The Guarded One by Brittney Sahin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

He’s a grumpy small-town sheriff. And she’s the off-limits operator capable of bringing him to his knees.

Sydney Archer isn’t the typical daughter of a billionaire. A former army officer, she now works with an elite security team to hunt the worst of the worst…all while raising a teenager.

To the outside world, Sydney’s an ice queen who’s lethal with a bow. To her son? She’s a hero with a heart of gold—a heart that’s been broken one too many times.

When a ruggedly handsome Southern gentleman hijacks her girls’ getaway in need of help, she discovers he can revive her in ways she never thought possible. And things quickly heat up in paradise.

Beckett Hawkins moved back to his hometown 13 years ago, trading in his LAPD detective badge for a cowboy hat and the role of sheriff. He’d hoped to provide his daughter a safe and secure life and bury his past.

But when that past comes back to haunt him, he finds himself on a mission like no other. One that includes a stunning woman who disarms him at every turn with her sass and smile—a woman who can tear down his heavily fortified walls.

With the operation going sideways from the start, Beckett and Sydney wind up on a dangerous adventure…and in each other’s arms.

In the end, will they do what they do best and guard their hearts? Or can they restore their faith in love and prove to be unstoppable together?

The Guarded One

Hero on the Edge

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Beckett

Beckett is the kind of man who carries the weight of duty like a second skin. A single father to 13-year-old Mckenna and the sheriff of a small Alabama town, he’s no stranger to sacrifice. When Cora—his ex and Mckenna’s mother—calls from cartel-controlled Mexico begging for help, Beckett’s instinct is to walk away. But fatherhood doesn’t come with clean exits. With his brother-in-law Jesse at his side, Beckett steps back into the world he once knew as an LA narcotics detective—only this time, the stakes are personal.

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Sydney

Sydney is a powerhouse wrapped in precision. A former Army operative and daughter of a billionaire defense contractor, she’s traded boardrooms for battlefields, now working for Falcon Falls Security. Divorced and raising her own 13-year-old son, Levi, Sydney’s life is a tightrope of secrets and survival. Her past—complete with assassins and emotional landmines—has made her lethal, focused, and fiercely protective. When Beckett’s mission collides with hers in Telum, Mexico, sparks fly in more ways than one.

🔥 Plot Pulse

What starts as a rescue mission quickly spirals into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Beckett and Jesse’s run-in with cartel forces forces Beckett to call in Falcon Falls reinforcements—enter Sydney, who’s conveniently nearby on a recruitment trip. Their detour to a Telum resort isn’t just a breather; it’s a strategic trap. As Jesse lures the cartel toward them, Beckett and Sydney find themselves caught between danger and desire.

❤️‍🔥 What Hit Home

• The slow-burn chemistry between Beckett and Sydney is magnetic—equal parts tension and tenderness.
• The supporting cast shines, each with layered backstories that enrich the narrative.
• Both leads carry emotional scars, making their connection feel earned and raw.
• A subtle paranormal twist adds intrigue without overpowering the grounded grit of the story.

🤨 Room to Grow

• Sydney’s past with her boss Gray adds complexity, but his lingering torch felt underdeveloped. His hopes for rekindling romance could’ve used more emotional payoff or clearer closure.

🎧 Narration Vibes

Told in dual POV, the narration by Connor Crais and Ava Lucas elevates the experience. Connor’s voice is deep, commanding, and undeniably swoon-worthy—though his female character voicing is a bit rough around the edges. Ava Lucas brings warmth and emotional clarity, her sultry tone perfectly matching Sydney’s intensity. Together, they deliver a compelling audio performance that pulls you into every moment.

📝 Final Thoughts

This audiobook blends action, emotional depth, and a dash of the supernatural into a tightly woven romantic suspense. Beckett and Sydney are two battle-worn souls who find solace—and fire—in each other. If you love protective heroes, fierce heroines, and stories that balance grit with heart, this one’s worth the listen.

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