Even an ace mechanic can’t repair a broken heart…

When Mandy’s father died, he left her alone, heartbroken, and buried in crippling debt to an unscrupulous bookie. Now, Mandy’s the proud owner of an auto repair business whose only other mechanic just quit. Things couldn’t get any worse. Until former Navy SEAL Chance McCallister, the man who broke her heart when they were teens, walks through her door. He’s looking to help, and even hotter than she remembers. She’d be crazy to hire him as her new mechanic.

And she’d be even crazier to fall in love with him again…

Chance knows Mandy’s in trouble. And even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he can’t stop those feelings flooding his heart, the same way they did when he was a kid. Nothing has changed… Except Mandy is even more beautiful, more fierce, more everything. But he’s not going down that road again. One messy breakup is enough. He’ll protect her. He’ll put his life on the line. And he’ll do what he can to keep her safe.

But this time, he’ll protect his own heart as well…

Titles in the McCallister Military Brothers series include — Protecting Mandy —♦— Saving Rachel —♦— Guarding Viktoria —♦—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Booksprout ARC

Previously published as SEAL’s Homecoming. 

Title:  Protecting Mandy
Series:  McCallister Military Brothers #1
Author:  Leslie North
Genre:  Romance
Published:  August 31, 2023, Original: January 30, 2019
Publisher:  Relay Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Protecting Mandy kicks off the McCallister Military Brothers series with a fast-paced second-chance romance between one-time high school sweethearts who were torn apart by circumstance and a choice.  Now, more than a decade later, Chance is back in his hometown – and Mandy is in serious trouble… and that old spark is still there.

I had fun with Mandy and Chance’s story.  The characters are engaging and likable; their history makes Mandy and Chance’s past and future blend together in an all-grown-up way. I liked Mandy’s independence, yet if anyone could help her in this situation, it would be Chance.  They shared a past, and they each made mistakes.  Now they have the opportunity to resolve what tore them apart, but only if they’ll really listen to each other and their hearts this time.  Watching them fall once again was an enjoyable journey filled with some suspense, some bad guys, and perhaps some much-needed clarity on what truly happened all those years ago.

If you enjoy a second chance romance with a touch of suspense and a likable couple with engaging secondary characters who will one day have their own tale told, then you’ll enjoy Protecting Mandy.

Previously published as SEAL’s Homecoming.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available for the Kindle as this title is currently in KU