Pages: 300
Series: Saints Protection and Investigation #11
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC
Also in this series: Serial Love
Also by this author: Serial Love, Finding Peace, Thin Ice, Picking Up the Pieces, Zander, Sunset Kiss
Goodreads
Saints Protection & Investigation A private investigation business, pulling together men from the CIA, FBI, ATF, DEA, Border Patrol, SEALs, and police, devoted to the missions that no one else wanted or could solve.
Nick Stone - a stoic, dedicated FBI agent. His life was neat and orderly, just the way he liked it. Bayley Hanssen - a vivacious romance novelist and bookstore owner, thrived on chaos.
When the two collided when he was on a stakeout, she turned his life upside down. Disenchanted with the political posturing of his superiors, the lure of working for the Saints became a reality, as he discovered life with the fun-loving Bayley was just what he needed.
When human traffickers struck close to home, Nick and the Saints fought to keep Bayley safe.
****Due to scenes of an explicit sexual nature and language that some consider crude, please be warned - for 18+ only! If you do not like alphas with heart who fall instantly in love with strong female characters while dealing with real life issues...again be warned!!*****
Celebrating Love is the story of Bayley, a bookstore owner/author and Nick, an FBI agent who has become jaded with his job. They meet in a nightclub; Nick is there on a stakeout and Bayley is there to gather info to use in her next book. Bayley walks right up to him and chats him up. Nick is a bit stunned and doesn’t really say much. Then they both leave and go their separate ways…without even exchanging names!
Little did they know someone was kidnapped from the club while they were there. Nick is assigned the case and he knows Bayley had pictures of the club that might be helpful. He manages to track her down. He isn’t the only one to track her down though. The kidnapper noticed right away that Bayley was snapping lots of pictures and he pegged Nick as a cop or a fed right away. He is determined to find out what Bayley knows. His family business depends on it.
I loved Bayley! She is confident, self reliant, and driven. Her dream job is a writer but since it doesn’t pay much, she opened a bookstore/coffee shop that has all kinds of extras for other aspiring writers. Ingenious and money making, her career allows her to write and help others write as well. She has a very positive, hopeful outlook on life. She wants to make everyone around her better in some way. She wants to ease pain, support dreams, and empower happiness! Honestly, she is a character I would want as a friend. Bayley is that friend who will distract you when you need a distraction, cheer you up when you are sad, and push you to do things you are afraid to do on your own! Who wouldn’t want a friend like that?
Nick is jaded. He isn’t thrilled with his job any more. It just doesn’t hold that excitement and thrill that it used to. He is slightly envious of the Saints Protection agency because of their ability to get things done without the red tape. He is also intrigued by Bayley right off the bat. She is not just beautiful but smart and funny as well. So, he jumps at the chance to take the case that would bring her back into his life, even if its temporary. Nick experiences a dynamic life change during the course of the book and it makes for a deep character who draws you into the story. These types of “who am I” questions are common in YA/NA books, but reading it in a contemporary book with an older character is really powerful. Adults have these types of identity crisis as well! I adored Nick’s Uncle Bennie as well. He is such a gruff old man with a huge heart for Nick.
The suspense is not really the focus of the story in my opinion. You know who the bad guys are. You aren’t sure exactly what they have planned or what they will do which provides some mystery. However, you know Nick and the Saints will be there every step of the way, so as a reader, you are more focused on the development of Bayley and Nick both in their relationship together and as individuals. Like another of my favorite authors, Jordan writes great characters who have endearing traits that make you wish you knew them in real life!
If you like your romance to have enjoyable characters, a touch of suspense, and great supporting characters, Celebrating Love (and the entire Saints series) is a great pick!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: FBI, stalker
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Books by Susan Stoker, Cynthia Eden, Alexandra Ivy…then you will probably like Celebrating Love!
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