End Game

End Game by Tracey Devlyn
Steele Ridge – Blackwells #5

Three authors who work together seamlessly have created a world in which the reader can become immersed and return to when a new book appears. This, the final book in this offshoot of the series is a winner. Having followed this from book one and only missing a few books along the way, I will say that each and ever book I’ve read has been a great read.

What I liked:
* Asher “Ash” Cameron Blackwell: FBI special agent that left his legacy to pursue his own interests, hot for Kayla Krowne but trying to avoid it, dedicated, misses family connection, conflicted, dedicated, savvy, and capable, a good guy but sometimes clueless.
* Kayla Crowne: bright, dedicated, wealthy by birth and show more through work, good friend, savvy, quirky but grounded, sometimes a bit abrupt, wise, balanced, and a bit of a gameplayer
* Getting to see others from the past books in the series and how the matriarchs are doing
* The shock of the person first murdered and the impact it had
* The twists and turns along with the red herrings that lead to an eventual conclusive ending for the series
* That the friction between the brothers and their choices was resolved
* Wondering what is next
* AND…I am hoping that sexy sounding Mason Ward will get a book of his own.

What I didn’t like
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The idea that what we trust and value, the people we love and value…might not be as willing to protect us as we are to protect them.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author and her friends for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Addendum: Not three authors…two Tracey Devlyn and Adrienne Giordanano show less

I was fortunate to receive an arc of End Game, book 5, in the Steele Ridge: The Blackwells series. Ash and Kayla have finally received their own book and it was worth waiting for it. They are both embroiled in an investigation involving the murder of her godmother who is the governor of North Carolina. Ash suspects Kayla was really the target. The complex plot has lots of twists which allow Ash and Kayla to grow individually and together. As they struggle with decisions involving loyalty to the family vs. duty to the job, they learn to trust and rely on each other. Strong characters, crisp writing with a fast paced plot will keep you up past your bedtime to finish the book! I highly recommend it-you won’t be disappointed.

End Game by Tracey Devlyn
Steele Ridge: The Blackwells series #5 and conclusion. Spin off of prior Steele Ridge series. Romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series.
Lobbyist Kayla Krowne knows how to play the political games. After witnessing the assassination of a public official, she turns to Special Agent Asher Cameron Blackwell for help. She’s always been impressed and a little infatuated with Ash, but she needs his protection now to figure out the maze of lies under the cover of politics.
Ash was ordered to investigate Kayla, but finding her the possible target, rather than witness to a murder has Ash confronting his own issues.

Political manipulation and game playing.
Very subtle game play I show more will never understand, nor master.
“He infused warmth into his features”, “rearranged his features”, “he’d moved the congenitally needle too far”, “a master at reading body language “.
These people are masters of the game. If this were real life, it would all go straight over my head.
Reading about the manipulations is fascinating and mystifying.
Intriguing and intellectually scary. At the same time the romance is hot and dashing.
Fantastic romance suspense. show less