Returning home to Grand Junction would not have been Rosie Perkins’ first choice, but with her mother no longer able to take care of herself, it’s the only one she has. As is working the night shift at a local hotel to bring in a much-needed income. Rosie juggles to keep all the pieces of her life together and has no room to add anything more. One morning after a long shift, when she witnesses a … witnesses a hotel guest crash into a dumpster, her careful control starts to unravel.
Security specialist, Jake Hutchinson, has his hands full protecting the arrogant lead actor of a movie being filmed in town. Since the production company and crew arrived at the hotel, the entitled star has been nothing but trouble.
The only thing that can improve his mood is the occasional nightly glimpse of the redheaded housekeeper.
Until he finds himself trapped between desire and duty.
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There is nothing like starting a new Freya Barker book especially one in a new series.
Rosie was such a wonderful character. She is 42 and has to move back home to help care for her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Since her fathers death, 20 years prior their relationship was estranged and her mother has been far from kind to her. She is working the night shift as housekeeper at a local hotel while taking care of her mom and trying to make ends meet.
Rosie witnesses an accident one night while leaving work and through a string of events meets Jake. He is working security for a film crew who is staying at the hotel, and as Rosie and Jake begin to cross paths, upcoming events will change their lives forever.
I just loved Jake in all his “alpha” glory. He served 3 tours in the military and returns home to work for a security firm formed by his friends. What originally starts as a job for Jake turns into so much more.
Jake and Rosie have amazing chemistry and I loved watching how their relationship flourished.
I loved all the secondary characters, especially Rosie’s best friend and co-worker Grant. He has a big personality and had me laughing out loud.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
Another remarkable tale by Freya Barker. She knows how to put together a great story with suspense that holds you hostage and romance that makes you melt!!
This captivating page turner is loaded with suspense and tons of steam! Jake “Mr. Dark and Dangerous,” is working for a security company protecting a famous, but not so well behaved actor. Rosie works nights at a hotel to support herself and a mother with advancing Alzheimer’s. It just so happens to be the same hotel the film crew is staying while filming in town. One night while working, Rosie sees something she shouldn’t. Now Jake has to find out what Rosie knows and what she’s going to do with that information.
Jake soon discovers he wants more than just information from her.
“You are a surprise, a very pleasant one I might add. One I wasn’t looking for, or ever expected, but here you are, I don’t want to let go of you.”
Jake also learns that, quiet, hard-working Rosie is really a feisty passionate soul. One he is eager to explore.
Rosie has been drawn to Jake since her first sighting, but she isn’t about to let herself go down that road again.
“His voice is rough, but quiet, and my mind instantly associates it with a lazy morning in bed.”
Well…maybe she tells herself, I’ll just go in with eyes open and enjoy the ride.
“I willingly let him lift me down from the cab of the truck, only so I can feel that tingle his hands leave behind.”
The two quickly find themselves thoroughly enjoying their connection.
“My heart pounds in my chest and I hear the blood rush in my ears. My skin is charged, hungry for the rasp of his touch.”
Unfortunately the connection between Rosie and the mysterious events increase and now Jake has to decide who he’s really protecting. He becomes increasingly frustrated feeling like he is protecting the wrong people making his job has become upside down in morality. Everything about the initial job has changed and Jake isn’t on board.
While Jake is trying to come to terms with his job, solve the mysterious events, and protect others, he discovers his capacity to love.
“Love is equal parts bliss and torture-it’s passion and fear- and once discovered, it becomes as essential as breathing.”
Now he just has to make sure he is able to put everything to rights so that he can explore that love and live the life he now wants above all else.
WOW! A yummy book!! I love that Freya writes stories about mature adults. Reminding everyone that you don’t have to be twenty to find the one that makes your pulse race.
I read an ARC of this book. My fair and honest review is voluntary.
Rosie is a woman struggling to make ends meet. She is burning the candle at both ends working the overnight shift in housekeeping at a local hotel then going home to care for her mother whose health is rapidly declining thanks to Alzheimers disease. I am not sure which is worse: the moments where her mom has no idea who she is, or the moments of clarity when she cuts Rosie’s self esteem down at every given opportunity. In her mom’s mind, Rosie is the reason her father suffered a fatal massive heart attack at a young age. Of course, that is not true, but years of negative reinforcement took their toll until eventually Rosie moved away only to return out of a sense of duty and loyalty when her neighbor informed her how bad things had become. The one bright spot in her life is her extremely large and fabulous gay bestie Grant who works at the hotel with her- he is such a hoot!
Jake is former military and now works as hired security for Protection and Security Services (PASS). The company’s current assignment protecting the superstar actor filming a movie in the area is not exactly his idea of a good time, but it pays the bills- and the bills of a lot of other people associated with the project- so he puts up with it as best he can. Rosie definitely notices the man who is the definition of tall, dark and dangerous, but with too much on her plate as it is, she simply observes from a safe distance and stores a few mental images for future reference if she ever gets a few minutes of time to herself. She never expects their paths to cross and for that fine male specimen to take notice of her.
Since Jake has an ulterior motive for getting closer to Rosie, things don’t exactly get off on the right foot. Add in that Jake lost his parents at a young age and may be a bit emotionally stunted when it comes to a real relationship, and things are guaranteed to get bumpy. Rosie throws his ordered world and locked down emotions into chaos, so he occasionally gives her a bit of whiplash as he tries to figure out what he wants and how to proceed. Given that she is a bit emotionally closed off herself and she has been primed to believe she is not worth a second look, these two gave me a bit of a headache occasionally. But when it becomes clear that Rosie’s life is in danger, things get a whole lot clearer for Jake- let the fun part commence folks!
Once I discovered her books, Freya Barker quickly became one of my go-to authors. Her stories always deliver on the promise of a wonderful read with action and suspense, mature characters (generally in their 40s or so), humor and heat. Most importantly, the characters are relatable. It feels like they could step off the pages and into my life to blend in with my friends.
Hit and Run is a great beginning to a new series. The plot and writing were everything I have come to expect. The setting may be similar to her other books in terms of location, but all the characters are unrelated to her previous series with the exception of a passing mention of a familiar company. With that being said, I have to admit I didn’t feel quite the same spark and magic that I hoped for with the two main characters. Both of them frustrated me fairly often, but Rosie in particular made me want to bang my head off the table on multiple occasions. Part of the issue here probably lies with me; I had just finished another book immediately before starting this one that left me with a major book hangover. I am thinking that if I had read Hit and Run first or waited longer to read it, I may have had a different reaction- who knows. The secondary characters were a great supporting cast though, and I am looking forward to getting to know more about them in future books in the series.
I love this author’s writing!! She has well developed characters that are really relatable and captivating storylines. The story is full of suspense, drama, steamy scenes, twists and turns and witty banter. I have to say the secondary characters are what make this story golden! I can’t wait for this series to continue!!
4.5 Stars
The start of a new series for Ms. Barker, I am so excited, she does the security and investigation so well in her books. She has me reading along falling in love with her mature relatable characters but also working my butt of to solve the mystery before she reveals the good stuff. That is exactly what I got.
Rosie is a 42 yr old hard worker, trying to find her new normal while she has little time away from work and caring for her ailing mother. She has a great bestie who also works with her at the hotel where she works the night shift. As well as a wonderful woman who stays with her mom while she works. Poor Rosie puts up with a lot from her mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s.
Jake Hutchinson “Hutch” is 38 and has returned after 3 tours in the military. After floating in the wind for a little, trying to dissolve his quilt that his best friend was hurt and he came away unscathed he is brought home by that friend. Now working as part of the team for PASS and generally loving life.
PASS is covering security for a movie production crew and the actors while they film in the local area. They are all staying at the hotel Rosie works for. Hutch has noticed the beautiful red head working about. When his charge finds himself in trouble, Jake is sent to see what if anything Rosie might have seen. The more the story unfolds, the more Jake’s time spend watching over Rosie turns to protecting her than his client.
I love that although Rosie and Jake find a quick comfortable place together, neither of them were looking for more. She was too busy with her mom and he was focused on work, but feelings just sneak up on them. The tentative waters are fun to explore. Can these unexpected feeling lead to more?
What a great group of secondary characters to keep this series moving forward. Super funny gay best friend. Hot alpha security guys with a strong woman to keep them in line. Can’t wait to see who’s story is next.
***Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review ***
Picking up a book written by Freya Barker truly is like stepping straight into a whole new world. I always find myself so wrapped up in the story, the characters and just the entirety of everything she creates with her words that nothing outside of that boom can penetrate my little reading bubble. Hit & Run is no exception to that. I was absolutely riveted not only by Jake and Rosie, but also by side characters like Rosie’s friend Grant. Then there was the mystery and suspense all built around that. Then there was the heartbreaking yet moving relationship Rosie had with her mother and her mother’s failing health. I could go on forever about all the details big and small that come together to create such a captivating story.
I adore how Freya Barker never fails in writing such real, in depth characters. Rosie is a woman who’s life is far from perfect but is not brought down by that life. Does she get tired? Yes. Does she have crap days? Of course. But Rosie does what so many of us do and keeps moving forward through it all. Then there’s Jake. Rough around the edges, but caring and thoughtful, it’s easy to see how Rosie fell for him. Their romance will melt your heart while the suspense surrounding them keeps you hooked even deeper to their story.
I just had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Hit and Run and if I loved the story before, the dual narration from Tanya Eby and Patrick Zeller only added to the experience. Ms. Eby has a fine command of the characters’ emotions and does a great job differentiating between them. Mr. Zeller has a deeply sexy voice and his narration is spot on for Jake and the others in his chapters. Kudos to both for bringing Ms. Barker’s words to life
.Freya Barker is a master at crafting intricate suspense plots with hard-working, mature characters as her heroes and heroines. Hit and Run is the first in a new series for the author and it promises to be as entertaining and intriguing as her past series have been. Jake and Rosie’s story hits all the feels and keeps the reader guessing until the end who the bad guy is.
Rosie’s life hasn’t been easy and her relationship with her mother has always been tense. Leaving Grand Junction to pursue her dream didn’t exactly work out as she planned. Now over forty, she’s back taking care of the mother and working nights to make her life work. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time sets her up as a target and a security risk. The movie cast and crew staying at the hotel seems to add not only to her workload but also risks her survival.
Jake backstory is as painful as Rosie’s: alone at a young age, ex-military, guilt-ridden because of his best friend’s injury while deployed, he’s never been one to put himself out there. Working movie set security with his best friend and adopted family puts him at war with himself, and the powers that be. Does he finish the job he’s hired for or find the truth and protect the little redhead who has caught his eye? The war within himself is as difficult for him as it was in the desert.
Jake and Rosie have a ton of chemistry and the suspense plot in this book is so well played and littered with red herrings, it was a surprise when the culprit is revealed. Ms. Barker is beyond compare when it comes to writing romantic suspense and each book proved that. I can hardly wait until her next book is released.
A thoughly enjoyable book to read. If you have read Freya Barkers book before , then you definately dont want to miss this. Mystery, danger and romance all in one. I just love these books and cant wait for the next one to come along.
Rosie , a cleaner at a hotel, she works nights so she can look after her mother. Until one night when putting out rubbish she is witness to a hit and run. Putting it in the back of her mind she tries to put it all behind her till Jake and the team(who are doing security for an actor) start integrating her to see if she has seen anything. Denying that she has, Jake takes an interest in her, but it soon developes into more when someone tries to murder Rosie.
A must read. So good to read
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Returning home to Grand Junction would not have been Rosie Perkins’ first choice, but with her mother no longer able to take care of herself, it’s the only one she has. As is working the night shift at a local hotel to bring in some much needed income. Rosie juggles to keep all the pieces of her life together and has no room to add anything more. One morning, after a long shift, when she witnesses a hotel guest crash into a dumpster, her careful control starts to unravel.
Security specialist, Jake Hutchinson, has his hands full protecting the arrogant lead actor of a movie being filmed in town. Since the production company and crew arrived at the hotel, the entitled star has been nothing but trouble. The only thing that con improve his mood is the occasional nightly glimpse of the red headed housekeeper. Until he finds himself trapped between desire and duty.
This book was so much fun to read. I really loved this story. This book is about Jack who is part of the security detail for a movie production filming in the town he is from. Rosie is a housekeeper at that hotel the film crew has rented the entire second floor of while they are in town. She works the night shift and of a day takes care of her mom who is no longer able to take care of herself. She is working this job to bring in some much needed money for her and her mom. She sure never expects to witness something that she should never see. This puts her in a tough spot. These two characters when they meet have the most amazing chemistry and connection. This too makes Jake realize that even though he doesn’t really know how relationships work he wants one and he wants it with Rosie. But first he is determined to keep her out of harms way from the danger that seems to be following her around. This is a book that you too are going to love reading. It has the perfect amount of everything that makes a romance book a great one that you will not forget. I love too how the characters in this book are older and how Freya Barker writes characters that you really connect to and fall in love with.
What an incredibly well put together, exciting story !!
Rosie’s life has not been easy. At the age of 42, she returns to her hometown to take care of her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. They manage with her salary and her mothers allowance as long as there are no additional costs. She works at night as a cleaner in a hotel and has few friends except her colleague Grant. A film crew and the accompanying security arrive at the hotel. After a near-death experience (someone tries to drown her in the pool), Jake watches her more. What starts for him as an assignment changes in appreciation and respect for Rosie.
Rosie does not believe that Jake sees her as a person but as an assignment and does not just let him into her heart. Several events cause Jake to realize more and more that he cares about Rosie as a woman and not as a suspect. And Rosie increasingly relies on Jake as a man than as a security guard.
A very well written book where the tension continues for a long time. When it seems as if it has become clear who has foreseen Rosie, it appears that it is not over yet!
In addition, the story about Rosie and Jake that both must learn to trust the other. Rosie has been alone and independent for so long that it cannot be taken for granted that she can give up her independence. Jake who has not had a steady relationship before must also learn a lot. He is certainly open to that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was soooooo excited to see that one of my Unicorn Authors was starting a new series….and Hit&Run DID NOT disappoint in any way! This first book in the PASS series, is classic Freya Barker and it BLEW ME AWAY!!! I loved every single thing about it! Jake and Rosie are right up there with some of my fave characters from Freya! Their story is full of Freya’s signature style…mature couples who have life experience, men who don’t expect the “perfect” body and appreciate the curves (and bumps) of a more “seasoned” woman and he’s VERY protective (read; ALPHA), with strong women, while both are usually dealing with some difficult, REAL and sometimes heart-breaking issues. all wrapped up in suspense and intrigue that has my heart pounding and brain trying to figure it all out. Jake and Rosie are all that and so much more!
Rosie has returned to Grand Junction to look after her Mom, who has Alzheimer’s, even though her mother hasn’t been the most supportive of her in her life (to say the least) She works as a hotel housekeeper on the night shift so she can care for her Mom during the day. Jake is a former military-now-security-specialist (bodygaurd/babysitter) who has been assigned to protect the obnoxious lead actor in a movie being filmed in Grand Junction, said movie crew are staying at the hotel where Rosie works. When Rosie witnesses an accident involving one of the hotel’s guests, it puts her in danger…and puts her on Jake’s radar, big time!!!
Hit&Run has all the heart, humor, suspense, intrigue and heat that I’ve come to expect (and LOVE) in a Freya Barker novel! I can’t recommend this one, or ANY of Ms. Barker’s books, highly enough!
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Favorite Quotes:
Grant in a tent—I would give good money to see that. “Sweetheart,” he starts in complete diva mode, waving his hand up and down the front of his body. “See this six foot six frame of carefully honed muscle, coated in a rich coat of cocoa, polished and waxed to a perfect shine? This here body will not stuff itself in any sleeping bag, it does not fit in any tent, it is not intended for rough terrain, and it does not find the idea of peeing in a bush at all romantic.” He takes a deep drink of his beer, slams his empty bottle on the counter, and belches loudly, only adding to our hilarity, before he finishes. “This is a body designed for feather beds and the soft slide of twelve hundred thread-count, Egyptian cotton sheets. I’ll sleep in the wild when I’m dead.”
“With that scruff, he’s like catnip for soccer moms.” “Are you calling me a soccer mom?” she protests. “No. I’m calling him catnip.”
“I tried calling: no answer. I left a message: nothing. Finally I called your office—” He points a scathing look at Jake. “And threatened whoever was unfortunate enough to answer the phone, that I would sit on them, hold them down, and roll rubber bands through their chest hair until they’re as smooth as a baby’s butt— to get this damn address.”
For years I’d harbored the dream of a family, but eventually simply gave up even hoping. My fortieth birthday had been a come -to-Jesus moment when I felt I passed that invisible barrier between; it could still happen, and your ovaries now grow dust bunnies.
My Review:
With every new book she writes, I adore Freya Barker just a little more. She gives us everyday hard-working and well-seasoned heroes and heroines who have or are struggling with real-life issues and doing their best at jobs they may not enjoy but need to hold on to. Most of us have been there. And quite often doing those thankless jobs conflict with doing the right thing, which causes additional stress and dissatisfaction, lots of us have been there too.
Hit&Run broke ground for an action-packed new series with several busy, realistic, and compelling storylines and a full slate of uniquely interesting, likable, and relatable characters who labor away at relatively common jobs and are doing so with healthy servings of dignity as well as a side order of irreverent humor. And of course, I must not forget to mention the supportive and sensual romance that blossoms amid of all this intriguing peril and chaos.
All of Ms. Barker’s thoughtfully written books that I have read have been remarkably self-contained standalone stories that seamlessly interconnect with the others in their series. I am already eager for the next installment.
Do you love a good bodyguard romance? If you do then you don’t want to miss Rosie and Jake’s book this is a really great well-written book that sucked me in and kept me hooked right until the very end I loved these two they are great characters with lots of chemistry I would recommend this book.
Hit & Run is the first title in Freya Barker’s PASS series. If you love a slow burn romance full of intrigue, suspense and twists and turns this might just be the series for you.
Rose and Jake the lead characters are not only realistic and fallible, but also quite relatable. They both have pasts that they would rather forget, and it’s left them with their fair share of baggage.
Rosie has a lot on her plate. She’s feisty, strong, independent and hard working, but suffers from her fair share of insecurities. Caring for her mother, and working as a house keeper at a hotel, she is a witness to a crime that puts her life in danger.
Jake is a veteran, working for a private security firm owned by two of his closest friends. He’s a protective alpha, who can be a bit brash at times, but is also quite caring and compassionate.
The secondary characters piqued my interest, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future PASS titles.
This was a interesting story. From trying to guess whose doing it all to Rosie’s experience caring for her mum.
This kept me guessing about what would happen next. Also I loved the interaction between the characters.
Freya Barker did amazingly well with description of this story.
Another fabulous story from Ms. Barker. I love her home-spun tales of the lives of people who may not be perfect in everyone’s eye, but who are perfect to the people they love. This one has a bit of a mystery to it and honestly I was a bit surprised. I think we need more mature couples in books to curl up to and read.
I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.
Rosie had to return home when she found out her mother’s health took a rapid decline. Now, she works nights, and takes care of her mother during the day. It’s not the life she thought she would have at over forty but she is trying her best. When she ends up witnessing something, that to be honest she had no clue she witnessed, she ends up meeting Jake, one of the security specialist that work for the stars that have overtaken the town for a movie. Now, Jake is between a rock and a hard place, do his job or act on his interest in Rosie, someone that could be the “bad guy” in the situation they have all found themselves in.
This is not my first Freya Barker read, and it will definitely not be my last. I do find that this was not as amazing as her other stories, I’m not sure what was different in this story. This is still entertaining, full of drama, violence, spicy naughty moments, and fun characters, but it all just added up to this being a good book, and not a great one that we normally get. I give this 4 stars.
Her life along with the idea of having one went up in smoke when she got the call about her mother. Now she’s become her caregiver and working nights as a maid. She had no idea a movie crew staying in the hotel she works in would change her life even more. It was just another security job but it wasn’t going to be easy, more like babysitting a petulant child. Rosie knocks him completely out of kelter and turns his life around for the good as thoughts of her consume him. The heat is palpable and the drama and Grant keep you turning the pages for more between totally inappropriate laughter. Great suspense and turns that you wont see coming make this a great read with some interesting characters for a great series.
Rosie sees a car hit a dumpster and recklessly drive to the hotel parking lot, almost getting hit herself when she takes out the trash at the end of her shift. A film crew has been filming in the area and staying at the hotel she works at. It just so happens that the one who almost hit her is the star of the film. Rosie keeps everything to herself and doesn’t say a word, not even when it is discovered a homeless man was hit. The security detail hired by the movie company finds the damage on the stars car and that he is drunk with no recollection of what happens. Jake is sent to see if any of the staff saw what happened t the provide damage control. He doesnt expect Rosie and the two soon hit it off. This novel is suspenseful, you are kept in the dark throughout the novel as crazy things are happening and Rosie is threatened numerous times. Rosie has many pitfalls she has to overcome. I loved this book and cannot wait for the rest of tje books in the series. HEA
The audio version just added a better perspective with the voices.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Freya Barker packs a serious combination of suspense, heat and laugh out loud antics in this new series. Mature characters, complex storyline and lovable characters round out the first installment of the PASS series.
When Hollywood invades Grand Junction, CO the PASS security team was on it. Providing all the security to the chaos on all the movie locations and hotel.
Rosie was just doing her job. Working the Night shift at the local hotel “lucky” enough to house the star of the movie and its crew. What was unlucky was what she witnessed. Like she didn’t have enough on her plate providing care to her mother who has Alzheimers. She DID NOT need another burden on her soul.
Jake is a loner. Doing the job he was hired to do. He was in no way looking for love. But there was something about the quiet red head that intrigued him.
When Rosie is thrust in the middle and possibly the only witness to a horrible crime…Jake is torn. Does he do job he was hired to do or protect the women he’s falling for?
Nobody…..I mean NOBODY…..writes mature romantic suspense like Ms. Barker. Prepare to be wowed. Hit & Run checked every box for me.