Bookstore owner Kerry Emerson finally seems to be back in control of her life. Her failure of a marriage firmly in her rearview mirror and her recent business expansion a success, she is in charge of her own future. One that is looking better than ever. The sight of the tall man, with the familiar salt and pepper goatee pushing open the door of her store, sets her hair on end. He doesn’t exactly … exactly bring good memories.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Damian Gomez is just looking for a decent cup of coffee when he walks into the small store offering books and brew. The pretty, feisty woman behind the counter is an unexpected surprise. Not at all unpleasant, especially since her finger that used to hold a wedding ring is now bare.
Her wild hair, boho style and silvery grey eyes suddenly hold a lot of promise.
But when his office is pulled into an international investigation into the trafficking of rare books and manuscripts, the straight-laced SAC realizes he has to keep his distance from the woman who might well be involved.
Easier said than done, since fate seems determined to throw them together.
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Oh, I really loved Damian and Kerry and all the fantastic supporting characters contained in Freda Barker’s romantic suspense story. The characters are so well written, with depth and realistic hopes, dreams, and fears. It’s a great suspenseful read, filled with action, angst, heartbreaking scenes, and lots of passion. It lovely to find a story where you can really connect with the main characters, where you feel like you’ve known them forever and what the very best for them in every way. I especially loved reading and experiencing Damian’s fall for Kerry, with all of his work hangups, bachelor issues, and deeply connected family fun!! One of the great things about Freya’s books and characters are they cross-over from previous series, so you get to experience them in new settings and after a few years of maturity and living life to the fullest and extreme. I loved catching up with Damian, especially after having met him previously in Slim to None (Cedar Tree series)….
New author for me. Read three of her books already including this one. Love the characters and how they spill into each book. Highly recommend if you love Alpha males and strong women.
All I can say is, “WOW!!!” Keeping 6 is the first book I’ve read by Freya. This book kept me continuously at the edge of my seat and guessing. I loved ALL the characters especially Damian & Kerry. It was a page turner to say the least. It was full of Suspense and Mystery. There wasn’t anyway I could of ever guessed how the book would end. The entire time I was curious if the missing package would ever pop up. When the box did show I never guessed who would make an attempt at receiving it. I always think its awesome reading a book when one of the main characters is a reader or has some connection to books. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. I have a feeling that in one the books there will be one with Jasp & Bella.
I have been patiently waiting for Damian’s turn in the spotlight for a while now, and I love that he and Kerry are the ones who end up together! Kerry was first introduced in Like Arrows as Kimeo’s best friend, but this story takes place quite some time after that book so Kerry finds herself in a much better place in life as Keeping 6 opens… or does she?
After years of dealing with a controlling husband, she has finally broken free and divorced the jerk. She has been able to open a second book store and is finding her way on her own thanks to the freedom she fought hard to win. Yet she still feels a bit lost and lonely; she thought that once she had her independence and a successful business it would be all she needed to make her happy, but something is missing.
When Damian Gomez walks into her coffee shop, it irks her that the sexy FBI agent doesn’t immediately remember her and she blasts him with all the attitude she can muster. Too bad he only finds that more of a turn on, and now that he knows the sexy Kerry is a free woman it’s game on! They don’t exactly have an easy road to happiness though. Kerry has unwittingly found herself in the crosshairs of some very bad people thanks to a post office mix up, but she doesn’t want to believe she is in danger. When Damian’s protective instincts kick into high gear, brace for the drama folks!
I really liked Damian! He has alpha traits but isn’t over the top, he is a genuinely good guy but doesn’t put up with any crap, and he loves his family wholeheartedly despite the fact they can be a bit overwhelming! Kerry on the other hand… well to be honest I almost put the book down at one point because of my frustration with her. She doesn’t make a good first impression unfortunately as she throws a ridiculous amount of attitude at Damian for no good reason. She can be cold, rude and stubborn, and she doesn’t like to admit when she is wrong. I found myself thinking “why is he putting up with this” more than a few times along the way, but I knew from past experience in Like Arrows that she can also be fiercely loyal and a much more relaxed, likable individual once she gets past her fear of being hurt again. She does eventually redeem herself a bit, but I can’t deny that if I ranked this author’s heroines from “favorite” to “I’ll pass”, Kerry would find herself at the bottom of the list.
With that being said, I still think that Keeping 6 is great start to a new series and I am looking forward to more Rock Point books in the future! There are plenty of wonderful supporting characters just waiting for their chance to find their own HEA, and I am rooting for Damian’s sister Bella after meeting her in this story and finding out a little bit about her recent dating failure. Kerry’s assistant and friend Mayra is another intriguing option too after her experiences in this story; there is plenty of potential for an emotional and heartwarming journey in her future too I believe! Now I will sit back to impatiently wait to see whose story is next…
Well, here we are, embarking on another one of our journeys into one of Freya Barker’s series. Keeping 6 is the first book in her brand new Rock Point series and it blew me away. The heat, the suspense, the love, the laughs – where does it all come from? I want to live in her brain, just for a day.
Damian Gomez is our hero and wow, what a hero! We’ve met him before in several of her previous books and I’ll admit, I never really liked him. He seemed like an uptight, stick up his you know what, pencil pusher. But Freya really made him come alive in this book. We got to know him so much better and slowly but surely I fell for him, just like every single one of her other male characters. I was really glad she let us see him with his co-workers, his family, and especially with the woman in his life.
Kerry Emerson, like Damian, we had met in previous books but circumstances have changed for our heroine. She’s left things behind, moved forward, and wasn’t looking for Damian to enter her life or to have such a profound effect on it. But we’re so glad they came together and we had a front row ticket to it, thanks to Freya.
Freya has such an unique writing talent. Her heroes are alpha, yes, but not over the top, like so many authors try to make theirs. And her heroines are no simpering, prissy, whiny debutantes. They’re strong women, ones who WANT a man but know they don’t NEED one. And they’re real women, they aren’t perfect dolls, they have cellulite, they have bellies, they have challenges in their lives, just like all of us. Thank you for opening this door for us, Freya. I look forward to our trips into your new world, the Rock Point series.
This is the first book in the Rock Point series and is funny, suspenseful, action packed and a great start of this series. Featured are hunky, bossy and all alpha male FBI Special Agent Damian Gomez and a beautiful, independent and head strong book owner named Kerry. These two met two years ago when she was still married to a loser and kidnapped. Damian rescued her forgot her name but remembered her beautiful gray eyes. When he walks in to a coffee shop/book store and encounters her again she is a different woman and makes all of his body parts stand up and take notice. When rare first editions are stolen and the latest batch are reportedly headed their way, Interpol, local PD, FBI, and Kerry are involved. She is in danger and Damian wants to keep her safe but these two butt heads quite often. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading the next in this series.
This was my first book by this author in preparation of attending the Indies Invade Philly book signing event. I used a read and listen approach to this book, listening to the first 23 chapters on audible plus and reading the last 14 chapters through kindle unlimited. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Damian is an FBI agent assigned at the field office in Durango, Colorado. Kerry is a book store owner who has been finding her independence and success after her marriage ended. At first they do not get along. In addition to the sparks that fly with them immediately, they share a momentary history from a couple of years ago. In the prologue we learn that Damian is part of the team that rescued Kerry from a kidnapping two years ago. As I got into the first chapters of the book, the recollection of the events does not match the events in the prologue. That is the only somewhat negative thing I can say about the book at all.
I loved the chemistry and heat between the characters. I love the suspense plot as Damian works the case regarding some stolen valuable books. Kerry ends up in trouble time and again. (Readers who do not care for the damsel in distress plot may want to pass.) I loved the setting of Durango. I have lived in Durango over two years at this point and it is obvious that the author has knowledge of the area. Restaurants, geography, and local descriptions are accurate and contain insider knowledge. (CJ’s Diner is real and yes, the food is amazing.) The relationships between the team members on the case is interesting and kept deliberately ambiguous as the team tries to find the insider working on the wrong side of the law. The book is well-written, the characters are fully developed, flawed, and feel realistic. I adored the trust that forms between Damian and Kerry along the way. It was beautiful to read.
I have only listened to a few audiobooks, but I found this one to be engaging and easy to listen to. I loved the dual narration and felt like they really owned the voices of the characters. It made my day fly by as I listened while rearranging my home office space.
This was a very enjoyable read/listen and I will be reading more of this series and author in the future.
My first Freya Barker read but I’ll be diving into many more. I loved sassy Kerry and alpha Damian’s chemistry from the beginning. Threaded throughout the super sexy times and the fun family dynamics and the love winding it’s way through like the river that connects Kerry and Damian, is a suspenseful mystery that threatens to take them all down. A surprise reveal brought me to a satisfying end.
I picked up this book because of the narration, because this is a new to me author.
I am so glad I did I was sucked into the story. Kerry stumbles along the way but she comes out with minor bruising of the heart. But what I love is the second half is worth the first have of her struggles.
The suspense and mystery that this book has keep me glued to my headset.
Damian is kinda awesome and when we meet his family we understand why he is the way he is. His family is a big part of the story and how not only they help Kerry but you see Damian in another light as well.
I can honestly say that I am going to devour this series whole. On to the next.
This is my first introduction to Freya Barker, but it won’t be my last. For readers who love a good romantic suspense that’s heavier on the romance than on the tedium of investigation, this is a really great blend. The story keeps moving, with solid pacing and an under pressure romance that’s still perfectly believable. Two thumbs up. And the audio narration was really well done.
This was the first book I have read by Freya Barker and I was not disappointed. I am now a fan. Keeping 6 is an exciting, intriguing, thrilling, and a definite page turner. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Kerry and Damian went through so much and their journey was highly suspenseful but the bond, connection, and chemistry was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed every single mysterious second of this book.
He is the special agent in charge in the FBI office she is a bookstore owner he has to protect her for his case which has lots of exciting action he rescues her they have sizzling romance and a wonderful happy ending
Wonderful characters about real men a woman, with flaws, experience and honesty. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about people my own age. I can’t gret enough of Freya .
Great mystery. Great characters. I really enjoyed this book and will check the rest in the series.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. The romance between the h/h progressed nicely and it felt as though the two were together long enough to have a believable relationship. I thought the story took a bit longer than it needed to in order to reach a conclusion. It was still a good story, though, with an interesting twist at the end.
I have read most of the books in this series and somehow seem to have missed this once.
Awesome to see the usually unflappable SAIC Damian Gonzalez vulnerable and smitten.
Steamy, sweet and sexy KU read!
Main couple: Book store Owner, Kerry Emerson and FBI agent, Damian Gomez. Older couple. Sort of an enemies to lover trope.
Kerry is a no-nonsense and independent woman. She’s 2 years fresh off a bad marriage and has learned that she can only depend on herself. She’s got a bit of a chip on her shoulders when her and Damian meet again 2 years later but some of the was due to their previous encounter.
Damian is a bit of a player. His job is more important than a relationship but it’s not in your face in this book. He meets up with Kerry and while it is rocky at first, he’s recognizes something special in her.
These two met 2 years prior when Damian is one of the agents that rescued Kerry from a kidnapping. While he recognized his attraction at the time, she was married and off limits. This has him focusing more on his job than her as a victim. When he walks into her book store 2 years later, Kerry is a little less inviting in her greeting due to that experience.
As you can see, this meant for a rocky beginning for this main couple. What I liked was that it was enough to be believable but not over the top to make it annoying. I enjoy reading about older couples, 40’s in this case, due to more mature issues in a storyline and not unnecessary drama.
The new case that has these two reconnecting was interesting and made for an easy read. I also liked the addition of Damian’s family. They brought entertainment to this couples lives as Kerry is once again in danger. Overall, a really good read.
Keeping 6 by Freya Barker is the first book in her Rock Point/La Plata County FBI series. I enjoyed this book with the intrigue of who the mysterious rare manuscript thief is which will keep you guessing til the big reveal. But it’s Mama Gomez and all of Damien’s sister’s who I loved the most.
Kerry Emerson has now expanded her book stores to two and loves her customers but when Damien Gomez comes in for coffee one morning little does she know that she’ll soon be a part of his Trafficking of rare books case. There will be several accidents that will leave Kerry staying under custody of Damien plus a break in at Kerry’s Korner will it finally lead to a possible break in the case? Can Kerry and Damien finally take the attraction for each other to the next level? Is there a possible leak within the FBI and it’s international partners that will lead to the missing box of rare books?
Damien Gomez has worked and followed the clues of trafficking of rare books to a local bookstore but how does the beautiful owner fit into the case? He’s met her years ago after she was kidnapped and rescued by his FBI agents. Now she’s opened a bookstore/coffee shop near his office and new clues to his case point to her store being a part of his case. But several accidents has him offering to protect Kerry at his home while they search for the missing case of books that she just won in the online auction. First he needs to join forces with Keith Blackstock a local detective while they chase the thief and not killer who wants to sell those books to the highest bidder.
This was such an amazing book that really captured my attention and that I fell in love with as the story progressed. I highly recommend that you check it out yourself.
What a super start to a new series. This is another great read from Freya it has a well-written storyline that pulls you in and keeps you interested right until the very end. I really liked Damien and Kerry they were very real likable characters and were just perfect for each other. I just loved how protective he was of her but most of all I loved the banter between them. A super read I enjoyed it.