Tag Archives: Killer Instincts

Killer Instincts (Assassins in Love 1)by Tawna Fenske-Review Tour

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Killer Looks / Killer Instincts (Assassins in Love .5 & 1) by Tawna Fenske-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 7 2022.

He’s a hired gun. A hardened killer. So how’d he end up bottle-feeding lambs for his best friend’s sister?

Dante didn’t set out to deceive. His favor for a pal in prison got him this farmhand job, and Jen needs help guarding more than her blueberries. Someone’s set on hurting her, and he’ll make damn sure they don’t. She can’t know who sent him or why he’s handier with a handgun than a hoe. But none of that matters more than keeping Jen safe.

To save the girl, he’ll have to pair old skills with new. A princess tea party and an old-fashioned gunfight? Why not. Grape stomping and grenades? Sign him up.

But as the enemy closes in, there’s one skill Dante finds he doesn’t have: The strength to walk away when the job is done.

••••••

REVIEW:KILLER INSTINCTS is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE erotic, romantic suspense series. This is assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello’s story line.

NOTE: For fans of Tawna Fenske, there is a slight cross over with the author’s PONDEROSA RESORT series.This is NOT a rom-com…there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have titled this story as a rom-com.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Dante and Jen) KILLER INSTINCTS follows the building romance and relationship between assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello. Jennifer Bello needs to hire a handyman, a farmhand to help with the upkeep at the family owned winery but her ex-fiance is demanding his share of the profits and the business. Enter Dante Goodman, a mysterious stranger whom our heroine believes is her new employee but the man with whom Jennifer will fall in love. Unaware of Dante’s real reasons for working on the farm, Jennifer finds herself on the defensive when she is targeted by three potential enemies including a hotel chain hoping Jennifer sells. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jennifer and Dante, and the potential fall-out as the threats against our heroine become personal, and the truth about Dante’s identity is revealed.

Dante Goodman is an assassin for hire but our hero also works security and safety. As a favor to Matteo Bello, currently in prison for a crime he did not commit, Dante agrees to ‘keep an eye’ on Matteo’s sister, knowing that to cross the invisible line could be the end of a possible friendship. Jennifer Bello is struggling to make ends meet, and the threats from her former fiance are only adding fuel to the fire. With the help of Dante Goodman, Jennifer puts a plan into place to help save the winery never realizing the real enemy is but a smile away.

The relationship between Dante and Jen is one of immediate attraction; a forced proximity/forbidden relationship in which Dante wants what he cannot have, and Jennifer struggles in the face of secrets and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced, via phone, to Jennifer’s brother and Dante’s friend Matteo, their sister Nicole, as well as Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur-Dante and Matteo’s comrade in arms; and Jennifer’s ex Johnny and his fiance Penelope.

KILLER INSTINCTS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, money and power, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, charismatic and strong.

NOTE: There is a FREE prequel novella KILLER LOOKS (see below) : Amazon / Amazon CA / B&N / KOBO. / Google Play

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed By Sandy

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KILLER LOOKS
(Assassins in Love .5)
by Tawna Fenske

FREE-– Amazon / Amazon CA / B&N / KOBO. / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 14, 2022

They’re hitmen. Trained assassins. If they nail this job, there’s a payoff. Possibly cookies.

But first, the bad stuff. Dante’s done with hitman life, but there’s one last job to do. A favor to the Duke of Dovlano targeting brutal gun runners. Dante calls on comrades, Matteo—brilliant, brooding, lethal—and charming Sebastian “The Dentist” LaDouceur. Each has skills he’s honed to take out threats at all costs. They’ve also got soft spots for family, lost loves, baby farm animals, and iambic pentameter.

But when the job falls apart, their carefully laid plans go up in smoke. Can three killers with a conscience stick together, or is it every man for himself?

••••••••

REVIEW: KILLER LOOKS is the prequel novella in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE romantic suspense series. KILLER LOOKS introduces three black op assassins-Dante, Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur, and Matteo Bello.

NOTE: This is NOT a rom-com…there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have titled this story as a rom-com.

Told from three first person perspectives (Dante, Sebastian and Matteo) KILLER LOOKS follows our trio in Seattle, as they work together to take down a a group of gun runners but a dirty cop, and a rogue agent threaten the success of their mission. A call from Sebastian’s father sends Dr. LaCouceur back home; a cop on the take sets up Matteo for a take down; and Dante is asked to protect Matteo’s sisters Jennifer and Nicole.

KILLER LOOKS is a fast paced, quick look that introduces the ‘heroes’ and villains in Tawna Fenske’s ASSASSINS IN LOVE series. The author reveals some of the background and history of each character, setting up a suspenseful story and their own happily ever after. The premise is intriguing and swift; the characters are energetic and strong. KILLER LOOKS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Own a copy

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When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Midnight Target (Killer Instincts #8) by Elle Kennedy-Review and Giveaway

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MIDNIGHT TARGET (Killer Instincts #8) by Elle Kennedy-Review and Giveaway

 

MIDNIGHT TARGET
Killer Instincts #8
by Elle Kennedy
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: adult ,contemporary, erotic, romantic, suspense

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 25, 2017

Four years ago, Cate’s entire life changed when she discovered she was the daughter of a super soldier. But Jim Morgan’s overprotectiveness has pushed her away. These days, she’s working as a freelance photographer and living the dangerous life Jim never wanted for her.

When Cate snaps a photo linking a corrupt South American politician with the leader of a notorious drug cartel, her mercenary father leads a team to rescue her—only to get shot and critically wounded in the process.

As Morgan’s operatives rally together on a revenge mission, they’re faced with new alliances and old heartaches. Cate is forced to work with David “Ash” Ashton, the man who broke her heart two years ago, while Liam Macgregor and Sullivan Port resurface after years apart to finally try to deal with everything they’d left unsaid.

Soon it’s all-out war between the cartel and the mercenaries—with two couples caught in the middle of the blood feud. Love and redemption are within their reach…but first they have to make it home alive.

•••••••••

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT TARGET is the eighth (and final?) instalment in Elle Kennedy’s contemporary, adult KILLER INSTINCTS romantic, suspense series focusing on an elite group of highly trained men and women-mercenaries for hire. The focus is on the search for a notorious drug lord, once thought to be dead, who has threatened Cate’s life, and on two on-going relationships: Cate Morgan and David ‘Ash’ Ashton, and Liam Macgregor and Sullivan Port-both relationships struggling with unrequited feelings and emotions. MIDNIGHT TARGET can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: If you have never read Elle Kennedy’s Killer Instinct series be forewarned, MIDNIGHT TARGET contains graphic scenes of violence, death and blood shed, and may not be suitable for all readers. The mercenaries and assassins are hired to do a job and cannot let emotions and personal feelings get in the way. These men and women do NOT kill the innocent –they are hired to take down the evil within our societies and sometimes the evil may be family, friend or someone caught up in a bad situation.

NOTE: MIDNIGHT TARGET contains graphic scenes of M/M sexual situations, language and text.

Told from several third person points of view including memories from the past, MIDNIGHT TARGET follows Jim Morgan’s elite team of mercenaries as they set out to rescue his daughter Cate, a woman caught in a South American country on the verge of civil war. As a photographer Cate follows the stories including the very real possibility that the notorious leader of a vicious drug cartel is alive and well in Guatana City, Guatana. Capturing the evidence that she needs, Cate finds herself targeted by the very man she was hoping to find, and is in desperate need of a rescue on the run. Enter David ‘Ash’ Ashton, the man that Cate has always loved but the man that broke her heart one too many time. What ensues is the search for the man in question, and the rebuilding of a friendship and romance between Cate and Ash.

Most of Jim Morgan’s mercenaries play secondary and supporting roles including several soldiers who are battling with personal issues of pain and loss. Liam and Sully’s bromance struggles with misperceptions, and the possibility of preconceived notions. Sully and Liam’s return to the team is a welcome reception but the couple in question continue to struggle with the rift in their one-time friendship.

MIDNIGHT TARGET is a story of second-chances, of sorts, for two couples pulled apart by unrequited love. Ash tries to keep his distance from the woman he loves-a woman who happens to be the boss’s daughter and off limits in the eyes of her father. Cate is a strong, independent young woman whose over protective father has pushed our heroine too fast, and too far but her need to be included yet independent is the catalyst to much of the story line premise. Sully and Liam’s relationship struggles with their bi-sexuality, past indiscretions, Sully’s months in captivity and abuse at the hands of his captors, and the fear of rejection and judgment by family and friends. Jim Morgan’s mercenaries are willing to risk everything for the people they love but sometimes risking it all means not succeeding to survive.

Elle Kennedy is never afraid to step over the line as it pertains to the violence and blood shed that surround the former Special Ops, Marines and warriors. Some readers may have difficulty with the gruesome ‘images’ including a perceived lack of conscious in some ‘do or die’ situations. The requisite evil has many faces.

MIDNIGHT TARGET is a detailed and complex story line that follows several paths to fruition-two struggling relationships, the loss of family and friends, a hero’s battle for his life, and the take down of evil incarnate. The premise is intriguing, engaging and fascinating; the characters are colorful, animated, passionate and tormented; the romances are seductive and fated.

Killer Instincts

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Midnight Rescue
Midnight Alias
Midnight Games
Midnight Pursuits
4.5 After Midnight
Midnight Action
Midnight Captive
Midnight Revenge
Midnight Target

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Young sexual couple of handsome serious man with bare muscular chest standing undressing pretty blonde woman standing and touching breast in studio, square picture

Giveaway

The Reading Cafe and Elle Kennedy’s publisher are offering a finished copy of MIDNIGHT TARGET 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.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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3. Follow Elle Kennedy on Facebook.

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from April 24-28, 2017

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Midnight Revenge (Killer Instincts 7) by Elle Kennedy-Review & Giveaway

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MIDNIGHT REVENGE (Killer Instincts #7) by Elle Kennedy-Review and Giveaway

Midnight Revenge Banner

MIDNIGHT REVENGE
Killer Instincts #7
by Elle Kennedy
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense
Release Date: February 2, 2016

Midnight Revenge

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 2, 2016

Out of all the stone-cold mercenaries in Jim Morgan’s black ops organization, Derek “D” Pratt is the most intimidating. He is tight-lipped and covered in tattoos, and even the other guys on his team are afraid to ask him about his past. D’s been off the grid for years, but after his teammate Sullivan is mistakenly captured in his place, D is forced to come out of hiding and face his demons.

When D lands in Mexico, he’s ready to risk everything to save his friend. To complicate matters, Sofia Amaro, a feisty doctor whom D had a one-night stand with months ago, has tracked him down. And in an instant she’s unintentionally caught up in his life-threatening rescue mission.

Now D must extract not one but two people from the most violent world he’s ever encountered. And one of them is carrying his child.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT REVENGE is the seventh installment in Elle Kennedy’s contemporary, adult KILLER INSTINCTS romantic, suspense series focusing on an elite group of mercenaries and assassins for hire. This is Derek ‘D’ Pratt, and Dr. Sofia Amaro’s story line. Although MIDNIGHT REVENGE can be read as a stand alone I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory. Elle Kennedy introduces many of her future story lines throughout the series and MIDNIGHT REVENGE follows in the same pattern.

Told from several third person perspectives, as well as several past and present time lines, MIDNIGHT REVENGE focuses on the search for missing team member Sullivan Port, and the building relationship between Derek and Sofia Amaro. Derek aka ‘D’ is an enigma; a dark and dangerous warrior whose past is the horror story of nightmares; whose conscience is mired in guilt about what had to be done; and whose intimidating exterior hides a broken and damaged soul. When Derek and Liam MacGregor’s latest assignment in Mexico goes to h*ll, Derek finds himself focusing on Sofia Amaro-the organization’s team doctor-and the woman who would one day steal his heart. Fast forward a couple of months when a mysterious phone call finds our leading man on the hunt for Sullivan Port and the people responsible for his abduction. Derek has never followed the rules, and taking down Sully’s captors has placed Derek in the direct line of fire-a lone wolf on the hunt willing to sacrifice himself to save the people he loves, Derek soon realizes he is never truly alone.

Sofia and Derek’s relationship begins as acquaintances that escalates into a one night stand with life altering consequences. Sofia’s return to Derek’s life is met with hostility and ambivalence further reinforcing Derek’s anti social persona and Sofia’s need to walk away. When Derek offers himself up in exchange for Sullivan Port, Sofia and several member of the team go along for the ‘ride’. The $ex scenes are aggressive, erotic and intense.

The world building continues to focus on Jim Morgan’s black ops organization; their assignments, their friendships; their life and death battles to save the world; but also on the growing families bonded by love and a future together. There is a potential story line for Liam and Sullivan-one that has been growing on the periphery for a couple of installments but Sully is a man whose months in captivity have changed both his emotional and mental outlook on life, and his continued reluctance to acknowledge his ‘friendship’ with the man who never gave up. There are scenes of graphic violence, and sexual assault that may be upsetting for some readers.

MIDNIGHT REVENGE is an intense, intriguing, suspense filled novel with impassioned characters and heartbreaking stories. The premise is compelling, disturbing and emotional; the characters are engaging and tragic but sympathetic; the romance is a struggle towards the future. Elle Kennedy weaves a startling tale where one man’s sins are laid bare for all to see; where the past has destroyed the present; where revenge is the ultimate form of letting go.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Giveaway

The Reading Cafe and Elle’s publisher are offering a paper copy of MIDNIGHT REVENGE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

NOTE: If you are having some issues commenting after logging on, please refresh the page and you should have no more problems.

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.

3. Please LIKE Elle Kennedy on FACEBOOK.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from February 3-7, 2016, 2016

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Killer Instincts Series 1-3 by Elle Kennedy -a review

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Killer Instincts Series 1-3 by Elle Kennedy-a review

Killer Instincts 1 to 3

••••••••••••••••

Midnight RescueMIDNIGHT RESCUE
(Killer Instincts #1)
by Elle Kennedy
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2012

Dangerous. Ruthless. Savage. And she’s the good guy.

Abby Sinclair had a desperate childhood until she was rescued and adopted by a retired army ranger who molded her into a master of self-defense. Now, she’s a cunning and fearless assassin thrust into assignment after dangerous assignment, using everything she has-nerve, resilience, strength, sex-to come out on top. Her only rule: trust no one.

Abby’s latest assignment is in Columbia: go undercover and snuff out a dangerous arms dealer active in the underground sex trade. But when Abby purposely blows her cover in a last-ditch attempt to free the helpless victims, deadly mercenary Kane Woodland is recruited as back-up. His mission: get Abby out of that hell hole.

The last thing Kane expects is to feel a primal attraction for Abby. But when she convinces him to join her on her perilous mission, their newfound passion could put the lives of their whole team at risk.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT RESCUE is the first installment in Elle Kennedy’s adult, contemporary Killer Instincts military, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of highly trained men and women who go deep undercover to get the job done. This is assassin specialist Abby Sinclair and mercenary Kane Woodland’s storyline.

Told from several third person perspectives MIDNIGHT RESCUE focuses on the rescue of Abby Sinclair and a group of adolescent teen girls about to be auctioned off as sexual slaves. Abby is an alpha female; a warrior whose cold façade is as cold as her heart, and she isn’t afraid to use her body to get what she wants. Hoping to find the location of the young girls, Abby reveals her undercover operation to the Columbian in charge, and finds herself the victim of torture and abuse. Enter Kane Woodland, and his fellow team members who make it their business to rescue Abby, not only from her captors but from herself.

The storyline follows Abby’s rescue and recovery, the plans to extricate the young girls, and the building relationship between Abby and Kane Woodland. The only problem-Abby doesn’t do nice; doesn’t do relationships; and doesn’t do love. Everything about Abby is emotionally distant, and in this she is willing to sacrifice herself to save the others. Abby’s past is mired in physical and sexual abuse, and herein lies the crux of the heroine’s personality.

The secondary and supporting characters are engaging, colorful and control a good portion of the storyline. We are introduced to all of Kane’s fellow team members who, like Kane, are specially trained mercenaries skilled in combat and rescue but it is apparent that each alpha male has a dark and tormented past; Abby’s mentor and superior Noelle, as well as Isabel Roma who goes under cover with Kane’s broken and guilt ridden teammate Trevor Callaghan. Isabel and Trevor’s storyline will be told in book three-Midnight Games.

MIDNIGHT RESCUE is a well written, graphically violent storyline with rape, torture, child sex trade, suicide and murder. Elle Kennedy goes for the jugular with her no nonsense story where nothing is off limits including the emotional violation of the human psyche. I am not sure if the author is going for shock value or sensationalism but Kennedy’s characters have not had an easy life.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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Midnight AliasMIDNIGHT ALIAS
(Killer Instincts #2)
by Elle Kennedy
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 5, 2014

She’s smart, seductive, and in way over her head.
He’s her only way out.

An undercover DEA agent has gone off the radar. Suspecting an internal mole, the government needs Luke Dubois and his elite team of operatives to recover their man, and the New Orleans native thinks he’s found his way inside the dark underbelly of Manhattan: Olivia Taylor, the girlfriend of a mob boss and the sexiest woman he’s ever laid eyes on. His new mission objective? Get past Olivia’s defenses and convince her to take a chance—on him.

All Olivia wanted was to finish law school and live a normal life, but that dream was shattered when one dangerous night put her deeply in a mobster’s debt. Now Luke and his team will help her escape—in exchange for intel on the missing agent. But Olivia doesn’t anticipate her intense attraction to the reckless Louisiana charmer or that she’ll be forced to risk everything—including her heart.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT ALIAS is the second installment in Elle Kennedy’s contemporary, adult Killer Instincts romantic, suspense series focusing on an elite group of highly trained men and women who are called into action when no one else can get the job done. This is New Orleans’s native/former Navy SEAL Luke Dubois and Olivia Taylor’s storyline. MIDNIGHT ALIAS can be read as a stand alone; some of the previous storyline information is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person points of view MIDNIGHT ALIAS fast forwards the series six months and follows the search for a missing DEA agent whose last know whereabouts placed him at a strip club fronting for a drug smuggling operation. Luke and his fellow team members have not been able to locate the missing agent but Luke finds himself attracted to a beautiful stripper whose role and character are out of place at the club. What ensues is a building relationship between our leading couple, one Luke hopes to use in ferreting out some information about what goes on behind the scenes at the club.

The relationship between Luke and Olivia is slow to build. Luke’s attraction to Olivia is immediate but Olivia is in no position to fall into Luke’s embrace. Our heroine has found herself in debt to the local mob and her mother’s health is dependent upon Olivia’s continued work. Luke and his team will find themselves pulled deeper into an undercover operation where not only do they discover the whereabouts of the DEA agent but put a plan into motion to take down the local drug cartel. There is some definite sexual tension between Olivia and Luke.

MIDNIGHT ALIAS is a suspense filled storyline with an ensemble cast of characters whose own stories are building throughout the series. Luke’s team of fellow mercenaries, headed by ex Ranger Jim Morgan, have set up shop in Mexico waiting for their next assignment that will place each man and woman on the frontline of potential danger and death. Derek or D as he is called is battling some personal demons and in this his character is about to self destruct or implode. Noelle’s team of female assassins is virtually invisible but Isabel does play a much larger role throughout the story. Unlike the previous storyline MIDNIGHT ALIAS is not as graphically or sexually violent. There are scenes of violence and abuse but the details are limited and mostly in the background; the destructive nature of drugs, drug smuggling and the sex trade does make for some interesting scenarios. Isabel and Trevor’s storyline continues to build and the epilogue points to a dangerous assignment for our female assassin.

MIDNIGHT ALIAS is another well written, intriguing and engaging storyline of suspense and romance. The majority of the action takes place in the final pages of the story as the mercenaries try to uncover the truth about the missing DEA agent. Elle Kennedy has caught my attention with her amazing characters and stories.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

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Midnight GamesMIDNIGHT GAMES
(Killer Instincts #3)
by Elle Kennedy
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository

About the book: Release Date August 6, 2013

She wears a thousand deadly identities. He sees through them all.

A master of disguise, Isabel Roma spends her life pretending to be other women. Normally, her emotions are reined in tight—but sexy mercenary Trevor Callaghan has a knack for getting under her skin. The elite operative’s quiet strength and raw magnetism affect her in ways she’s never felt before, a distraction that can quickly turn deadly in their dangerous line of work.

After putting his tragic past behind him, Trevor is ready to focus on his future—and he damn well intends for Isabel to be in it. When their entire operation is thrown into chaos, Trevor enlists Isabel’s talent for deception. And as they attempt to save their team in a world where the stakes are high and the danger is grave, Trevor must convince Isabel that the woman beneath all the disguises is the one worth having.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT GAMES is the third installment of Elle Kennedy’s contemporary, adult Killer Instincts romantic suspense series focusing on an elite group of highly trained men and women-mercenaries for hire. This is Trevor Callaghan and Isabel Roma’s storyline-one that has been building since book one. MIDNIGHT GAMES can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and character history I suggest reading the series in order.

Told from several third person points of view MIDNIGHT GAMES, advancing the series approximately six month, finds ex Ranger and head of the mercenary team Jim Morgan missing. Left in charge, Trevor sets into motion a plan, with the help of Noelle’s collection of female assassins including the woman who has stolen his heart, to locate their missing leader. The team will soon find themselves on the receiving end of a vicious and deadly attack leaving several dead, a grieving widower, and Trevor and Isabel fighting their attraction to one another. Going into hiding isn’t possible, when the team must search for the man in charge.

The relationship and attraction between Trevor and Isabel began in book one MIDNIGHT RESCUE wherein a grieving Trevor is unable to come to grips with the death of his fiancée. Guilt finds Trevor taking on suicide missions where he hopes to be on the receiving end of a sniper’s bullet. Time and thoughts of Isabel Roma have Trevor looking towards the future but Isabel is determined to keep away. Their latest assignment will find Isabel on the prowl with a mysterious casino owner, and Trevor fighting the urge to jump in and save the day.

Once again, like the previous two storylines, MIDNIGHT GAMES is an ensemble story that not only focuses on the current premise but sets into motion upcoming storylines. There is a definite history between Noelle and Jim, and Derek aka D is not the man we believe him to be. We are also introduced to Juliet and Paige-two of Isabel’s teammates, as well as all the introduction of a potential new team of mercenaries-currently known as Team B.

The world building continues to focus on the mercenary –for-hire premise as Jim Morgan’s team of retired SEALS, Rangers, Marines and soldiers take on the dirty jobs where crossing the line is all in a day’s work. From drug lords to human trafficking; murder for hire and undercover operations, nothing is off limits in the Killer Instincts series. There is violence and murder; kidnappings and threats but the graphic details are limited and mostly implied.

The reader is pulled into an action packed, suspense filled story where the past meets the present but not before travelling a road of twists and turns. Elle Kennedy teases with her slow reveal of character development, background histories, and everyone’s connection to everyone else. There is plenty of tension you can cut with a knife.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviews by Sandy

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