DUTY AND DESIRE ANTHOLOGY by Kristen Ashley, Kylie Scott, Rebecca Zanetti-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 12, 2025

Honor, protection, and undeniable chemistry. Duty and Desire brings you heroes in uniform—bodyguards, soldiers, and law enforcers—who will do whatever it takes to protect the ones they love. Filled with action, danger, and steamy romance, these stories prove that sometimes the greatest battles are fought with the heart.

Includes:
Keeping You by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Quiet Man by Kristen Ashley
Closer by Kylie Scott
and
Vengeance by Rebecca Zanetti

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QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

QUIET MAN is the prequel novella in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult DREAM TEAM and 4.5 in the author’s DREAM MAN romance series, a part of the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is security specialist Kim Seamus ‘Mo’ Morrison, and stripper Charlotte ‘Lottie’ McAlister’s story line. QUIET MAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. QUIET MAN crosses over with, and reintroduced characters from the author’s Rock Chick and Chaos MC series.

Told from first person (Lottie) and third person (Mo, Smithie, Hawk) QUIET MAN focuses on the search for a stalker. Charlotte ‘Lottie’ McAlister is an exotic dancer; a stripper with a large following but Lottie is unaware that someone is sending letters, threatening our heroine and the people she knew. Enter Kim Seamus ‘Mo’ Morrison, assigned to guard and protect Charlotte McAlister, a former US Army soldier and a man with dark demons from the past. With the help of his former teammates, Smithie and his men, Mo becomes guardian and protector of the woman with whom he will fall in love, as the stalker gets a little too close for comfort.

The relationship between Lottie and Mo begins a protection but Lottie is hoping for something more. Mo has been burned in the past, and doesn’t do relationship while on duty, and Lottie is Mo’s priority, the woman that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, charismatic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including many from the author’s interconnected series including the Rock Chick and Chaos MC series. We are introduced to Mo’s extended family, both blood and otherwise, including his team and friends from his time in the military.

QUIET MAN is a story of obsession and delusion, family and friendships, relationships and love. the fast paced premise is dramatic and edgy; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, desperate and determined

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CLOSER by Kylie Scott

CLOSER by Kylie Scott is instalment 4.6 in the author’s contemporary, adult STAGE DIVE rock romance series focusing in the members of the rock band Stage Dive. This is security specialist (aka executive protection officer) and former military man Ziggy Thayer, and model Mae Cooper’s story line. CLOSER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Mae Cooper) CLOSER follows the building relationship between security specialist (aka executive protection officer) and former military man Ziggy Thayer, and model Mae Cooper. Mae Cooper has a stalker whose ‘gifts’ have become more menacing and threatening. Living in the same secure building as the members of the band Stage Dive, at the suggestion of Lena Ferris, Mae is about to face her future in the guise of a personal bodyguard. Enter executive protection officer Ziggy Thayer, and the man with whom Mae will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Mae and Ziggy, and the potential fall-out as Mae’s past collides with her present and her future.

The relationship between Mae and Ziggy is one of immediate attraction but Mae doesn’t think she needs protection as Ziggy goes above and beyond to protect the woman with whom he will fall in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters included cameo appearances by some of the members of the rock band Stage Dive, as well we their significant others. CLOSER does not focus on the band but on their extended group of friends and acquaintances.

CLOSER is a quick read; a story of betrayal and obsession; of second chances and falling in love. The premise is fast paced and engaging; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is seductive but I struggled with the lack of palpable sexual attraction-I didn’t feel the raw and intense desire that I have come to expect from Kylie Scott.

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VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti

VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti is instalment 10.5 in the author’s contemporary, adult DARK PROTECTORS paranormal, romance series.This is hybrid vampire/demon and assassin/mercenary Noah Siosal, and Abby Miller’s story line. VENGEANCE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Noah and Abby) VENGEANCE introduces a new series arc starting with hybrid vampire/demon and assassin/mercenary Noah Siosal, and Abby Miller. Abby Miller has been ordered to anger management for a crime she did not commit but Abby’s anger management class is filled with an odd assortment of strange, intriguing and otherworldly beings, one with whom Abby will fall in love. As Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control, Noah becomes guardian and protector for the woman who would become his mate. As Noah hunts for the man that killed his best friend, he struggles to keep Abby safely out of reach of her former spouse.

VENGEANCE has a little bit of everything: fun, humor, conflict, death, threats and love. The immortals attending anger management are quite the eclectic group of hybrids, purebreds, demons and vampires-all looking for something or someone in order to move forward with their latest assignments. The character driven premise is entertaining and spirited; the romance is fast and furious; the characters are sexy, sassy, energetic and feisty.

Reviews by Sandy

KRISTEN ASHLEY

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Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

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KYLIE SCOTT

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook  | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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REBECCA ZANETTI

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes contemporary romances, dark paranormal romances, and romantic suspense novels.
Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day—or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

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