Protected

by Elisabeth Naughton

Overview

A passion to live for—and to die for—in the RITA-winning series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elisabeth Naughton.

Up-and-coming designer Kelsey McClane is on the cusp of success. Recently divorced, she should be enjoying her newfound freedom and glamorous future. Instead, she’s living in fear of the past. When she returns home to Portland on a press tour, danger creeps closer than ever. As threatening messages from her bitter ex-husband leave her vulnerable, a new man in her life makes her feel protected.

Former Army Ranger turned security professional Hunter O’Donnell is hired to guard Kelsey. When a shattering explosion rocks her world, Kelsey’s ex is the prime suspect, but Hunter speculates there’s more to the situation than Kelsey’s letting on. Intent on keeping her safe, he delves into Kelsey’s past. As the two work together to unmask her stalker’s identity, a fire ignites between them that they both struggle to contain.

While the investigation proceeds, it draws them closer not only to each other but also to a lethal plot that’s been in the works behind their backs. And with each new secret unveiled, it’s not just temptation putting them at risk—it’s a madman who will not stop until Kelsey is dead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781503900783
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	03/20/2018
Series:	Deadly Secrets Series , #3
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	929,688
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Readers Award, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home. Protected is the third book in her Deadly Secrets series, following Gone and Repressed, which was a 2017 RITA winner in romantic suspense.

Learn more about Elisabeth at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/09/2018
Naughton’s third Deadly Secrets contemporary romantic thriller (after Gone) is tense and intense, with a plot that’s complex enough to satisfy suspense fans but never too convoluted. Fashion designer Kelsey McClane has just finalized her divorce. When she starts receiving threats, she assumes they’re from her ex. Her protective older brother, Alec, hires his best friend, former Army Ranger Hunter O’Donnell, as her bodyguard; as Hunter investigates, it becomes clear that whoever’s threatening Kelsey knows more about her past than she herself does. Naturally, as the danger and intrigue mount, Kelsey’s attraction to Hunter increases. Naughton keeps a number of plates spinning; the red herrings are genuinely surprising, and there’s a large enough cast to keep the reader interested in more than just the central romance. Hunter and Kelsey are well-realized, and their mutual and unsuccessful fight against their attraction—driven by Hunter’s friendship with Alec and Kelsey’s desire to think of her employee as off-limits—creates a nice tension. Naughton continues to deliver some of the best work in the genre. Agent: Laura Blake Peterson, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Intense…Naughton keeps a number of plates spinning; the red herrings are genuinely surprising, and there’s a large enough cast to keep the reader interested in more than just the central romance. Hunter and Kelsey are well realized, and their mutual and unsuccessful fight against their attraction…creates a nice tension. Naughton continues to deliver some of the best work in the genre.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher