A Fallen Star…
A hot-mess of controversy and scandal, Dakota Breeze—tarnished pop star of fading fame and fortune—accepts a friend’s offer, taking refuge in a small Midwestern town in order to rehearse her comeback concert in secret. Starstruck is the perfect venue however rehearsals are marred by Dakota’s reluctance to resurrect her former bad-girl persona and complicated by an anonymous death threat.
A Haunted Bodyguard…
Enlisted by a mutual friend, Wyatt MacDermott—a seasoned protection specialist—agrees to act as Dakota’s temporary bodyguard. Forced to set aside a personal grudge in order to fulfill his duties, Mac’s stunned by his fierce and instant attraction to the reckless celebrity he’s long associated with his greatest regret.
Obsessed with conflicting needs and united passion, Dakota and Wyatt spin out of control, indulging in a whirlwind affair and tempting an avenger’s wrath.
Dakota palmed her aching chest, fought for an even breath as Mac steered the sedan through the gates to her temporary residence. She hadn’t meant to spew or to beg. She didn’t want his pity.
But she did want him.
For all his indifference, he made her feel safe. At this point she’d welcome anything, even the company of Ice Man, to minimize her stress. Stress messed with her concentration and judgment, undermining her on-stage performances and her pursuit of private serenity.
Feeling exposed and raw, Dakota pushed her agenda. “So are you with me or not?”
He didn’t respond. Of course, he didn’t respond. The man was a freaking robot.
The car stopped just shy of the house and, with a white-knuckled hold on her purse, Dakota pushed open her door. Her shoulder sang with the effort, but she didn’t groan or complain or even wince. Mac was right. She was lucky to be alive.
She blocked his cold rejection from her mind, focused on Maggie. She needed to check on her ailing assistant and she didn’t want to compound matters by looking like a frazzled mess.
A startled scream stuck in her throat as her new bodyguard backed her against the car.
“One,” he said, spearing her with steely grey eyes, “You don’t move without telling me first. Two: As soon as we get in the house, I want that letter. Three: I say jump, you jump. I’m talking unflinching trust, Dakota.”
It was the most he’d said to her since they’d met and even though he’d done nothing but issue arrogant orders, a strange sense of calm snaked through her tense being. Pinned between the tank of a car and her broad-shouldered bodyguard, Dakota held his gaze and raised onto her toes, her mouth a breath away from his own. “For me to jump, MacDermott, I need to know something other than ice flows through your veins.”
And with that she indulged in one last impulsive act. She pressed her lips to his, anticipating rejection.
Anticipating Antarctica.
Instead, he blew her away, melting her bones with a deep, searing kiss. His touch, his taste, his passion dazed her far more than any spinning car. Who could think straight with his strong hands exploring her curves? With his massive erection raging between them?
Dakota gave over to the intensity, the wonder, the mind-blowing melding that obliterated morality. Just shy of her jumping his freaking bones, Mac cooled her jets by backing away.
“Now you know,” he said as he reverted to professional indifference. “And if you’re smart, you’ll leave it at that.”
About the Author:
Storytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Dubbed “fun and sexy” by Publisher’s Weekly, Beth specializes in contemporary, historical, steampunk, and paranormal romantic fiction.
Beth lives in NJ with her husband, two zany dogs, and a crazy cat. A retired professional performer, Beth now pours her artistic passion into her writing. To learn more about her colorful life, visit her website at www.bethciotta.com
Jennifer’s Review of Obsessed
Review (4 Stars): I loved Obsessed and was sad that this story wasn’t longer. The chemistry between Dakota and Mac was so hot that smoke was coming of the pages from these two. Mac was so stoic and distant when he first met Dakota because he blamed her for what had happened to his sister. After spending time with her, he couldn’t fight the attraction that he felt for her and Dakota felt the same way about him.
I enjoyed the mystery of discovering the identity of the person that was stalking Dakota and trying to prevent her from returning to the stage which added just the right amount of suspense to this sexy romance. I’m a big fan of Ms Ciotta’s cupcake series and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next two books in the Starstruck series. Obsessed is a hot sexy thrill-ride and I have a feeling that I will revisit this story in the future.
Jennifer, thank you for the lovely feature and the wonderful review! I’ll be smiling all day. 🙂
Thank you for hosting OBSESSED!!