Review: Loved all of these books!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 28, 2013
MIAMI, MISTLTOE & MURDER:This book in the Red Stone Security series features Travis and Noel. If you have read the others, you won't be disappointed with this one. It could be read as a standalone as well since there are not a lot of secondary characters in this book. Katie always seems to have a good plot in her books and it adds some suspense, which I prefer to have in a story.I really liked the buildup of the relationship between Travis and Noel. Even for a novella, there was some great character and relationship development. Their relationship started out slow and they got to know each other first. Neither of them had overwhelming lustful thoughts about each other, which I thought was more believable. I tend to like the romance/courting stage and getting to know one another before they have serious intimate thoughts about each other in a book. The only full intimate scene in this book was written very well and really matched the characters. Travis is such a sweetheart and Noel understands him very well. They would have been a great couple to follow in a full length novel. I highly recommend!HIS TO PROTECT:I have enjoyed all of the books in the Red Stone Security series and this one is no different. Kellen (Kell for short) has been in love with Charlotte since he first met her, however, she was married to another man and one of Kell's friends, so he kept his distance. Time passes, Charlotte's husband passes away, and we learn they were headed for divorce due to his infidelity. Kell and Charlotte spend a night together that neither of them can forget. He tells her he loves her, but she runs. A year later, Charlotte shows up to tell Kell they have a son.Kell is shocked that Charlotte didn't tell him sooner about his son. Not one to waste time, he asks (insists, really) that Charlotte and their son, Reece, move in with him so he can spend time with both of them. Charlotte isn't so sure because she is worried about falling for Kell and possibly getting her heart broken (like it did with her husband), but her guilt for not telling Kell sooner causes her to agree. Shortly after that, Charlotte witnesses a murder in an alley as she is out at the park with her son. The murderers realize this and she is then on someone's hit list and it is up to Kell and Red Stone to keep her safe.Katie does a great job with this story. She writes a nice balance of suspense, romance, and some steamy passion. I love second chance stories, so this one was great. Not one to want to let go of characters from other books, I was glad that this one included several members of Red Stone and their wives/significant others including Lizzy and Noel. I also enjoy books that include kids/babies so having Reece in this one and getting to see Kell love on his three-month-old son was great!Favorite quote: "Greedy and impatient. One of the hundred things I love about you." - Kell to Charlotte.If you are looking for a romantic suspense that is a quick read, romantic, passionate, and includes a very sweet little baby that win's over tough Security experts, I highly recommend you try this story! You can read any of the Red Stone Security books on their own, so if you haven't read the others, you can still pick up this one and enjoy it.BREAKING HER RULES:The Red Stone Security series is awesome. I know that when I read them I will get lots of action, danger, passion and love. I will get to watch the guys and gals of Red Stone support each other like a close knit family. I will also get to read great dialogue with some playful banter between some of them. Of the six books in the Red Stone Security series, Breaking Her Rules is one of my favorite.In Breaking Her Rules, we get to meet the first female agent of Red Stone, Iris. She is an awesome woman who demands respect from her team by working hard and getting the job done - not by thinking she deserves special treatment because she is a woman. She is down to earth and low maintenance. We also get to meet Wyatt, who is a very wealthy businessman and Iris's best friend since they were about 10 years old. Both of them were Marines, are quite strong, honorable, and can take care of themselves. So when a hit is put out on Wyatt, and he calls Red Stone for extra security, Iris knows he is really concerned. Wyatt pulls some strings to have Iris lead the team even though a secret in their past could get in the way.I was a little worried that Wyatt would not be as "alpha" as I have come to like in Katie's books because Iris was such a strong woman and the one hired to provide security for Wyatt. Boy was I surprised! Two main characters that can kick a little butt? Yes, please. We also get to see some strong emotions between these two. I totally sided with Wyatt in this book and was glad he didn't give up on Iris. As for the other characters, it is always nice to see some of the guys and gals from the other books make an appearance. I really, really liked Jay and Ellie in this story and while I would love to see them in another book I don't think their stories would take them back to Red Stone.The writing in Breaking Her Rules is so smooth even when there are a lot of details that need to be included such as in the action scenes. I was able to keep up because Katie provides such great descriptions and I actually felt the action and emotions along with the characters. When she writes the passionate scenes Katie knows exactly how much detail to include and how much to leave to the reader's imagination. If you are looking for a romantic suspense book that grips you from the beginning and doesn't let you go until the end, I recommend Breaking Her Rules.