Kaylea Cross

This is the first Kaylea Cross book I read, and my first thought was, "Why doesn't this author have more exposure"?!

Bryn is a Lebanese-American who is abducted along with her father in Beirut. They are kept captive for some time before being rescued by Navy SEALs. One of those SEALs is Declan, and over the course of the rescue, and the ensuing dramas, Bryn and Dec develop a relationship. There are plenty of people out there who want Bryn dead, but it is part of a bigger picture that show more involves Islamic extremists in a number of Middle Eastern countries.

This is an author who really knows what she's writing about. There are some writers whose books are classified as `military romance' who don't seem to have the faintest idea what it is like to be a Navy SEAL or other Special Forces soldier. Kaylea Cross knows. For me it is extremely important to have the military aspect as strong as the relationship part of the story.

I loved this story from start to finish. I could go on about Cross all day, because - to quote a cliché - her writing `ticks all my boxes'. As with Cindy Gerard and Suzanne Brockmann, she really gets what military romantic suspense should be about. The relationship is crucial to the action, and the action crucial to the relationship. As with my other favourite authors in this genre, one aspect never, ever, gets in the way of the other.

As much as I love Dec, the hero of the next book - Ben - plays a big part in this one. I fell completely and utterly in love with him here, and you absolutely must read on with his story No Turning Back.

Though these books stand up perfectly on their own, they are part of a series, and you definitely will not regret reading all of them. show less

Fast Kill is the story of 2 agents with the DEA who are about as opposite as they come. Taylor is quiet, introverted, and enjoys working with numbers in her cubicle. Logan is loud and flirtatious and wants to be in the heart of the action on an op. Despite their differences, Logan and Taylor find they are attracted to each other. Thankfully Logan isn't too shy to make the first move!

But, before they can have their first real date, Taylor gets a call from a man she used to know. A man who show more picked the wrong path in life and is into some dangerous stuff. Dillon is working with a drug cartel now. Taylor sees him on a surveillance video of a drug sting and doesn't identify him to her boss. She used to view Dillon as her 'knight in shining armor' and hopes that he isn't as involved as she fears.

Dillon is deeper than your average villain. He struggles with his personal connection Taylor; he genuinely did care for her when they were children. He also had promised her in the past he would "go straight" and get out of the drug game. Dillon is truly stuck in a bad place now: either follow orders from the cartel or protect Taylor. His love for Taylor might be strong, but his fear of the cartel is stronger.

One thing I have always enjoyed about Cross' books is the quick plot. She doesn't waste a lot time setting the stage so to speak. You learn about the characters in a more organic way as you read about their adventures. This type of writing allows me to feel more engaged in the action and suspense because there is nothing to slow it down. Cross also writes great characters. Even though you aren't TOLD everything about Taylor, as you learn about her, you really connect. For me, Taylor made sense!

She didn't expect an extrovert like Charlie to understand it, but she wanted her friend to at least try to respect that for Taylor, being around a group of people for more than half an hour was tantamount to having the life force sucked right out of her.

I have made this exact statement to many people in my life. I work with people all day as a teacher and by 3:00, I can't handle any more crowds or noise. The thought of having to stop at the store on my way home after enduring hours of socialization is punishment. So yeah, I 'get' Taylor. I also loved that Logan didn't try to change her. He wanted her to come out of her shell, but he didn't want her to be different. Coming out of your shell with people you care about is totally different than hitting up clubs every weekend and having lots of parties. So, kudos to Logan for understanding the difference. Logan and Taylor grow closer as Taylor finds herself in more danger and their relationship and feelings progress in what feels like a natural way. I thought Cross struck a good balance between mortal peril and sexy times (difficult to do in a romantic suspense sometimes!)

Fast Kill is engaging, timely, and realistic in its portrayal of the characters and the government agents who are fighting the war on drugs! If you enjoy romantic suspense that dives right into the story, Kaylea Cross' Fast Kill is the perfect pick for a weekend binge read or day at the beach or pool! Also, as is true in most Cross books, you get a peek at the couple that will be featured in the next book (well, at least who I think it will be!)!

 

• POV: 3rd (omniscent)


• Tears: no


• Trope: Federal agents, undercover work, opposites attract


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone within a series


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes

Books by Susan Stoker, Katana Collins, Cynthia Eden, Elle Kennedy...then you will probably like Fast Kill!



Fast Kill





See full review on The Book Disciple show less

Romantic Suspense
Release: January 2014
5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Four years ago, Dr. Grace Fallon lost everything that mattered in a terrorist attack she barely survived. Now she’s stronger than ever and in Pakistan with a UN-sanctioned team for the most important assignment of her career. She’s dedicated her life to eradicating the world of chemical weapons, and long ago accepted the inherent risks associated with her job. Until the man whose memory has haunted her for so long suddenly show more reappears and inadvertently makes her the target of one of the most dangerous terrorists on the planet. Forced to accept Alex’s protection, it’s impossible to deny the white-hot attraction still burning between them. And while she trusts him to guard her from this new threat, Grace must once again decide whether to risk her heart to the man who once shattered her entire world.

Now he’ll risk everything to win her back...

Four years ago, NSA agent Alex Rycroft left Grace because had no choice. But never again. Malik Hassani has escaped custody, he’s on the run, and has locked onto Grace as a means to target Alex. This time Alex will do whatever it takes to protect her—and convince her to give them another chance. Walking away from her nearly destroyed him and now that she’s back in his life, he can’t let her go. When the unthinkable happens and Grace’s life hangs in the balance, he’ll sacrifice everything to save her—including himself.

MY REVIEW:

What a great read! This was full of action and suspense, kept me biting my nails up until the very end (and thank you for that, Ms. Cross, was an excuse to go get a manicure).

I love old friend/lover stories, and this one fell right into that bucket. Grace was shown to be this strong woman who battled with the pain of a broken heart and then thrust back into the life of her former love. She showed bravery in confronting her past and also with dealing with threats tossed her way. She’s a woman many should strive to be like, and she was one hell of a likeable character.

Alex was a surprise. I didn’t realize in previous books, or rather maybe it was because so much time had passed between books, that he was an older character. I liked seeing the way he took charge and worked to save the day.

One thing I have to give Ms. Cross kudos for is the chemical attack here. It was gritty and made this book stand out among others in the genre. Reading it, I found my jaw had hung open at the surprise and details she put into play with it. It was very nice to see it happen, and a very real scene that was gripping.

Rekindled is a book that packs a bunch and knocks the breath out of you—in a good way! I whole heartily recommend this to read now! show less

After single mom, Tala Baldwin loses her foot and part of her leg from stepping on an IED, she goes through a long-term healing process. With the help of her family and friends, Tala not only heals, but also becomes a triathlete. When her unrequited love interest, Sgt. Braxton Hillard, comes home, Tala vows to spend time with him, so she asks him to help her practice shooting. While out in the wilderness, the two become trapped by a blizzard and run across a dangerous fugitive.

Lethal show more Protector is too short to do much in the way of character development, but the plot is action packed and filled with dangerous events. The chemistry between the characters is more told than shown, but there is enough angst to build to a climax that finally brings them together. The real stand out part of this story is Tala dealing with her prosthetic leg and how she adjusts to life with a missing limb. Overall, Lethal Protector is a fairly average romantic suspense with a few shining moments. show less