Protecting Rebel (Red Stone Security 21) by Katie Reus-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 29, 2023

They’ve been friends since they were kids…

Musical superstar Rebel doesn’t have many people in her life she trusts. The majority have always wanted something from her; fame, money, influence. She’s learned to keep her protective walls high, but it’s made having a real life impossible. Then a funeral sends her home and into the arms of her childhood friend who protected her from danger when they were young—the only man she’s ever truly wanted.

But he’s always wanted more than friendship…

Weston is stunned when Rebel shows up to his aunt’s funeral. They’ve stayed in touch over the years but he always thought she was with someone and out of his league. When he discovers she’s single, the billionaire knows it’s time to make his move. But danger strikes before he can, and keeping her safe is the only thing that matters. The threat is closer than anyone imagined, and Weston will do whatever it takes to protect the woman who stole his heart so many years ago.

•••••

REVIEW:PROTECTING REBEL is the twenty-first instalment in Katie Reus’ contemporary, adult RED STONE SECURITY romantic suspense series. This is thirty-two year old, billionaire investor/app developer Weston Davis, and musician Rebel Martinez’ story line. PROTECTING REBEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from omniscient third person perspectives PROTECTING REBEL follows the rekindling relationship between Weston Davis and Rebel Martinez. Weston and Rebel were childhood friends but their future careers sent them in opposite directions. Weston joined the Marines then became a successful investor while Rebel’s music star rose around the world. Rebel’s return home to Miami is met with an increase of threats, and Weston is about to take control of the woman he has always loved. Rebel has a stalker so Weston hires the team at Red Stone Security when the threats against Rebel become dangerous and dark. What ensues is the best friends to lovers relationship between Rebel and Weston, and the potential fall-out when threats against Rebel hit too close to home.

The relationship between Rebel and Weston is one of second chances, of a sort. Rebel and Weston were childhood friends but Rebel’s home life was questionable at best, and when Weston joined the Marines, Rebel went to live with the woman who had raised the man that she loved. Having always kept in contact, Rebel was surprised to discover just how often Weston kept track of her life, a life that was about to a little more complicated. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include several members of Rebel’s entourage and team, singers and roadies, assistants and agents, as well as a guest appearance from a couple of RSS agents.

PROTECTING REBEL is a story of jealousy and obsession, friendships and relationships, second chances and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and entertaining but there is only an outside /tentative connection to the Red Stone Security characters ; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are energetic and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her book Avenger’s Heat recently won the Georgia RWA Maggie Award for Excellence in the fantasy/paranormal category.

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