Kept (The Enforcers #3) by Maya Banks-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
KEPT
The Enforcers #3
by Maya Banks
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM /
About the book: Release Date October 25, 2016
He can’t change who he is…
A horrific childhood has made Silas the man he is today: dangerous, distrustful, and demanding. He’s lived in self-imposed solitude, convinced that no woman could ever accept his need for absolute control—in business and pleasure. That is, until a young violinist walks into one of his buildings and into his life.
She can’t change what she wants…
Haley has been struggling to fulfill her father’s dying wish: to attend a prestigious music school in New York City. But even working two jobs, she can’t afford the tiniest of apartments. Seeing her hopeless and near tears, Silas vows to help and protect her, no matter the cost to himself. But when Haley meets his every demand with unwavering acceptance and love, he is overwhelmed by her goodness and gentle spirit. He knows that the dark stain on his soul can never be erased—and rather than risk destroying the most beautiful thing he’s ever experienced, he knows he’ll have to do the hardest thing he’s ever had to face. Let her go. But he’s totally unprepared for the lengths Haley will go to fight for his love and a future brighter than the sun…
••••••••••
Kept begins with Haley down on her luck and needing to find a new place to live. She happens into a building that had a vacancy, but it was too expensive. To her complete and utter shock, the manager contacts her to let her know they had a vacancy open up in her price range. Haley moves in almost immediately and continues working all hours and practicing the other hours. She squeezes in some sleep when she can but has vowed to make it, not only for herself, but to make her dad proud and fulfill his dream for her.
Silas knows the moment he sees Haley that things are about to change. Once he hears the soothing sounds of her violin in the wee hours of the morning, he quickly starts to look forward to it…night after night. However, when Haley decides to bake some goodies as a thank you for her elusive neighbor, who just happens to own the building, neither are prepared for the life changing series of events that follows.
Kept is a nice addition to the Enforcer series, but I was a little disappointed. Haley’s character was well written. I loved that she was in the city attending school, working and owning her life. Yes, she was a little naïve about some things, but she was on her own and making it work. I’ve loved Silas since book one of this series. Even though he technically works for Drake, he really answers to no one. He was an enigma and chose to throw in with Drake and his team, all of whom are his chosen family. He had a horrible childhood with horrible parents, but somehow survived to become a force to be reckoned with. His relationship with Haley was “instant” attraction, but it wasn’t “instant” sex, thank God! They really did navigate their relationship in an almost normal fashion….almost. This is a Banks romance novel, by the way. Where it fell a little short for me was, believe it or not, was the way he treated Haley. Yes, he was accommodating, protective and loving, but the fact that he called her princess really grated on my nerves. It was like he was talking to a three year old. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I love Maya Banks, and just expected a bit more from him and his story. He also made some of the same mistakes that Drake had made, which grated a little more. I was expecting, and wanting, more from him. With all of that said, I really did like the book. The problem for me was that I didn’t love it. If you’re a Maya Banks fan, you’ll like it as well. I do look forward to the next in the series. The secondary characters were well written and I think they’ll have a lot to say. Well done, Maya Banks!
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Mastered
Dominated
Kept
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
Reviewed by Vickie M
Tears glittered and clung to her eyelashes.
I’m going to make it, Dad. Just like I promised. I’ve found a place I can afford to rent. I can continue school like you and Mom wanted. One day you’ll see me playing with a prestigious symphony. This is all for you, Dad. For all you sacrificed for me. I only wish you were here to see me the first time I play with a symphony.
A fierce ache besieged her chest and she rubbed, blinking furiously to rid herself of the tears that burned her eyes. It was hard to accept that her biggest—only—supporter was gone. First her mom, whom she’d lost when she was but a child, but Hayley still clung to the fleeting memories she had of her mother. Every time she looked in the mirror she saw her mother’s face. As her father often fondly remarked, she was the picture of her mother.
It was bad enough to lose one parent. Why did she have to lose both? The only two people she had in the world?
She leaned forward in the seat when she saw that they were approaching the street where her current residence was located.
“You can let me off at the corner,” she said to the driver, who hadn’t uttered a single word during the ride. “I’ll walk from there. It’s not far and the rain has stopped.”
The man glanced in the rearview mirror, obviously staring intently at her, though she couldn’t see his eyes behind the shades he wore despite the overcast day.
“I would feel better if I dropped you in front of your building,” the man said, surprising her with the firmness of his statement.
Hayley smiled. “No, it’s okay, truly. I’d like to walk so I can clear my head. It’s been an eventful morning.”
His lips tightened but he didn’t argue further as he pulled to the corner and glided to a halt. When she would have opened her door to duck out, he sent her a look of reprimand that froze her in her tracks. He got out and unhurriedly stepped around the car to open the passenger door not facing the street.
She smiled at him again, ruefully this time, and offered her thanks, squeezing the hand he’d offered to help her out. To her shock, the staid, somber man’s lips turned into a semblance of a smile, only the corners slightly tipping up.
“It was my pleasure,” he offered formally before once more returning to the driver’s seat.
Seconds later the car melted away into traffic and Hayley turned to walk the half block to her apartment, shaking her head at the most unexpected turn of events the day had offered.
Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin
Random House Company. Copyright © Maya Banks, 2016.
Follow Maya: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
My name is Maya Banks and I live in Texas with my husband and three children and our assortment of pets.
When I’m not writing, I love to hunt and fish with my family. We all love the outdoors and go on family hunting trips every year. We also love to travel. One of our more recent trips was to Scotland, which was every bit as comical as National Lampoon’s European Vacation. You know the part about “Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament” as they went round and round the roundabouts? Yeah, that was us, only we couldn’t even get out of the airport in Glasgow without hitting three of those suckers.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of a writing career is getting to meet so many wonderful readers. There’s nothing better than dishing books with someone who loves the romance genre as much as I do. Romance readers are passionate and vocal. We love our books, love our happily ever afters, and we love to spend time talking to others about our favorites. THIS is why I love my job so much, and I’m so grateful to readers who gave ME a chance when I began my career. So thank you.
Maya’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of KEPT to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.
2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.
NOTE: If you are having difficult commenting after logging onto the website, please refresh the page at the top of your computer.
3. Follow MAYA BANKS on Facebook.
4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS
5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.
6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.
7. Giveaway is open to USA only
8. Giveaway runs from November 3-7, 2016
