Memories Of You
(A Stark Security Novella)
by J. Kenner
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner comes a new story in her Stark Security series…
Hollywood consultant Renly Cooper is fed up with relationships. His recent breakup with a leading lady played out across the tabloids, and the former Navy Seal is more than ready to focus on his new position as an agent at the elite Stark Security agency. He’s expecting international stakes. Instead, his first assignment is to protect one of Damien Stark’s friends from a stalker. A woman who, to his delight, turns out to be one of his closest childhood friends.
After a foray into online dating puts tech genius Abby Jones in danger, she needs a bodyguard, and her business partner, Nikki Fairchild Stark, enlists help from Stark Security. When the assigned agent turns out to be her best friend from junior high—and her first crush—she’s thrilled to discover he’s even more delicious now. She hopes one sexy night can turn into more, but Renly is firmly in the friends-with-benefits camp.
As the threat to Abby increases, she tries to keep her growing feelings for Renly at bay. But as the sparks between them burn even hotter, can they go from friends to lovers when the first order of business is simply to keep Abby alive?
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An Exclusive Interview With J. Kenner:
~ with Jillian Stein of Read Love Blog
I lalaloved Abby and Renly and their story! How did you choose them for this novella?
YAY! I’m so glad you loved their story! I do, too! As for how, I’ve been wanting to write a story for Abby for a while now. She’s just got such spunk and she’s so smart and such a terrific partner to Nikki, but she never found the right guy. So I played author matchmaker, LOL, and set her up with Red’s brother (I had NO idea he had a brother when I wrote Cherish Me, but turns out he does!). Red’s book is coming in September: Ravaged With You
I am a sucker for a second-chance romance. What are some of your fave tropes to read and are they different than what you like to write?
I love, love, love second chance romance (reading and writing), but I can’t say that I have a favorite trope. I will read anything and everything from super-sweet romances to dark and gritty romance to high fantasy to cozy mysteries. Second-chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of water. You name it, I’ll read it!
Do you find it harder to write a full-length novel than a novella? And why?
Actually, no. In fact, sometimes it’s easier because I’m a writer who likes to pile sooooooo much on my characters, both emotionally and in subplots. (They really must hate me, LOL!) and with a novella I have to dial back on that core instinct of mine. The characters still have their damage, but the through-line needs to be more succinct, if that makes sense. At the same time, writing the longer books takes, well, longer <G>. So mixing novellas with longer stories is a really great way to stay fresh as an author and tell stories that might not need all of that stuff piled on the characters in order for them to make their personal journeys.
I love Stark Security and all of the suspense that comes with this series. Have you had to do any interesting research for scenes or plots?
I have! I did a lot of research on amnesia for Broken With You and for all the books I do research about weapons and tech (though I do take some liberties because, hey, Stark Applied Technology is always ahead of the game, but even their cutting edge stuff stems from twists on real tech that I’ve read about, so it could exist now or in the near future!). I also do a lot of research into the psychology of the characters, so whatever their particular emotional baggage is, I do deep dives into that.
Do you write in a designated space every day or do you have a few spaces around your house you like to use?
I tend to write a book in a space. So some books are desk books. Some are couch books. Some are recliner books. I don’t remember what this one was!!
Can you give us a few lines from your current work-in-progress?
Sure! I’m actually tag-teaming a few projects this week, but this is a really fun bit from some previous newsletter bonus content that I’m reworking to launch in the Kindle Vella program that is coming up. (In Vella, it will be called The Accidental Affair … so keep an eye out, or sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss a thing!
Here’s the snippet:
Slowly, his gaze skimmed over her, starting at her toes and then rising higher and higher until he finally met her eyes. She’d been staring, noting the angular cut of his jaw. The dark beard stubble. The slight slant of his eyes that gave him a look that managed to suggest both sex and danger.
But as soon as his gaze locked on hers, she glanced away, afraid that if she actually met his eyes, she’d never be able to look away. There was something about this man. Something visceral that she’d never experienced before.
It was intriguing. Exciting.
And embarrassing as hell that she was locked out of the condo in nothing but a towel.
“It’s not every night a beautiful, half-naked girl knocks on my door,” he said in a voice dripping with Southern charm. “I sure do hope that’s not how you introduce yourself to all your neighbors. I want to feel special.”
“You are.” Shit! “I mean, that’s not my usual introduction.” Shit, shit, shit.
He glanced down at her towel, amusement dancing in those glorious eyes. “Were you at the beach? The pool?”
She exhaled with relief. Maybe it looked like she was wearing a bikini under the towel. Not that it mattered. She just needed to pull on her big girl panties—oh, how she wished she had panties—and tell him why she’d knocked on his door.
“I’ve locked myself out,” she admitted. “I was hoping you could help.”
Biography:
Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.
Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.
J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.
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