Charmed by You, an all-new must-read novella set in the Stark Security world from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner and 1,001 Dark Nights is available now!
Former vigilante-for-hire Simon BarrĆ© has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simonās first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He canāt even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second ruleānever fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazyābut 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, sheās kept a horrible secret about her best friendās death. Now someone is threatening to kill Francesca if she doesnāt reveal all. She needs protection, but thereās no way sheās going to tell the sexy Stark Security agent what she did or why sheās being threatened. Which means that in order to survive and protect her secrets, Francesca must pull off the biggest acting job of her career: sheās 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 book nine in that series.**
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, itās an introduction to an authorās world. And for fans, itās a bonus book in the authorās series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
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Keep reading for a look inside Charmed By You!
He didnāt want to like her.
He really, really, really didnāt want to like her.
She was a self-involved, conceited, money-hungry star who lived in a fantasy world and didnāt 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. Hadnāt they destroyed his childhood? Ripped away his fiancĆ©e?
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 whoād caught the eye of a nut job with a grudge against spoiled actresses.
He bit back a grimace, hating that he had to acknowledge those two little words. And yetā¦
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 sheād 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 howāby being there for them.
He didnāt have to like her. Hell, he didnāt like her.
But he damn well respected her.
āAll right,ā he said, hopping down from the buffet and moving to stand opposite her across the table. āWeāve settled that youāre going to the con.ā He glanced around the room, making sure no one intended to keep up the argument. When all remained silent, he nodded. āGood. That means weāre to the final point on todayās agenda.ā He met Francescaās eyes. āWho sent the note? And what does he want you to reveal?ā
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.
āDo I need to write you a song?ā she snapped. āDo 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 heās going to kill me, and I. Do. Not. Know. What. They. Are.ā
A tear snaked down her cheek, and she swiped it away, the gesture both angry and impatient.
āI canāt tell what I donāt know.ā 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.
āThatās kind of my point, sweetheart,ā he said, studying her expression. Every tiny tick, every movement of her eyes. āI think you do.ā
āExcuse me?ā She glared at him. The kind of look designed to melt a lesser man.
Too bad for her, he wasnāt a lesser man. āYou heard me,ā 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. āAssign another agent, or Iām firing the lot of you.ā
āAnd here I thought you liked me. What with convincing them to let you go to the con.ā
She whirled on him. āYou insufferable prick. Donāt you dareāā
āFrannie. Calm down.ā Damienās voice was low. Reasonable. And Simon was absolutely positive that was the wrong approach to take.
āAre you fucking kidding me, Stark? The man just called me a liar to my face. I have no ideaāzero theoriesāas to whatās going on, and heās accusing me ofā¦well, fuck him. Fuck all of you. Dammit.ā
She blinked, her lips pressed tight together as she spun away, giving all of them her back. And for a momentāa very, very fleeting momentāSimon had the urge to put his hands on her shoulders and tell her that it would all work out.
āFrannie,ā Damien said softly, āweāre going to get to the bottom of this.ā
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.
āI donāt want him here.ā The words were low. Barely audible. āHeās an arrogant prick, and I donāt want him in my home. For that matter,ā she added, turning to look at Damien and Ryan in turn, āI donāt want anyone here. I got some stupid note, and I freaked, okay? But I shouldnāt have, because thereās nothing for me to tell. Nothing. Which means itās a prank. A joke. Iām safe. So go. All of you.ā She shifted, eyeing everyone in the room. āGo on,ā she snapped, her voice rising. āGet out of my house.ā
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, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, āchicklitā suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a āflair for dialogue and eccentric characterizationsā and by RT Bookclub for having ācornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.ā A six time finalist for Romance Writers of Americaās prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy) and in 2017 for Wicked Dirty in the same category. Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development as a television show.
Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.
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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5 āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø
Charmed By You (Stark Security #7.5) by J Kenner published in the 1001 Dark Nights.
I was so excited to get another installment of Stark Security and as always this story was well written, entertaining with fantastic characters that pulled me in and kept me captivated from beginning to the end. It had the perfect combination of intrigue, suspense and romance.
Simon BarrĆ© first assignment with Stark Security is to provide security to A-list actress Francesca Muratti, after she receives a note threatening her life. And although it isnāt love at first sight, neither of them counted on their amazing chemistry.
But will Simon be able to keep Francesca safe without falling for the beautiful actress? You will need to read to get all the amazing details! You donāt want to miss this one!
Received a early copy and this is my honest review.