Rugged Fox

Willow Creek Security, Book 1

By: Elizabella Baker

Narrated by: John Lane, Raven Wildewood

Rugged Fox is a small town romantic suspense with a silver fox hero and a single mother who has given up on finding pleasure with anything other than her toys. A new town. A new job. A new love?!

That last one certainly wasn’t part of the plan. Retirement left me floundering and unsure how to adjust to civilian life. So when my former teammate called with an employment opportunity, I was eager to take him up on it. A security company in a small town, what could possibly go wrong?

A lot of things apparently. Starting with the fact that everyone was up in everyone else’s business. So when my introduction with Kati Whitlock—a sexy single mother who was about to be our first client—takes a wild turn, the whole town knows about it within minutes.

Why did Easton Welch have to be ruggedly handsome?

I had enough on my plate. I was raising a teenage son on my own. I was an ER nurse with long crazy shifts and to top it all off, I had someone tormenting my life. Hiring the new security company was supposed to make life easier. Until Easton showed up on my doorstep. Now I had to add stay away from the attractive man to my list.

To make things worse, my past refused to stay where it belonged. With it now threatening my future, I will have to decide if I can trust another man with both my heart and my son.

Willow Creek Security is a new company, in a new town filled with men who served together. Easton will have to navigate overprotective townspeople to prove that he has what it takes to both protect and care for the woman who everyone loves.

©2024 Elizabella Baker (P)2025 Elizabella Baker

Willow creek is the best little town

Oh my goodness, you have to hear about Easton! He's this amazing retired marine guy who now works for his buddy’s security company—total hero vibes, right? And then there’s Kati, a super strong single mom juggling everything while raising her teenager. Things get real intense when they start dealing with what looks like vandalism, but Kati’s got some complicated past that she’s not eager to share. So, she turns to Easton and his awesome team for help setting up some top-notch security. And let me tell you, for Easton, this is way more than just a job—it's personal!

This story totally hits all the feels—action, romance, and that charming ‘silver fox’ magic with Easton and Kati. After I devoured the e-book, I just had to get the audiobook—and wow, I was not disappointed! John Lane and Raven Wildewood totally brought the Willow Creek folks to life; I felt like I was right there with them. Can’t wait to dive into all the other Willow Creek Security adventures—these books are absolute gems!

Awkward and cliche

“Who says I’m a screamer?”
“There’s my girl!”
This was a fast moving, outline of romance cliches strung together awkwardly. How many times were we reminded about how small towns gossip? Or about how she’d kill for her son? Or how she’s had it rough because of her “sperm donor” making her a single mom? The part where her best friend threatens to kill him if he hurts her. Yep. All the cliches.

“His queen…”
The YA dialogue was especially cringe coming from a silver fox. Her teenage son talks like a 40 year old therapist. Meanwhile, Katie talks and acts like a bratty, F bomb dropping, passive aggressive teenager, like when she bites the heads off of Easton and his team for offering to protect her.

Other weird things:
It was weird how important things were glossed over, like how before they’d even kissed, she apparently told him that her son Lucien was the product of her being forced. That was a pretty heavy truth bomb to be casually mentioned and then glossed right over. The Hispanic gang danger, and resolution, were laughable. The sex was just as weird and not hot.

As much as I like protector romance, this was too clunky. In fact, without the excellent narration, I’m not even sure this would’ve worked for me at all.