Killer Notes

The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023

by C.J. Barlowe

Making it to Rocktoberfest will be a feat when a crazed fan goes after Danny Raven Wells, the lead singer of Warrior Black. On the cusp of launching its first major album, Danny has to navigate the band’s quick rise to fame, a stalker that’s willing to kill, and an infuriating bodyguard Danny’s falling for.

Tobias Grant has only two to protect the lead singer and deliver him safely to Rocktoberfest. Falling fast for the talented rocker, who somehow got under his defenses, isn’t one of them. However, Tobias will do whatever it takes, even putting himself in the line of fire, to get Danny on stage before the deranged fan hurts another person.

In this close proximity ballad, Danny and Tobias must make compromises, but will their new relationship survive the days of music and danger?

Genres: M M Romance, Gay, LGBT

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

CJ Barlowe is an author of MM romance and the alter ego of CJ Warrant. CJ writes hard edge romance with all the feels. There's always a happily ever after, even though there's casualties of the heart. Addicted to coffee, loves her family and great friends, CJ's stories will always lead you in the mood for love.

Reviews

[Rachel Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good rockstar/bodyguard romance and this didn't disappoint. Raven is the lead singer of a rock band with a stalker and needs a bodyguard cue Tobias. Plenty of steam, interesting story and a HEA. Recommend

[M.J. Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocktoberfest. Rock on!!!

I’ve been following some of my favorite writers to Rocktoberfest and some I didn’t know. CJ Barlowe did an amazing job. Steamy sex, just the right amount of angst and a wonderful ending. Highly recommend this book.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny Wells, better known as Raven, is the lead singer with Warrior Black. Connor known as Wild, plays drums and is Danny’s best friend. With Warrior Black’s new manager Ron Darling, the band is making great progress and they will be appearing at the greatest event ever Rocktoberfest. It’s fantastic as not only: Danny, Connor, Callum, Raef and Bobby will get to perform but also watch their favorite bands: Maiden Voyage and Social Sinners.

Even with all the excitement there’s trouble to be had. Danny’s personal assistant has been attacked and two weeks later threatening letters have been sent to Danny. Danny has had his troubles in the past with former manager and ex Siles Barrett. Lucky for Danny he had Connor Wild as a best friend and they kept what occurred secret.

Ron’s not playing around and he calls Dean Harper head of Harper Security Agency and he’s called in Tobias Grant and John Brand to be bodyguards for the band, especially, Danny Wells.

Tobias Grant has baggage too, with his ex. In fact, he’s ready to make this his last job and get away from Dean Harper and the agency.

As much as Tobias and John, do to keep the band protected it’s not working. The only thing left is to call for more security guards but Tobias has his own plan. Danny needs to be kept in a secluded place until Rocktoberfest.

But being secluded with Danny turns out to be a big problem for both of them. Tobias and Danny will have to find a way to avoid each other in close quarters until Rocktoberfest is over.

CJ Barlowe rounds up Warrior Black to go on “The Road to Rocktoberfest” in “Killer Notes.” The band members are a wild bunch with lot’s of banter, teasing and true friendships. There’s not only a steamy chemistry with Danny and Tobias but something seems to be going on with the high strung Connor and John Brand.

It’s not only a problem on how to keep Danny out of the clutches of a stalker, but finding who the stalker is. Tobias and Danny still carry baggage from their ex’s. Even though Tobias faces he would put his life on the line for Danny, there’s still things he’s not aware of. That’s all I’ll say so I don’t give any of the mystery away.

For fun on “The Road to Rocktoberfest” read CJ Barlowe’s “Killer Notes” for Warrior Black’s band. It’s is a quick read, with high strung suspense of a thriller, humor and steamy moments.

[🌻Jules Reads it all 🌻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book by CJ Barlowe. It’s a bit of forced proximity, bodyguard, rockstar, MM romance. It’s super sweet and angsty, and had enough angst and tension to keep me turning the pages.

Once I started it, i couldn’t put it down! It’s a quick read for me, only 218 pages per my kindle, and it only took me a couple hours to read.

I absolutely adored this book! I highly recommend it!

[Becky Aks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Notes is CJ Barlowe’s contribution to the Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 series, and it’s a roller coaster of emotions, with sections that made my heart plummet and others that made me swoon. Like her previous books, the story moves right along without getting sidetracked in the weeds of detailed descriptions. It’s a steamy read set against a backdrop of a mystery stalker, with the requisite HEA. Danny and Tobias (the MCs) are, of course, well developed (totally love the lip gloss!), but CJ also sketches the supporting characters so well (Connor’s tell, Bobby’s polish) that their personalities shine through…and it leaves this reader hoping for more about the guys in Warrior Black . An excellent read and I highly recommend it if you’re into m/m romance.

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that the bodyguard trope does it for me and this little romance made me happy. Danny is of course the reluctant and a bit stubborn newbie rockstar that does not want a bodyguard. Turns out that the crazy stalker is clever, and it is actually a very dangerous situation. Tobias is our bodyguard who is ready to get away from his ex and job but is currently determined to protect Danny. Tobias and Danny go in hiding together which gives us a spicy close proximity affair that gradually grows into more for both of them. Part of a series but can completely be read as a standalone romance. It is the perfect length to balance out the suspense, danger and romance.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Notes invites us to meet Danny and Tobias in the midst of a crisis - Danny is being stalked and the notes he's receiving are getting darker and more deadly... and Tobias is the body guard assigned to him. This book lets us focus on both the mystery and the budding relationship between the two, especially when they end up in a remote cabin together and is both suspenseful and romantic.

There's a good mix of angst, drama, sweet and spice and it was a quick read for me! If you like Rockstar Romance, particularly if you like your star falling for their bodyguard, then Killer Notes is the right book for you!

[Asparagoose · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a rockstar and bodyguard romance this was really boring. It didn't do either the rockstar or the bodyguard trope well. Everyone in the book was an idiot. Like seriously, no one batted an eye at the person with the bodyguard going off on their own with a person the said bodyguard is suspicious of? No one? Bueller?

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2023 series and it was very enjoyable. I loved reading about Tobias and Danny, I'm Gen X so of course The Bodyguard made me think all bodyguards should fall for their clients and vise versa. This is a steamy, low angst read with a HEA.

[audiobook_chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Danny lead singer of Warrior Black realises he has a stalker Tobias is brought in to protect him and from the start they have chemistry . I really enjoyed reading this and I’m hoping Connor & John might get a book.

[lori ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book

I love the storyline and the characters. My first time reading C J Barlowe and I highly recommend this book to read