Title: Under His Protection
Series: Red Stone Security Book #9
Author: Katie Reus
Genre: Romance/Suspence
Blurb: Julieta’s stalker doesn’t play by the rules
Lingerie shop owner Julieta Mederos has worked hard to get her business off the ground. Now she’s looking forward to some quality time with her friends and her big, boisterous family. But explicit texts from random phone numbers and vandalism at her shop makes it clear someone dangerous has fixated on her. Without any solid leads, the police can’t help her and she’s forced to turn to the last man she wants to depend on.
…but neither does Ivan.
Former Army Ranger and newest Red Stone Security employee Ivan Mitchell has gotten used to being alone in the world. He never even thinks about it anymore—until he meets sexy, independent Julieta. She’s everything he could ever want…but she seems determined to keep him at arm’s length. Until now. Maybe the cops can’t do anything to protect her, but he can. When things escalate faster than even he expected, he finds himself pulling out his most extreme combat skills to protect her. He’ll do what it takes to save her life—and prove to her she belongs in his.
Thoughts: One thing I love about Katie Reus is her ability to create such an intense connection between her characters. The emotions she captures is so poignant – the yearning, the desire, the temptation – that every word is simply spellbinding. I only recently discovered her in the last year or so, and every time I finish another of her books I want to kick myself for not discovering her sooner. This is first one from the Red Stone Security series for me, and it was easily read as a stand alone novel – and, needless to say, I will definitely be getting the other books ASAP.
In this book we have Juliete and Ivan, who have kind of been attracted to each other but have managed to ignore it up until Juliete acquires a stalker. They had little interaction – none really – up until that point, only seeing each other when Ivan was on duty to guard a friend of hers who frequents her boutique. Ivan quickly steps up to protect the woman he has been fascinated with for the past few months, but the closer he is to her the harder he finds it to hide how he feels. But Juliete is under the impression that he only does casual relationships – little does she know he has his sights set on her for more than just playtime fun. But someone else has her in his sights, too – and his intentions are far more sinister.
I loved both the characters and the story – and I love the author’s ability to really draw out that sexual tension. It’s really a skill of hers to pull these characters so close together, to feel that desire between them, yet leave you hanging and just waiting with bated breath for these characters to finally come together. And not just in a sexual way, but an emotional one as well. Reus is just the best at what she does, and I am a huge fan of hers. Definitely a recommended read!
Rate: A
**And if – like me- you are behind on this great series, you can grab the Red Stone Security Series Box Set Volume 1 (Books 1-3) here: Amazon and Volume 2 (Books 4-6) here: Amazon **
Prior Book Reading Order: No One To Trust (Book #1), Danger Next Door (Book #2), Fatal Deception (Book #3), Miami, Mistletoe, & Murder (Book #4), His To Protect (Book #5), Breaking Her Rules (Book #6), Protecting His Witness (Book #7), and Sinful Seduction Book #8).
