Guarding Her (Red Stone Security #18)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

She never wanted fame…

After a video of her modeling her friend’s new clothing line goes viral, Gia suddenly finds herself thrust into the spotlight. She never wanted fame—she was just having fun and helping a friend. Unfortunately now she’s got a target on her back. Someone out there will do anything to destroy her. Someone who wants her dead.

Now she’s paying the price…

As his best friend’s sister, Gia is off limits. She’s also the woman of Lawson’s dreams—and hottest fantasies. When she’s targeted by a vicious stalker, all bets are off. As a Red Stone Security expert, he’ll keep her safe at any cost. What he doesn’t know is how he’s going to keep her out of his bed, because he’s never wanted anyone as badly as he wants her. He’s all about rules—it’s why he’s such a good bodyguard—while she seems determined to test his control at every step. But if they want to survive, they’ll have to work together to stop the killer…before it’s too late.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

Red Stone Security continues to be a hotbed of romance and the men of the company can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves—thank goodness! I have followed this series from the very beginning and I was so thrilled with Katie started writing it again, but as each story unfolds we get more and more angst, danger, and passion. Gia finds herself in the spotlight after filling in for her friend as a swimsuit model for an afternoon, never imagining that the shoot’s video and pictures would go viral. When the hateful comments become more physical threats, her brother’s best friend and the man she has wanted for years, steps in to protect her, whether she wants him to or not. Lawson has resisted Gia’s beauty and intelligence for years, knowing that lusting after his best friend’s sister was wrong in too many ways, but when she needs this protection nothing will stop him from stepping in. But as the danger around them gets more intense, so does the passion that sparks between them and soon there is no more resisting the pull between them, and when the love blossoms they have to come to terms with it, or they could lose any chance at a future together. Gia was very sweet, even if she didn’t understand her own appeal and beauty. I enjoyed watching her succumb to Lawson as he showed her just how attractive he found her and finding her own self-confidence thanks to his love. She was brave at the most unexpected of times and finding her footing with Lawson was an adventure to watch. She was determined to stand up to him and make him see her not just as his friend’s little sister, but as a woman and one that he could be with forever. I LOVED Lawson’s alpha sweetness, that mine mentality just gets me every time, even as he fought the feelings every step of the way, but when the jealousy of seeing her around other men comes out it’s just too hot! Lawson has a lot of come to terms with as he falls in love with Gia and realizes that her being his friend’s sister doesn’t mean that she can’t be his. The sparks between these two were hotter and swifter than the strongest forest fire, but watching them burn up and then find their love in the embers was amazing. The villain was as always a creepy and terrifying character and one that was difficult to guess up until the end, but in the end Lawson saves his woman. I am dying for the next Red Stone story and more and more in this series for years to come!