What If a Secret From Your Past Turned Deadly?Country music star January Winters knew the rise to fame would be hard, but she never thought it would be deadly. When a stalker’s attempts go from creepy to lethal, even the fearlessly independent Jan gives into her producer’s demands that they hire a bodyguard. But that was before she realized who would be guarding her body… body…
A knee injury might have ruined his football career, but it didn’t stop Dino Machiavelli from becoming the best bodyguard in Vegas. He can literally pick and choose his assignments—and he never picks guarding diva celebrities. At least not until his boss makes one assignment impossible for him to refuse and he finds himself too close for comfort with the one girl that ripped out his heart fifteen years ago.
Just as Dino and Jan start to wonder if it may not be too late to rekindle old feelings, the stalker’s actions escalate. It appears the threat may be closer to Jan than she ever imagined and now she has to wonder, just exactly who in her inner circle can she really trust?
NOTE: This book was previous published with the same title under my pen name Lee Anne Jones.
From The Book:
Dino crossed his arms again, eager to get this meeting over with and get on with his day. “Just tell me who this rich guy is I’ll be following around like a dog on a leash.”
Given the firm’s wealthier clients and their penchant for wild shenanigans, it would probably be a very short leash too. Yippee. At least he still had a job and a steady paycheck coming in, he reminded himself.
“It’s a rich girl, actually.”
A diva? Even better. Blake must really be pissed at him to punish him this much.
“She’s an entertainer.”
“Have I heard of her?”
“Yeah, you have.” The corners of Blake’s lips quirked up in a way that sent warning signals jolting through Dino’s brain.
Dino searched his memory banks for girls in the entertainment business that might cause Blake this much glee in foisting on him. There was that one magician’s assistant that had turned all Fatal Attraction after Dino had tried to break things off like he did with every girl before they got too close. But he didn’t think she would be able to afford a bodyguard. “Do I get a name, or is she going incognito for this job?”
“Sure.” Blake thumbed through the file again then closed it, set it flat on the desk, and looked up at Dino. “Her name is Jan.”
“Jan? Jan who?” Panic clutched at Dino’s chest. There were lots of Jans in the entertainment business. Surely Blake couldn’t mean … he wouldn’t…
Blake slid the file all the way across the desk and sat back in his chair, watching Dino closely. “January Winters.”
Dino felt like someone kicked him in the gut. Maybe there was another January Winters?
He blinked across the desk at Blake, and his heart sank. From the spark of curious sympathy in his best friend’s stare, he knew it wasn’t someone else.
It was her.
His Jan.
The girl who had ripped out his heart.
But Jan wouldn’t lie about having a stalker. At least not the Jan he used to know. And there was nothing Dino hated more than someone who skulked around in the shadows sending threats and notes, watching and waiting to attack. Sure, most of them didn’t escalate, but if there really was a stalker, he would never forgive himself if he didn’t do what he could to put that person away. Another reason, he had to take the job, though the though of taking the job made something tighten deep in the pit of his stomach.
Suddenly, Dino didn’t know what he was more afraid of, chasing down a stalker or seeing Jan Winters again.
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Ms Dobbs NEVER disappoints me — regardless of the genre, always a good read — thank you!!
Deadly Betrayal by L.A. Dobbs is Book three in the Rockford Security Series. I found this book to be pretty run-of-the-mill with an oft-used plot that had no updates or twists. Dino Machiavelli works for the security company run by his friend, Blake Rockford, who about to fire him for losing his temper and hurting someone…again. The solution pops into hand when Blake considers using Dino to guard his new client, January Winters. Turns out all of them went to school together. Dino and Jan were an item. Dino protests, but to no avail. “You want your job, you do this job.” We all know how that will go, don’t we?
I thought the characters were rather flat and the plot is an old one. It was a pleasant enough read but if you have a big TBR pole, skip it and move on.
I received a free ARC of Deadly Betrayal. All opinions expressed herein are solely
my own.
Dino Machiavelli works for his childhood friend, Blake Rockford, at the Rockford Agency, a family owned business. Dino was raised by an abusive father and thinks the way to settle arguments is with his fists. After his latest escapade, Blake has no where to put Dino but on a bodyguard job. Imagine Dino’s surprise when he discovers the person he is protecting is his childhood sweetheart, January Winters. January is now a very successful country singer who seems to have attracted a stalker. L.A. Dobbs keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think you have it figured out, something happens to change your mind. Both Dino and January want what the Rockford family has — a tight knit family of siblings who are truly loved by their parents. After January’s uncle was violently shot and killed, the only family she has is her cousin, Stacy, who cannot seem to stay out of the drugs, gambling and an affiliation with Vinnie Matusa, a known mobster. Who is January’s stalker? Can Dino save her in time?
A very well-written love story. A must read!
I loved this book! As I read my emotions were going all over the place. There were many twists and surprises. Definitely a page turner!!! It was exciting and romantic. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Really, really good!
The story starts with Dino. When there’s no other way, Dino uses his fists against bullies. I don’t approve of violence, but I still immediately liked Dino because his heart’s in the right place.
Then we have Jan. Successful singer. With a stalker. And: she’s Dino’s ex. The one who broke his heart. I really liked Jan. Soft, kind, shy. Not a diva at all.
When Dino becomes Jan’s bodyguard, they have to find a way to deal with each other once again. And Jan isn’t even convinced she needs a bodyguard, as she’s so used to dealing with everything on her own. And Dino doesn’t take it seriously enough at the start as well and allows himself to get distracted.
A very well written book. Dobbs shows some serious skill with words. It was so suspenseful I couldn’t read it just before going to bed, for fear of nightmares; it was that good! I suspected everyone. First I suspected one, then another, then another: meaning I just didn’t know! And it was romantic as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it! And it had a good epilogue where everything is explained well and followed up.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
Dino is “being punished” by his boss and given a bodyguard job. Theses are the jobs he hates most of all. Imagine his surprise, when he finds out the client is his old high school flame, who broke his heart.
January is a country star, that suddenly has a stalker. She likes to handle things on her own. Her manager seem thrilled with the idea of a stalker and thinks of the publicity. However, her manager hire a bodyguard for her. Imagine her chagrin, when it’s her old high school flame, who broke her heart.
When Dino and January get together, there is a lot of hurt, but Dino is trying to be professional but January is hidings things.
This story is filled with misdirection, by the author, and just when you think you know who the culprit is, something else happens, that makes you think it is someone else.
I really love stories like that. I love to be kept guessing, until the end of the story.
This is a real winner.