Defending Keirnan: A Protector Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5️⃣ for Story
🌶️ out of 5️⃣ for spice
🔈🔈🔈🔈 out of 5️⃣ for narration

Tropes:
🚨 Ex-Special Ops
🚨 Instant Love Connection
🚨 Sweet Romance
🚨 Single Dad
🚨 Romantic Suspense

Defending Keirnan was a story I didn’t think I was going to enjoy but boy was I wrong! The Audiobook was so good that there was no way that I wasn’t going to thoroughly enjoy. Troy Duran narrated our MMC, Dane. While Rose Dioro narrated our MFM, Kieran. Both of them crushed their roles! Holy crap!! The cute little story, gets crazier and crazier as the book continues and it’s so refreshing to hear that the narrators are able to follow along with the story!

Troy’s voice was perfect for Dane, who is a dad, the hero, the protector in the book. His smooth and raspy voice really did things to me and made me fall in love with Dane’s character. Rose was amazing at portraying the innocence that Keirnan has. They really worked well together and that added to the experience of the audiobook.

The book was really well written with a love story blooming and then so many curveballs thrown that have me rooting for their happily ever after. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was super happy with its ending.

🎧 Narration: 4 ⭐️s
📖 Story: 3 ⭐️s

Fiala’s first book in the G.H.O.S.T series does well establishing the frame for future installments to complete with perhaps some hints as to future heroes. However, as contained story, though DF provides an interesting mystery/kidnapping plot, the romance disappoints in some ways.

Dane, our hero, is a a plus. He exhibits some depth and his relationship with his daughter and mother, showcase his positive character traits like care and protectiveness. And though not without flaws, he is definitely the best thing, character-wise about this book. Troy Duran’s performance only augments the reader’s enjoyment when we are in Dane’s P.O.V. His delivery also added to the effective pacing of the mystery elements. Duran just has one of those voices that makes you want curl up and listen for hours regardless of genre, and he definitely kept me going.

As for the heroine, I just did not connect her; Keirnan had some character traits which frustrated me and which often made her strike as a bit of throwback. In fact, the views of womanhood presented across multiple characters here were limiting (and also reflects one of Dane’s few flaws). The trope of the stained deceased spouse is cliche and does a disservice to her and the family she built with Dane. The way in which K is then integrated into that dynamic doesn’t help to temper that problematic presentation, and just gives the reader/listener the sense that she will be yet another woman Dane will put on a pedestal. This only further undermines her character and any nuanced view of a grounded relationship. Rose Dioro’s vocal performance is a redeemable force here, doing an admirable job of making some of the pap in K’s head bearable. Dioro is another one of those narrators who can make a listener forgive the more trying parts of a character. Both she and Duran are well-cast here.

Overall, this is definitely a book that benefits from listening and allowing the performance to do some heavy-lifting as far as the romance elements are concerned. Still, Fiala sets up an intriguing series frame, and provided heroines have more nuance moving forward, and the heroes can be all in for the heroines without over-idealizing them, future installments should make for an compelling journey.

I received and review copy via Home Cooked Books. All opinions are my own.

This is my first read/listen from PJ Fiala and I really enjoyed this suspense romance. Dane is a single dad and is doing his best care for his daughter and protect others. He has an instant attraction to Kiernan and wants to protect her from the danger she is facing. Kiernan is a wonderful school teacher who loves her job, but someone is out to get her. She has an immediate connection with Dane and Emmy - his daughter. This is a fast paced, action packed book that will keep you on your toes guessing who the bad guy(s) are. Rose Dioro and Troy Duran deliver a great performance. They bring great emotion, voice variation and personality to each character. They are first time narrators for me and I really enjoyed their voices.