Private Passions

Private #4

by Jami Alden

Fans of Bella Andre and Sylvia Day will adore the latest addition to Alden's steamy PRIVATE series! Former Green Beret Daniel "Deck" Decker has spent the last five years keeping A-List actress Jane Bowden's body safe - and his hands to himself. A professional to the core, Deck would never mix business with pleasure, especially when Jane has always kept the relationship strictly business. But that all changes one hot night when Jane, dealt a blow by the tabloids, turns to Deck for comfort. What starts as a consoling embrace quickly turns passionate, and Deck's long simmering desire can no longer be controlled. But when harsh reality intrudes, any hope Deck has that their steamy night is the start of a new chapter in their relationship is demolished. Jane Bowden is used to living her life under a microscope. But in the wake of a very public divorce where Jane was made to look - and feel - very much the fool, she's even more careful not to make any wrong moves. She knows that if the press finds out she's sleeping with her bodyguard, they'll paint her as the pathetic woman on the rebound and Deck as a scheming opportunist. But before Jane can talk to Deck about when and how they can reveal the truth, Deck quits. Heartbroken, Jane realizes that while she thought this was the start of something real, Deck only wanted a one night stand. But when disaster strikes and Jane’s most secret fantasies are leaked to the press, Deck is determined to convince Jane that the key to her happiness is making her private passions a reality. Praise for Jami Praise for Private "Like all of Jami's books, Private Pleasures is sexy, hot, and full of emotion. I loved watching the sparks fly between Wendy and Drew!" -- Top 10 Kindle bestseller Bella Andre "Private Pleasures is a fantastically sexy battle of wills between a hero and heroine who are equals in every sense of the word. A smoking hot read!" -- USA Today bestseller Victoria Dahl “Jami Alden always takes you on a wild ride! - New York Times best seller Catherine Coulter “The perfect balance of emotion and romance.” -New York Times best seller Maya Banks “Hot and emotionally charged, Jami Alden always delivers.” -New York Times best seller Shannon McKenna “A fantastic story that will keep you hot and bothered.” -Romantic Times Book Reviews for Private Party “Alden can wring every emotion from her characters.” -Romantic Times Book Reviews

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Ebooks, Adult

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2012

About the author

Like so many romance readers, my first romance novel was by Kathleen Woodiwiss - The Flame and the Flower, to be exact. I was thirteen. I spent the next month working my way through her entire back list. Shortly thereafter I discovered Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey, Karen Robards, Catherine Coulter, Shirlee Busbee among others, and devoured their lavish historical epics full of overbearing alpha males and the women who brought them to their knees. I was hooked. My high school teachers marveled at my ability to read romance novels under the desk and still score straight A's. I started to imagine myself, living in a cabin in the mountains somewhere, writing romance novels.

It took me quite awhile to pursue my dream. After graduating from Stanford with a degree in English Literature, I worked in a variety of soul sucking admin jobs before I began my career in marketing. It wasn't exactly my dream job, but at least my writing appeared on several web sites and in many software marketing brochures. Unfortunately I wasn't able to fit the phrase "and her loins melted like hot wax" into any of them.

During my stint as the world's surliest receptionist, I took my first stab at writing. The result was a very melodramatic western historical which reads like a bad Elizabeth Lowell rip off. Its currently languishing on my hard drive, forever stuck on page 330.

Then in fall 2001 I had an incredible stroke of luck and got laid off from my marketing job. I decided it was time to stop saying I wanted to be a writer and to actually give it a serious go. Fortunately my husband, a socially well adjusted alpha male, is a very generous patron of the arts.

Four years later, I sold my first book and I'm pretty much living the dream of getting paid to write romance. I don't live in a cabin in the mountains, but I do live in a rural-ish town near San Francisco (hey, we have deer and bunnies in our yard, along with the occasional coyote) with my husband, sons, and two dogs who patiently listen to my dialogue and help me work out plot points. When I'm not writing sexy romance, I enjoy running, reading, yoga and watching Food Network and bad reality TV.

Reviews

[Nell · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fourth book in a series, although I haven’t read any of the others. I was on the hunt for a good bodyguard/client novel, and this wasn’t it. I did not like this book. The heroine was, quite frankly, TSTL. For a star who had been in the business for a long time, she was ridiculously naïve, and I just couldn’t like her.

Deck was okay, he had some good moments, he had some bad moments, but in all honesty, while there was backstory (too much at times) I didn’t feel like I really got to know either character on any sort of deep level.

The relationship was weirdly built between the characters, there was backstory, and then they were having sex with barely a word between them, and this continued for most of the book. Where was the getting to know each other on a whole other level than the professional relationship they’d already established? It was noted Jane knew next to nothing about Deck late in the book… so, yeah, I didn’t like the way the relationship was built (or not, in this case) and I didn’t think much of the plot. The writing was solid enough, but there needs to be more personality, more than just sex because that sex didn’t mean a thing without the emotional connection which I didn’t buy at all because there was barely any interaction between the characters except sex.

Not a fan, won’t try this author again.

[Joycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot! And compelling ... well, until the end when (once again) lack of communication threatened to separate these lovebirds ... thankfully, they opened up to each other and got their HEA. Nice wrapup to the series.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars is the most I can give for a short story, but this story was AMAZING! I loved EVERY minute of it!

Jane is an A-list actress who was humiliated when her A-list actor husband left her for his co-star just a couple years ago. As she waits for her bodyguard, Deck, to pick her up for the Golden Globes, she turns the TV on only to learn her ex and the tramp just announced they're expecting. After two miscarriages and years of trying to get pregnant with the jerk, she's obviously devastated. When Deck gets there, he finds her sobbing. One thing leads to another and they end up in bed. They've both secretly been hot for each other since he started as her bodyguard before she even married the jerk ex-husband. When her private sexual fantasies are leaked to the press, she flees in search of privacy from the bloodthirsty gossip mongers.

My gut was literally twisting through their trials and tribulations. I absolutely adored Jane (think Jen Aniston in the whole Jen/Brad/Angelina fiasco) and Deck was delicious, as any literary bodyguard should be... My heart was breaking for them and then filled with love with their happily ever after! This book is TOTALLY worth it! I did get this book in the boxed set, "Loving the Bodyguard", but now I'll be buying the other "Private" books by Ms. Alden!

[CharmaineW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this complimentary arc copy from the author for an honest review.
Oh boy... Loved reading about another one of the Decker brothers.This time it is about Daniel "Deck" Decker, bodyguard to actress Jane Bowden.
Jane has been in the spotlight for years and Deck has been there for her through thick and thin. Protecting her in lots of ways.
Jane has always fantasised about Deck secretly but could never tell him.
The pressure of living in the spotlight must be awful. People watching you, talking about you. How you dress, who you are with must be unbearable at times.
Secret feelings between Jane and Deck come to a head after shocking news for Jane and passions are ignited between them. How they cope with public scrutiny again. I so felt sorry for Jane . All she goes through, she must be so lonely at times but I knew she had big decisions to make. I felt that they were so close to each other as a couple could get and knew they were meant to be. It was a very enjoyable read and wanted, as always, just a little bit more at the fantastic ending. Loved it.

[J.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Jane and Deck. It is a spin off so some of the previous characters are mentioned. That being said this is a short very quick read. Jane is a high profile movie/tv star and her life is not where she wants it to be personally. She recently got divorced because she was not really in love with her husband and he cheated on her with one of his costars. Then she finds out they are having a baby which breaks her heart. But this leads to the beginning of her relationship with her bodyguard/security detail dude - Deck. As always trouble erupts and they don't really start. Then they start again and then experience another bump. In the end of course it is a HEA -- Jane gets everything she wants and more.

[Reese Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alden tells the story of a mega movie star who falls for her long-time bodyguard, who is secretly just as enamored with her. While Jane and Deck fall into the relationship at an unfortunate moment in her life, it quickly grows. But being together will require each of them to make some serious sacrifices.

As always, Alden brings the heat with her four-alarm fire love scenes. But we also experience the deep pain of both characters as they struggle to make their fairytale romance fit into the realities of Jane's world.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Alden's Gemini Men series, so I was ecstatic to find this one. I really loved these characters and how they overcame difficulty to find their HEA. The loving was sexy and sweet, and Alden has a knack for writing wonderful alphas.

The only fault I find with this book has nothing to do with the story, but the editing leaves a lot to be desired. There were frequent instances where extra words were added and it required multiple reads of the sentence to understand it. But even so, I won't hesitate to read more stories by Jami Alden.

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book in this series so far. I literally love Deck & Jane they are 2 people that I wouldn't have thought would get together. I felt for Jane's character being an actress & having her life played out in the tabloids from her miscarriages, to her cheating husband & eventual divorce. Deck's character as bodyguard was amazingly gentle & caring as well as being strong. I cried the last 2 chapters when their life kind of fell apart. This is an okay read as a stand alone novel you don't need to read the other first.

[Sue Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane has to keep her image up for her fans but Deck knows her pain. One lusty night they finally come together only to have Deck quit his job as her bodyguard. He can't work for her and have a relationship. But the question is does Jane want Deck? All too soon her world becomes open to the public and her naughtiest secrets are revealed. Can Deck save Jane from becoming another statistic? Will they find true love? Good thing it's a short story so you can find out for yourself faster!

[Black Butterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS THE FINALE BOOK IN THE SERIES #4. I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH THIS WAS JANE & DECKS STORY, INTRODUCED IN THE VERY 1ST BOOK. IT WAS JUST AS HOT AND STEAMY AS THE OTHER BOOKS, THIS AUTHOR DOES HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS. THE LOVE SCENES IN HER BOOKS ARE SO HOT YOU NEED A COLD SHOWER AFTER READING ONE OF THEM. I WONDER IF THIS REALLY ALL THE BOOKS SHE WILL DO IN THIS SERIES? IF THERE IS MORE WRITTEN I'LL BE READING THEM. YES-SIREE!

[Jacqui Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. Love books with HEA. I enjoyed reading this story because it actually reflected a lot of real scenarios from the lost of a pregnancy to the unfaithful husband. Loved to see at the end that true love could conquer anything if u believe in the one u love

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear I finished this book about 2 hours after I started it. Never put it down. Will definitely read more by this author

[Lila Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5...Loved Deck!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book of the sense! I really likes this one. I hope there will be more.

[Luz Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.

[Candace Ransome · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy smooth read. I like the relationship between them.

[Phe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars - Private Passions is an adult contemporary romance by Jami Alden and the 4th book in her Private series.

[Sharon Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

another brilliant story just loved the private series

[Sofia Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

sometimes people don't see really what matter is life....

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something light to finish the year. I did however get annoyed with the typing and grammatical errors thought it the book.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, good, steamy read. Too bad I wasn't at the beach as it is a perfect beach read.

Jami Alden knows how to pack a punch in what I would consider more a novella than a novel.

[Harley_Dreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read :)

A good read :)

I've been enjoying this series, not exactly my what one would expect me to read, but it's a good series and I recommend it.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

É interessante lê-se bem mas não traz nada de novo. Falta-lhe aquele detalhe que faz com que queiramos ler o capitulo a seguir.

[Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda Dossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC gifted by publisher for honest review. This was the last of the series. Although all were good reads. Well worth the time spent. All HEA and easy reading.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow oh wow. Loving Deck in this book. Typical alpha male and Jami writes him so well.