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Bullet Catcher #3.5
Reason to Believe
From New York Times bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire comes Reason to Believe --the perfect mix of romance and suspense. (Please this novella is a reissue of a title originally published in 2008 as part of a multi-author anthology called "What You Can't See.")
Arianna Killian is an engaging TV psychic and hostess of the popular show Closure where she is able to give guests one last conversation with a lost loved one. When she starts to have vivid visions of a brutal murder, Arianna believes she's vulnerable to a killer who fears her clairvoyance, so she seeks protection from the elite security firm The Bullet Catchers.
Chase Ryker is well equipped to guard Arianna, as long as this pragmatic man of science isn't expected to believe his client is anything more than a sophisticated guesser with a clever party skill. Regardless of who's right about what's real, Chase and Arianna battle a surprising magnetism that proves that opposites indeed attract. While they do, they must also adjust everything they believe about themselves and each other in order to stop a killer who will do anything to ensure Arianna doesn't receive the truth from the other side.
Arianna Killian is an engaging TV psychic and hostess of the popular show Closure where she is able to give guests one last conversation with a lost loved one. When she starts to have vivid visions of a brutal murder, Arianna believes she's vulnerable to a killer who fears her clairvoyance, so she seeks protection from the elite security firm The Bullet Catchers.
Chase Ryker is well equipped to guard Arianna, as long as this pragmatic man of science isn't expected to believe his client is anything more than a sophisticated guesser with a clever party skill. Regardless of who's right about what's real, Chase and Arianna battle a surprising magnetism that proves that opposites indeed attract. While they do, they must also adjust everything they believe about themselves and each other in order to stop a killer who will do anything to ensure Arianna doesn't receive the truth from the other side.
- GenresRomantic Suspense
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2007
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
270 books1,833 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 14, 2017
Novella, "Reason to Believe", included in What You Can't See by Allison Brennan as e-book LA-Library.
Short Novella that doesn't allow much time for plot development or character growth. It is fast paced and the story and romance develop quickly within a few days. It is hit the ground running and nonstop action to the end. the major flaw is that the true reason for plot was never revealed.
Arianna Killian is an sympathetic TV psychic and hostess of the popular show Closure. She is the real deal and when she starts to have vivid visions of a brutal murder, Arianna believes that someone on the set is a killer and may be coming after her, so she seeks protection from the elite security firm, The Bullet Catchers.
Chase Ryker is a pragmatic man of science, a former NASA astronaut, and to him psychics just are not to be believed. Regardless of who’s right about what’s real, Chase and Arianna have a surprising magnetism that Chase is helpless to resist. What is true is that someone is trying to kill Ari and Chase must prevent that.
Short Novella that doesn't allow much time for plot development or character growth. It is fast paced and the story and romance develop quickly within a few days. It is hit the ground running and nonstop action to the end. the major flaw is that the true reason for plot was never revealed.
Arianna Killian is an sympathetic TV psychic and hostess of the popular show Closure. She is the real deal and when she starts to have vivid visions of a brutal murder, Arianna believes that someone on the set is a killer and may be coming after her, so she seeks protection from the elite security firm, The Bullet Catchers.
Chase Ryker is a pragmatic man of science, a former NASA astronaut, and to him psychics just are not to be believed. Regardless of who’s right about what’s real, Chase and Arianna have a surprising magnetism that Chase is helpless to resist. What is true is that someone is trying to kill Ari and Chase must prevent that.
May 31, 2017
The Bullet Catchers have been hired by TV Psychic Arianna Killian. Arianna has been receiving threatening letters that make her believe her life may be in danger. Lucy Sharpe assigns Chase Ryker to protect Arianna. Chase may be skeptical of Arianna's abilities, but that doesn't stop him from safeguarding her from a possible killer.
This was an entertaining novella. I think it could have been easily lengthened into a full-sized novel. The action is fast-moving and the couple has great chemistry. My rating: 4 Stars.
This was an entertaining novella. I think it could have been easily lengthened into a full-sized novel. The action is fast-moving and the couple has great chemistry. My rating: 4 Stars.
May 29, 2017
Arianna Killian is a TV psychic and hostess of a show called Closure. She engages Bullet Catchers when she begins receiving threatening emails and a scary psychic vision. Chase Ryker is assigned to her case and to say he's a skeptic is an understatement. It doesn't take long for things to get heated, both the threat and their attraction to each other.
This was an interesting story but too short to fully develop the mystery, suspense and romance. Things between Arianna and Chase moved at lightening speed and the mystery was resolved even faster. I enjoyed the story but it was just implausible for the timeframe.
This was an interesting story but too short to fully develop the mystery, suspense and romance. Things between Arianna and Chase moved at lightening speed and the mystery was resolved even faster. I enjoyed the story but it was just implausible for the timeframe.
January 9, 2017
My Review:
This book has something that you normally don't see in Roxanne St. Claire's worlds...a touch of paranormal. But that's done in a completely believable way.
Arianna is a television psychic. Chase has been hired to protect her since it appears that she has a stalker. What he doesn't realize going into it is that it's not the physical threats she's been receiving that worry her...it's the psychic visions. Chase is a scientist. He doesn't believe in all that woo-woo paranormal stuff, so this is pushing his abilities to believe. And the story moves on from there.
This is a quick read, but the story doesn't feel rushed. While Chase is drawn to Arianna, he's not so sure he can believe what she's trying to tell him. For Arianna, she's been there-done that with dating someone who doesn't believe in her abilities. She has no desire to do it again.
The romance is set against the two of them running for their lives and trying to figure out exactly what's going on. It's not easy to write a satisfying romantic suspense story within a small word count like this novella has, but Roxanne St. Claire accomplishes it...and gives her hero/heroine a good story, too.
I enjoyed reading it.
Note: this is a rerelease of a novella that originally came out in an anthology in 2008. The novella is set within the overall BulletCatchers universe, but that series is complete now. Regardless, the novella easily works as a quick, stand-alone read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book has something that you normally don't see in Roxanne St. Claire's worlds...a touch of paranormal. But that's done in a completely believable way.
Arianna is a television psychic. Chase has been hired to protect her since it appears that she has a stalker. What he doesn't realize going into it is that it's not the physical threats she's been receiving that worry her...it's the psychic visions. Chase is a scientist. He doesn't believe in all that woo-woo paranormal stuff, so this is pushing his abilities to believe. And the story moves on from there.
This is a quick read, but the story doesn't feel rushed. While Chase is drawn to Arianna, he's not so sure he can believe what she's trying to tell him. For Arianna, she's been there-done that with dating someone who doesn't believe in her abilities. She has no desire to do it again.
The romance is set against the two of them running for their lives and trying to figure out exactly what's going on. It's not easy to write a satisfying romantic suspense story within a small word count like this novella has, but Roxanne St. Claire accomplishes it...and gives her hero/heroine a good story, too.
I enjoyed reading it.
Note: this is a rerelease of a novella that originally came out in an anthology in 2008. The novella is set within the overall BulletCatchers universe, but that series is complete now. Regardless, the novella easily works as a quick, stand-alone read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 9, 2017
When the opportunity to review a Bullet Catchers novella by Roxanne St. Claire came across my desk I was thrilled to accept. The Bullet Catcher series has been one of my all time favorite romantic suspense series. Although this series is older, it is not outdated and is still exciting in our ever changing world of politics, technology, and international arenas. This series is like watching a favorite suspense television series and becoming highly addicted. As a fan, you are anxiously awaiting the next episode or season. It becomes a classic you are thrilled to go back and watch reruns of every season even though you know what is going happen. It's the cast of characters that has caught and held your attention. The Bullet Catchers series is exactly that. It's loaded with dynamic characters employed by the Bullet Catchers Security Agency. Each member brings something exciting to the table. The roster includes former FBI agents, CIA, organized crime connections, former astronauts, and international operators.
Reason To Believe features Chase Ryker, the former astronaut. Chase is a man of science. He doesn't believe in the supernatural or psychic abilities. He believes in facts and hard evidence. When he is assigned to protect television pyschic Arianna Killian, he is in for a new learning experience. Sometimes hard evidence and obvious facts are not the real clues. Premonitions and open minds may be the factor that saves the day. Not only is Chase going to learn to look beyond what he can see, he is also going to learn that the heart doesn't need facts or hard proof before it declares love. Some things in life where destined to be, his heart was destined to love Arianna. Now he has to keep her alive so that they can have their tomorrows.
Although this novella was previously published several years ago, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and was riveted by the suspense. Chase Ryker has been one of my favorite characters throughout the Bullet Catcher series. I really wanted him to have a full length novel rather than novella. He is a very complicated character that always had me intrigued. It was great to revisit his story. It was great to step into the Bullet Catcher world once again.
The publishing world has changed and the Bullet Catchers series came before the ebook explosion. With the explosion of ereaders and ebooks the publishing world changed overnight. Indie authors began publishing their works, publishing houses changed, and the print books began to disappear. Traditionally published books in print where lost in the shuffle. Readers had too many choices. Traditional publishers were busy trying to adapt to the new markets. The Bullet Catcher series is one that got lost in the shuffle. With the release of this novella maybe this series will come to the readers attention once again. The Bullet Catchers series is a classic and timeless series .
January 6, 2017
The Bullet Catchers series immediately became a favorite from the very first release, and although I read the WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE anthology which included REASON TO BELIEVE several years ago, I enjoyed revisiting two likable characters that are facing much peril. Roxanne St. Claire manages to make her storylines believable at all times, and even the touch of paranormal in this book seems credible, making me consider the possibility of the events actually taking place. REASON TO BELIEVE entwines action, mysteries and passion to create a suspenseful romantic adventure.
Using her psychic capabilities lets Arianna Killian comfort people who have lost someone important to them. She even has her own show on television where a message from the deceased individual can be communicated through her to a person still living. But lately she has been experiencing visions about how someone was killed, yet has no idea whose death she is seeing. Arianna is also receiving some particularly threatening emails. Fear leads her to call The Bullet Catchers, an agency that employs very proficient bodyguards. The man sent to protect her is Chase Ryker, and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But there is no way he will ever be convinced her skills are genuine.
It quickly becomes apparent the mysterious threats do pose a risk to Arianna, and learning the person’s identity from any clues is imperative. She and Chase become close while checking out possible evidence, and he comes to understand there just might be more to the psychic than he first thought. They soon come to realize any facts Arianna obtains through her visions might get her killed.
When a Bullet Catcher agent skeptical of anything supernatural must protect a TV psychic, keeping things totally professional is not without effort, especially when doubts form. Chase is a rational thinker, where his opinions are based on what he can prove. But from the instant Arianna speaks to him, he scrambles to find a valid explanation for her comments. I delighted in seeing his scientific mind try to make sense of her remarks. Always a competent bodyguard, Chase also tries to concentrate on his duty and ignore how Arianna makes him feel. But her bubbly personality touches something deep within him. Their reactions to each other are fun to watch, as their responses to the many unforeseen situations that arose are not predictable, thus keeping my interest high. REASON TO BELIEVE is definitely entertaining.
Looking for whoever is threatening Arianna in various ways requires gathering the truth about numerous unknown details. As she and Chase investigate, surprises abound as information comes to light. Roxanne St. Claire knows how to captivate the reader and keep guesses coming. If none of The Bullet Catchers stories have ever been read, discovering this one will make you want to know more about the other elite agents working for the organization.
I voluntarily reviewed the book via NetGalley and these comments are my honest opinion
Using her psychic capabilities lets Arianna Killian comfort people who have lost someone important to them. She even has her own show on television where a message from the deceased individual can be communicated through her to a person still living. But lately she has been experiencing visions about how someone was killed, yet has no idea whose death she is seeing. Arianna is also receiving some particularly threatening emails. Fear leads her to call The Bullet Catchers, an agency that employs very proficient bodyguards. The man sent to protect her is Chase Ryker, and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But there is no way he will ever be convinced her skills are genuine.
It quickly becomes apparent the mysterious threats do pose a risk to Arianna, and learning the person’s identity from any clues is imperative. She and Chase become close while checking out possible evidence, and he comes to understand there just might be more to the psychic than he first thought. They soon come to realize any facts Arianna obtains through her visions might get her killed.
When a Bullet Catcher agent skeptical of anything supernatural must protect a TV psychic, keeping things totally professional is not without effort, especially when doubts form. Chase is a rational thinker, where his opinions are based on what he can prove. But from the instant Arianna speaks to him, he scrambles to find a valid explanation for her comments. I delighted in seeing his scientific mind try to make sense of her remarks. Always a competent bodyguard, Chase also tries to concentrate on his duty and ignore how Arianna makes him feel. But her bubbly personality touches something deep within him. Their reactions to each other are fun to watch, as their responses to the many unforeseen situations that arose are not predictable, thus keeping my interest high. REASON TO BELIEVE is definitely entertaining.
Looking for whoever is threatening Arianna in various ways requires gathering the truth about numerous unknown details. As she and Chase investigate, surprises abound as information comes to light. Roxanne St. Claire knows how to captivate the reader and keep guesses coming. If none of The Bullet Catchers stories have ever been read, discovering this one will make you want to know more about the other elite agents working for the organization.
I voluntarily reviewed the book via NetGalley and these comments are my honest opinion
February 7, 2017
Chase Ryker is a former NASA astronaut turned bodyguard. He works for a successful security firm called Bullet Catchers. Chase questions his boss’s motives for assigning him to Arianna Killian. He scoffs at her so-called gift and dares her to prove she can truly communicate with the dead. Arianna not only tests his pragmatic mindset but his professionalism also. Will Chase trust in Arianna’s ability enough to catch a killer?
Arianna Killian is a popular psychic on a television show called “Closure”. She hires a bodyguard after receiving cyber threats via email. Arianna has another pertinent reason for employing a Bullet Catcher. She sets out to convince a skeptical Chase of her ability while ferreting out her stalker and a murderer. Will she be able to prove to Chase that she really does speak for the dead? Or will her stalker silence her forever?
Chase is a man deeply rooted in science, one who would rather find a rational reason for something than believe in magic or the paranormal. Arianna is Chase’s perfect contrast, she is chaos to his cautious circumspect nature. I like how being around her teaches him to see beyond the scientific black and white into the multicolor of the supernatural.
Arianna is an upbeat woman comfortable in her own skin and with her gift. She has accepted that there will always be cynics, those unable or unwilling to believe in psychics and such abilities. I love how Arianna challenges Chase’s skepticism with her determination to prove her ability.
What I like most about her is how she uses her ability to give people closure after losing loved ones.
REASON TO BELIEVE is book 3.5 in Roxanne St. Claire’s romantic suspense series, BULLET CATCHER. The novella can standalone without reading the prior books.
******* I miss this series; however, I understand why there will not be any further books. **********
REASON TO BELIEVE is a quick yet exhilarating read where opposites attract. I love the hint of supernatural element the author included in this story. This novella fondly reminds me why I adore the Bullet Catcher world.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Arianna Killian is a popular psychic on a television show called “Closure”. She hires a bodyguard after receiving cyber threats via email. Arianna has another pertinent reason for employing a Bullet Catcher. She sets out to convince a skeptical Chase of her ability while ferreting out her stalker and a murderer. Will she be able to prove to Chase that she really does speak for the dead? Or will her stalker silence her forever?
Chase is a man deeply rooted in science, one who would rather find a rational reason for something than believe in magic or the paranormal. Arianna is Chase’s perfect contrast, she is chaos to his cautious circumspect nature. I like how being around her teaches him to see beyond the scientific black and white into the multicolor of the supernatural.
Arianna is an upbeat woman comfortable in her own skin and with her gift. She has accepted that there will always be cynics, those unable or unwilling to believe in psychics and such abilities. I love how Arianna challenges Chase’s skepticism with her determination to prove her ability.
What I like most about her is how she uses her ability to give people closure after losing loved ones.
REASON TO BELIEVE is book 3.5 in Roxanne St. Claire’s romantic suspense series, BULLET CATCHER. The novella can standalone without reading the prior books.
******* I miss this series; however, I understand why there will not be any further books. **********
REASON TO BELIEVE is a quick yet exhilarating read where opposites attract. I love the hint of supernatural element the author included in this story. This novella fondly reminds me why I adore the Bullet Catcher world.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
March 19, 2018
VERY INTERESTING STORY!
This was a good mystery. It was short but that did not diminish the book at all! There were great twists and turns that kept you guessing and a very unusual plot! It also was romantic and sexy with very likeable characters. I have never read any of the books in the series this book belongs with, however, I am sure I will now because of how much I enjoyed this one!!!
This was a good mystery. It was short but that did not diminish the book at all! There were great twists and turns that kept you guessing and a very unusual plot! It also was romantic and sexy with very likeable characters. I have never read any of the books in the series this book belongs with, however, I am sure I will now because of how much I enjoyed this one!!!
September 1, 2018
I liked it
I liked it. fi r the most part I liked this because it was one of the first of the bullet catcher series that the male hero didn't have to lie and betray the lead lady to get information for what ever reason he was hired. I hate that. I hate that!
I liked it. fi r the most part I liked this because it was one of the first of the bullet catcher series that the male hero didn't have to lie and betray the lead lady to get information for what ever reason he was hired. I hate that. I hate that!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews