Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.

Daddy was wrong.


Daddy wants to protect his little girl, little girl (18 years old) wants to grow up. Old bodyguard feel in love with her and was getting too familiar, new bodyguard is respectful and she falls for him.
Ashlyn is whiny and honestly doesn't do anything mature to have her father trust her. Her father is overbearing and overprotective. He really needs to cut the apron strings. Her mother comes on to the new bodyguard.
Predictable plot. A few grammar errors. No character growth.
Quick and clean read.

Rating: PG 13
V: Kidnapping
L: None
S: tension


25% test (p. 61):
"...apartment?" Mother seemed uninterested in meal. He elbows were planted on the table and her eyes were glued to Colin.
I glanced at Daddy, eating in silence , like me. Every now and then his light blue eyes rested on Colin with interest.
"I have a place on Charles Street."
"Have?" Mother's brows arched. "You're keeping your apartment?"
As if he sat on hot colas, Colin shifted.
"A smart move," Daddy piped. "The sign of someone who is prepared."
"Yes, but he's employed here. As long as it doesn't have anything to do with your level of commitment," Mother said.
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm committed, Fiona." Colin reached for his water goblet. He seemed jittery, like he had been earlier in the car. Was he uncomfortable in the spotlight? A grin slipped onto my lips just as Colin's eyes me mine.
My smile vanished, but I held his querying gaze until his attention shifter to his half0eaten meal.
"Are you dating anyone, Colin?" Mother asked.
His fork paused before cutting into the duck flesh.
"Fiona, we don't need to interrogate the boy," Daddy chuckled.
"I'm not interrogating." Mother finally picked up her fork. "Just catching up with an old family friend."
"It's his business, not ours." Daddy's tone sharpened even though he smiled. I knew the silent encoding well: topic over.
"How did it today go?" Daddy waited for Colin's answer. My nerves prickled.
"Everything went well," Colin said without a hitch.
"I expected as much. Ashlyn's an obedient girl. You won't need to report to me unless something comes up." Daddy's firm tone was meant to remind both Mother and Colin of Colin's job--in spite of sharing a meal with us and being an old family friend.
Colin nodded. "Yes, sir."
Rebellion scraped my spine raw. An obedient girl? And why did..."

Absolution by Jennifer Laurens

Zoe’s secret is out. And the powers of Hell are ravenous to claim her soul. Her brother, Luke, knows her secret: that she sees both good and evil spirits. Her boyfriend knows. At least Matthias is her guardian angel again. But now Hell’s most ruthless leader will stop at nothing to have her soul.

Albert, Matthias’ father, is relentless in his hunger for Zoe. He wants to destroy Matthias and will use Zoe to do so.

The battle between Heaven and Hell tests everything Zoe has. As she witnesses everyone important in her life suffering, she’s brought to the ultimate choice: will she sacrifice her soul to save the ones she loves?

 Interesting series. I was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I will admit, the first book was my favorite and I was totally content to end with that one. 
I liked the characters. Each had a unique voice, especially Matthias. 




Rating: PG 16
V: Fighting
L:A few words
S: Sexual tension



Page 69 test:
""You. Us. The truth."
He studied me with deciphering eyes. Then his gaze fell to the floor. He shook his head, let out a helpless-sounding laugh. "You're..." He looked at me, searching gone, a trace of fear now coloring his pale expression. "You're sure?"
"Positive. Look." I stepped closer to him, but he inched back. To my right, Albert crossed his arms over has chest. "Whatever happened to me, this ability I have to see guardians and stuff also enables me to see evil spirits."
He swallowed. Didn't respond.
"He doesn't believe you," Albert murmured.
Yes, he does, I thought, even thought Albert couldn't hear me. And then you don't have a reason to be here.
Finally, Weston closed the space between us. "I have a girlfriend who sees guardian angels and murderers. You are--" He stroked the side of my face with the back of his fingers,"--something else, Zoe."
"Girlfriend?" My insides tingled and I smiled, approving of is endearment.
Weston slipped his arms around my waist and snuggled against me, his forehead pressed to mine. He closed his eyes. "One more reason I love."
Albert's arms unfolded and went behind his back. I grinned inwardly to myself.
I inched back and looked Weston in the eye. "I never want be the cause of why someone I care about loses control. Ever."
"I love you," he whispered, then held me close. "I'm sorry I acted like...an idiot."
"It's okay. Making love is not something I've ever done before," I admitted.
"Me neither."
I was relieved the understood the difference. Albert's eyes hardened. He zigzagged like a caged wildcat. The word trapped kept surfacing in my head. Trapped. Afraid.
And gone."

Magic Hands by Jennifer Laurens

Cort, the high school senior jock seems to have it all -- except a summer job. When he lands one doing women's nails, his eyes are opened to the catty, back-stabbing world of females. Girls he thought he knew and trusted turn out to shock and use him. He gets to know Rachel, an elusive girl the others gossip about, a girl with secrets. From her he learns there is more to life than weekend partying and social status, and one of the secrets she shares with him will change his life forever.


Cute, quick story about a jock who needs a job, likes an untouchable girl and tries to be cool.
He gets a job doing nails in a salon and because of his popularity he brings in more business than the little Asian women can handle.
The characters were fun. 


 Rating: PG
V: None
S: None
L: None


Page 69 test:
"...girls. About how girls cold keep his blood in a whirl that nothing could slow.
He wanted to talk to her on the phone, hear that low, bass and guitar voice of hers. He wanted tomorrow to be here. He had a long night ahead of him, an even longer day with work. Until then, the poster wouldn't be enough.
He got up, sat down in front of his computer and clicked onto favorites. From there, he was just one click away from the New York City web cam.