Charmed by You by J. Kenner Blog Tour

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner comes a new story in her Stark Security series…

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.

For fans of J. Kenner's Stark Security series, Charmed by You is the ninth installment in that series.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Stark Security series!
For book one, Shattered With You, click HERE.
For book two, Broken With You, click HERE.
For book three, Ruined With You, click HERE.
For book four, Wrecked With You, click HERE.
For book five, Destroyed With You, click HERE.
For the novella, Memories of You, click HERE.

 

 

Book 7.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I love reading the 1001 Dark Night books – and never more so than when it is from a favourite series of mine. If you have never read any Stark Security, then feel free to enjoy this and then go back and get the full experience... because you are in for a treat! This novella is just a hint at all the goodness which awaits you!

Simon has, we discover, more reason than most to hate the fake glitz and glamour of Hollywood, so when his next Stark assignment is to protect an established actress from an unknown threat, he is not happy at all. Francesca isn't keen on him either, but she values her life and decides to trust him.

As they spend time together, it is clear that he needs to wake up to the woman in front of him, rather than the ghosts from his past... and we have the pleasure of watching it all play out in front of us. And it is a lot of fun, with a side of drama, a twist, and the romance and passion that J. Kenner knows all too well how to deliver.

Very, very enjoyable quick read with just enough tension, lots of untangling of previous wrongs, and starting of delicious, loved-filled rights – yum!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Simon is a no-nonsense security guy. He's tough, strong, a little overbearing, and sometimes, a complete ass. He has a strong aversion to Hollywood, and, despite his job, he can't seem to allow that to take a back seat when he is tasked with helping protect Francesca.

But when Simon believes he'll be protecting a Hollywood drama queen, what he sees is actually quite different.

Francesca knows what Hollywood has to offer. She also knows what it hides. With her background in the business, she knows all too well what dangers can lurk.

With a stalker hot on her tail, she'll need to find some common ground with the hunky bodyguard who seems to have a chip on his shoulder.

These two have chemistry and fire between them. However, they have to find their way through their personal mazes in order to come together and find happiness. Can these two figure out how to stay safe from both the stalker and their hearts?

 

 

 

J. KENNER (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over one hundred 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 and #1 internationally, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of wide variety of genres.

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 six time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award, JK took home a RITA trophy in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me, and again in 2017 for her novel, Wicked Dirty.

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.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Charmed by You (Stark Security #7.5) by J. Kenner to read and review.