Closer, an all-new standalone novella in the fan favorite Stage Dive Series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott and 1001 Dark Nights, is available now!

 

 Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

 

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Blurb

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

When a stalker gets too close to plus-size model Mae Cooper, it’s time to hire some muscle.

Enter former military man turned executive protection officer Ziggy Thayer. Having spent years guarding billionaires, royalty, and rock n roll greats, he’s seen it all. From lavish parties through to every kind of excess.

There’s no reason some Instagram stylista should throw him off his game. Even if she does have the most dangerous curves he’s ever seen…

 

 

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Review

4.5 short and fun stars!

This is a super short read that packs a punch. Funny, sexy and romantic with a kickass heroine, loads of chemistry and a quick but fantastically developed love story, I loved this one so much!

This novella is a spin-off from the Stage Dive series. The hero is connected to the band’s security detail, and yes, the entire Stage Dive crew to appear – including a fabulous all-in scene that had me laughing out loud and drowning in nostalgic love. Having said that, this book can also stand alone.

Mae Cooper is a model and small-time celebrity. She lives in the same building as some of the Stage Dive crew, and is good friends with Lena (Jimmy’s wife), and she’s also just become the target of a creepy stalker. Her team bring in Ziggy Thayer, ex-military man-now security expert, to guard her, his presence putting her at ease and making her feel safe, but also riling up her hormones and setting the stage for epic sexual tension and chemistry as they battle their oh-so-obvious attraction in an effort to remain professional.

I didn’t know if it was the immaculate black suit, general air of badassery, or his stone-faced expression. But whatever it was, he needed to cease and desist with the hotness immediately.

I love these characters so much. Mae, in particular, is absolutely fantastic. The story is written entirely from her POV and she is funny, strong and feisty, but with the same vulnerable streak that we all have. She’s matter of fact, relatable and so much fun, and OMG I just adore her! Ziggy seems to be her complete opposite. Silent and serious, he is committed to his job, but he does show signs of sweetness which just melted me. And when things finally shift between them… holy hot damn!

“I’m not here to get paid, Mae. I’m here because of you.”

Things develop quickly – which they kind of have to in a novella – but I thought it moved at a great pace. The build-up is there, the banter, the accidental flirtation and the heated looks, and I was feeling it all with them, and I loved watching it finally culminate into the romance I was hoping for. Not that we see a lot of it (due to the length of the book), but I love that Scott spent time setting the scene and building them up for it, which made their big moment all the more epic.

“Can I kiss you?”
“Sweetness, you can do whatever you want with me.”

The stalker storyline brings some drama, but it doesn’t overshadow the story and is resolved really well, leaving plenty of time for us to focus on the love story, which I loved!

I wish this book was longer than it was, because I could have read SO much more about these two. But what we get is absolutely fantastic, and loved every moment of this one.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Stage Dive

 

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Excerpt

“Your keys and security alarm code please, miss?” he asked, hand held out waiting.

It might have just been me, but we seemed to be standing awfully close together. It almost seemed weirdly intimate. Almost. No, my bad. Ziggy wore his usual professional façade with nary a hint of emotion on display. His gaze was shuttered, his bearing military rigid. It was definitely just me and my overactive imagination. Being vaguely attracted to your bodyguard was kind of a pain in the ass. Not that I couldn’t use the distraction right now.

Ziggy continued to stand there patiently waiting.

“Keys. Right.” I rummaged inside my Balenciaga City bag. Designer goodies were not only a weakness of mine, but a happy perk of being in the industry and achieving some small fame. “Ah, just a minute. They’re in here somewhere.”

I pushed aside my purse, a cashmere shawl, tampons, a candy bar, some loose change, my small Chanel cosmetics case, a power bank, hair ties, pepper spray, a copy of the latest Sarah MacLean book, mints, a spare charging cable for my cell phone, the cell phone itself, Chapstick, Prada sunglasses case, my grandma’s rosary, dental floss, deodorant, a couple of pens, Kleenex, ear buds, water bottle, a USB stick, reusable straw, condoms, nail file, some old receipts, a travel size umbrella, hand sanitizer, lotion, a pair of pearl earrings, tweezers, Advil, a hair band, and some bobby pins.

“Sorry about this,” I murmured. “I know I put them in here when we left.”

He said nothing. A whole lot of nothing.

“Huh.” With a great sense of victory, I held up a bottle of nail polish. “I thought I’d lost this.”

One of his dark brows crept upwards.

“I’ll have you know this color was limited edition. Little Death at Midnight by Oxley. You can’t buy it anymore.”

His lips did not move, but that damn eyebrow arched even higher as he leaned forward a little and took in the contents of my bag. I swear his eyes widened.

“Don’t you judge me. All of these things are necessary for my ongoing existence.”

“Of course they are, miss.” The man was so judging me. Bastard. “You carry a koozie around with you, I see.”

“It pays to be ready to party, Mr. Thayer.”

 

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About the Author

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films.  Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

 

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