Tough Luck

A-List Security, Book 1

By: Annabeth Albert

Narrated by: Kirt Graves

My best friend’s little brother needs a bodyguard. Now I’m the one in danger...

I’m a SEAL. Or rather, I was. Retired at the grand old age of 38, I’m at loose ends. My best friend wants me to join his security team. I’m not sure I’m bodyguard material, but he needs someone to protect his kid brother. How hard can spoiled brat duty be?

Somehow, I missed the part where former child star Danny Love went from dorky TV darling to all grown up and disturbingly attractive. All the gossip about his wild ways fails to mention that he’s trying hard to clean up his act. But now he’s got a stalker.

Hiding out together in a remote mountain cabin alone, the temptation keeps building. I’m feeling things I never have before. Secrets I’ve kept even from myself bubble to the surface every time Danny looks my way with those puppy dog eyes.

I’m a SEAL. We leap into danger. So why is it so terrifying when that danger comes with the softest pair of lips I’ve ever known? At some point we’re going to have to return to Hollywood and our vastly different lives. Will Danny still want me around when he doesn’t need me for protection? Can I be brave enough to give him a reason to?

Tough Luck is book one in a brand-new SEAL bodyguard series. It features an age gap, steamy first times, and all the high heat, big emotions, and found family feels listeners expect from this fan-favorite military romance author.

Join A-List security for this lower-angst series featuring former SEALs and the celebrity clients who win their hearts.

Happy endings and no cliff-hangers guaranteed!

©2022 Annabeth Albert (P)2022 Annabeth Albert

Slow start

I picked up and dropped this book a couple times before actually being locked in. The reason being Danny’s demeanor at first. The change of place and reason for it is what hooks me back in. It was a great story.

Fun, steamy "The Bodyguard" vibes

I like this book a lot and I think it dealt with some pretty important topics I was happy to see in a book of This genre.
Cash is just a very lovable character; you immediately want to be taken care of by him and give him a hug. And even if he and Danny started off kind of fast, it worked well in this story for me.
This book had a very good balance between romance and action. it actually had a bit more action then I was expecting but not too overpowering where every scene there's a new something going on with the characters. It was really nice I enjoyed it a lot.
The narrator was good but I like other narrators this author used in the past and would have been happier is they had narrated this book.

Connection never thought of

As a retired Seal, Cash is used to loads of action and tons of danger, so when he is asked to help the younger brother of his good friend and fellow Seal, the last thing he expected was to go from babysitting to so much more. But as Danny gets more threats and as the need to escape his house, Cash finds himself looking after Danny, not for the job but for his heart. But when the danger is over will the romance fizzle out? The listener will instantly fall in love with Cash and just want to give Danny a hug. Perfectly combined opposites attract characters in a story that will keep you entertained as the audiobook progresses. Kirt Graves performance was spot on and he brought both characters to life..

Be still my heart 💜

Danny and Cash are the best. Danny’s older brother asks his best friend, Cash, to look after Danny until they figure out who is stalking him. A few weeks away at a recluse cabin and neither man stand a chance against the other.

Kirt Graves is a master story teller and one of my all time favorite narrators! He just brings the stories to life!!

JUST OK

This book seemed to be following a predictable formula... strong older stud protecting helpless twink culminating in a happy ending despite the odds. Just ok.

Love it

It did warm my heart. 2 men, polar opposite falling in love, hot spicy moments but the author describe the emotions so well that you forgot the sex and feel the love. Cash voice is sooo sexy … love it !!!

How did she come to understand ME so deeply?

There are a group of women authors who write gay romances and who make me pump my fist when one paragraph or another reveals a depth to her character that mirrors a depth within myself that I didn't understand until I was decades older than her character. Annabeth Albert is one of those authors. When I write myself, I'm aware that I'm writing for male readers, even if female readers may enjoy what I've written, but I've also seen that some female reviewers may not have seen the deep connections that Ms. Albert's characters make with male readers. I'm astonished at how deeply she understands how men feel, even if they can't express those feelings as well as she does.
The only shortcoming in the performance is that the reader's voice doesn't take on the voice of the principal character of a chapter when he announces the next chapter, and that confused me. Otherwise, he's great.

Cash & Danny

The Story

This book was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed Cash and Danny's story. Poor Danny has been dealt so many bad cards in his life that he's lost all confidence in himself and Cash has issues of his own. The two of them together make an unlikely pair but are so cute together! I loved seeing them get to know each other and build each other up despite their not so ideal childhoods. I can't wait to learn more about the other guys like Duncan and Harley!

The Narration

I really enjoyed Kirt Graves. I've never heard him before and he was so good at playing both characters. He gave Cash a gruff older jaded kind of voice and Danny a sweet younger voice. He has a very soothing voice that made listening to this story a lot of fun.

Cute, enjoyable

Overall I liked it. Danny’s character felt a little helpless at times, which was a bit off putting, and Cash’s low grunty voice felt a little to forced and almost porn-ish, but all to say the story had all the thrills and a happy ending. Good one to listen to at night getting ready for bed.

Yesss

Oh my gosh. I am being sucked into this world of security amd Bodyguard's. Oh how these lovely men have fallen hard. Once again the narrator did an absolute fantastic job. This is so worth a listen.