Guest Review: Danger Next Door by Katie Reus - 3.5 Wine Glasses!

Danger Next Door
(Red Stone Security #2)
by Katie Reus
ebook
Published June 1st 2012
ASIN B00882GFR4
Copy courtesy of the author

After an explosion leaves detective Grant Caldwell scarred he quits his job and tries to hide from his well-meaning family while he heals. When Belle Manikas, a beautiful new neighbor, moves in next door with problems of her own he finds himself drawn to her even while he tells himself she’s nothing but trouble. Even though he knows he’d never have a chance with a woman like her—not with his disfigurement—he can’t stay away.
Thanks to severe health problems as a child Belle grew up sheltered and smothered by her loving, if overbearing, family. Now that she’s finally out on her own she plans to wring everything she can out of life. When she sets her sights on her brooding neighbor nothing can stop her from getting him into bed—until a madman fixates on her.
With Grant now working for Red Stone Security, he sees it as his duty to protect her at all costs. Unfortunately a violent criminal is stalking Belle and will stop at nothing until he’s destroyed her.

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Crystal L.'s Thoughts:

Grant Caldwell thinks he's a monster. He detests the burn scars that cover his back, left arm, and the left side of his neck and face. It doesn't matter that he received those burns because he was saving the life of a six year old boy who was caught in the middle of a drug factory sweep that went horribly wrong. All that matters to Grant is that the somewhat attractive appearance he had before the accident is now gone, and what woman could possibly want to look at what's left of him now. If that wasn't bad enough, his father and brothers are bugging him to come work for the family business, Red Stone Security, instead of trying to return the the Police Department on any capacity.

Belle Manikas moves next door to Grant in an attempt to gain some freedom from her over protective family. Ever since the heart surgery she needed at ten years old, her three older brothers and father have treated her like she's spun glass that might break at any given minute. When a friend of the family shows up the morning after she moved into her new house and manhandles her, Grant comes to the rescue. Belle falls into insta-lust. Who cares if the brooding sexy neighbor has scars? She has a large scar of her own from the surgery, and she's a nurse, so she sees much worse at the hospital everyday. No instead, all she can see are Grant's gorgeous eyes and his lethal sexuality, and she knows that given the chance she would fall into bed with her new sexy neighbor.

Grant tries to resist the attraction between him and Belle but a sadistic rapist/serial killer targets in on her and Grant takes it upon himself to protect her. With all of the time they spend together, feelings start to develop between the two. But will Grant be able to save Belle from a grisly fate before he can tell her how he feels?

I liked this story. It seemed like standard Reus and was enjoyable to read. I liked Grant's semi-tortured character, and would be interested in continuing the series as well. Nice quick read. I'd rate it a three and half wine glass toast.

Rating: 3.5 Wine Glasses