I love a good action/ drama novel.  I wasn't a fan of Renee's previous book for that reason but she's one me over with this one. It's a bit predictable with the romance but other wise I can't fault it.

3.5 Stars. Now that my beloved Red Sox won the World Series, I can finally get back to reading instead of watching too much TV. This book was next on my read list because I was hoping to get a good romance with some excitement. I thought the romance was decent but the stalker storyline didn’t really come together liked I had hoped. This is Roman’s second book and it is better than her first, but there are still a few bumps.

The story is about a bodyguard Sean that falls for the author she is guarding. Jade is a lesfic author whose books were lucky enough to gain mainstream attention. When she had a scare with protestors against the LGBTQ community, Jade felt she had no other choice but to hire protection. Sean is an ex Secret Service agent and the perfect woman for the job. When a possible stalker starts sending Jade threatening messages, Sean must do everything she can to keep her safe.

One of my issues with the book is sometimes the pace was too slow moving. I found the beginning of the book especially to be slow which made it hard to really get into the story. The book starts and Sean is already Jade’s bodyguard. I don’t really agree with this choice. I think reading what happened to Jade to scare her into getting a bodyguard, maybe even Sean in the Secret Service for a chapter or two, then having the characters meet for the first time, all would have added some great scenes to really pull you into the book. Instead the book started very slow with a lot of inner thoughts about the two characters.

Once the possible stalker storyline came in the book did pick-up some, however I never felt any of that real edge of your seat excitement I was hoping for. As others have mentioned the stalker part did seem more of an afterthought compared to the romance.

The romance was pretty good. I don’t have many complaints except again about the slow pace in the beginning. Once there was actually potential for the couple that book felt much better. The sex scenes were not fantastic but they were solid so no real complaints there either.

I’d say this was a slightly above average read. The book is not going to wow you, but the romance is pretty good. I felt it was a small but noticeable improvement from her last book and I am hoping Roman’s next book will keep going in the right direction.

The tantalizing theme of falling for your bodyguard lured me in immediately to Stroke of Fate. What won me over was the two likable yet human characters of Jade and Sean. The character development for each was in depth and layered, maybe on the touch side of repetitious but satisfying nonetheless. Their romance was slow build and burned hotly at times as their attraction went unrequited for many pages as they sorted through the threat of a dangerous stalker hell bent on Jade’s demise. When they finally do give in it’s spectacular and insanely intense. The suspense of the stalker and the romance blends together seamlessly along with a side of a sweet and cleverly written friendship that adds another layer to their journey. The stalker plot is creepy but not too scary and had twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. It was fun watching these two emotionally walled off and cautious women fall for each other despite their unusual circumstances.

This book is about the relationship between a writer and her bodyguard. Jade is an author of lesbian themed books, I don't remember if they are police or mystery labeled because there is not important at the end, only that their female rols are lesbians, which entails that she has some agresive haters, male and female, stalking her with phone calls and mail. Hence the necessity for a bodyguard, and Sean is so and some more.  

Sean is an ex Secret Service agent and is secretly in love with Jade, but her stoicity and training allows her to maintain this fact very well hid. Jade is a little bit annoyed by the necessity of a bodyguard, invading her space and time, but the escalation of stalking and the change in form and animosity, convinces her in the benefits of having a protector.

It's no a bad thing that Sean appears to be a goddess and Jade is a bit like a model too. Because they start having benefits in their relationship, a lot. There are some hot sex scenes, but too short and quick in my opinion, the romantic part is over and above all the rest

And the mystery part is not very well resolved, but after all is only a means to the main fact, that is the romance. 

I have enjoyed reading it, it's an entertaining, thrilling at some moments and easy to read. It's a book that I recommend.

Sean was an former Secret Service agent and Jade, who sold her deceased father’s business for two billion dollars, started to write books to fulfill her life long passion. This passion soon garnered her much success along with avid fans and a few crazed ones who behaved in a threatening and obsessive manner. Jade’s publicist, Chad, told her to hire a bodyguard. Sean appeared to be perfect for the bodyguard/assistant job until she found herself falling for Jade; the affection became mutual. This caused a problem. Sean needed to focus on her job and couldn’t compromise this focus with her feelings for Jade. This was basically the problem the women faced throughout the book. It went back and forth…to be together or not to be together. 

The storyline had tremendous potential, but the fluctuating relationship status was overplayed. The stalker situation appeared to be, for the most part, a side note appearing here and there. If you are not really concerned about the mystery part of this story, then you’ll be entertained.

A lesbian author , a sexy bodyguard , and a religious fanatic stalker always with make for a interesting read. Will the author and bodyguard fall in love? Why is the stalker so focused on the author? What will happen to all of them at the end? Stroke Of Fate was a good book.

Sean Moore is employed as Jade Rivers’ bodyguard after Jade was attacked at one of her publicity events. Jade is a best-selling lesbian author who has broken into the mainstream and ruffled a number of homophobic feathers. Sean prides herself on doing her job to the best of her ability and is terrified that her attraction to Jade will compromise her focus. A breach of security has all the markers of a stalker and Sean has her work cut out for her protecting a stubborn client.

I found myself getting very impatient in the first third of this novel. Written from alternating third person, Jade and Sean seemed to be longing for each other with lots of inner monologuing but not much else going on. A good sexual tension is built up but it went on a little long for me. The stalker is pretty low-key for most of the book and the development of the relationship is the more dominant theme.

Sean fits the former-Secret-Service-agent/bodyguard stereotype as the strong, observant and silent type with a sexy. androgynous allure. Jade is the beautiful, talented, famous author who is humble and treats everyone with equal respect. It was a good read while I was reading it but there wasn’t much in it to mark it as out of the ordinary or particularly memorable. Although, there are some pretty steamy scenes to reward the wait. 

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ok this was to me more of will they or won't they get together.

Jade Rivers is a writer as her books get more recognition she couldn't be happier. But when a religious fanatic becomes a stalker she hires a bodyguard.

Sean Moore was a agent for the secret service she left when one day on the job something happen that made her believe the values she carried doesn't mean a thing in the political world so she left and took a job as a private bodyguard. 

As Jade and Sean get more comfortable together they start to feel more for each other but they both have baggage that has them hesitant to get involve.

Even though they have the stalker element in the book it didn't seem all that serious until close toward the end it more about whether they act on their feelings. 

Overall it was good read.