Unexpected Hero cover art

Unexpected Hero

An Age Gap Forbidden Romance (Redleg Security, Book 5)

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Unexpected Hero

By: Jackie Walker
Narrated by: Aaron Shedlock, Kelsey Navarro Foster
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About this listen

"No one ever saw me or cared to look. Until her. But the man she sees is a lie. And if I reveal who I am, I’ll lose her–the only woman who ever made me feel alive."

Five Steps to Covertly Protecting my Boss’s Secret Daughter

By Tomer Stillman, a hacker and secret Dom with a psych eval full of red flags. Fortunately, nobody cares to notice.

1. Get her a safe job and place to live.

2. Make sure she has plenty of food.

3. Protect her from her overly-trusting self, even if that means crossing lines.

4. Daily checks of her location, phone, and devices for suspicious activity, following her when necessary.

5. Fulfill all her sexual desires.

No. Scratch that last one. Not only because she’s too young and inexperienced. But because I need to keep my distance. The more I watch her, the more the lines blur between protection and obsession. I never intended to come face to face with her, but in a moment of weakness, I intervened. And it changed everything.

She makes me feel things. Things I’m not ready to feel.

I never thought I had a heart, but the more I'm with her, the faster it beats.

Now, I’m left wondering, will she forgive me for the things I’ve done to protect her?

Or will the only woman I’ve ever cared for leave me like everyone else?

Author's Note: Unexpected Hero is Book 5 in the Redleg Security Series and part one of the Unexpected Trilogy. This is not a standalone book. It ends with a Happy for Now and a cliffhanger. Tomer and Lettie's story continues in Unexpected Heroine and Unexpected Redemption. The entire Redleg Security Series is best listened to in order to prevent suspense-related spoilers. Although this trilogy is best as part of the larger series, these three books can technically be listened to on their own if you choose. Content warnings are available on the author's website and in the E-book, available on Amazon.

©2024 Jackie Walker (P)2024 Jackie Walker Romantic Suspense Heartfelt

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All stars
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Listener received this title free

Dual Narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster and Aaron Shedlock

So Good! Unexpected Heroine gives an intense continuation of book 1's cliffhanger. This was an emotional journey that had witty banter, amazing character growth, and some great suspense entwined. Lettie and Tomer faced some heartbreaking situations and had me glued to the audiobook wanting to know what happens. Jackie Walker is a great storyteller and I can't wait to see what is in store for us readers in book 3.

Narrators Kelsey Navarro Foster and Aaron Shedlock gave emotionally charged and beautiful performances. Their narration pulled me deeper into this world and story creating a wonderful listening experience. I highly recommend the audiobooks if you listen to audios at all - definitely worth it

Captivating!

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Listener received this title free

The “Redleg Security” series has been one amazing book after another, but I have to say Jackie Walker has outdone herself with this novel, ok, you could probably say that about all her books, but this one just hit me hard, straight in the heart. Tomer intrigued me in the earlier book and I was looking forward to learning more about him and wow, the complexity of his character is remarkable. I knew he had issues, but was not expecting all of what he went through and a past that haunts him and left him battling with inner demons. While working in Redleg he learned his boss had a daughter he was not aware of, Violet aka Lettie, and is waiting for the right time to tell him, but if it is not one thing at Redleg, it is another and currently they are trying to find out who is trying to sabotage them. So in the meantime he will keep track of his Violet and when he learns she moves to Florida, the same place where her father is, he becomes suspicious of her and watches her more closely. Outside of his time with Redleg, he enjoys the BDSM lifestyle and is a member of a club where he is a Dom, and goes there to play and sometimes to work or instruct. Keeping the two lives separate, he took on a different name at the club and everyone knows him as James. Lettie’s backstory was almost as sad as Tomer’s, but differently, orphaned young never knowing her father, other heard he was a soldier who died while serving, and when her mother passed away her maternal grandmother and grandfather raised her. Her grandmother was strict and very religious and did a number on her, so she never really experienced life like most people her age did. After her grandfather passed away, she upped and left the only place she knew and headed down to do Florida, and to Tomer, who became her guardian angel without her even knowing it. The two could not be more opposite, with him being closed off and her an open book and the things that come out of her mouth were hysterical and the witty dialogue was absolutely brilliant, including all the southern euphemisms. She was penetrating the fortress Tomer built around his heart, a heart he claimed to not have, but he not only has one, but it is a heart of gold. These two moved to the top of my list of favorite characters, Violet’s disposition and outlook was admirable, even at the worst of times and Tomer had my heart from the start, for what he endured as a child and for what his loser of a father embedded in his head. I loved all the layers of this story, and the writing, plot and world building are phenomenal, as well as the character growth and development. This may be a lengthy book, but the story is so captivating that time just flew by and by the end I still did not get enough of these amazing characters. The story has the perfect balance of drama, some angst, charming humor and witty dialogue to lighten things up, some mystery, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Jackie Walker, thank you for this exceptional story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Aaron Shedlock and Kelsey Navarro Foster were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and did so with a complete understanding of who they were portraying, giving each a voice that was fitting. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined them to sound. Kelsey Navarro Foster was absolutely brilliant in her role as Violet, bringing out all her southern charm, handling her witty dialogue with ease, and landing the humor naturally. Aaron Shedlock was just as amazing in his role as Tomer, showcasing all sides of his personality, from his protective and caring side, to his insecurities and inner turmoil. Both were fantastic in performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. It was a pleasure to listen to these entertaining storytellers and their performance elevates the already exceptional story to another level. Thank you for another amazing listen.

Exceptional Story & Listen🎧 Gripping & Emotional!

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Listener received this title free

This audio was light and heavy… Tomer is so misunderstood by his friends but nevertheless he likes them and would do everything for them. Nothing really escapes him but he misses the general common sense that comes with socialising. Unfortunately, thanks to his childhood trauma, Tomer is not able to show much emotion and socialising is a foreign concept.
Lettie is so brave. Coming from an oppressive background she truly fought to get free. Not everyone would survive the ordeal she’s gone through in the book but also before moving to Florida.
Listening to Tomer’s point of view of how the relationships from previous books have developed was incredible and quite insightful into his mind and perception of the world.
But the book had so much humour as well.
Lastly, I cannot stress enough how amazing Aaron Shedlock and Kelsey Navarro Foster were as Tomer and Lettie. Chapter 4 had me in tears and in awe of Aaron as I’m not sure I’d be able to record that without weeping…

Tomer & Lettie

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Listener received this title free

I have been dying for Tomer’s story & this did not disappoint. ⁣
⁣
I absolutely love the peek behind the curtain, into just exactly who Tomer really is & why he is the way that he is. ⁣
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I can imagine just exactly how Tomer got himself into this whole situation with how his analytical brain works. ⁣
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Seeing him fall absolutely off the deep end in love with Lettie is sweet & intense. Getting to know his spicy side was a fiery little treat. ⁣
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I adore Lettie; her awkwardness & her clumsiness. She is sweet & so kind, she’s an absolute gem. ⁣
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Watching her work through her trauma & seeing Tomer there to support her every step of the way was amazing. ⁣
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There’s so much happening & the ending will have you gripping the edge of your seat. ⁣
I can’t wait for the next chapter of Tomer & Lettie’s story, it’s going to be intense, gritty, & emotional. ⁣
⁣
𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 did an absolutely fantastic job bringing these characters to life. ⁣

This was an absolutely intense, fast paced, edge of your seat romance. ⁣

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Listener received this title free

By now I've become an avid fan of the Redleg Security series, so I was looking forward to this book. Unexpectet Hero is the first of three books about Tomer and Lettie.
I listened to the audiobook and the 18+ hours flew by.
Once immersed in the story, I found it hard to pause the audiobook.
This was partly due to the author's writing style, which is wonderful, light-hearted and humorous. On the other hand, it was due to the deeply developed and likeable characters Tomer and Mattie.
The story is very intense, but really good. It is told alternately from the point of view of the two protagonists and there are flashbacks to the past. And the flashbacks to their childhood in particular are quite something. Tomer's childhood was anything but happy and carefree. The more I learned about his childhood, the sadder I became. No wonder Tomer is very withdrawn, that suits him. He very rarely shows emotion, at least until he realizes while working for Redleg Security in IT that his boss has a daughter he doesn't know about. When this daughter, Violet, called Lettie, also happens to move to the city where his boss lives and his company is based, Tomer's protective instinct kicks in. Because Lettie only arrives with the bare necessities. And when the two meet by chance from Lettie's point of view, Tomer can no longer forget Lettie. Lettie can't get the handsome Tomer out of her head either. But Tomer knows that he's playing with fire and that he shouldn't, but he just can't resist.
Lettie is open-hearted and I really liked her from the start. She also fights against the demons of her past. She has that in common with Tomer.
The chemistry between the two is fantastic, you can feel it straight away. Tomer is a Dom in a BDSM club, while Lettie has had nothing to do with this lifestyle so far.
The book is pretty much perfect for my reading tastes. If you like a mix of great characters, romance, drama, charming humor, exciting suspense, lots of emotion, mystery and hot scenes, this is the book for you.

The audiobook was narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Kelsey Navarro Foster and I think they are a perfect choice. They portrayed the two protagonists brilliantly. They made me as a listener experience every little emotion. Be it passion, insecurity, warmth, happiness, anger or fear, they portrayed it all perfectly and brought the story to life. Brilliant job! It was a pleasure to listen to the two of them!
The story ends with a cliffhanger and I'm already looking forward to the next volume and am very excited to see what happens next!

What a story- great suspense, romance and narration!

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Listener received this title free

Get ready for an action packed, spicy start to this duet! Tomar works at Red Leg, and as the others there comes with his own set of skills and baggage. As he tries to help with issues at Red Leg, he learns his boss, Alex has a daughter he doesn't know about. It's not the right time to bring it to him, so he decides he will do what it best and keep her protected. But watching out for and being with her are two different things. Helping her find a job and a place to live, this secret dom finds out she is his perfect match, and being with her is what he wants. But as the lies keep building about her father and his own work and past, it becomes increasingly difficult to protect her! What happens next? Well things are getting real! I loved this first part of their story. Tomar is a fantastic character and he had caught my attention in previous books. Damaged and flawed, he is interesting, but most of all his heart is gold. Lettie is sweet, a bit naive, but shows her strength in this book. I love her tenacity, experiences and will to survive. It's a fantastic story and I cannot wait to hear the next book to find out what happens next.

Aaron Shedlock and Kelsey Navarro Foster could not have been better in this romantic suspense. Shedlock is a favorite, and as Tomar he is spot on! That alpha tendency comes through not only in the club, and his protectiveness is like a hug overtop of Lettie. Lettie while a bit innocent is spunky and curious. Foster's voice pulls out all those qualities and gives her strength and confidence when needed. Love this pairing and looking forward to the next part.

What a start! Suspense & Romance at it's best!

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Listener received this title free

Wow! This storyline is intense. With so much happening you will be hooked. I love these characters and how they have so much chemistry. Amazing humour throughout, I was laughing out loud so much. A brilliant performance from both narrators.

Absolutely amazing. Highly recommend

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Listener received this title free

Jackie Walker does it again, her writing is so addictive… and it’s finally Tomer’s time to shine!

So excited to be back in this world and back with our guys and girls in the Redleg Security Team. This time, it’s Tomer’s time to shine! I have been intrigued by Tomer and his relationship with Lettie since the last book (Rival Hero) and I’m so happy to be finally getting (some of) the full story here in this book!

So, unto the review… Unexpected Hero begins and runs timeline wise parallel to Forbidden Hero and Rival Hero. We meet Lettie who recently moved to Florida. She recently found out the parents who raised her were actually her grandparents after her grandfather told her before he passed. Due to her strict religious upbringing and the religious trauma experienced because of it, she wants a fresh start. But she quickly finds herself running out of money when she can’t find a job. This is when she meets Tomer/James. He offers to pay for her gas and takes her out for coffee, he even buys her some groceries. Eventually, he helps get her a job working at the *club* 😉 he frequents. Meanwhile, in the background, Tomer is a part of the Redleg Security Team and we find out that he found out that Lettie is actually his boss’ daughter and has been keeping an eye on her for 5 years now. In order to keep her safe, he offers her a job as a receptionist at the safest place he can think; a place where he literally has his eyes on her at most times. There they get to know each other a little bit more and grow closer over the course of a year. He supports her in every way and helps her learn more about her body, including processing all the trauma and guilt she feels. But he feels so much guilt over all the secrets he has to keep, both from her, as well as his family at Redleg Security. This all comes to a head and Lettie gets fed up. Things eventually take a turn for the worst, I’m not going to spoil the ending of the book, but just know that it's bad.

Unexpected Hero was such a joy to listen to. It was an emotional and heartfelt read, with a great mix of heaviness and lightness. It had drama to keep me hooked and entertained, as well as some witty banter to aid in some of that lightness. And, let’s not forget the spice! A lot of their time is spent in a smex club 😉 teaching Lettie the lifestyle, so you know the spice is all the way turned up! It’s also slow-burn, so I was salivating for their romance the entire time. 🤣 It does end on a cliffhanger and I usually don’t like cliffhangers, but this one has me on the edge of my seat…but patiently waiting for the next book to get more of Tomer and Lettie’s story. Jackie Walker really knows how to write an interesting story with interesting characters. She is just so creative and has a way of telling a story that is captivating. Tomer is the quiet, broody guy. Unfortunately, thanks to his childhood trauma, he is a bit awkward and unable to show much emotion and finds socialising very difficult. Misunderstood by his friends, but nonetheless, would do anything for them. Lettie has been through so much, coming from a traumatic and oppressive background, yet fought to be free… she is truly brave. I loved seeing these two begin their journey of healing separately, but also the way they came together and helped each other out. And, their slow-burn romance was everything! Looking forward to (and about to jump into) the next book, Unexpected Heroine!

Narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Kelsey Navarro Foster, they were exceptional in their performances. Aaron Shedlock was perfect in his role as the broody, socially awkward, yet kind man that is Tomer. Kelsey Navarro Foster also gave an amazing performance in her role as the brave woman that was Lettie, working through her traumas. Plus, they worked so well together. They brought the story and characters to life and it was an incredible listen. Highly recommend!

4.5 Stars!

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