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The Keepers #1
Close Encounter, Part 1
A retitled alternate cover edition of ASIN B07QMDN765.
An originally-titled alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
What happens in the city of sin during a total blackout? EVERYTHING...
Cane O'Reilly has one job, keep Charlie Adams alive. When witness protection fails, more than once, he's the only one who can protect her.
As the only surviving victim of an international serial killer, she comes with a hell of a lot of baggage and...other needs Cane is happy to fulfill.
Hiding out in one of the most secure cities, they keep each other company while Cane has eyes everywhere searching for the killer with unfinished business...Charlie.
The day started with a quick screw, a couple of quirky two-bit cons and ended with a diabolical serial killer. What do you do when the lights go out? Run.
An originally-titled alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
What happens in the city of sin during a total blackout? EVERYTHING...
Cane O'Reilly has one job, keep Charlie Adams alive. When witness protection fails, more than once, he's the only one who can protect her.
As the only surviving victim of an international serial killer, she comes with a hell of a lot of baggage and...other needs Cane is happy to fulfill.
Hiding out in one of the most secure cities, they keep each other company while Cane has eyes everywhere searching for the killer with unfinished business...Charlie.
The day started with a quick screw, a couple of quirky two-bit cons and ended with a diabolical serial killer. What do you do when the lights go out? Run.
192 pages, ebook
First published April 17, 2019
1411 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie St. Klaire
51 books938 followersAbout Stephanie St. Klaire
USA Today Best-Selling Author Stephanie St. Klaire is multifaceted romance writer that has found her calling making readers bite their nails in suspense and hang on the edge of their seats with baited breath, as they wait for the next startling mystery to be unveiled.
Whether she’s off the grid hunting her diabolical killer’s next victim or plotting gritty crime thrillers that will leave you questioning her sanity, she always brings the chaos and the heat. (Watch yourself or you just might end up a character in one of her stories!)
Equal parts Hallmark and Criminal Minds, SSK balances her dark side by writing rom-com as her alter ego Stephie Klaire.
The Pacific Northwest native currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs— where every day is Taco Tuesday and Christmas isn’t just a season... it’s a state of mind.
Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.
Website: www.stephaniestklaire.com
Newsletter: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter
Facebook page: http://bit.ly/2l27QeK
Facebook profile: http://bit.ly/2kdNBa1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephStKlaire
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2lxwtgn
BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2kuPnV5
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1UccbW6
USA Today Best-Selling Author Stephanie St. Klaire is multifaceted romance writer that has found her calling making readers bite their nails in suspense and hang on the edge of their seats with baited breath, as they wait for the next startling mystery to be unveiled.
Whether she’s off the grid hunting her diabolical killer’s next victim or plotting gritty crime thrillers that will leave you questioning her sanity, she always brings the chaos and the heat. (Watch yourself or you just might end up a character in one of her stories!)
Equal parts Hallmark and Criminal Minds, SSK balances her dark side by writing rom-com as her alter ego Stephie Klaire.
The Pacific Northwest native currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs— where every day is Taco Tuesday and Christmas isn’t just a season... it’s a state of mind.
Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.
Website: www.stephaniestklaire.com
Newsletter: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter
Facebook page: http://bit.ly/2l27QeK
Facebook profile: http://bit.ly/2kdNBa1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephStKlaire
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2lxwtgn
BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2kuPnV5
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1UccbW6
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October 3, 2022
RATING 4.5 STARS
Final Deception is book one in The Keepers series by Stephanie St. Klaire. This is part one of a two part duet, the second part entitled Final Deception. This is my very first book by Stephanie and Holy Wow! What a wild ride this was. I didn’t anticipate how intense it would be, fairly non-stop from the start! Side note, this book was previously published as Close Encounter Part 1.
Cane O’Reilly is part of the Brother’s Keeper security team. His current assignment is to protect Charlie Adams. She is in the witness protection program which hasn’t been able to keep her hidden. So now it’s on Cane. He takes her to the place where she can hide in plain sight, Las Vegas. It’s where he lives and where he is head of security at a Las Vegas Casino.
Charlotte (Charlie) Adams has been in hiding for so long. She wants a normal life, or as normal as it can be until Anson Deveraux can be recaptured and brought to justice. Anson is a murderer and the one that got away is Charlie. He’s fixated on her, she’s a loose end, and he’ll stop at nothing to get her. Charlie is a witness to the horrible things he has done. When Cane proposes that she can lead a somewhat normal life, working in his casino and sharing his home, never being out of his sight, she happily accepts. In the time they’ve now been together, though, their relationship may have crossed some lines. They keep each other happy in some rather “unprofessional” ways. Since neither ever has any chance to be with anyone else, it’s their only stress relief. Because that’s all it is, stress relief. Neither want anything deeper.
But then the lights go out in Vegas, literally, the entire city is plunged in darkness. And in that darkness, danger lurks. Cane will do whatever it takes to keep Charlie safe. His help comes from an unlikely source, the bumbling duo, Skye and Eddie. These two were the fun part of this book. Between them not being able to keep their hands off each other, and their goals of being rich, they ended up being the most unlikeliest of heroes.
I didn’t realize going into this that it was a two part story but I already had the second book. So I’m going straight on into that to see how this all ends. Neither book is very long. But I can’t wait. I have to see what happens next. This is a fast paced, suspenseful, sexy and at times lighthearted story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Now on to part two!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Final Deception is book one in The Keepers series by Stephanie St. Klaire. This is part one of a two part duet, the second part entitled Final Deception. This is my very first book by Stephanie and Holy Wow! What a wild ride this was. I didn’t anticipate how intense it would be, fairly non-stop from the start! Side note, this book was previously published as Close Encounter Part 1.
Cane O’Reilly is part of the Brother’s Keeper security team. His current assignment is to protect Charlie Adams. She is in the witness protection program which hasn’t been able to keep her hidden. So now it’s on Cane. He takes her to the place where she can hide in plain sight, Las Vegas. It’s where he lives and where he is head of security at a Las Vegas Casino.
Charlotte (Charlie) Adams has been in hiding for so long. She wants a normal life, or as normal as it can be until Anson Deveraux can be recaptured and brought to justice. Anson is a murderer and the one that got away is Charlie. He’s fixated on her, she’s a loose end, and he’ll stop at nothing to get her. Charlie is a witness to the horrible things he has done. When Cane proposes that she can lead a somewhat normal life, working in his casino and sharing his home, never being out of his sight, she happily accepts. In the time they’ve now been together, though, their relationship may have crossed some lines. They keep each other happy in some rather “unprofessional” ways. Since neither ever has any chance to be with anyone else, it’s their only stress relief. Because that’s all it is, stress relief. Neither want anything deeper.
But then the lights go out in Vegas, literally, the entire city is plunged in darkness. And in that darkness, danger lurks. Cane will do whatever it takes to keep Charlie safe. His help comes from an unlikely source, the bumbling duo, Skye and Eddie. These two were the fun part of this book. Between them not being able to keep their hands off each other, and their goals of being rich, they ended up being the most unlikeliest of heroes.
I didn’t realize going into this that it was a two part story but I already had the second book. So I’m going straight on into that to see how this all ends. Neither book is very long. But I can’t wait. I have to see what happens next. This is a fast paced, suspenseful, sexy and at times lighthearted story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Now on to part two!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
February 16, 2021
This thrilling romance was so good and exactly what Stephanie excels at! It did take me the two prologues and into the first chapter before it really started coming together for me, but once it did, there was no stopping me!
Cane O'Reilly was charged to protect Charlie Adams after Witness Protection has repeatedly failed. The most dangerous serial killer was still on the loose and determined to finish what he had started, kill Charlie. Anson Deveroux had escaped after being captured and no one knew where he was. Cane is hiding Charlie in Las Vegas in a Casino with the most tech security available. He is totally committed to keeping her safe and she has gotten under his defenses. They are more than just Friends-with-Benefits, even if neither will admit it.
So, when a bajillionaire comes to the hotel with virtually no past, Cane becomes concerned. Then Las Vegas goes dark! A Blackout in Sin City! The cat and mouse game will have you hanging on the edge of your seat! And I love Eddie and Skye, or should I say the Windsors? This book will take you down all kinds of twisty turns and did I tell you that it's Part 1? So now we are anxiously awaiting the next book!
Cane O'Reilly was charged to protect Charlie Adams after Witness Protection has repeatedly failed. The most dangerous serial killer was still on the loose and determined to finish what he had started, kill Charlie. Anson Deveroux had escaped after being captured and no one knew where he was. Cane is hiding Charlie in Las Vegas in a Casino with the most tech security available. He is totally committed to keeping her safe and she has gotten under his defenses. They are more than just Friends-with-Benefits, even if neither will admit it.
So, when a bajillionaire comes to the hotel with virtually no past, Cane becomes concerned. Then Las Vegas goes dark! A Blackout in Sin City! The cat and mouse game will have you hanging on the edge of your seat! And I love Eddie and Skye, or should I say the Windsors? This book will take you down all kinds of twisty turns and did I tell you that it's Part 1? So now we are anxiously awaiting the next book!
July 1, 2019
The story was better than I was expecting (any time a book has only 4 and 5-star reviews I assume they're all from the author's friends and family 😂). The book needs a little more polishing though. A couple of examples that took me right out the story: "Ready to push passed him" and "laundry shoot". Still worth a read though if you can get it from Scribd or somewhere cheap.
July 10, 2025
HIMBOS UNITE! I’d say a 3.5 in a good way!
honestly, for a free kindle book I’m not mad, was this a literary masterpiece? absolutely not, did it do the job and have me laughing? absolutely
i really can’t say it’s bad, plot holes and our MMC being an absolute himbo? yeah, & I downloaded the second book what about it ?
honestly, for a free kindle book I’m not mad, was this a literary masterpiece? absolutely not, did it do the job and have me laughing? absolutely
i really can’t say it’s bad, plot holes and our MMC being an absolute himbo? yeah, & I downloaded the second book what about it ?
February 20, 2021
Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire:
The day started with a quick screw, a couple of quirky two-bit cons and ended with a diabolical serial killer. What do you do when the lights go out? Run.
In this book we have Eddie & Skye, who are Con Artists, and huge PDA couple. We also have Cane, who is working at a hotel / casino in Las Vegas, NV. Cane of Brother's Keeper Security - Portland, OR, is protecting Charlie, who is the only survivor of a serial killer. They are working as security personal at the hotel in Las Vegas. They have a 'whale' Henry Davenport, coming in that has specifically requested Charlie to attend to him while he is staying at the hotel. Cane is a little suspicious, as to why this whale wants Charlie, as other members of the hotel are more qualified than she is.
However, shortly after Charlie goes to attend to the whale, the hotel an strip is experiencing a black out - all the power is out, the cell phones / internet everything is out. Cane is busy dealing with a power outage at the hotel / casino, and is distracted and can't help or go make sure Charlie is ok.
Eddie & Skye find & help Charlie & are now wrapped up in this mess along with Cane. Cane is trying to protect himself and 3 other people. Not exactly a good time he is having.
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
The day started with a quick screw, a couple of quirky two-bit cons and ended with a diabolical serial killer. What do you do when the lights go out? Run.
In this book we have Eddie & Skye, who are Con Artists, and huge PDA couple. We also have Cane, who is working at a hotel / casino in Las Vegas, NV. Cane of Brother's Keeper Security - Portland, OR, is protecting Charlie, who is the only survivor of a serial killer. They are working as security personal at the hotel in Las Vegas. They have a 'whale' Henry Davenport, coming in that has specifically requested Charlie to attend to him while he is staying at the hotel. Cane is a little suspicious, as to why this whale wants Charlie, as other members of the hotel are more qualified than she is.
However, shortly after Charlie goes to attend to the whale, the hotel an strip is experiencing a black out - all the power is out, the cell phones / internet everything is out. Cane is busy dealing with a power outage at the hotel / casino, and is distracted and can't help or go make sure Charlie is ok.
Eddie & Skye find & help Charlie & are now wrapped up in this mess along with Cane. Cane is trying to protect himself and 3 other people. Not exactly a good time he is having.
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
April 17, 2019
What a perfect novella written by the wonderful author, Stephanie St. Klaire! This was included as part of the Blackout Anthology, but is also a part of The Keepers Series. The characters in this novella were hilarious, mysterious, and romantic! Cane O’Reilly (part of the O’Reilly family from the Brother’s Keeper Security family firm) was hired to keep Charlie safe, but Charlie insisted on maintaining a job and a life…so….he will just tag along with her!
The devious secondary character couple, Skye and Eddie, were fantastic and even ended up being involved with some search and rescue of their own. I loved how they ended up being more of the story than seemed originally intended! They were so fun to read!!! When the blackout hits…they have to work together, but will they be able to?
“Your girl will be safe with me. Just come back and don’t leave this hero shit to me.”
This novella had me laughing so freaking hard in some parts…and on the edge of my seat in others! There were parts I re-read because I loved them so much! I highlighted so many parts of this one! I would totally recommend this!
The devious secondary character couple, Skye and Eddie, were fantastic and even ended up being involved with some search and rescue of their own. I loved how they ended up being more of the story than seemed originally intended! They were so fun to read!!! When the blackout hits…they have to work together, but will they be able to?
“Your girl will be safe with me. Just come back and don’t leave this hero shit to me.”
This novella had me laughing so freaking hard in some parts…and on the edge of my seat in others! There were parts I re-read because I loved them so much! I highlighted so many parts of this one! I would totally recommend this!
April 17, 2019
I loved Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire. I loved Cane, who works for Brother's Keeper Security who is in charge of protecting Charlie. This was such a quick read full of twists & turns. It was great! I enjoyed going back to Brother's Keeper Security.
April 19, 2019
This is a heart pounding, action packed and thrill inducing read... both quick and highly entertaining. Loved every one of the exciting twists in this emotional roller-coaster that just left me breathless... loved it!
April 17, 2019
This story was so much fun! It kind of had a Mission Impossible vibe—not the same storyline, but the action and the pace of the story. Cane was attempting to keep Charlie safe and hidden from the bad guy (the really, really bad guy!) who had kidnapped her before. Cane is super ripped and definitely has a thing for Charlie. Those feelings are returned, even if she is damaged and can’t quite respond to everything without fear.
The story takes place in Las Vegas and had a couple of characters (they were also “a couple”) that were conning the casinos and taking them for everything they could get. They also went at it like bunnies…like bunnies doing it everywhere and ALL the time. The couple becomes important to the story and important to keeping Charlie safe. It’s a conundrum, because Cane has had his full of them as Head of Security at the casino. When push comes to shove, will Mr. and Mrs. Lots of Aliases do the right thing?
Close Encounter was a superfast paced story with lots of excitement, suspense, moments of despair and equal moments of gratification. St. Klaire brings us out of the darkness and provides a satisfying ending to a book that kept me up late reading until the final period!
The story takes place in Las Vegas and had a couple of characters (they were also “a couple”) that were conning the casinos and taking them for everything they could get. They also went at it like bunnies…like bunnies doing it everywhere and ALL the time. The couple becomes important to the story and important to keeping Charlie safe. It’s a conundrum, because Cane has had his full of them as Head of Security at the casino. When push comes to shove, will Mr. and Mrs. Lots of Aliases do the right thing?
Close Encounter was a superfast paced story with lots of excitement, suspense, moments of despair and equal moments of gratification. St. Klaire brings us out of the darkness and provides a satisfying ending to a book that kept me up late reading until the final period!
April 18, 2019
This one starts and ends with a BANG! You will not see what is coming even before the town goes dark. Stephanie sucks you in and keeps you guessing. This is the first book that starts the Anthology off and it will keep you reading. It may be short, but you will be hooked on the characters from the start. Don’t miss one. After it’s over you can check out her other books that relate to Close Encounter, her Brothers Keeper Series. Grab them and start emerging yourself now!
December 22, 2022
Such a great first read of this author. I can’t wait to read more of Cane & Charlie.
Want to read
March 8, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBook today (3/8/2021)!🎁
July 28, 2024
It was pretty good. I wish there was a little more of the killer in it like a dual pov situation.
April 17, 2019
Stephanie St. Klaire, Close Encounter, is the book I am reviewing. These books do not need to be read in order or all together.
Cane is Charlie’s story is mind blowing; I couldn’t lay the book down, I kept turning the page to try and find out what happened next. It is a great suspense with some steaming scenes mixed in with a couple of cons in there making trouble but prove to be an asset to Cane and Charlie when the bad guy proves to be out-smarting them all.
Cane is Charlie’s story is mind blowing; I couldn’t lay the book down, I kept turning the page to try and find out what happened next. It is a great suspense with some steaming scenes mixed in with a couple of cons in there making trouble but prove to be an asset to Cane and Charlie when the bad guy proves to be out-smarting them all.
April 17, 2019
This was a fast paced romantic suspense as Case and Charlie fight to survive a serial killer while also fighting their growing feelings toward each other. There was a lot of steam between these two and I loved watching them fall for each other despite their obvious reservations. I can't wait to read more about them!!
April 18, 2019
SSK has done it again with a story I couldn't put down. The perfect combination of steamy, suspenseful, and humorous. I always loves seeing a few familiar faces make an appearance. Cane and Charlie have undeniable chemistry. Skye and Eddie were so hilarious, I hope we see them again soon. The check in scene! That's all I'll say about that! LOL
Add to your TBR list, you won't be disappointed!
Add to your TBR list, you won't be disappointed!
March 17, 2022
Not too bad, storyline was ok and kept me interested. The blackout though, I’m thinking really ???? I”m not sure I care enough to read part 2. Anyway, it was a nice quick read while recovering from knee surgery.
December 20, 2024
RATING 4.5 STARS Final Deception is book one in The Keepers series by Stephanie St. Klaire. This is part one of a two part duet, the second part entitled Final Deception. This is my very first book by Stephanie and Holy Wow! What a wild ride this was. I didn’t anticipate how intense it would be, fairly non-stop from the start! Side note, this book was previously published as Close Encounter Part 1. Cane O’Reilly is part of the Brother’s Keeper security team. His current assignment is to protect Charlie Adams. She is in the witness protection program which hasn’t been able to keep her hidden. So now it’s on Cane. He takes her to the place where she can hide in plain sight, Las Vegas. It’s where he lives and where he is head of security at a Las Vegas Casino. Charlotte (Charlie) Adams has been in hiding for so long. She wants a normal life, or as normal as it can be until Anson Deveraux can be recaptured and brought to justice. Anson is a murderer and the one that got away is Charlie. He’s fixated on her, she’s a loose end, and he’ll stop at nothing to get her. Charlie is a witness to the horrible things he has done. When Cane proposes that she can lead a somewhat normal life, working in his casino and sharing his home, never being out of his sight, she happily accepts. In the time they’ve now been together, though, their relationship may have crossed some lines. They keep each other happy in some rather “unprofessional” ways. Since neither ever has any chance to be with anyone else, it’s their only stress relief. Because that’s all it is, stress relief. Neither want anything deeper. But then the lights go out in Vegas, literally, the entire city is plunged in darkness. And in that darkness, danger lurks. Cane will do whatever it takes to keep Charlie safe. His help comes from an unlikely source, the bumbling duo, Skye and Eddie. These two were the fun part of this book. Between them not being able to keep their hands off each other, and their goals of being rich, they ended up being the most unlikeliest of heroes. I didn’t realize going into this that it was a two part story but I already had the second book. So I’m going straight on into that to see how this all ends. Neither book is very long. But I can’t wait. I have to see what happens next. This is a fast paced, suspenseful, sexy and at times lighthearted story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Now on to part two!
February 15, 2021
So Good!
She is the last surviving victim of a ruthless international serial killer, Anson Devereaux, and has spent the past two years in witness protection while still being hunted. Devereaux has managed to find her three times while she has been in protective custody.
I love this O’Reilly clan and all of the secondary characters that make up the Brother’s Keeper Security. Cane works for his cousins, the brothers in the “Brother’s Keeper Security” team. While their headquarters is in Portland, Cain works in Las Vegas as Head of Private Security for a hotel & casino.
He is the best at what he does. He has to keep Charlotte as close to him as possible in order to keep her away from Devereaux. This means the only way to keep her under the radar is to make her an employee of the hotel & casino where he is the boss.
Eddie and Skye are in Vegas looking to make some easy money robbing rich hotel patrons while posing as out of control lovers, hiding in plain sight. When they attempt to rob the penthouse suite, they discover Charlotte unconscious and tied up. Rescuing her is the right thing to do and finding Cain is essential.
While Eddie is quite rough around the edges, he manages to keep it together to help Cain keep Charlotte and Skye safe when there is a blackout all over the city and they are dealing with no power, lights, or communications whatsoever and a murdering madman on the loose.
This story starts out in high gear and it just keeps getting better. There is a lot of suspense, dangerous manipulations and unknown danger. There is also the connection between Cain and Charlotte that keeps building throughout their months long ordeal. You can’t read this fast enough! An unbelievable ending, or is it?! I can’t wait for Part 2!
She is the last surviving victim of a ruthless international serial killer, Anson Devereaux, and has spent the past two years in witness protection while still being hunted. Devereaux has managed to find her three times while she has been in protective custody.
I love this O’Reilly clan and all of the secondary characters that make up the Brother’s Keeper Security. Cane works for his cousins, the brothers in the “Brother’s Keeper Security” team. While their headquarters is in Portland, Cain works in Las Vegas as Head of Private Security for a hotel & casino.
He is the best at what he does. He has to keep Charlotte as close to him as possible in order to keep her away from Devereaux. This means the only way to keep her under the radar is to make her an employee of the hotel & casino where he is the boss.
Eddie and Skye are in Vegas looking to make some easy money robbing rich hotel patrons while posing as out of control lovers, hiding in plain sight. When they attempt to rob the penthouse suite, they discover Charlotte unconscious and tied up. Rescuing her is the right thing to do and finding Cain is essential.
While Eddie is quite rough around the edges, he manages to keep it together to help Cain keep Charlotte and Skye safe when there is a blackout all over the city and they are dealing with no power, lights, or communications whatsoever and a murdering madman on the loose.
This story starts out in high gear and it just keeps getting better. There is a lot of suspense, dangerous manipulations and unknown danger. There is also the connection between Cain and Charlotte that keeps building throughout their months long ordeal. You can’t read this fast enough! An unbelievable ending, or is it?! I can’t wait for Part 2!
April 23, 2021
This is part one in The Keeper's series and it is Cane and Charlotte's story. Cane is part of the O'Reilly family and also works for The Brother's Keeper's Security Company and now he is assigned to protect and keep Charlotte safe as she is a high profile person as she is the only one that got away from a serial killer. Charlotte has spent the last two years in witness protection as she is the only surviving victim of a serial killer where she spent weeks being tortured, sexually assaulted and witnessed other people being killed while being held captive before managing to get away but the serial killer Anson Deveraux is still on the loose and still hunting her as he leaves no witnesses alive and that is where Cane comes in but then he underestimated Charlotte who brought her claws out as she shows Cane that she is a survivor. Omg this is only part one and I am already hooked and can't wait to read the next one. There are many twists and turns along the way and I couldn't put this book down as it was so addictive. Stephanie St Klaire is an amazing and writer and I definitely recommend you read this book but just remember that it is not a standalone one you will need to read the next one to follow the story but it will definitely be worth it as Stephanie certainly knows how to keep her reader's attention.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2025
Fairly good story. But I feel like this isn’t the first book in the series. It sort of started in the middle. Too many point of views for me. The characters views would run together, once right in the middle of a paragraph. That is something that drives me crazy. Action. A serial killer. A bodyguard. And a woman running for her life. Steamy.
Cane O’Reilly works for Brother’s Keepers Security and is sent to protect a high value target. Charlotte Adams escaped from a serial killer once and now he is determined to get her. Cane and Charlie go back to Vegas where Cane is living and she starts working for the same hotel/casino Cane works for. He is head of security and she becomes a hostess. A big “whale” is arriving and Cane can find nothing on him. The lights go out in the hotel and all chaos breaks out. Charlie recognizes the “whales” voice and it’s the killer after her but he has had plastic surgery and looks nothing like he looked before. He knocks her out and a couple, who are cons, find her and get her away. They find Cane and he must get them away. The killer has gotten away from the authorities and max prison before but hopefully this time he’s caught for good.
Cane O’Reilly works for Brother’s Keepers Security and is sent to protect a high value target. Charlotte Adams escaped from a serial killer once and now he is determined to get her. Cane and Charlie go back to Vegas where Cane is living and she starts working for the same hotel/casino Cane works for. He is head of security and she becomes a hostess. A big “whale” is arriving and Cane can find nothing on him. The lights go out in the hotel and all chaos breaks out. Charlie recognizes the “whales” voice and it’s the killer after her but he has had plastic surgery and looks nothing like he looked before. He knocks her out and a couple, who are cons, find her and get her away. They find Cane and he must get them away. The killer has gotten away from the authorities and max prison before but hopefully this time he’s caught for good.
April 17, 2019
So incredibly excited to read another Brothers Keepers Series tale. Cane and Charlie's story is smoking hot. This tale of a serial killer survivor gone into hiding, has as much excitement as you would expect from an O'Reilly Brother story. It has so many twists and turns and and edge of your seat scenes, it is a quick read because you wont want to put it down. In amongst the suspense and security Cane cant keep his hands off of Charlie, or his mind in the right frame. This leads to mistakes that put both of them in danger. I really love the introduction of the side characters Eddie and Skye as well. These two are a great foil for Cane and Charlie, they provide insight to the Vegas casino con artists, and a bit of comic relief. I hope to see more of them in the future. Just when you think things are coming to a happily ever after another twist is thrown in, leaving an opening for the next Keepers Series novel. I cant wait.
April 19, 2019
5 Amazing Stars
Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire is nothing short of AMAZING! I loved that it’s a spinoff of her Brother’s Keeper series and can’t wait for more.
Cane O’Reilly is a cousin to the Brother’s Keepers and is charged with the protecting Charlie from serial killer who is determined to get his one victim who got away. They have been living in plain sight for the past three years in Las Vegas, and when a full blackout occurs along the Vegas strip, all bets are off. Throw in the cons Eddie and Skye who get caught get in the middle when they help Charlie out, the clandestine ways of Cane and you’ve got one helluva story that packs a funny, romantic, and suspenseful punch. This is classic SSK romantic suspense and her ability to keep me on the edge of my seat with her gifted storytelling ways is nothing shy of amazing. I absolutely LOVED it!
Angela - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire is nothing short of AMAZING! I loved that it’s a spinoff of her Brother’s Keeper series and can’t wait for more.
Cane O’Reilly is a cousin to the Brother’s Keepers and is charged with the protecting Charlie from serial killer who is determined to get his one victim who got away. They have been living in plain sight for the past three years in Las Vegas, and when a full blackout occurs along the Vegas strip, all bets are off. Throw in the cons Eddie and Skye who get caught get in the middle when they help Charlie out, the clandestine ways of Cane and you’ve got one helluva story that packs a funny, romantic, and suspenseful punch. This is classic SSK romantic suspense and her ability to keep me on the edge of my seat with her gifted storytelling ways is nothing shy of amazing. I absolutely LOVED it!
Angela - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
April 17, 2019
Stephanie St Klaire has become my favorite romantic suspense author! I've read the brothers keeper series and this is another character related to them BUT you don't have to know anything about them to read this. Cane and Charlie are so good together even though she is a client and Cane is supposed to be her protector. He will do anything to protect her and that should be his first clue that he is in deeper than he should be. She thinks about him first in everything and that should be her first clue too. When all of Las Vegas goes into a blackout, both of their lives are in danger. And worse yet, in the hands of a couple of con artists ( who may or may not be my favorite secondary characters). I loved the fast pace and intrigue that was woven so intricately through this book. Had me on the edge of my seat!
February 10, 2021
Should I like the secondary couple more than the main couple? Because I found myself more interested in them at times then the action going on with Cane and Charlie. The prologue grabbed me right away, but when we fast forwarded into real time, Charlie was less ballsy then when she was introduced to Cane. That’s my biggest complaint...even knowing that being hidden away from a serial killer for years has got to be taxing on a gal, it took me a few chapters to get reinvested in Charlie and Cane.
I seldom read books with cliffhangers or those that are parts of duets, unless both books have already been released. I need that instant gratification of knowing how the story is going to end. So I waited until part two was coming up for publication soon so I wouldn’t need to wait that long. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
I seldom read books with cliffhangers or those that are parts of duets, unless both books have already been released. I need that instant gratification of knowing how the story is going to end. So I waited until part two was coming up for publication soon so I wouldn’t need to wait that long. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
February 20, 2021
Charlie is ‘the one who got away,’ in that a serial killer, Anson Deveraux, is after her, because she is the only victim that has ever escaped him. His narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies signify that he has to finish the job. Cane O’Reilly is tasked with keeping Charlie out of Deveraux’s clutches. He’s been succeeding for a while now, but everything comes to a head in this book.
This book is tightly-paced and suspenseful. This reader forfeited some sleep last night, because it was nearly impossible to put this book down. There is plenty of action as well as some reluctant heroes that are created in this book. The characters are fun and the reader gets invested in the outcome rather quickly. This is a fun and entertaining read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is tightly-paced and suspenseful. This reader forfeited some sleep last night, because it was nearly impossible to put this book down. There is plenty of action as well as some reluctant heroes that are created in this book. The characters are fun and the reader gets invested in the outcome rather quickly. This is a fun and entertaining read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2023
Killer on the loose
This is a new to me author. The plot was definitely very good. Charlie, a woman who has escaped a serial killer needs top notch protection because witnesses protection could not keep her safe and the killer is still at large. This is where Cane O'Reilly from Keeper Security comes in. He is to keep her protected, but the killer is after her. A good story, but I could not rate it higher for a couple of reasons. It moved too fast from meeting each others other to literally having a sexual relationship. Did not get to witness how that developed at all! Then the other thing is a cliffhanger, which is it what enjoy. I will complete the rest of the series, but if I had read this and had to wait for the next book to be written, published and available. The author would have lost me. I gave it 3 Star because of the plot.
This is a new to me author. The plot was definitely very good. Charlie, a woman who has escaped a serial killer needs top notch protection because witnesses protection could not keep her safe and the killer is still at large. This is where Cane O'Reilly from Keeper Security comes in. He is to keep her protected, but the killer is after her. A good story, but I could not rate it higher for a couple of reasons. It moved too fast from meeting each others other to literally having a sexual relationship. Did not get to witness how that developed at all! Then the other thing is a cliffhanger, which is it what enjoy. I will complete the rest of the series, but if I had read this and had to wait for the next book to be written, published and available. The author would have lost me. I gave it 3 Star because of the plot.
June 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Final Deception was a fast-paced, action-packed read that definitely kept me entertained. The story had a good rhythm and enough suspense to keep me turning the pages, and I really appreciated the twists—some of which I didn’t see coming.
That said, there were a few areas where it felt like something was missing. Certain parts lacked depth or development, especially when it came to character motivations or transitions between major plot points. I found myself wanting just a bit more to fully connect with the stakes and emotions involved.
Surprisingly, the criminals in the casino subplot really grew on me. I didn’t expect to care about them as much as I did, but they added an interesting dynamic and some unexpected charm to the story.
Overall, an enjoyable read with plenty of action, but it left me wanting just a little more from the emotional and narrative layers.
Final Deception was a fast-paced, action-packed read that definitely kept me entertained. The story had a good rhythm and enough suspense to keep me turning the pages, and I really appreciated the twists—some of which I didn’t see coming.
That said, there were a few areas where it felt like something was missing. Certain parts lacked depth or development, especially when it came to character motivations or transitions between major plot points. I found myself wanting just a bit more to fully connect with the stakes and emotions involved.
Surprisingly, the criminals in the casino subplot really grew on me. I didn’t expect to care about them as much as I did, but they added an interesting dynamic and some unexpected charm to the story.
Overall, an enjoyable read with plenty of action, but it left me wanting just a little more from the emotional and narrative layers.
April 17, 2019
Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire is a must on any TBR list! To say St. Klaire came out of the gate firing on all cylinders would be an understatement. If I wasn't insanely happily married & totally averse to exercise I'd absolutely consider joining a gym, just for the opening scene alone! But all that aside, Stephanie delivers a hard-hitting, action-filled page turner that has definitely left me wanting more & eager for the rest of the story! Cane & Charlie are a dynamic duo & make the pages sizzle both from friction & heat, but the surprise bonus of Eddie & Skye is like finding the golden Easter egg after everyone else gave up on the hunt! What an unexpected treat that you won't want to miss!
February 21, 2021
Hunky bodyguard, smart heroine. Part 1
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021
I usually enjoy a good bodyguard story, especially by this author. You have the solid trustworthy defender in Cane, and the smarter and more able than the average heroine in Charlie. Maybe because it has a cliffhanger for an ending (note the Part 1 in the title) or because I had trouble believing the "come to Jesus" moment that the unexpected. sidekicks had, but I had trouble making my way through this story. I will have to check out the second part of this story when it is available and reserve final judgement until then.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021
I usually enjoy a good bodyguard story, especially by this author. You have the solid trustworthy defender in Cane, and the smarter and more able than the average heroine in Charlie. Maybe because it has a cliffhanger for an ending (note the Part 1 in the title) or because I had trouble believing the "come to Jesus" moment that the unexpected. sidekicks had, but I had trouble making my way through this story. I will have to check out the second part of this story when it is available and reserve final judgement until then.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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