Lies We Keep

Jezebel Tate is a romance writer whose meteoric debut shot her to fame, but her success had some major downsides. One is the effects on her dating life, with men having unrealistic expectations of her based on her profession. The other is the abundance of "fans" who have no boundaries; one stalker has gone as far as sending disturbing letters and illustrations. Concerns for her safety lead to the hiring of James Blakely, a scorchingly hot former marine with expertise in just about every area Jez could hope for (including those of the intimate variety). Jez knows that her new bodyguard is the perfect man to slake her thirst, but James has his walls up for private and professional reasons. As the pair struggle to balance work with crushing sexual tension, Jez's stalker ramps up the threats, jeopardizing her safety and those she holds dear. Jezebel is a sharp, charismatic protagonist, an "alpha female" who chases what she wants while carrying the battle scars of great tragedy. Stoic James proves to be running from similar ghosts. Their burgeoning chemistry crackles, leaving readers breathless from the couple's first encounter. Though the bodyguard premise is familiar, Rose (Truth We Bear) infuses the dynamic with fresh snark and a heroine who refuses the characterization of "damsel in distress."