BOOK REVIEW - AFTER THE STORM by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 8 - BERKLEY - ADULT SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 392 Pages

Blurb: Goodreads

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.

Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t….

Over the years, Donovan Kelly has fought relentlessly for justice, women and children always holding a special place in his heart. Working side by side with his brothers, Donovan has witnessed firsthand the toll it’s taken—physically, mentally, and emotionally—on his loved ones, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire. What he never expects is for his next mission to happen right on his home turf—or for it to take a very personal turn.

Picturesque Kentucky Lake is the perfect place for a soul in search of safe harbor. A beautiful stranger has arrived—desperate, breathless, and on the run from a dark past closing in on her and the younger siblings she has vowed to protect. Donovan must now draw on every resource at his disposal—if he wants to save a woman and the children who may prove to be his destiny.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle

This review is going to be hard for me to write. You will note I haven't given it a rating.

I have much respect for Maya Banks as an author and I LOVE the KGI series and the other books I have read in her other series.

The woman can write a darn entertaining read.

Much respect.

These are just my personal thoughts and how I personally felt. I still encourage readers who love KGI series to read this book as there is so much more going on that you don’t want to miss.

I will start with the positives. I have been waiting for Rusty to get a meatier role and she did in this installment. She has a big heart and she is evolving into quite a lady. It certainly looks like it will be a Rusty and Sean romance one of these days. Seeds of romantic interest were being left in previous books with Sean’s character.

I did feel that there was a lot of repeat comments and gushy , gushy stuff with the big KGI family. But, hey, they are a pretty cool family.

I did wonder about them all being in that big ol’ compound. Sure it is rigged up with some high tech security and eye scanners and all that good James Bond shiz, but I couldn’t help pondering an air strike. I mean they are all set up in this compound. Spread out for privacy, but what is stopping a fly over and a bomb or two being dropped by their enemies? They are all in the one spot. Sitting targets almost. They have made a shiz load of enemies who have weaponry at their disposal.

Ehh. Just me over thinking.

Now I was going to include some of my shiz load of quotes that I have on my many pages of notations, but I have decided not to. I was being negative, rather than positive. So I have vetoed any quotes from this book. If the publisher wants to know I have page numbers of what I felt went wrong with Donovan’s character for me personally.

Speaking of Van. I do love Donovan. He has always come across as such a stand up lad who fights the good fight and loves to get in there and rescue women and children.

BUT!!

Dear Lordy. I am not the first reader to voice this and I will do it politely, but what happened to Van?

I can’t help thinking about the writing process and how much work it takes the author then the editors, beta readers, critique partners who look over it all.

From what I can gather on Goodreads, readers felt uncomfortable with Donovan as he was written. 

... what happened to Donovan? 

I know it's not Donovan's fault, he is a fictional character.

This is all I can say, or else my rip cord will be pulled and I don’t want to say how I was feeling. I just finished the book and I am a little gahhh at what I read. I have to say I had to push myself to finish reading the book, but at the same time it had some great parts in it. 

It was Donovan. 

What happened to Donovan?

Some readers had spoken in my ear prior to reading and voiced their almost exact same thoughts. I just didn't want to believe it. I had to read for myself. Make my own mind up.

I will say, I did check Goodreads, which is just one review platform only, prior to reading After The Storm and I did see a lower overall rating. I then looked at some of the low star reviews and then at the higher rating reviews.

The low star reviews all said the same thing. 

Sadly I have to agree. 

I tell you I fought those feelings mainly from the halfway point of this book because this is MAYA BANKS!! This is DONOVAN! This is KGI!!

Before that I was ok with what I was reading in this installment. I don't care one bit that this wasn't a mission read. 

I won’t rate this book on my blog because I find it too hard to. I am by no means saying another reader won't love Donovan's character and rate this book highly. I can see readers that have loved this book. The insta love and how he voiced it in words or thoughts was just...

I am very much looking forward to When Day Breaks # 9. Due for release June 24th 2014.

I can also see on Goodreads that there are up to 15 books in this series. 

Very exciting.

I think you can by now gather this was not my favorite book in the series, but that will not deter me from reading on. I mean check out the cover for Swanny's book.

And we get a face!

Michelle

Eden is said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her face has graced countless magazines and her body has sold millions of dollars of clothing. But her fame and beauty has earned her more than she ever imagined. Evil is stalking her, determined to extinguish the ethereal beauty forever.

Swanson or “Swanny” as his teammates call him is always up for the next mission. He came back from Afghanistan wounded and scarred. Hardly the kind of man who even belongs in the same room with Eden. And yet there’s something about the quiet beauty that stirs his blood and makes him dream of the impossible. Because Beauty loving the beast only happens in fairy tales and KGI doesn’t deal in fairy tales. Ever.

BOOK REVIEW - FORGED IN STEELE by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 7 - ADULT SUSPENSE ROMANCE - BERKLEY

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Berkley

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from Library, 372 Pages

RATING: 4.5 HARD AS STEELE STARS!

Blurb : Goodreads

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

Steele, a KGI team leader, is an enigma not even his team mates understand. His emotions are tightly locked down and nothing can break that icy exterior. Nothing except Maren Scofield, a doctor on a mission, a woman who has gotten under Steele’s skin and threatens to crack that unflappable cool he’s legendary for.

Steele is determined not to allow Maren past his carefully guarded defenses, but when she’s in danger, there’s no way he’ll allow anyone else to protect her. She’s hiding something. He’s sure of it. But he isn’t prepared for the shocking discovery her secrets reveal. Or how they will forever alter the course of his destiny. He has a decision to make. Hold tight and shut her out. Or take a chance on something more powerful than he’s ever faced. Love.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I have been very excited to read about the man-of-few-words, take no bull-shit, man-of-action, Steele. We have seen him being this gruff, in-charge warrior who shows little emotion. 

The ice-man.

“You did good, sweetheart,” Steele said to Rachel.

He was treated to several surprised expressions. One, he never used endearments. He just wasn’t a warm, affectionate guy. Two, he didn’t typically offer unsolicited conversation.

He let us see a teeny bit under that tough exterior when P.J went through a very bad time and dropped the ball on him and the team. Or else it is business as usual for Steele.

So of course I am going to be acting like a peeping tom wanting to see Steele get consumed, swallowed whole, by the big ol’ love whale and see how he handles it.

ANOTHER MAN DOWN!!

Well, the big beef cake went all Mills and Boon on me with his words of love and protection. 

His love switch got flipped.

He did a big ol’ about face. 

Talk about character whiplash.

Firstly he didn’t muck about in this book. He was straight up ready for some Maren time in her bum-fuck , Costa Rica cottage.

Growl!

Goodness me.

I think Maren was equally surprised by Steele's proposition.

“If you think my hard-on has nothing to do with you, then you’re deluded.”

Her mouth gaped open as he pushed past her and stalked from the room.

“Ooo-kay,” she murmured.

Not what she’d expected him to say at all.

He wants Maren out of his system, so what does the big guy go and do, get himself some Maren, then realize he wants another helping. 

But, shiz doesn’t go according to plan and poor Maren finds herself being courted, villain style by a baddie.

A bit of a nutter, really.

Minion caveman Carlos throws her over his shoulder and whisks her away to his evil masters lair.

This news does not make Steele a happy man. Just when he was letting his big warrior-man wall down, he could lose the woman he wants to ... well, he has to sort through those feelings, but he wants to do something.

This is Steele the man who will die for his team, his life is his team. He has sat back and watched babies popping out of the Kelly boy's wives.

The ice-man is in trouble.

He stepped back, making a sudden decision, one that had been nagging him for days. He’d sworn that he’d have that one night with Maren and never look back. But he wanted to see her again. She was becoming an obsession and he didn’t do obsession. The only thing he’d ever been obsessed with was his job.

But now he was overwhelmed with the urge to see her again. He wanted to touch her, feel her against his skin, inhale her scent and lose himself in her arms for another night.

When Steele falls hard, it comes with all the accessories.

No mucking about.

I could read about all the lads in this series for a very long time. I am quite addicted to it. Maya knows how to write these lads badass and totally swoon worthy. She knows how to bring them down emotionally when it comes to the deserving women in their lives. She knows how to show us the lengths they will go to for the women in their lives.

I keep picking up the vibe that it will be Rusty and Sean at some stage. He is acting all growly around her with the decisions she is making about her future.

Rio is still my secret crush.

Hancock was a nice surprise. I think he is rather humma , humma. He has some layers we need to peel back.

And... we get to find out Steele’s first name. Yup! It’s a good one.

I love the humor that Maya injects into the series with how the lads talk to each other.

Renshaw caught up to Steel and cast a quick glance at Steele’s arm. “And you too, boss man. Looks like you have a boo-boo too.”


Donovan is next on the love train chopping block. Giddy Up!

After The Storm is Donovan’s book and I can't wait until January 2014 to read it. Boo! Too long to wait. Better start looking for the reservation list at my library. Took me long enough for my number to come up for this one. Why? Because this is an uber popular series. We all want to watch another big warrior get taken down by love.

Military men, strong women-in-distress, smexi monkey sex, growly men, protective men...makes for a great fictional escape.

Hooyah!

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - SWEET SURRENDER by MAYA BANKS - SWEET # 1 - EROTIC CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE - PENGUIN

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Penguin

Released: Available Now

Details : Paperback from library, 344 Pages

RATING: 4.5 RAWRRR GRAYSON, MICAH & DAMON STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Under Faith Malone's deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants: a strong man who'll take without asking - because she's willing to give him everything...

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner and bring him to justice. So far, he's found a link between the killer and Faith - and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.

Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she's playing games. No way would she allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?

Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it's no game she's playing. She's willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner's killer has to be his first priority - until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her..


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am a huge fan of Maya Banks’s, KGI series. I love her writing style it keeps the pages turning. I thought I would have a lookie at her erotic romance series.

YOWZER!!

Grayson Montgomery, Dallas cop, has lost his partner Alex, his best friend. He was shot down, murdered. Alex’s father Mick is more hindrance than help. He is a father who is hurting and wants answers and the killer of his son. He enlists Gray to help him out. He has a lead and he wants Gray to find Alex’s killer.

Gray’s link to the killer is through Faith.

Faith is a young woman very unsettled in her sex life. She has no idea that Gray is tapping her phone at work, listening in on her calls, all in the name of justice.

Micah and Nathan work for Pop’s security company. Connor is Pop’s son and he too works for Malone and Sons Security. Mick wangles Grayson a job with Pop, so he can go undercover and bring his sons’s killer down.

Nathan is a gorgeous character. He grabbed me as more of the fun character who gets some stick from Micah.

“Do you get naked when you go?” Nathan asked, as if the idea had just occurred to him.

She snorted. “As if I’d tell you.”

“C’mon, Faith. Give a guy a bone.”

She grinned. “Want me to call Julie and have her hook you up with a complete package?”

He stared suspiciously at her. “I’m not so sure about this. I might get my penis revoked by the league of manly men if this shit ever gets out.”

Connor can only think of Faith as a sister, even though Pop only adopted her later in life.

Now, Micah....yowzer! I will say no more. Well maybe just this.

Just as she neared bursting , he pulled away, leaving her aching with need. Then he moved his lips to hers and kissed her softly. “If he tosses you out of his apartment, he’s a damn fool.”

He touched her cheek with his finger as she sought to control her erratic breathing.

“I hope you find what it is you want,” he said. “But if you don’t, you know where to find me.”

Enter Damon. Gahhh!! with a side order of yowzer. I am very intrigued by this lad. He has a Christian Grey type personality. I will say no more.

Back to Grayson.

For the first two thirds of the book it is more playful, feeling each other out, Gray doing his snooping about in the name of justice, of course..... but...then...YOWZER!!!

Let’s just say things heat up considerably and you get to meet the real Grayson.

* fans oneself *

I thought the plot surrounding the killer could have been more detailed in this story. I really enjoyed this book and I know Maya can bring the smexi as I have read her KGI series and those lads in that series are all very rawrrrr. As this is a suspense I would have liked more of that side of it in the story line.

I certainly got some surprises with Micah and Gray and I am left super intrigued by Damon.

Bring . On. Sweet Persuasion...that be Damon's book. Sounds like it is a rather YOWZER read!

I may have over used the word Yowzer, lol!

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - SHADES OF GRAY by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 6 - BERKLEY - 5 P.J. KICKASS STARS!

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details: Library , Paperback , 282 Pages PLUS BONUS - Softly At Sunrise - 103 Pages - Novella

RATING: 5 P.J KICKASS STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

P.J. and Cole were sharpshooting rivals on the same KGI team and enjoyed a spirited, uncomplicated camaraderie. Until the night they gave in to their desires and suddenly took their relationship one step further. In the aftermath of their one night stand, they’re called up on a mission that goes terribly wrong, and P.J. walks away from KGI, determined not to drag her teammates into the murky shadows she’s poised to delve into.

Six months later, Cole hasn’t given up his search for P.J., and he’s determined to bring her back home where she belongs. Bent on vengeance, P.J. is on a mission that will plunge her into a serpentine game of payback and make her question everything she’s ever believed in. Cole—and the rest of their team—refuse to let her go it alone. Even if it means sacrificing their loyalty to KGI and their very lives…

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle: 

I am not quiet about how much I LOVE the KGI series by Maya Banks. Maya knows how to bring grit, uber smexi moments and a bunch of lads that will fight for what they believe in. Family is uber important to them and the women in their lives, they will do anything to save the ones they love.

Anything!

Maya stepped it up with this instalment.

HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL did she put P.J. through the wringer.

WHAHHHHHHH!!

P.J. is a sniper and a damn good one. She holds her own with her team and has had to fight hard to be accepted in a male dominated field.

The old P.J. would already be in his face and would have knocked him on his ass. The new P.J. ...

Fuck it. There was nothing wrong with the old P.J.


Working for KGI has opened up her eyes to how hard she had to work for acceptance when she was in S.W.A.T.

The shiz went down with fellow S.W.A.T. team members and she is very thankful Steele took her on.

I just love the Kelly boys and all the other team guys, soooo much. They live dangerously and they fall heavily for the woman that crosses their path. They can get any woman, but when THE WOMAN enters their life, it is all over red rover.

And, you wouldn’t want to touch their women.

You wouldn’t want to F-Bomb ( I'm being polite) with one of their team members. 

P.J. has been given an assignment that goes soooo terribly wrong, that even as the reader you can feel how awful her situation is. You can hear it and you are sitting in a closed confined space with the lads, gripping your book, and we are all going nuts wanting her out of there.

But we are all too late. 

Dang, that was a powerful chapter. Terrible for P.J. but Maya brought it with her words. You really feel this chapter.

I think the villains have been the most horrendous bad guys to date in this series. 

“We’ll get you to the hospital,” Donovan said. “You won’t hurt much longer.” 

He was wrong. So very wrong. She couldn’t imagine ever not hurting. Some hurts were so deep, beneath the skin. Soul deep. 



“None of us are leaving her,”Steele said tightly. 

“Hell no,” Dolphin muttered. 

“We live as a team and we die as a team,” Steele said. 

Cole aka Coletrane aka David Coltrane is a brilliant character. We only see him in the previous books in the series bantering with P.J. and the two of them trying to out do each other.

War of the words. 

“Sorry I’m late, darlin’,” Cole drawled. “Who are your little friends?”

She stiffened in shock, her mouth falling open. Cole covered her lapse by pressing his lips to hers and giving her a long, lingering, toe-curling kiss. 

.... He drew away, amusement sparkling in his blue eyes. His hair had gotten a little longer than his normal neat cut, so it was spiky on top, aided no doubt by what looked like hair gel. She’d have to give him shit over that later. 

... She had to admit, he looked like a total badass. He dwarfed her and was a good two inches taller than Derek, who was the tallest of his trio. And his biceps bulged and strained against the tight short sleeves of the T-Shirt.

She couldn’t have planned this any better. His timing was impeccable.

“Cole, this is asshole number one, two and three.” 



Cole’s eyes suddenly widened when two girls in either corner hopped up on an elevated step and began to do a slow striptease.

“Rutherford, are you a lesbian?”

She choked on her beer and then sat forward, letting her feet drop off the table and onto the floor with a clunk. She tipped back her hat so she could look him square in the eyes.

“What the hell kind of question is that?”

He gave her a quelling stare. “You’re in a strip joint. What else am I supposed to think?”

“You’re an idiot.”

He gave her a mock wounded look. “Come on, P.J. Throw me a bone here. Tell me you aren’t a lesbian. Or at least crush me gently.”

“You’re ruining my downtime.”

“Well, if this is downtime, let’s do it up right. Want to do some shots? Or are you afraid I’ll drink you under the table?”

Her brows went up. “You did not just challenge me.”

He gave her a smug smile. “I believe I did. First round’s on me.”

“They’re all on you since this is your idea.”

“Okay, but I’m guessing you can’t get past three.”

“Blah, blah. I’m hearing a lot of talk and no action.” 


“Aren’t you military boys supposed to be prepared for anything? You never know when you’ll need to have end-of-the-world sex.”

“Hmmm, now there’s an idea. Let’s have sex like the world’s going to end tomorrow.”

She pulled him down in a hot, mind-numbing kiss. “You talk too much.” 



Holy crap. The man was gorgeous. Absolutely lickable. Broad shoulders, muscled biceps, a lean, very toned abdomen and my oh my was he stacked in all the right places.

“Jesus, P.J. quit staring. You’re going to give me a complex.” 

In this installment we get Cole getting all up in everybody’s faces , even his superiors, even Steele. Cole has taken this personally and he is mad as a hog tied to a burning tree.

Steele, the man of ..errr... steel, emotionally, even he is rattled.

Maya just takes us there.

She brings it.

Even Steele had trouble with this one. 

“Hooyah,” Dolphin said quietly. 

Steele looked like he wanted to hit somebody. Cole stared challengingly at him because right now he’d love a good fight. Steele was rattled, and he didn’t often get rattled, but Cole didn’t give a shit. 


All the lads bring so much to this series. I want a book from them all. We get more of Dolphin in this book which makes me think we may be getting a book from him down the track.

When P.J. and Cole left the security gate in Nashville, P.J. groaned when she saw Dolphin standing a short distance away holding a sign that said P.J. in big letters. Smart-ass. She’d usually have fun with it and give him some shit, but not today. 

He grinned when he saw both her and Cole and then started in their direction. He was the epitome of cocky good ole boy. He was originally from Texas and he had the worn cowboy look down without actually looking like he was right off the ranch. 

More often than not he wore jeans with at least half a dozen holes, flip-flops that made him look like he was heading to the beach and a T-shirt, usually with a snarky saying. Today’s offering was “Heavily armed, easily pissed.” 

Damn but she wanted that T-shirt. 

Man, the grit and determination in this book is very powerful. Maya still puts her humor in there, but she has injected a lot of deep , tough emotion in this one too.

Cole is exceptional, going from the lad that bantered with P.J. to this fearless protector. Even though P.J. can hold her own, in this instalment she needs holding.

OMG! 

His eyes softened. “I’ll always have your back, P.J. You’ll never have to look far to find me.”


“But you’re my mess,” Cole said quietly. “ I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be you because that’s who I care about.” 

These two are a fave couple of mine as I still feel like there is more to come from them. Maybe a novella? What happens in this instalment, like in Rachel’s story with Ethan, needed that novella, that HEA for the woman who went through so much. 

Watching P.J. have to reverse some of her hardcore attitude and realize she has a set of boobs and she is a woman underneath all that macho act, is quite something to read.

All I can say is, I wouldn’t want to be on P.J’s receiving end , cause this woman is on a mission of vengeance and she is out to extract every last drop of it.

But, even she needs a hand.

Bloody brilliant instalment in the KGI series.

Bloody suspenseful and tough.

Bring on Forged in Steele # 7 , due for release 25th June 2013 

“And that’s the law according to Steele.”

P.J. smiled. “He’s a total badass. I love that about him.”

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - SOFTLY AT SUNRISE by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 5.5 - NOVELLA

By: Maya Banks
Published By: Maya Banks
Released: Available Now
Details : Kindle, 132 Pages

RATING: 4.5 RACHEL ROCKS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Rachel Kelly has traveled a long, hard road in her journey back to her husband, Ethan, and the Kelly family. Now, as she and Ethan are poised to move into their new home, safe behind the walls of the Kelly compound, Rachel wonders if she’ll finally be free of the ghosts that have haunted her for so long and if she’ll step into the sun after a past steeped in darkness.


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle: 

I am having such a great time reading this series. The Kelly brothers and the other team members just kick major story. They love hard, they fight hard and they are 100% there for each other.

I LOVE reading novella’s and this one was brilliant. It felt like a book. I love Rachel and Ethan. I love that Maya knows realistically that what Rachel went through can’t be all parcelled up in one book. They have a relationship that more storyline was begging to be told.

Rachel is all ready for the move, I totally agree with her. I would be high tailing it out of the old home that held so many difficult memories to a place where she feels safe and can start fresh.

Leave the bad memories, lock the door and open the new one.

It certainly doesn’t clear the memory bank, but it is a start in the right direction to healing quicker. The walls in the old home were still reminding her of Ethan and what they had lost. They were lucky enough to get a second chance.

“I’ll be fine, Ethan. I have you now.”

That one statement. Just those simple words had the power to undo him. He had to close his eyes to prevent himself from completely breaking down and unmanning himself.

“Yes, you have me now,” he said hoarsely, so choked up that he could barely get the words out.

Rachel has a very realistic danger she must face in this novella. I was like whahhhhhhh!!! A horrific incident in the news, is still fresh in my mind and having Rachel in that same type situation was very commanding and 3D.

Very frightening.

Very real.

I love what else happens in this novella .......

It would be her moment in the sun after a long sojourn in the shadows.

After reading a sneak peek of Shades Of Gray at the end of both # 5 and # 5.5 , both different teasers, I am like BRING.ON. Shades of Gray,P.J and Coltraine’s story.

Woot!

Then sadly I am fresh out of books until Forged In Steele # 7, the man of few words, Steele’s story.

I was rather enjoying the marathon binge on this series. Now I gotta wait.

Bummer!

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - ECHOES AT DAWN by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 5 - BERKLEY

By: Maya Banks

Published by : Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details : Paperback from library, 307 Pages

RATING: 4.25 RIO & HIS 101 LESSON IN....... O.M.G! STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

They live by night.

Grace Peterson is desperate, in hiding, and on the run after escaping a shadowy group determined to exploit her extraordinary ability to heal others. Her only lifeline—an unerring telepathic ability she shares with her sister—has been severed, leaving her alone and vulnerable. And time is fast running out...

Enlisted to bring Grace home is Rio, relentless member of the KGI. He’s unprepared for his reaction to this wounded, damaged woman, and he’s fiercely determined to protect her from those who nearly destroyed her. In Rio, she finds a safe haven, and for the first time...hope. But the mission is far from over. The danger Grace has eluded is fast closing in. And now it’s pitching two lovers toward an unfamiliar horizon, with no place left to hide.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

Dang I love this series. The action, the loves, the suspense, the lads, the women who all earn the respect of the guys and how much they value them and the banter between the lads and also P.J. 

I always look forward to getting my little reserve in from the library. I high tail it down and can't wait to crack it open.

Rio has been a quiet fave of mine since embarking on this series. He didn’t always have a lot to say, but when he did he was a very comforting guy when it came to the Kelly boys women.

Always reliable and loyal.

I wanted to know more about this guy whose background even the KGI boys didn’t know about. I want him to call me ‘honey’ J

“Honey (melts), the floor of my house is far superior to a lot of the places I’ve slept in the past.” 

Who is Rio?

Is it his real name?

Grace Peterson, just like her sister Shea , is wanted. I like Grace, she has such strength and an inner warrior inside her, but she can also be self conscious, unknowing of her beauty.

She was only in a simple pair of white cotton panties, but she rocked them like they were Victoria’s Secret’s sexiest lingerie.

But what does the villain of this story want with Grace?

Is she to be used in a power game of politics and war?

Rio took one look at Grace on the security footage and that was enough to get this tough guy to wave his arm in the air and take on his team, the mission to rescue Grace and bring her to safety.

When she reopened her eyes, to Rio’s dismay, they were glossy with tears. Oh hell. If she started crying, he was so fucked. 


“There’s nothing at all to say, Grace. You’re mine. You’ve been mine from the beginning. You never stood a chance once I decided that I was going to be the man who brought you home.” 


“You’re mine,” he repeated again. “We’re going to get there, Grace. Where ‘there’ is, I’m not altogether sure yet, but we’re going to get there together.”

But where is safe?

I enjoyed watching Rio fess up to his past and what has come back to haunt him.

Grace is as tough as Shea, maybe more so as she has a more valuable power.

But it can also kill her.

Diego is gorgeous, I really like him and Terrence, the man mountain, the gentle giant, when around Grace he calls her , ‘Miss Grace.’

Diego had gone for a swim and Grace had gotten quite a view of the man in swim trunks. From the looks of him, he maintained a tight fitness regimen. Not that the other men could ever be considered lacking in the physique department, but Diego was ... He was beautiful to look at.


Terrence had ambled through after Diego, wearing a muscle shirt and gym shorts. Her eyes had bugged at the huge tree trunks he had for arms. Hell, his muscles had muscles. He didn’t walk so much as he swaggered and not from innate cockiness. No, the man was simply so big that he just sort of swayed when he moved.

Giddy up!

P.J is always funny with what comes out of her mouth. She is feminine but she is also one of the guys.

“Hello , sweetheart. I hear we’re off on a lover’s retreat to bum fuck Alaska.”

Rio chuckled. “And may I say how lovely you look, P.J.”



“Got one,” P.J called. “Motherfucker is ball-less and singing soprano.”

“Jesus, that woman is vicious ,” Joe muttered.

Just stand me in front of a Jet forced fan for that 101 Lesson in how to........ O.M.G! I will say, I have never read a 101 Lesson like that before, lol!

Goodness me!

Rio in playful mode is something to read.

He couldn’t help himself. He let out what might be the cockiest grin ever.

“Like what you see?” he drawled.


“I can’t imagine anyone else being so sweet and gentle. You’re an enigma, Rio. So hard on the outside, but you know what? I think you’re a giant fluffball inside.”

“Fluffball?”

He was horrified . Fluffball? Hell, if his men ever heard that, he’d be fucking toast. They would never, ever in a million years let him live it down.

And then if the other team, Steele’s team, got wind of it... It didn’t even bear thinking about. Steele would ride his ass hard for the next ten years.

Hehe, I did laugh out loud at Rio being referred to a 'fluffball', after reading that 101 Lesson.....he is no fluffball.

Pun intended.

*fans one self * 

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - WHISPERS IN THE DARK by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 4 - BERKLEY - 5 WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN STARS!!

By: Maya Banks
Published By: Berkley
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from library , 333 Pages

RATING: 5 WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN STARS!!!

Blurb: Goodreads

She came to him when he needed her the most

She came to him at his lowest point. The voice of an angel, a whisper in the dark. She’s the only thing that gets Nathan Kelly through his captivity, the endless days of torture and the fear that he’ll never return to his family. With her help, he’s able to escape. But he isn’t truly free, because now she’s disappeared and he’s left with an all-consuming emptiness as he struggles to pick up the pieces of his life. Did he imagine his angel? Or is she out there, needing his help as he’d once needed hers?

Now he rushes to save her before it’s too late.

Shea has been on the run from people who will stop at nothing to exploit her unique abilities. She never wanted to drag Nathan, who’d already suffered so much, into danger, but she doesn’t have a choice so she reaches out to him for help. Finally face-to-face after having already formed a soul-deep bond in hell, their emotional connection is even more powerful than their telepathic one. Nathan refuses to consider ever letting her go again, but she worries they can never have a life free of the dangers that dog her every step. He’ll protect her with his every breath, but can he convince her that they are meant to face these threats together?


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I do love this series. Maya Banks totally kicked it with this instalment. Nathan one of the twins has got himself in a load of violent trouble. He has been captured and is being tortured, brutally. He hears a voice in his head. The voice of a woman named Shea.

Shea ultimately is his saviour mentally and physically, getting him through his capture. I really like Shea. She is quite a character.

Sam and the boys do what they do best at KGI, they save people. Pull them out of hostage situations and hell would freeze over before their own flesh and blood was not saved. Nathan is getting rescued dead or alive.

The teams have been organized and they are going in with guns blazing.



“Nathan is family and so are you. No way we’d leave either of you without as much protection as we can muster, so shut the fuck up and let’s go blow the fuck out of those goatherding motherfuckers who have Nathan.

Donovan cracked a smile. “Yippee ki-yay.”

“Fuckin’ A.”

“Sarah’s been on you about your language, huh.”

Garrett snarled in response and then muttered a few more F bombs for good measure.

“Yeah , you better get them all out now because when you get back home, no more F words for you.”

“Fuck you, Van. Just fuck you.”


What will they find?

What has Nathan had to endure?

It was quite emotional for me reading those scenes as Maya lets Nathan take a lot of pain and the rest of his own team that was also captured.

This is quite a powerful read as lots going on, lots of action.

Lots of smexi!!

I love Swanny he is such a great guy. He understands Nathan. What they have been through. They know how to hang together. No questions need to be answered about their ordeal. They both lived it. There is a peace with them side by side.


“Well , what do you say we don’t make any life decisions for the next day or two at least,” Nathan said with a smile.

“You got a place to stay? I’m thinking the biggest decision we need to think about is what beer we want and whether we’re going to run out.”

..... “Cancel the hotel. I’ve got better accommodations here.”




He gestured at a tent toward the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake just beyond the frame of his house. “If you don’t mind rustic, plenty of fresh air and all the beer you can drink. Ma has made it her mission to make sure I never starve, so we can count on routine deliveries of food.”

“Home -cooked food and beer? And they say you can’t go to heaven without dying.”

Nathan sobered. No. But you could certainly go to hell without dying.



“Cut him some slack. He’s fighting for what’s left of his sanity,” Swanny cut in. “Death wasn’t the enemy. It was our salvation. Our hope. Because only then would we be able to escape our reality.”


“Swanny , it’s really you.”

The poor guy looked terrified by the tiny woman standing in front of him. He acted like he didn’t know whether to shit or go blind.

Then it is Shea’s turn to need help and there will be nothing standing in Nathan’s way ......well Sam and the boys may want to be included.

“Oh , come on,” Joe said. “You’re telling me the king nerd can’t get anywhere without a security clearance card?”

“Eat me,” Donovan growled. “This’ll take less time. Provided it works. If it doesn’t , we’ll just blow our way in.”

Joe grinned. “I like the way you think when you don’t have your head stuck in a computer.”

“I’m so kicking your ass when this is over.”


“Now wait just a goddamn minute,” Sam said in exasperation. “I don’t know who you two knuckleheads think you are or what you’re doing, but you don’t run this operation. And Steele damn sure won’t take orders from either one of you infants.


Nathan and Joe , we really only get them as Beavis and Butthead in the previous books and not much of them. In this one, we get lots of Nathan and his smexi is full on. He is absolutely gorgeous but at the same time he is really struggling with what happened to him.

Joe is having a hard time being shut out from the one person who he is the closest to. He has to give his twin space but he wants to invade that space and make it like it was before Nathan was captured.

Joe jammed his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. “Don’t pull this shit again, man. Swear to God, I’ll kick your fucking ass, and I don’t give a shit what kind of shape you’re in. You need my help, you goddamn ask for it.”

Nathan pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “I’m asking now.”

Joe punched him in the shoulder. “Okay then. That’s better. Now let’s get the fuck on the road so you can fill me in on everything. And I mean everything.”

“Not going to hug me?” Nathan mocked.

Joe gave him a look of disgust. “Garrett’s turned into an emotional wuss since hooking up with Sarah. I’ll let him do all the mamby-pamby shit. Besides , what you need is a swift kick in the ass. If you want a hug , go see Ma.”


Now he must help Shea. He needs to connect with her and help her. They have never met, but they forged a connection when Nathan was captured that is solid as a brick house.

But when they did meet..... it was a done deal.

He never has a shortage of women friends or even sexual partners. At least before his captivity. But none ever commanded this overwhelming insanity that seemed to grip him when he was with her. Hell, not even with her. All he had to do was think about her.



As soon as she said it, she knew she’d made a huge mistake because suddenly she was being stared down by one big, pissed-off mass of seething male. His fury enveloped her. Oh yeah, he was angry.

He grasped her shoulders and hauled her toward him until there was no space between them and their breaths mingled hotly on her lips. His nostrils flared , and to her shock, he crushed his mouth to hers.



“Everyone has accepted the inevitable except you. You’re it for me. They know it. I know it. It’s time you start believing it too. I’m not going to let anyone or anything change that. You’re mine. I’m yours. It’s as simple or as hard as we make it.”


Rio is such a fave of mine. I just checked and book # 5 is my boy Rio’s book. He has such a mystery about him. He also shows us a gentle side when he is around the ladies. A wall gets dropped and he always has something supportive to say to the ladies who have survived, been rescued. It’s only ever a few lines but it always makes me swoon over him.



“Thank you,” she said fiercely. “I’ll never be able to repay you for this. She means everything to me.”

Rio looked a little befuddled as he stepped away and extricated himself from Shea’s hold. Then he smiled down at her. “I can see why Nathan is so enchanted by you.”



Rusty is still trying something out. I do love her. Her little side kick parts are always amusing.



Joe tossed down his napkin and rose. “Beer sounds good. Baseball sounds even better.”

Rusty smiled impishly and darted a glance toward Frank. “Yeah , beer sounds great!”

Frank gave her a get-real look. “Very funny, young lady. You get lemonade.”

“Hey , I’m eighteen now! “

“And?” Marlene asked.



P.J and Cole, could Cole be any more obvious? Each book we are getting closer to a P.J and Cole book...woot!!!



“This is better than a romance novel,” P.J. said with a wistful sigh.

“You read that stuff?” Cole demanded.

... “Why the hell do you ask the question like that?”P.J. said, annoyance evident in her tone and expression.

“You just didn’t seem the type,” Cole mumbled.

She flipped him the bird, and Shea had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. P.J. was easily half Cole’s size but she also looked like she had the confidence to take on the much larger man. She might even kick his ass. The idea intrigued Shea greatly.

“I’m tempted to shove one of my romance novels up your ass,” P.J. said sharply. “But I love my book’s too much to desecrate them like that. I’ll settle for my boot.”

Cole held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t say another word. Romance novels are great. I love romance novels. I think everyone should read them.”


I love how the brothers all band together and have such wonderful family values and respect for the women that have entered their lives. They can be fiercely protective one minute and the biggest teddy bears with the women the next. They are all thirty and up in age but the inner little boy in them can’t help but come out to play when they are at home throwing the banter about and being lads.

“Quit looking like you just got a hand job from a drag queen,” Garrett muttered beside him.

“How the fuck do you know what I look like?” Donovan asked irritably . “It’s dark as shit out here.”

“Don’t need to see you to know you have that pinched, tight-ass look on your face....”



“It’s going to get interesting now. Keep your eyes peeled. Shoot first and don’t get your ass shot.”

“You have such a knack for stating the obvious,” Joe muttered as he broke into a run down the hall.



“You’ve got a hell of a lot of explaining to do , little man.”

Nathan punched Garrett in the gut. “Watch who you call little man.”

Garrett grinned and rubbed his abdomen. “Nice to see you haven’t wussed out on me in the last months. Was afraid you’d turn into a girl or something.”


I love the quotes I get from these books as Maya brings it with humour, emotion, smexi and action.

I am rather addicted to this series and can’t wait to devour another book. I literally inhale the words off the pages and feel very satisfied.

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - HIDDEN AWAY by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 3 - BERKLEY - 4.25 STARS!

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 319 Pages

RATING: 4.25 GARRETT & RIO STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :

I was very excited to start reading my big man mountain of a guys book, Hidden Away. I do love Garrett. He can be so gruff and then such a marshmallow with the ladies.

I am going to admit that this book for me personally, compared to Sam’s book, ‘No Place To Run’, really only caught me in the last  third.

I enjoyed this book, but Garrett’s story and his love Sarah, were not as engrossing as Sam ( somebody fan me) and Sophie’s.

Garrett is sent on a mission to watch Sarah on an island. He has some forced R & R. Watching a guy like Garrett on R & R isn’t the most compelling as he is such an action guy. Maya took us down a different route. It wasn’t all rescue and big guns.

Eventually we got to the rescue and big guns, lol!

* whispers* We also got to the hot, hot, hot smexi with my big man mountain.

I mean look at the cover. Garrett is phwoaaaarrrrrr!!! Look at those cannons of arm’s.

I am really digging Rio. What a surprise Rio turned out to be with his man pad.

“I showed you my breasts, for God’s sake,” she said in disgust.

He grinned , white teeth flashing. He was extraordinarily handsome and when he smiled, he transformed from dark warrior to someone with oodles of charm.

“And as a gentleman, I’ll not comment on how spectacular they were.”


I think I found Sarah’s character a bit wishy washy in this book. Just me personally as Rachel and Sophie were more empowering women I think. Don’t get me wrong, Sarah had it tough, but the delivery of her character wasn’t as engaging for me, personally.

Rusty, bless her. Trouble finds that girl. I am so glad the Kelly boys are starting to have a heart with her. I would love to know more about Rusty in each book. We get like a dash of her and she is begging to tell us her story. I think I may be right with Sean. Time will tell.

Sophie and her pregnant belly and the Kelly boys, love seeing the ‘shoot first ask questions later’ boys turn to mush around her and Rachel.

Garrett and Donovan are hilarious the way they speak to each other. Brothers who love each other but have such fun lines with each other.

“We have a problem,” Garrett began.

“We?” Donovan echoed. “I don’t see a ‘we’ in this equation.”

“Fuck you,” Garrett growled. “I need your help.”

Donovan sighed. “What else is new? What , did you forget your bathing suit? Oh wait, no, the sunblock right? Give me a minute. I’m actually mustering real sympathy for you here. I might even manage to squeeze out a tear or two.”



“You ever try changing a baby’s diaper while trying to save the world? It ain’t easy. These things need to come with instruction manuals.”

Garrett listened and cringed when he heard what sounded suspiciously like baby goo-goo nonsense coming from Donovan.

“You have lost your damn mind,” Garrett muttered.


Rio is becoming a fave of mine. I am looking forward to P.J and Cole’s story because that boy is showing too much interest. He tries to camouflage it, but little things peep through. 

Joe, not sure if he is Beavis or Butthead but he turns up and I am thinking we are going to get more of the twins in upcoming instalments.

Marlene may well have all her chicks home. Doesn't mean they won't be getting themselves into dangerous situations. But they will be where she can count them all.
FAVE QUOTES:

“What the hell is so funny?” he demanded. “Definitely not good for a man’s ego when a woman looks at his dick and laughs.”



“Watch your hand,” he said hoarsely. “I seem to have this problem around you.”

She chuckled softly and raised her head up again. “I wouldn’t have imagined , I mean not now. You have to be hurting so much.”

“I’m not dead,” he muttered. “And my dick isn’t particularly concerned with what the rest of my body’s feeling.”

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - NO PLACE TO RUN by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 2 - BERKLEY - 5 SWOON WORTHY SAM STARS

By: Maya Banks

Published By : Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 332 Pages

RATING: 5 SWOON WORTHY SAM STARS!

Blurb : Goodreads

The last person Sam Kelly expected to save was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercover and then she vanished. She's spent the last few months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her both her life and that of their unborn child. Now she's resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he's the one in danger.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am just sooooo in lurrrvvvveee with the lads in this series. Maya writes the Kelly brothers beautifully. Just so darn manly and strong, protective of what is theirs, but there is this layer underneath.

He was very afraid that when this was all over, he wouldn’t have proven himself worthy to her. 

I can get a bit teary reading some parts as Maya can really bring her writing into my heart.

Maya’s boys invade my heart, her ladies capture their men with their strength and pain. The ladies are such an equal match for these big guys. They have been hurt, have survived and learnt to love.

“It looks like someone beat the hell out of her, tried to choke her, and then shot her. Not necessarily in that order.”

Rusty breaks my heart all the time. I know I am supposed to be being annoyed by this teenager, but I can see from book one what Marlene and Frank saw. She is a scared kid who is in the background of the women who are coming into the brother’s lives. The Kelly boys don’t trust Rusty like Frank and Marlene.

There was a scene that had me swallowing lumps as Rusty has such a fear of losing a set of parents that have taken this broken scared bird under their wing and she could lose it all.


“If it weren’t for missing school, this would double blow,” she muttered. “At least the eye candy isn’t bad.”

Frank rolled his eyes and looked over at Marlene. “You see, this is why we didn’t have girls. They’re all hormonally deranged.”

“They believed in me. They’re the only people who ever gave a damn about me.”

Sam swallowed back his own tears and hugged her fiercely. It was the first time he’d ever reached out to Rusty in almost a year she’d been with his family. He and his brothers tolerated her much like a splinter. Annoying but there.


I am also getting a vibe about Sean and Rusty. Hmmm, I may be just seeing something that isn’t there.


Rusty curled her lip in Sean’s direction. “I don’t answer to you copper. Go eat a donut or something.”


Sean scowled. “I’ll keep the little twit in line.”


Marlene and Frank have such respect from their boys. Now Marlene and Frank need them more than ever. I can see where the boys get their personalities from.


“You’re my oldest, and I love you dearly but I have to say, you royally screwed up this time.”


Sam, I didn’t really get a feeling of Sam in book # 1, in this book , OMG! dear lordy the boy is beautiful and protective and just swoon worthy. 

Sam stepped out of the bathroom and rubbed the back of his neck. Sainthood. He deserved sainthood. Not only had he stood in the bathroom with a very gorgeous, very naked woman, but he’d calmly discussed getting her things like a bra and underwear without batting an eyelash.

Give him bombs, grenades, blood, guts and gore, but bras?

Jesus.

Now , where the hell was he going to get her a bra?



“Let me see her, Soph. I want to see my daughter. One moment where it’s just us. No distractions. No danger. Just you and me and our child.



Drawn by a power he didn’t understand, Sam lowered his head, inch by inch until his lips were just a breath away from that tiny little pitter-patter. He pressed his mouth in the gentlest of kisses even as he palmed both sides of Sophie’s belly to hold her in place.

The tiny kick against his lips had him smiling in sheer delight.

“She’s saying hello,” he said hoarsely.


Garrett was in my heart from book # 1 and he just keeps surprising me with his tenderness under all that big man mountain. He always has great lines in these books.

“Holy shit,” Donovan blew out.

“I’m with Van. This stinks like a road kill skunk,” Garrett said grimly.


“Garrett. Garrett!”

She raged at him, beating against his Kevlar vest in an attempt to get him to answer.

He groaned and rolled to his back, holding up his arms to fend her off.

“God , woman, are you trying to finish me off?”


“Because that’s what family does, “ He said in a soft pain-filled voice.


Maya really knows how to keep the pace dangerous and energetic, whether it is a smexi scene or a rescue scene. At the same time there is such tenderness from these big guys when they want to show you. They have such camaraderie with each other. I am including Rio and some of the other non blood family lads in this too.


“Look, I know you’re a suspicious bastard. I’m having my share of what-the-fuckitus at the moment myself, but until I hear what she has to say, I’m reserving judgment.”

Garrett had the grace to look a little abashed.



She raised her head to look at Rio. “Dolphin?”

Rio grinned. “Because he swims like one.”

“Why are you being nice to me?” she asked bluntly.

His eyebrow went up and he studied her for a moment.

“Why wouldn’t I be?’

She shrugged. “You don’t know me.”

“I think maybe you’re used to people not being very nice to you. Maybe it’s time to alter your expectations, hmm?”



Maya can just be plain funny with the non dangerous situations she puts her lads in.


There are three women in this house on a constant basis. Surely we can come up with a bra,” Sam muttered.

“Uh well Rusty and Rachel are smaller,” Donovan said, hedging. “Not that Sophie is like big or anything, but she’s bustier.”

It dawned on his brothers about the same time it did on Sam. Their faces contorted, and Garrett’s mouth flapped open and shut.

“Christ. That leaves Mom,” Sam said.

Garrett started backing away, hands out. “Oh no. Hell no. I’m not asking Ma for one of her bras. That’s just ... wrong.”

Donovan looked like he’d swallowed a bug, and then both he and Garrett stared at Sam.

“Your woman. You do it.”

Sam cleared his throat. “Rock, paper, scissors?”

“Fuck that,” Donovan snorted.

“You pussies.”

“You go. We’ll pay for your therapy later,” Garrett said.


Well hell,” he grumbled. “I’ve had plenty of practice getting women out of bras, but I can’t say I’ve ever helped a woman into one.”


She wrinkled her nose at the bra. “God, it’s one of those torture devices. One of those thirty-six hour jobs or whatever they’re called.”

Sam laughed . Even he’d heard enough television commercials to know there were eighteen-hour bras. But who the hell would want to stay in such a barbaric contraption for eighteen hours? Those things weren’t for sissies.

* whispers* next book 'Hidden Away' , is Garrett's .......... .....EEEeeeeEeeeeee!!!

Lol!! I do laugh everytime Maya refers to the twins as Beavis and Butthead. OOooOO can't wait for more of those two, after all they are nearly 30 = smexi times! Woot!!

Give me a Maya Banks book any day of the week. I am addicted to this series. 

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - THE DARKEST HOUR by MAYA BANKS - KGI # 1 - BERKLEY SENSATION - 4.5 KELLY BOYS STARS!

By: Maya Banks

Published By: Berkley

Released : Available Now

Details : Paperback from Library, 290 Pages

RATING: 4.5 KELLY BOYS STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can’t…

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he’s built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am invested in this series. I knew it after the third chapter. The six Kelly brothers come with rock-hard bodies and intelligence to back them up. They are not just a set of pretty boys, they can back their looks up with skill and a well oiled , planned mission.

Sam, Donovan aka Van, Garrett ( the mean looking one who actually is a softie when you get to know him), Ethan and twins Nathan and Joe make up the Kelly boys.

This is a tight family. Most of them are involved in the Kelly Group International , a super-elite, top secret, family run business. They essentially snatch and grab kidnapped individuals and return them to their loved ones.

This mission is too close to home. Rachel, Ethan’s dead wife appears to be alive and not well , held in captivity in a jungle with armed men.

Ethan must convince his brothers to take him on this mission that is haunting him.

Is he really being given a second chance?

The rescue with help from team members Steele, Rio, P.J. and the brothers, minus Nathan and Joe who are not part of KGI, go in. This would appear the easy part for Ethan, getting his wife out alive.

But is she well?

What trauma has she been through?

What trauma was she leaving behind when she embarked on her volunteer mission?

Why was her death faked?

Marlene and Frank, the boy’s parents have their own mission, her name is Rusty, a sixteen year old homeless thief, who is a bit of a computer whiz.

I have to admit, Rusty and Marlene made me a bit teary.

The boys have not received Rusty into the fold as easily as Marlene and Frank.

Rusty is feeling unworthy and jealous of Rachel and the love all the Kelly family showers on Rachel.

Garrett is simply gorgeous, his nickname for Rachel is ‘sweet pea’, this coming from a big , mean looking man who is packing muscle and knows how to use the business end of a gun is what will win you over with Garrett.

Rachel is a survivor.

Ethan has been given a second chance and he is going to do it right this time round.

Rusty , me thinks she is going to be getting herself into some emotional trouble before she earns her stripes with the Kelly boys.

Love and trust are earned, something Rusty doesn’t know much about.

Fast paced, action packed, smexi men who know how to fight for their family because nobody f&*^%s with the Kelly’s and gets away with it.

This series is a real page turner and I found them quick reads , simply because you can’t put them down. 

Oh and the smexi..... * waggles eyebrows *

I’m invested J

Michelle