For sixteen years ex-SAS commando Aislin Rhodes has been the bodyguard to a world famous rock star and he's good at the job but with Nick Blackthorne pretty much retired he might be out of a job. He could return to the service, the Defense Force would take him back in an instant, but he wasn't quite as keen on that as he might have been in his younger more gung-ho days. Or he could take a job as an advisor on a Hollywood movie that is being filmed in Australia with star Chris Huntley. The actor needs help on being more of the "brooding commando" the director wants and who better than an ex-commando who is more than MUSCLE FOR HIRE to do the teaching.

It becomes a much more intriguing idea when he gets taken down on his "arse" by a gorgeous woman named Rowan Hemsworth, the actor's sister who just happens to be a martial arts expert. Rowan isn't exactly thrilled with her brother becoming friends with the rock star's bodyguard, because she has worked hard to keep him on the straight and narrow. Being an actor could be bad enough without being exposed to the rock star life. After seeing that he has too many "yes men" around him, Rowan has broken up the growing entourage and hoped to not have to go through that again. Despite her misgivings about the new person involved in her brother's life, or maybe it is the British accent, Rowan can't help but be very attracted to the man.

Almost immediately unexplained accidents begin to happen and though Aislin quickly decides that Rowan is the target, she cannot believe it. So he makes himself her bodyguard and the fact that he would love nothing more than to possess the body he's guarding only adds to the thrill despite the dangers that keep befalling them.

MUSCLE FOR HIRE is a one hot read that holds you glued to the pages all the way to the end then leaves you wanting more. Aislin and Rowan are sizzling almost from the moment they meet and Lexxie Couper has a way with words that has your imagination flying. I enjoyed all the aspects of the storyline, with the backgrounds of the main characters coming in as you go along, the different secondary personalities that have you wondering if one of them could be the culprit, right up to the unexpected ending. I can't wait for more from this author.

Book Summary

After sixteen years as the personal bodyguard to the world’s biggest rock star, ex-SAS commando Aslin Rhodes excels in the role of intimidating protector, oozing threatening menace. Now that the singer has retired, Aslin takes a new assignment as a military consultant on a blockbuster film. But just as he’s getting comfortable in the world of Hollyweird, he faces an unexpectedly immovable object. An American martial arts expert no taller than his chin, who promptly puts him on his arse. Rowan Hemsworth’s focus is two-fold—keep her famous brother grounded, and never again be a defenseless victim. She has her hands full as the fun police, keeping her brother’s money-sucking entourage at bay. But nothing prepared her for the British mountain of muscle who makes her knees go uncharacteristically weak. When a string of accidents on set convinces Aslin that Rowan—not her brother—is the target, things get bloody tricky as he tries to convince the stubborn woman she needs his protection. And accept that she belongs with him. In his arms, in his bed…and in his heart.