DEADLY OBSESSION by April Hunt-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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DEADLY OBSESSION (Steele Ops #1) by April Hunt-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 30, 2019

Someone is watching their every move.

After a lifetime spent in and out of hospitals, Zoey Wright is tired of playing it safe. She’s ready to take charge of her own life and get out of her comfort zone, starting with a new job as a CSI agent. But when her childhood crush Knox Steele gets pulled onto her case, Zoey needs to put her feelings for him aside or more women will die at the hands of the serial killer preying on her hometown.

Former Army Ranger Knox Steele is back in Washington to help his brothers open an elite private security firm. He never expected to stumble onto a crime scene, or see his best friend’s little sister working it. Zoey is all grown up now, and the attraction between them is electric, despite his best efforts to resist it. But all that changes for Knox when he realizes the victims have one thing in common . . . and Zoey might be next.

•••••••••••

REVIEW:  DEADLY OBSESSION is the first instalment in April Hunt’s contemporary, adult STEELE OP romantic suspense focusing on the Steele family. This is CSI investigator Zoey Wright, and former Army Ranger Knox Steele’s story line.

Told from several third person perspectives including Zoey and Knox DEADLY OBSESSION follows the best friends’ little sister/ forbidden relationship between CSI investigator Zoey Wright, and former Army Ranger Knox Steele. Two years earlier Knox returned State side when a military mission went all to h*ll but in that two years Knox refused to go home believing himself unworthy. With his brothers’ insistence, Knox comes back to Washington DC to help set up their new security business, a business Knox wants no part of now or in the future. Rekindling his friendship police officer Cade Wright brings our hero face to face with the woman who has starred in all of his fantasies and dreams but a woman off limits by way of friendship and love. When a serial killer ups his MO, and the victims resemble our story line heroine Knox makes it his mission to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the friends to lovers relationship between Knox and Zoey, and the potential fall-out when Zoey is targeted by a twisted mind.

Zoey Wright has struggled most of her life with cardiac issues. Several surgeries and an over-protective brother meant Zoey found herself surrounded by protectors including the man with whom she will fall in love. Knox Steele hadn’t planned at sticking around but threats against the woman that called to his heart meant Knox wasn’t willing to risk the people he loved.

The relationship between Zoey and Knox is forbidden by a friendship, a promise and threats against Knox’s life. Zoey and Knox have lusted after one another from afar but Zoey’s brother Cade is unwilling to let go of the alpha attitude when it comes to protecting his little sister. Knox knows his time in DC comes with a deadline but he is willing to go after and protect the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Zoey’s brother, police officer Cade Wright, as well as Knox’s brothers: retired Navy man Liam , retired Marine Ryder and US soldier Roman, as well as their cousin FBI agent Grace Steele; Zoey’s doctor Phillip Samuel; Lieutenant Mason, and ADA Francine Smoke. Cade and Grace’s story line is next in LETHAL REDEMPTION.

The world building followed several paths including the building relationship between Zoey and Knox; the fractured family dynamics between the Steele brothers, as well as the hunt for a killer whose ultimate target and infatuation is our story line heroine.

DEADLY OBSESSION is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and obsession. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the characters are broken but strong, energetic and colorful; the romance is captivating and passionate. DEADLY OBSESSION is a suspenseful and thrilling story to a new series by April Hunt.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

She tilted her face to the cloudless night sky. “I’ll stay here and enjoy the stars.”
“Don’t fall overboard.” He gestured toward a cushioned bench. “Maybe you should sit until I get back.”
Zoey plopped down on the seat and caught Knox’s satisfied nod. “I’m not sitting because you told me to sit. I’m just trying to get the feeling back in my toes.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t care why you’re sitting as long as it means I’m not fishing you out of the river.”
Zoey wrinkled her nose at his back and watched him disappear below deck. Yawning, she tucked her legs beneath her body and got comfy. Her eyes drooped closed until something brushed her cheek once, then twice.
With an irritated huff, she batted at the offending nuisance. “Go away. Sleeping.”
“I can see that.” A husky voice cut through her dream state. “But you need to wake up, sleepyhead. Stay curled up like that much longer and you’re not going to be able to move for a week.”
Zoey peeled open her eyes and came nose to nose with Knox. She jumped, startled, and crashed the top of her head into his chin with a loud crack.
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries. I didn’t need a movable jaw anyway.” Knox slid his jaw side to side, barely hiding a grimace. “Shit. Your brother wasn’t lying when he said you’re hardheaded.”
“Ha. Ha. And to think I almost cared about hurting you.” Zoey ambled to her feet, but on her first step, her legs gave out, attacked by pins and needles.
Despite having been assaulted by her hard head, Knox quickly banded a supportive arm around her waist. “You okay?”
“Sea legs. I didn’t mean to maul you.”
Knox’s watch ticked, emphasizing the sudden awkward silence. Her hands automatically flexed on his arms. That same scent of pine and spice invaded her nose, and she took another involuntary whiff.
“Are you going to deny smelling me now?” His chest vibrated with his husky question.
Zoey forced a lump down her dry throat. “No. You smell really, really good.”
Knox’s gaze flickered down to her mouth, stealing her breath. A rush of thoughts and choices swirled through her head in one jumbled mess. It was difficult to pick out any single one…except the desperate need to feel his lips against hers.
“We should get you home,” Knox announced.
But he didn’t move.
Neither did Zoey. Her heart thumped hard behind her sternum, and led her to making a very un-Zoey-like decision.
For as long as she could remember, she’d always played things safe, did the smart, responsible thing, and kept her distance from anything that could end in crushing disappointment.
Stepping so far out of her comfort zone as to kiss Knox Steele definitely risked a severe, crushing blow to her pride. But suddenly, she didn’t care.
Skating her palms from his biceps to his broad shoulders, she admitted, “I don’t think I’m ready to go home.”
Knox sucked in a slow, deep breath. “This isn’t a smart idea, angel. For a lot of reasons.”
“I’m sick and tired of always doing the smart thing, Knox.” Zoey’s subconscious spoke its piece…aloud.
Zoey swallowed her nerves. Lifting onto her toes, she brushed her lips against Knox’s once, then twice before taking his bottom lip in a gentle nibble.
He didn’t kiss her back.
He didn’t deepen the embrace.
She’d scared the man immobile.
A tsunami of embarrassment flooded over her as she un-fused her lips from his. She’d barely taken a breath when something snapped…changed. Like the veracity of a lightning strike, one large hand slipped into her hair, and hungrily guided her mouth back for a claiming of his own.
Suddenly, Zoey was pressed up against Knox’s hard chest, her fingers clutching his shoulders like a lifeline. She couldn’t feel enough…touch enough. This is had been one of her best-kept fantasies for so long and she was finally experiencing it.
And enjoying the heck out of it.
Knox’s tongue swept against hers and she was more than happy to reciprocate. She returned with as much as he gave, standing in the middle of his boat, oblivious to the world around them.
This was him devouring her.
This was her devouring him.
This was heady, in-the-heat-of-the-moment lust…and the most uncontrolled thrill she’d ever experienced in her life.

April Hunt’s Publisher  (Forever Romance) is offering a paper copy of  DEADLY OBSESSION to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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23 thoughts on “DEADLY OBSESSION by April Hunt-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway”

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