad I was finally able to give this audiobook a listen because it was SO good. I'm mostly over on the side of PNR/Monster/Alien romance these days but I LOVE a good romantic suspense, and the fact that this was also a why-choose romantic suspense made it all the better. I wasn't expecting the conflict/suspense part to be so intense based on the cutesy cover and how much people gush about the spice, but it was pretty dark and thrilling. I had an inkling of what was going on, but it wasn't overly obvious so I was reluctant to put the book on pause -- I wanted to find out what would happen and if my suspicions were correct. The romance aspects are sugar-sweet and the steamy scenes are definitely hot, so that balances out how dark the plot gets. But I do think a warning for stalking and sexual assault would be warranted, even though things didn't escalate to what would normally warrant that TW.
The PTSD and anxiety rep were stunning. I wasn't prepared for how perfectly Lily Gold wrote them both, as someone with both as well. I cried for both Briar and Matt during their lowest moments in the book, and that's a testament to her skill because I normally wouldn't be affected to that degree to something outside my own triggers. (The narrators were also really good at putting the right emotion behind the words too, which I think added to the effect.) In addition to it being extremely realistic, I loved the way she had the characters handle their anxiety attacks, flashbacks, and nightmares. They handled everything so compassionately and it was easy to put myself in their shoes and want to be treated with that same compassion.
The other big thing I wanted to touch on without spoiling too much is just how incredible the characters are. Especially Briar. She's one of those characters where you start the book and you're not sure you're going to like her, she's (as she says) a bit of a bitch. But she needs to be that way to protect herself, to protect her career, and to be able to do the things she does (like charity); and behind closed doors, in her day to day interactions with people that aren't out to use her, she's incredibly kind and sweet. She loves people in quiet, comforting ways like getting them a cup of coffee without anyone asking. As the three men warm up to her, you warm up to her with them. Her character unfolds through getting to know them and it feels very natural. We aren't told who she is, we're shown it. Same with the guys. We are shown who they are through actions and I just think that's such an admirable skill from the author. I really enjoyed her craftsmanship in the novel, not just the story and characters themselves.
The PTSD and anxiety rep were stunning. I wasn't prepared for how perfectly Lily Gold wrote them both, as someone with both as well. I cried for both Briar and Matt during their lowest moments in the book, and that's a testament to her skill because I normally wouldn't be affected to that degree to something outside my own triggers. (The narrators were also really good at putting the right emotion behind the words too, which I think added to the effect.) In addition to it being extremely realistic, I loved the way she had the characters handle their anxiety attacks, flashbacks, and nightmares. They handled everything so compassionately and it was easy to put myself in their shoes and want to be treated with that same compassion.
The other big thing I wanted to touch on without spoiling too much is just how incredible the characters are. Especially Briar. She's one of those characters where you start the book and you're not sure you're going to like her, she's (as she says) a bit of a bitch. But she needs to be that way to protect herself, to protect her career, and to be able to do the things she does (like charity); and behind closed doors, in her day to day interactions with people that aren't out to use her, she's incredibly kind and sweet. She loves people in quiet, comforting ways like getting them a cup of coffee without anyone asking. As the three men warm up to her, you warm up to her with them. Her character unfolds through getting to know them and it feels very natural. We aren't told who she is, we're shown it. Same with the guys. We are shown who they are through actions and I just think that's such an admirable skill from the author. I really enjoyed her craftsmanship in the novel, not just the story and characters themselves.