Craved by You (Stark Security) by J. Kenner-review & excerpt tour

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Sandy

💜Craved by You (Stark Security/ 1001 Dark Nights) by J. Kenner-review & excerpt tour💜

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2024

Maxim Wilder is finally exactly where he needs to be in the Manhattan cell of Group Ultra, a deadly and lucrative arm of a major criminal organization. Everything is in place for him to pull off the biggest job of his career—until a woman he’s never been able to forget shows up and threatens to destroy all his hard work. So what choice does he have but to snatch her? To keep her hidden, safe from everyone. Except him.

Cami Green has more secrets than most. The terrible family she left behind. The boy who destroyed her when he walked away. Even her covert job at Stark Security. It’s a life that keeps her mind busy and her heart safe.

Then the job puts her face to face with him. Max Wilder. The boy who broke her heart. The dark and seductive man at the center of a dangerous conspiracy. The bastard she’s determined to take down. Too bad she didn’t count on being kidnapped. Locked up. The only way to get free is to play along and look for an opportunity. And as his touch draws out lost memories, all Cami can do is hope to keep her head, and not fall for the criminal she’s come to destroy.

••••••

REVIEW:CRAVED BY YOU by J. Kenner is a contemporary, adult, romantic suspense instalment in the author’s STARK SECURITY series,-a spin off set in the author’s interconnected STARK worlds, and a part of the 1001 Dark Nights multi-authored series. This is Maxim Wilder and Stark Security Agent Cami Green’s story line. CRAVED BY YOU 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 (Cami) and omniscient third person (Maxim) CRAVED BY YOU follows the second chance relationship between our story line couple. Maxim and Cami were childhood best friends-Cami came from an abusive and broken home, Maxim’s father disappeared early in his life. A perceived betrayal pushed Maxim out of Cami’s life, each of them entering into the world of international espionage and security. Fast forward to present day, Cami’s latest assignment with Stark Security finds her facing off against the man who broke her heart, a man who is now working for the other side but Cami’s assignment spirals out of control when she finds herself the prisoner of our story line hero, a prisoner who discovers not all is as it appears to be. What ensues is the quick rebuilding relationship between Cami and Maxim, and the potential fall-out as a madman is determined to destroy the world.

The world building focuses on the past and the present; betrayal and vengeance for sins of the past; and dysfunctional family dynamics that threaten to take down our story line couple.

The relationship between Cami and Maxim is one of second chances. Childhood friends whose lives imploded by secrets and lies, secrets that reveal betrayal by someone they knew. Determined to destroy the woman he once loved, research will reveal the truth about what happened and why. The $ex scenes are limited but intense.

The secondary and supporting characters are limited. We are introduced to madman Killion Lambert, as well as the return of Braxton and Samantha (Entwined With You 8), and Ryan Hunter (Stark International Series).

CRAVED BY YOU is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, forgiveness, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is intriguing and suspenseful but the conflict resolution and any fallout is limited and off page-I also guessed the twist; the romance is hot and heavy; the characters are desperate and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shadows of You (1.5)
Shattered with You
Broken with You
Ruined With You
Wrecked with You
Destroyed with You
Memories of You (5.5)
Ravaged with You
Hidden With You
Charmed with You
Tangled With You
Entwined With You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

For years, there was only him. The boy I’d loved with his shining blue eyes and a laugh that could brighten the darkest of days.
We were one, he and I. Two halves of a whole.
That’s what he’d always said.
That’s what I’d always believed.
Together, our childhood days had been marked with laughter and sunshine. Our teenage nights with heat and hunger, the days with plans and promises, caresses and kisses.
We’d shared our dreams. Our hopes. Our bodies.
We discovered passion in each other’s arms. There was trust. There was love.
And there was betrayal.
That’s when my world tilted without warning. He was gone, with only a scribbled note as proof he’d existed at all. His absence like a wound upon my soul.
I thought I’d never see him again. The boy who’d once been mine. The man who’d disappeared, taking my broken heart with him.
But now he’s back, swathed in a cloud of danger and betrayal, tied up in a conspiracy that could destroy everything I hold dear. Cold where once he was warm. Hard where once he was soft.
Deceitful. Dangerous.
Desirable.
I want to hate him. I want to hurt him as he hurt me. And yet the bond we shared still tugs at my soul, and all I can do is hope that I have the strength to hold fast to my mission. To fight the man he has become…and not lose myself in the memories of the man I wish he was.

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

Wicked Heat (Wicked Nights 4) by J. Kenner-review

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Sandy

Wicked Heat (Wicked Nights 4) by J. Kenner-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 10, 2024

From the moment he’d seen her at the home of his billionaire father, former race car driver and bad boy Ashton Stone craved Bree Bernstein, his half-siblings’ stunning nanny. He couldn’t have her though—not when his life was so entwined with secrets and scandal.

Then he’d seen her at the airport bar and instead of walking away, he’d bought her a drink. Then another. And when a storm grounded their flights, he’d made a mistake and tried to take her to bed. That’s when she’d bolted.

For years, Bree has hidden the truth of those nightmarish days when she’d been held captive, forced into despicable acts that, once rescued, she’d believed were in the past. Until the tapes.

Now, she’s being blackmailed, and if those tapes go public, it won’t be just her life that’s in tatters, but that of an innocent child caught in the crossfire.

Desperate, she goes to the only man who can help her pay the blackmailer and keep the secret—Ashton Stone. Now, her future is in his hands—but the price he demands is one she’s not certain she can pay—Her.

•••••

REVIEW:WICKED HEAT is the fourth instalment in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult WICKED NIGHTS (formerly Stark World) erotic, romance series. This is former race car driver turned investor Ashton’ ‘Ash’ Stone, and former nanny turned romance author Bree Bernstein’s story line. Ash Stone is first introduced in ENCHANT ME. Bree Bernstein is scattered throughout the interconnected series but for back story I recommend reading LOST WITH ME.

If you have not read any of the previous story lines, there may be spoilers in my review.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person (Bree) and third person (Ash) WICKED HEAT follows four months after an almost one-night stand between our story line couple. Approximately six years earlier, Bree, and Nikki and Damien Stark’s daughter Anne were abducted, and Bree is struggling with the loss of memories and ongoing nightmares. Fat forward to present day, Bree is blackmailed with a video of her time in captivity, the only person that can help is the man that she continues to push away. Enter Ashton Stone, Damien Stark’s son from a previous relationship, and the man with whom Bree will fall in love. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Bree and Ash, and the potential fall-out as the betrayal against Bree, comes at a cost for our story line hero.

The world building reveals some of the childhood trauma endured by Ashton Stone, and the abuse suffered by our heroine that she is unable to remember. For a price, Ash is willing to pay Bree’s blackmailer, a price that may be too steep for our heroine’s heart.

The relationship between Bree and Ash is a friends to frenemies to lovers. Due to the past trauma, Bree struggles with any emotional attachment or the possibility of falling for a man who could destroy her heart. With issues of trust, and ongoing PTSD, Bree is willing to walk away before ever trusting again. 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 Noah Carter and Kiki Porter (Wicked Torture 3), as well as Bree’s friends Aria, producer Matthew Hold, and TV personality Maggie Bridge. Aria and Matthew’s story line is next in Wicked Fortune.

WICKED HEAT is a story of betrayal and greed, obsession and determination, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, captivating and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate and broken.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wicked Grind
Wicked Dirty
Wicked Torture

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

TOUCH ME (Stark International Security 4 ) by J. Kenner -review

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Sandy

TOUCH ME (Stark International Security 4 ) by J. Kenner -Review & Excerpttour

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/426MRd5

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 23, 2024

Former wild child Jamie Archer can’t believe how amazing her life has become. Not only is she married to the sexiest man on the planet, Stark Security Chief Ryan Hunter, but she’s also set to star in a big budget blockbuster that is sure to send her career soaring into the stratosphere.

Everything is perfect until Jamie, the least maternal person on the planet, finds out that not only is she pregnant, but that her due date interferes with the film’s production schedule.

Ryan has always supported his wife’s ambition, but he never expected to learn that they were having a baby from the shouts of paparazzi. Hurt, angry, and afraid that Jamie will choose her career over their family, Ryan tries to pull her closer, but only succeeds in pushing her away.

Now, as the pillars of their once fairytale marriage begin to crumble, Jamie and Ryan must find a way to outshine the glitter of stardom and rediscover the strength of their bond.

••••••

REVIEW: TOUCH ME is the fourth novella in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK INTERNATIONAL SECURITY erotic, romance series, a part of the author’s interconnected STARK series, and 1001 Dark Nights. This is Stark Security Chief Ryan Hunter, and movie star Jamie Archer’s continuing story.

Told from first person (Jamie) and third person (Ryan) TOUCH ME follows Jamie and Ryan as they contemplate their future. Jamie is about to start shooting a major motion picture when she discovers that the man whom she loves wants to start a family . Jamie isn’t ready to settle down but a perceived case of the flu reveals their surprise pregnancy, and threats to her future career.

TOUCH ME is a quick read; a captivating and wonderful look at one of our favorite J. Kenner’s couples. Jamie’s over the top personality is opposition to her husband’s quiet observations and seductions.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Tame Me
Tempt Me
Tease Me

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Oh, Kitten, believe me. If you don’t kiss me, there will definitely be a fight.”
I hold back a laugh, but my whole body is tingling from the scent of him. From the pressure of his body against mine. I slide my arms around his neck and rise up to claim his mouth. It’s both soft and hard, and the moment his fingers twine in my hair and his tongue finds mine, that tingle turns into a torrent. A wild wave of need so intense that I really, really wish that it was bedtime or nap time or any sort of away time for the kiddo.
But no. His mom won’t be back for hours, and that means I have to wait to get what I want. Ryan knows it, too, and when he gently pushes back, a wave of desperation crashes over me, and I have to fight the urge to draw him close, strip him bare, and scar the kid for life.
As if he knows what I’m thinking—and considering this is Ryan, he probably does—he chuckles softly. I feel the low rumble in his chest more than I hear it. Our eyes meet for a moment, then he eases behind me and rests his hands on my shoulders, the brush of his thumbs on the back of my neck sending shivers up my spine.
His breath tickles my ear as he leans close, and I freeze when he whispers, “I want one, Kitten. Not today. Not next week. But one of these days you need to stop being scared.”
I stay frozen, expecting him to walk on. To say something else. To do anything but what he’s doing, which is standing behind me, his palm now resting lightly on my shoulder.
It’s like a reverse staring contest, but it’s one I’m determined to win.
And as David stands up, then plops down on his bottom, then laughs his little head off before doing it all over again, Ryan bends over and kisses my head. Then he walks away from me, crossing the room to grab David and swing him up into the air, sending the little demon into peals of joyous laughter.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

ENTWINED WITH YOU (Stark Security 11) by J. Kenner -review

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Sandy

ENTWINED WITH YOU (Stark Security 11) by J. Kenner -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2023

Braxton Reed has reinvented himself, first burying his past as a con man and thief in order to join the FBI, and now working for Stark Security. But he can’t forget the years he spent with the love of his life, Sabrina. A vibrant woman with a mind as keen as his own, she was killed during a job gone bad, leaving Brax afraid to love again and determined to turn his life around. He’s on the right side of the law now, but when Sabrina’s sister, Samantha, walks into his life, the past comes rushing back.

Samantha is about to pull the biggest heist of her life, but she can’t manage it without Brax’s help. What she doesn’t know—and what Brax can’t tell her—is that Stark Security has been hired to protect the same treasure. And there is no way he’s letting Sam steal it, no matter how hard he’s begun to fall for her. But it’s not just the treasure that Samantha wants. She wants Brax, too. Because there’s one more secret that she knows and he doesn’t, and it’s a secret that will change everything.

•••••

REVIEW: ENTWINED WITH YOU is the eleventh instalment in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK SECURITY romantic suspense series set in the author’s interconnected Stark worlds. This is SSA Agent Braxton Reed’s story line. ENTWINED WITH YOU 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 (Samantha) and third person Braxton ENTWINED WITH YOU focuses on the protection of a group of diamonds known as the ‘sisters’. Fifteen years ago, Braxton Reed aka Brent Travers was part of an organization that set about to steal the ‘sisters’ but an explosion killed the woman he loved, leaving Brent struggling with the guilt. Fast forward to present day, Braxton Reed, former FBI Agent turned SSA Agent is tasked with protecting the very diamonds he once coveted for himself but Brax will quickly discover that all is not as it appears to be, and the people in charge at Stark Security know exactly what is happening and why.

ENTWINED WITH YOU is a story of secrets and lies; double agents, government black ops and rogue agencies all battling for control. The past will return; Brax will be pulled into another disastrous assignment, and the revelations will reveal that no one can be trusted including the people you love. The premise is intriguing and complex- the numerous double agents/double identities/ double plot lines is often confusing. The good guys are bad, the bad guys are good, and only the people at Stark Security are wholly aware about the truth of the matter. The secondary and supporting characters include several cameos from the Stark Security Agents, as well as a rogue group of operatives determined to take control.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

TANGLED WITH YOU (Stark Security ) by J. Kenner -tour

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Sandy

TANGLED WITH YOU (Stark Security 7.6/ 1001 Dark Nights) by J. Kenner -review & excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 13, 2023

He never expected to feel this kind of heat again…

FBI agent Ollie McKee is burned out on relationships. After a head-spinningly on-again/off-again relationship with his former fiancée, he’s been out of the dating pool for years. Now he’s focused on his career—and it’s getting more intense. Because Ollie’s ex was just kidnapped, and despite the rules, he’s resolved to work the case and find her.

Stark Security agent Trevor Barone knows better than to fall for a friend, especially one who’s straight. But there’s no denying the way his heart and body react around Ollie, especially after the last quick mission they worked together. He swore to himself to keep his distance. But now Ollie’s begging for his help. The woman he once loved—maybe still loves—has been kidnapped, and Ollie’s determined to bring her home alive. Trevor’s not about to let his friend down, but as they work the case together, the attraction and connection between them can’t be denied.

When the kidnappers turn deadly, Ollie and Trevor put their lives in each other’s hands. But can they trust the passion that threatens to consume them both?

••••••

REVIEW: TANGLED WITH YOU is instalment 7.6 in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK SECURITY erotic, romance series, a part of the 1001 Dark Nights multi-authored series. This is attorney turned FBI agent Ollie McKee, and Stark Security agent Trevor Barone’s story line. TANGLED WITH YOU can be read as a stand alone but for back story regarding Trevor and Ollie’s relationship, I recommend reading HIDDEN WITH YOU and CHARMED BY YOU. Ollie McKee has been apart of the Stark World Series since the beginning.

NOTE: TANGLED WITH YOU is an LGBTQ+ story line focusing on a same $ex couple.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Ollie and Trevor) TANGLED WITH YOU follows the building relationship between attorney turned FBI agent Ollie McKee, and Stark Security agent Trevor Barone. Ollie McKee and Nikki Stark have been best friends for years. Ollie has been a part of Nikki’s life for as long as he can remember, having fallen in love with his best friend years before but Ollie is restless, unable to settle down, finding himself attracted to Stark Security Agent Trevor Barone. Ollie has always considered himself heterosexual but something about Trevor calls to Ollie’s McKee but all does not go according to plan when Ollie’s ex girlfriend is kidnapped, and a three million dollar ransom demand addressed to Ollie pulls our story line couple into a case of life and death. What ensues is the building relationship between Ollie and Trevor, and the potential fall-out as the intended victim may be someone else.

The relationship between Ollie and Trevor has been building for several months but Ollie had always thought of himself as ‘straight’, and Trevor was burned by a previous love. As Ollie and Trevor begin to act on their attraction, the kidnapping of Ollie’s ex-girlfriend is about to bring everything into perspective. The $ex scenes are intimate and erotic.

The secondary and supporting characters have all been introduced in previous story lines with the welcome return of Damien and Nikki Stark, and Nikki’s bestie Jamie Hunter.

TANGLED WITH YOU is a fast paced story of vengeance and betrayal, jealousy and obsession, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

As soon as Trevor was alone, he exhaled, his entire body relaxing. He was being a selfish ass, and he knew he shouldn’t have come by, especially not without calling first.
He had a solid friendship going with Ollie, and he didn’t want to ruin it because he was acting like a schoolboy who didn’t know how to handle a crush.
But he did have a crush. And if he didn’t dial it back, he was going to ruin a friendship he truly valued.
Ollie was straight. Or if he wasn’t, he wanted to be. He’d had a lifelong crush on Nikki Stark, which everyone knew. Trevor was pretty sure he’d slept with Jamie at some point. And he knew that Ollie had been engaged to a woman named Courtney.
Straight. The guy was straight.
Even if there was a thread of queer in Ollie’s blood, he’d spent a lifetime either ignoring or suppressing it. The man was a good friend. That was all.
Trevor needed to get that through his thick head. And the sooner he did, the better.
Too bad his libido kept ignoring that very sound advice. Ollie had rung all his bells since the first time he’d met the attorney-turned-FBI-agent when their paths crossed back when poor Anne had been kidnapped. But their friendship had truly solidified not long ago at a party they’d both attended in honor of Jamie’s first starring role in Intercontinental.
By then, he’d been crushing hard, and it had only gotten more intense when Ollie had pulled him in to help on an FBI money laundering sting at the Mercury Club, a gay strip bar in LA. Trevor had wormed his way in as an actual stripper, and Ollie had posed as a customer. The operation had lasted a couple of weeks, and Trevor’d had plenty of time to watch Ollie in the audience. To see what he thought was a spark of interest in his friend’s eyes.
Maybe he’d been imagining it, but he didn’t think so. And that spark had lit a fire under his own desires, raising the heat from slow burn to full-on boil.
But real or not, Trevor knew damn well that Ollie was fighting it.
Honestly, crushing on a straight guy was a pain in the ass.
He could tell himself that forever, but it didn’t stop the tightening in his chest or the sparks of awareness that shot through him when Ollie returned carrying the folding chair. He was wearing paint-splattered jeans and a similarly stained white tee that did nothing to hide the fact that the guy was in great shape. He’d heard Jamie tease him for being skinny, but Trevor didn’t see it. Maybe before Trevor knew him, but if so, the guy had filled out. Ollie had always looked pretty damn delicious to him, with solid pecs, strong arms, and a tight ass that he really wanted to grab.
And so much for that whole dialing it back thing.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

INTERVIEW WITH THE BILLIONAIRE (Stark Saga) by J. Kenner-a review

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Sandy

INTERVIEW WITH THE BILLIONAIRE (Stark Saga 8) by J. Kenner-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 31, 2023

Mr. Stark still has some secrets…

When Damien Stark agrees to be interviewed for a series of articles about his life, business, and family, he never expects that the interviewer will be an old flame. Or that she’s coming to the table with an agenda of her own…

In celebration of the ten year anniversary of Release Me, comes this unique and entirely original compilation of journal entries, letters, and exclusive interviews with and about the reclusive billionaire.

Framed by the formal interview sessions between Damien and his ex, this book includes never-before-told perspective on many of the events from the original trilogy and continuing series, interviews with his friends, family, and co-workers, and all-new content featuring Nikki, Damien, their family, and their friends.

••••••

REVIEW: INTERVIEW WITH THE BILLIONAIRE by J. Kenner is a culmination of journal entries by Damien Stark, an interview by a familiar but unwelcome face, and a sneak peak into the lives of Damien and Nikki.

Told from third person perspective (Damien), Damien’s journal entries from the past, and interview questions and answers from wanna-be journalist Maggie Bridge INTERVIEW WITH THE BILLIONAIRE follows the ongoing love affair between billionaire businessman Damien Stark and the love of his life Nikki Fairchild-Stark. Damien is about to turn forty years old, and has agreed to an interview arranged by his publicist but unbeknownst to everyone including Damien Stark, the publicist is a woman from Damien’s past, and her motive may not be one of innocence or work. With certain aspects of their lives off limits, Damien and Nikki quickly realize there may be cause for concern as it pertains to Maggie Bridge, as she interviews the people in their lives.

INTERVIEW WITH THE BILLIONAIRE is a fast paced, quick read that reveals potential for trouble ahead. Maggie Bridge claims to have changed but a name change, and borderline questions proves she is someone determined to destroy them all. The premise is intriguing and engaging; the characters are familiar and energetic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Anchor Me
Play My Game
Seduce Me
Unwrap Me
Hold Me
Please Me
Lost With Me
Damien
Indulge Me
Delight Me
Cherish Me
Enchant Me/a>

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

Charmed by You (Stark Security 9) by J. Kenner-review tour

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Sandy

Charmed by You (Stark Security 9 / 1001 Dark Nights) by J. Kenner-review & excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 9, 2022

Former vigilante-for-hire Simon Barré has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simon’s first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He can’t even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second rule—never fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazy—but whose touch he undeniably craves.

The world might believe that Francesca Muratti leads a fairy tale life, but the truth is far darker. For years, she’s kept a horrible secret about her best friend’s death. Now someone is threatening to kill Francesca if she doesn’t reveal all. She needs protection, but there’s no way she’s going to tell the sexy Stark Security agent what she did or why she’s being threatened. Which means that in order to survive and protect her secrets, Francesca must pull off the biggest acting job of her career: she’s going to have to let Simon close, but not let him see her true heart.

•••••

REVIEW:CHARMED BY YOU is the ninth instalment in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK SECURITY erotic, romance series, a part of the author’s STARK series, and the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is former vigilante for hire/security specialist Simon Barre, and actress Francesca Muratti’s story line. CHARMED BY YOU 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 perspective (Francesca Muratti) and third person (Simon Barre) CHARMED BY YOU follows in the wake of a letter threatening our story line heroine but Francesca immediately regrets calling in the help of Stark Security when security specialist Simon Barre pushes all of her buttons. From the outset, Simon and Francesca butt heads about Francesca’s security, security she believes is over the top and unnecessary. Francesca’s safety is paramount but all Simon sees is a spoiled Hollywood star who wants everything her way, possibly placing herself in the direct line of fire but Francesca keeps secret a past mired in darkness and loss, and the past has returned hoping to keep our heroine quiet. What ensues is the building relationship between Francesca and Simon, and the potential fall-out as Francesca must face down a past she can never forget.

The relationship between Francesca and Simon begins acrimoniously. Simon enters into the assignment with preconceived notions about our story line heroine, and many are not too far off the mark. Francesca wants her freedom, possibly at the cost of her own life, and refuses to give in to the pressure from mysterious threats, and the people hired to protect her life. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of Damien Stark and his head of security Ryan Hunter, as well as several members of Francesca’s entourage.

CHARMED BY YOU is a fast paced, quick read, novella length story of secrets, betrayal, vengeance and desire. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, determined and charismatic

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shadows of You (1.5)
Shattered with You
Broken with You
Ruined With You
Wrecked with You
Destroyed with You
Memories of You (5.5)
Ravaged with You
Hidden With You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

He didn’t want to like her.
He really, really, really didn’t want to like her.
She was a self-involved, conceited, money-hungry star who lived in a fantasy world and didn’t know a damn thing about real people or real problems. Just like every other actor in this fucked-up town.
He knew it. Was certain of it. He was familiar with the type, after all. Hadn’t they destroyed his childhood? Ripped away his fiancée?
Oh, yeah. He knew better than to like or trust this breed, and Francesca Muratti was no exception. She was just one more spoiled actress who’d caught the eye of a nut job with a grudge against spoiled actresses.
And yet…
He bit back a grimace, hating that he had to acknowledge those two little words. And yet…
And yet this spoiled, insufferable star was willing to put her life on the line to keep her fans happy.
This self-involved woman who made a living play-acting actually understood that the only reason she could enjoy the privilege of the life she had built was because she’d been lifted onto her pedestal by those fans. More than that, she not only understood it, but she was willing to risk literally everything to offer her thanks to those fans the only way she knew how—by being there for them.
He didn’t have to like her. Hell, he didn’t like her.
But he damn well respected her.
“All right,” he said, hopping down from the buffet and moving to stand opposite her across the table. “We’ve settled that you’re going to the con.” He glanced around the room, making sure no one intended to keep up the argument. When all remained silent, he nodded. “Good. That means we’re to the final point on today’s agenda.” He met Francesca’s eyes. “Who sent the note? And what does he want you to reveal?”
He kept his attention locked on her, so there was no missing either the way her eyes widened just a hair or the slash of fury that cut across her undeniably beautiful face.
“Do I need to write you a song?” she snapped. “Do a tap dance? Or maybe you want me to tattoo the answer on my forehead. Some asshat wants me to say some magic words or else he’s going to kill me, and I. Do. Not. Know. What. They. Are.”
A tear snaked down her cheek, and she swiped it away, the gesture both angry and impatient.
“I can’t tell what I don’t know.” She spoke directly to him, and he took the challenge, moving closer until he was breathing her air and could smell the lilac in her perfume.
“That’s kind of my point, sweetheart,” he said, studying her expression. Every tiny tick, every movement of her eyes. “I think you do.”
“Excuse me?” She glared at him. The kind of look designed to melt a lesser man.
Too bad for her, he wasn’t a lesser man. “You heard me,” he repeated.
Sparks flew from her eyes. Not literally, but he could damn sure imagine them. He said nothing. Just looked back at her mildly, keeping his own temper in check. He was an expert at not showing his feelings, and that was a skill that would come in handy with Francesca Muratti. Probably more than his dead-on aim with a pistol.
With a huff, she turned to face Ryan, then Damien. “Assign another agent, or I’m firing the lot of you.”
“And here I thought you liked me. What with convincing them to let you go to the con.”
She whirled on him. “You insufferable prick. Don’t you dare—”
“Frannie. Calm down.” Damien’s voice was low. Reasonable. And Simon was absolutely positive that was the wrong approach to take.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Stark? The man just called me a liar to my face. I have no idea—zero theories—as to what’s going on, and he’s accusing me of…well, fuck him. Fuck all of you. Dammit.”
She blinked, her lips pressed tight together as she spun away, giving all of them her back. And for a moment—a very, very fleeting moment—Simon had the urge to put his hands on her shoulders and tell her that it would all work out.
“Frannie,” Damien said softly, “we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
Her shoulders shook, and as much as she grated on him, he also knew that she was truly afraid. And because he was a damned idiot, his heart softened a little. At least until she spoke again.
“I don’t want him here.” The words were low. Barely audible. “He’s an arrogant prick, and I don’t want him in my home. For that matter,” she added, turning to look at Damien and Ryan in turn, “I don’t want anyone here. I got some stupid note, and I freaked, okay? But I shouldn’t have, because there’s nothing for me to tell. Nothing. Which means it’s a prank. A joke. I’m safe. So go. All of you.” She shifted, eyeing everyone in the room. “Go on,” she snapped, her voice rising. “Get out of my house.”
Nobody moved.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

Hidden With You (Stark Security 7) by J. Kenner-a review

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Sandy

Hidden With You (Stark Security 7) by J. Kenner-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 26, 2022

He was hired to kill her. He never expected to fall in love with her.

Former MI6 agent Jasper Kent gave up being a good man when his wife and daughter were murdered. Now, he’s a paid assassin for the highest bidder, using the payouts from his underworld contracts to fund his search for the man who killed his family. He gets the break he desperately craves when he’s invited to join Stark Security, a legitimate organization that knows nothing about his deadly side hustle, but provides the cover he needs for his private missions.

Then he hits the jackpot — kill the woman he’s been assigned to protect, and his payment will be the identity of the man who murdered his family.

Heiress Zelda Clayton has spent her life projecting a bubbly personality, certain that if she shows her darkness, she’ll be abandoned once again. Now the pulse-pounding attraction between her and devastatingly gorgeous bodyguard Jasper Kent is off the charts, and she’s terrified he will leave, too, breaking her heart right as she’s falling in love with him.

But a broken heart may be the least of Zelda’s worries

•••••

REVIEW: HIDDEN WITH YOU is the eighth instalment in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult STARK SECURITY erotic, romantic suspense series-a part of the author’s Stark World. This is forty-four year old, former MI6 agent Jasper Kent, and twenty-three year old, author/heiress Zelda Clayton’s story line. HIDDEN WITH YOU 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 (Zelda) and third person (Jasper) perspectives HIDDEN WITH YOU follows the building but acrimonious relationship between forty-four year old, former MI6 agent Jasper Kent, and twenty-three year old, author/heiress Zelda Clayton. Years earlier former MI6 agent Jasper Kent lost his daughter Bonnie, and his wife Sandra, to a killer. Having searched for the person(s) responsible but to no avail, Jasper has moved to America where he begins working for the Stark Security organization in the hopes of using their resources to uncover the truth but Jasper never expected to come face to face with twenty-three year old author Zelda Clayton, a woman who stirs something deep within our story line hero, something Jasper had thought he lost a long time ago. From the outset, Jasper struggles with his attraction to a woman who is not his beloved wife, but a message from a stranger pits Jasper’s need for revenge, against the building love he feels for our story line heroine, a message that places Zelda in the direct line of fire. Enter author/heiress Zelda Clayton, and the woman with whom Jasper will fall in love. What ensues is the insta-lust to love relationship between Jasper and Zelda, and the potential fall-out as our heroine is targeted, and Jasper isn’t the only assassin hired for the job.

Zelda Clayton does not have a close relationship with her mother, in the years since her father’s death, and her mother’s remarriage to former CIA operative Carter Malloy but the estrangement has never stopped Zelda from becoming her own woman, a woman who is now the target of an unknown assassin. Zelda’s attraction to Jasper was immediate but Jasper’s less than warm reception left Zelda, once again, reeling at another rejection from the men in her life. Jasper Kent’s only path in life is to discover the truth about the murder of his wife and child but when a message come through, promising to reveal the who, how and why, Jasper battles between head and heart knowing that to finally feel peace means to destroy the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The relationship between Jasper and Zelda is an age-gap romance; one of immediate attraction but when Zelda becomes the ‘aggressor’ Jasper struggles with the memories of his wife, the grief, and his inability to move forward. Zelda knows that a permanent relationship with Jasper is never going to happen as Zelda is unable to compete with memory of the past, a ghost Jasper is unable to let go. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word (although only used once) in my romance story lines.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we have met in previous story lines including Nikki and Damien, Jamie and Ryan, Evelyn, Ollie and Trevor. We are introduced to Stark Security’s new Research and Analysis specialist Owen Porter, as well Leah Ramirez, Zelda’s friend Camille, and Zelda’s mother Amelia and step father Carter Malloy.

HIDDEN WITH YOU is a story of power and greed, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance and moving forward. The fast paced premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is seductive and steamy; the characters are dynamic and broken.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shadows of You .5
Shattered with You
Broken with You
Ruined With You
Wrecked with You
Destroyed with You
Memories of You
Ravaged with You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

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