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After losing what little my father left me, I don't know where to turn.
A chance encounter, saving a guy in an alley, leads me to her - the answer to all my needs. Funny thing is, I'm what she needs, too.
I vow to protect her from everyone except myself because I'm falling hard and can't live without her.
I can be everything she needs, I just have to prove it first.
Brian is the fourth book in Kate Stone's Starke Private Investigations series.
As always, Brian is a SHORT, standalone romance with a happy ending, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
A chance encounter, saving a guy in an alley, leads me to her - the answer to all my needs. Funny thing is, I'm what she needs, too.
I vow to protect her from everyone except myself because I'm falling hard and can't live without her.
I can be everything she needs, I just have to prove it first.
Brian is the fourth book in Kate Stone's Starke Private Investigations series.
As always, Brian is a SHORT, standalone romance with a happy ending, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2020
5 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Kate Stone
31 books27 followersKate Stone has always lived for romance. From the time she was very small, waiting for her Prince Charming to come and take her away, she has looked for the healing, redeeming power of love.
She drinks far too much coffee and loves sparkly things. She's convinced she survived breast cancer because she was unwilling to let tiny little cells tell her when to die. The chemo may have helped, too.
She lives in New England with her long-suffering husband and their four children. She spends her days as a graduate student and her weekends writing.
You can visit her at www.AuthorKateStone.com or on twitter @KateStoneAuthor
She drinks far too much coffee and loves sparkly things. She's convinced she survived breast cancer because she was unwilling to let tiny little cells tell her when to die. The chemo may have helped, too.
She lives in New England with her long-suffering husband and their four children. She spends her days as a graduate student and her weekends writing.
You can visit her at www.AuthorKateStone.com or on twitter @KateStoneAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 24, 2020
There are three truths in any argument - your truth, my truth and the actual truth
Brian is the fourth book in the Starke Private Security series. It is the story of Brian Lewis and Monica Wright.
Brian is a mild mannered book store owner who can still defend himself. His life is not quite going as well as he had expected since his girlfriend left him a few months ago and the book store is about to close because everyone is staying home to watch Netflix and load ebooks onto their devices. So what better way to deal with his problems than to throw back a few at the local bar and then walk home. Along the way he happens to find four men in an alley, with two holding one man on the ground while the last man was beating him. Brian broke things up and in the process met Gary Starke, who likes the way he can defend himself and offers him a job.
Monica owns a pet grooming business with her friend Cassie. She has recently sworn off men after finally splitting up with her ex, who was turned out not to be who he first presented himself to be. But strange things keep happening and one night they turn more dangerous. When she is leaving the store after staying late to finish up some paperwork a vehicle drives towards her in the parking lot. She is able to get out of the way but does not get a look at the driver. When she phones Cassie to let her know what has happened Cassie tells her to come to her place as she is convinced it is the ex, Joe. A few nights later she is awoken by her fire alarm only to find a fire in her garbage can in the kitchen. She knows someone is doing this and it looks like they want to hurt her. Cassie convinces her to meet with a friend who owns a security business, Gary Starke.
Brian and Monica meet during the meeting at Gary's office, with Cassie also being there. Quickly Brian starts to watch over Monica when someone takes a sledgehammer to her car. They have chemistry even as they both try to fight it. Things start to get weirder with other things happening to Monica. Brian is not sure who is behind things, especially after he confronts Joe in person and walks away thinking Joe is telling the truth when he says he is not doing any of this, and he is also back with he previous girlfriend. Things are confusing as he is getting two people telling him they are not lying, and he does believe them both. So who is trying to hurt Monica and will he be able to find out in time to save her?
This is fast novella with some mystery and suspense to the story-line even though it was easy to figure out who the stalker is. The characters were nice but they felt a bit one-dimensional and were missing depth and good background. I am also just going to say that the book needs another read over as there were some proofreading errors but also several detail inconsistencies, which when you are trying to read a semi-mystery is confusing. In the end I thought the book was okay but not the best of the series.
Brian is the fourth book in the Starke Private Security series. It is the story of Brian Lewis and Monica Wright.
Brian is a mild mannered book store owner who can still defend himself. His life is not quite going as well as he had expected since his girlfriend left him a few months ago and the book store is about to close because everyone is staying home to watch Netflix and load ebooks onto their devices. So what better way to deal with his problems than to throw back a few at the local bar and then walk home. Along the way he happens to find four men in an alley, with two holding one man on the ground while the last man was beating him. Brian broke things up and in the process met Gary Starke, who likes the way he can defend himself and offers him a job.
Monica owns a pet grooming business with her friend Cassie. She has recently sworn off men after finally splitting up with her ex, who was turned out not to be who he first presented himself to be. But strange things keep happening and one night they turn more dangerous. When she is leaving the store after staying late to finish up some paperwork a vehicle drives towards her in the parking lot. She is able to get out of the way but does not get a look at the driver. When she phones Cassie to let her know what has happened Cassie tells her to come to her place as she is convinced it is the ex, Joe. A few nights later she is awoken by her fire alarm only to find a fire in her garbage can in the kitchen. She knows someone is doing this and it looks like they want to hurt her. Cassie convinces her to meet with a friend who owns a security business, Gary Starke.
Brian and Monica meet during the meeting at Gary's office, with Cassie also being there. Quickly Brian starts to watch over Monica when someone takes a sledgehammer to her car. They have chemistry even as they both try to fight it. Things start to get weirder with other things happening to Monica. Brian is not sure who is behind things, especially after he confronts Joe in person and walks away thinking Joe is telling the truth when he says he is not doing any of this, and he is also back with he previous girlfriend. Things are confusing as he is getting two people telling him they are not lying, and he does believe them both. So who is trying to hurt Monica and will he be able to find out in time to save her?
This is fast novella with some mystery and suspense to the story-line even though it was easy to figure out who the stalker is. The characters were nice but they felt a bit one-dimensional and were missing depth and good background. I am also just going to say that the book needs another read over as there were some proofreading errors but also several detail inconsistencies, which when you are trying to read a semi-mystery is confusing. In the end I thought the book was okay but not the best of the series.
October 26, 2020
Brian steps in to save a stranger who is being attacked in an alley by two men. It turns out that Gary Starke is the owner of Starke Private Security and offers Brian his business card if he wants to work for him.
Monica runs a pet-grooming business and someone has been stalking her. She suspects her ex-boyfriend, Joe Ledbetter, is the one harassing her. Brian is called in and agrees to protect Monica. The two of them are attracted to each other, so he definitely wants to make sure she is kept safe. When Brian listens to Joe, however, it doesn’t look like he is the guilty one. He tells her to beware of Monica, she was crazy, and she keyed his car and trashed his house when he tried to break up with her. He said he was back with his ex now and wants Monica out of his life! Is one of them lying? Is someone else stalking her? Or is she misleading him for some reason?
This was a good mystery. Who was the real stalker – or was there a stalker at all? The reader is pulled into the mystery and trying to figure it out alongside Brian. Will he dig up the clues he needs to resolve this? Grab your copy and find out what’s really going on!
Monica runs a pet-grooming business and someone has been stalking her. She suspects her ex-boyfriend, Joe Ledbetter, is the one harassing her. Brian is called in and agrees to protect Monica. The two of them are attracted to each other, so he definitely wants to make sure she is kept safe. When Brian listens to Joe, however, it doesn’t look like he is the guilty one. He tells her to beware of Monica, she was crazy, and she keyed his car and trashed his house when he tried to break up with her. He said he was back with his ex now and wants Monica out of his life! Is one of them lying? Is someone else stalking her? Or is she misleading him for some reason?
This was a good mystery. Who was the real stalker – or was there a stalker at all? The reader is pulled into the mystery and trying to figure it out alongside Brian. Will he dig up the clues he needs to resolve this? Grab your copy and find out what’s really going on!
October 25, 2020
Very good story. It has lots of drama, suspense, lies, danger and a great twist at the end. Brian happens to save someone from getting beat up in an alley. He's in the private security business and give Brian his card and asks him to work for him. He turns Starke down for the job but later Stark asks him to come to his office and just sit through a meeting. He meets Monica who thinks her ex is harassing her and she's starting to get worried. Brian decides that he'll help and as he confronts Joe and listens to him talk about Monica and her crazy things and then listening to Monica talk about Joe's crazy things he's not sure who to trust. This is where the twist come in. You'll have to read the story to find out who's lying about who. I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this story, it's the fourth book in the Starke Private Security series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Brian helps out Gary Starke one night when he came across an unfair 2-1 fight and steps in to help. Gary offers him a job but Brian turns him down as the two guys become friends Monica is persuaded by her bff to hire a bodyguard after a couple of incidents. Monica is immediately attracted to and comforted by Brian. There is a real intrigue as to who and why these dangerous incidents are happening to Monica and as Brian and Monica bond and their relationship deepens, Brian vows to protect the woman whose won his heart.
Well-written story, fast-paced and quick to read. Wonderful characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Brian helps out Gary Starke one night when he came across an unfair 2-1 fight and steps in to help. Gary offers him a job but Brian turns him down as the two guys become friends Monica is persuaded by her bff to hire a bodyguard after a couple of incidents. Monica is immediately attracted to and comforted by Brian. There is a real intrigue as to who and why these dangerous incidents are happening to Monica and as Brian and Monica bond and their relationship deepens, Brian vows to protect the woman whose won his heart.
Well-written story, fast-paced and quick to read. Wonderful characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2020
Monica has been harassed at work and at home, thinking it was in connection to her ex boyfriend. Her co-worker suggested a security company that her friend ran so they met with them. Brian rescued the head of the security company one night in an alley and he asked if Brian might want a job with his group. Monica was his mission on the side. The characters were terrific, with great backstories and intense emotions. Romance eventually got nice and steamy. Suspense and twists connected with the vandalism and danger proved a surprise and it was handled very well. The ending was perfect and that is one dog groomer store that will do very well indeed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2020
After watching his business slowly fade away Brian does not know what he is going to do. But a chance meeting in an alley where a man is being beaten and Brian rescues him and then offers him a job was not how he thought his night will end.Someone is trying to either frighten Monica or kill her she is just not sure which. So she does the what her best friend wants and goes and meets a friend of hers who owns a security company. Brian is put in charge of protecting her and find out who is after her. This is a really great story that I enjoyed a lot. I look forward for more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2020
Monica just wants to have a normal life, but it seems that her past is not letting go of her. When her life is put in danger, is hires a bodyguard to protect her. Brian is a loner, he enjoys the quite and his bookstore, but when others need help he is the first to just in. Working with Stark, Brian helps to protect Monica, but when he meets her ex things are not adding up. When the smoke clears what the truth is is not what you expect.
This fast pace story is hot, intense and suspenseful page after page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This fast pace story is hot, intense and suspenseful page after page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 27, 2020
Just because one thing in your life ends that you love does not mean your life is over as Brian learned in this story. He is having to close his book store, but fate turned him to Gary Stark in private security. Gary talked Brian into doing one security job and he found his whole new life in two surprising new loves. This is an amazing read with lots of mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your chair.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2020
Brian owns a failing bookstore and meets an owner of a private security company after he saves him from getting beat up in an alley. Monica has a stalker who is threatening her and even though she doesn’t want to, has to hire security to protect her. The attraction is spontaneous, can Brian protect her? Great story and author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2020
This was a quick read but it felt more like an outline to me instead of a novella. I would have liked more detailed scenes and lengthier interactions between the characters. The storyline was interesting; it was more suspense than romance but it kept me engaged throughout, wanting to find out what was going to happen. Like I said, it just felt more like an outline to a story to me than an actual novella.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2020
A captivating book four in the Starke Private Security series! It is well written, fast pace, emotionally deep, and consistent with drama, humour, mystery, twists and turns, danger, and ups and downs. The characters are likeable and real; the chemistry between them is undeniable and off the charts! Definitely recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2020
This well-written book 4 in the Starke Private Security Series is a wonderful story and a good start to a new series. The characters are believably well-crafted and they react in a realistic fashion. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Derek is a SHORT, standalone romance with a happy ending, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 24, 2020
The author has given us two people that are slow to trust. When Monica is having trouble with her ex, Brian is pulled in to be her bodyguard. They have an attraction that they are trying to ignore, but that may not be possible.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 25, 2020
Short story about Brian and Monica. I loved the dual first person point of view, which is a deal breaker for me. The story pulls you in from the start, characters were amazing. This was yet another good addition to the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 25, 2020
This story had a good plot, good characters, mystery, chemistry, connection, passion and love. I liked Monica and Brian and was interested how things would work out for them, personally I would have liked to have seen them a little bit further down the line just to answer a question or two I had.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2020
A fantastic read. This story is full of suspense, drama, twist and turns. The characters are engaging and have amazing chemistry. This is the fourth book in this Starke Private Security series. You will not be disappointed and will want to read the previous ones.
I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 27, 2020
This is a very short story, but an amazing amout of intrigue going on. Brian helps out in a fight and Gary offers him a job. He is to protect Monica from a stalker and this is where things get interesting. This was a very short story but it was a great story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2020
This was a new to me author and this was a pretty good book. It was a little different but in a good way. There isnt much sexy time in this book, there is like two scenes but they are short and are not heavy on the details of the acts. I will definitely read more of her books in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2020
A great series that keeps you turning the pages from beginning to end. Action and adventure keep the story line full of excitement making it hard to put the book down. The characters are amazing, easy to get to know and well developed. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2020
Good
Not bad. Of course I figured out who the villain was once they were introduced but this isn't a bad book it all I liked it. It seems longer than the short book it really is. Good read
Not bad. Of course I figured out who the villain was once they were introduced but this isn't a bad book it all I liked it. It seems longer than the short book it really is. Good read
October 27, 2020
There is some suspense and excitement in this story with Brian and Monica trying to find out who is after her. I had a hard time following some of the story and would have liked more interactions between the characters. It's enjoyable however, just not what I was expecting.
October 28, 2020
I am definitely enjoying the action in this series and this episode is certainly a page-turner from beginning to end
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2020
A fast-paced and action-packed book that I enjoyed reading. Love the storyline and the characters. Love the bond between Brian and Monica.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 29, 2020
I really enjoyed Monica and Brian's story.
It was full of drama and mystery that was great to read.
I can't wait to see what Kate writes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was full of drama and mystery that was great to read.
I can't wait to see what Kate writes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2020
Absolutely Awesome Read, well written, great characters, Awesome story line, easy read to hold you on their journey, this genre might not be for everyone but its a really wonderful story cannot wait for more from this Author.
November 4, 2020
Book four in the Starke Private Security series a well written short story that kept me turning pages. There is suspense, drama, danger, a villain, and romance. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews