JUST ONE TOUCH by Maya Banks

Publisher: Harper Collins
Date published: 5/23/2017
ISBN: 9780062410184
Contemporary Romance
Print
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062410184/just-one-touch

obtained via publisher

Rating: 3 Hearts

 

Jenna has lived all of her life in a cult and once they found out about her healing abilities her life became more like being a hostage to the cult. Jenna bides her time but one day she sees her chance and she takes it but it is not without consequences. When Isaac is hurt and Jenna saves him Isaac does not know what to make of the situation but he does know that he has some kind of feelings for Jenna and that he will do anything in his power to keep her safe.

This is a nice romance with some paranormal aspects to it. Danger abounds and emotions are high. Isaac and Jenna are good characters and the two make a nice couple. The two complimented each other nicely.  Isaac and Jenna both seem to heal something in the other. I enjoyed seeing the two find their way and it was nice to see the team and their wives come together to fight the evil that threatens not only Jenna but everyone now.

There is some just go with the flow in this story and some parts seemed to be rushed while other things seemed to be unexplained. Jenna has grown up in a cult with no connections to the outside world but seems to fit right in to this world and do many things that gave me pause. This is the fifth book in the Slow Burn series and readers should read the earlier books as previous characters show up in Jenna and Isaac’s story.  The author does a nice job of combining the action and romance giving the characters lots of emotions.  

Jenna and Isaac may not be my favorite couple from this series but their story is a nice addition to it.  Jenna may not seem strong but she soon shows what she is made of.  It was nice to see the two work to find a happy ever after and fight for what they want.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

 

BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN by Maya Banks

KGI #11
Jove Books, March 2017
Paperback
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN:  0425277003
ISBN13: 9780425277003
Military Romance
***



The latest book in Maya Banks’ KGI series surrounding the lives and loves of the Kelly clan is BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN, a story about family, friendship and bonds forged in steel.

Thanks to her college friend, Rusty Kelly, Zoe is starting her life over with a new identity.  Born the daughter of a mob kingpin, Zoe grew up doing everything she could to win her father’s love including wearing the clothes he preferred, the friends he preferred and wanting the things he wanted for her until the day she overheard her boyfriend telling someone that he never cared for her and was planning on killing her.  On that day, she put on her “big girl” pants and hit the road.  Luckily for her, her girlfriend Rusty is a wiz on the computer and was able to teach her how to remain off the radar.  When Zoe goes home with Rusty and meets the Kelly clan and learns what they are about, she thinks she just might have a chance at a second life away from the filth associated with her family.  Then she meets Rusty’s brother Joe Kelly, the last bachelor in the Kelly family, a title he thought he enjoyed holding.

Maya Banks’ BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN, is Zoe and Joe’s story.  The KGI series centers on the Kelly family and the company they started doing the jobs that the government prefers to stay away from including intelligence gathering and victim/hostage rescues.  So the stories in this series have been fast paced adventure/romances that occur in the midst of one job or another.  The romances are hot and heavy and the action is generally non-stop.  BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN however, fails to produce the heat level or the strong KGI storyline that made some of the other KGI stories so riveting.

In an unusual twist, though the story is primarily about Zoe and Joe, the best parts of this story come from the lesser story of Rusty and Sean and the journey they are on towards their own happily ever after.  Perhaps it is because Rusty and Sean have been around for several books and are very well developed and multifaceted characters and Zoe and Joe simply are not.  Zoe is extremely cagey and Joe, for such an alpha male, is extremely into his feelings.  Or perhaps it is the lack of any real action in the storyline.  When her family finally catches up to Zoe, well…

In any case, readers who enjoy military romances will still enjoy BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN.  This reader had simply hoped for less over the top gushing and more push back from the bad guys.


Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

KEPT by Maya Banks

Enforcers #3
Berkley Books, November 2016
paperback
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN:  0425280675
ISBN13: 9780425280676
Romance/Lite BDSM
***




The third book in Maya Banks’ Enforcers series, KEPT, is a romantic story of redemption, loyalty and family.

An abusive childhood has made Silas one dangerous, demanding and loyal enforcer.  He lives his life in solitude, certain that he will never marry, have children and live a happily ever after because he has severe control issues.  Then she walks into one of his buildings and she changes everything.

Haley is following her father’s dying wish, attending a prestigious music school in New York City.  When her housing falls through at the last minute and with practically no money, she is desperate to find a place to stay that she can afford.  Then the perfect apartment suddenly becomes available.  When her mysterious landlord saves her life after a brutal attack, Haley’s life finally takes an upturn.  But Silas’ life comes with secrets and danger around every corner and Haley has very big trust issues.

Maya Banks’ third Enforcer story, KEPT, is full of angst and doubts.  Haley is very naïve about life in the city that doesn’t sleep and quickly finds herself in need of saving.  Silas is emotionally challenged and though he wants Haley in his life, he can’t imagine her wanting any part of his life.  Secrets, danger and misunderstandings abound in this love story.  And while the characters chemistry is off the charts hot, the actual storyline seemed to drag at points and the angst became a little overdone in places making the story somewhat predictable.  Still, there were handsome men aplenty, danger from all directions and a love that is set to endure.

Romance fans that like their heroes dark and dangerous with a soft gooey center are sure to enjoy KEPT.  Maya Banks knows how to pull her readers into her stories and feel their pain.  KEPT is no exception.

Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

 

With Every Breath by Maya Banks

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Date published: August 23, 2016
ISBN: 978006241016

Contemporary romance
print
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062410177/with-every-breath

Obtained via publisher

Rating: 3 Hearts

Eliza has a past and it seems that it is coming back to haunt her. When she was young she was terrorized by an evil man yet she found the strength to put that man in jail, but now he is out and looking for payback. Can Eliza protect herself and those that she has come to care for?  Wade knows something is wrong with Eliza and is not about to  let her do this alone. This time she will have help no matter if she wants it or not.

If you follow this series you will have met Wade and Eliza already. After seeing their past interactions I was excited to get to read their story.  Eliza is a strong woman who can take care of herself and is a good match for Wade. He is a good man and proves it in this book.  The two work well together and make a nice couple. The attraction between the two is something else and I enjoyed watching it turn into something deeper.

Maya Banks does a good job of putting the romance and action together in this book. I really liked that Eliza is a tough lady and was ready to fight the battle even alone. This story is full of emotion and grabs your attention right from the start. Wade is a very dominant man and he will stop at nothing to protect Eliza. He has grown tired of ignoring his feelings for her and is more than ready to act on them. I enjoyed watching the two work through everything. From keeping everyone safe from the evil to figuring out where they stand as a couple. Love and trust are hard things to find and even harder to keep. Eliza and Wade learn this lesson the hard way. I enjoyed seeing the two fight to save what they could have in the future and for what they have just started together. Their story is a nice installment to this series and I hope that this is not the last time we get to visit this world.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

MASTERED by Maya Banks

 

Publisher: Berkley
Date published: December 2015
ISBN: 9780425280652
Contemporary erotic romance
Print
Reviewed by Gabrielle

Weblink: http://www.penguin.com/book/mastered-by-maya-banks/9780425280652

Obtained via publisher
Rating 3 1/2 Hearts

Maya Banks gives us a new tale of love and a new couple in this book. MASTERED brings us the beginning  of Drake and Evangeline’s story.  Will the two ever be able to work through it all and find their way to a happy ever after? Hope so but we must wait and see as this book is only the first part of their story. In this part of their story we get to see how they began their relationship. Evangeline has worked hard to get what she has in her life. When Drake enters that life he turns it upside down. Drake is used to playing the field and having everything go his way no questions asked. Yet when it comes to Evangeline his emotions come into question and Drake is not so sure of himself.  Can the two work together to find happiness or are they to far in opposite directions to connect?

I am a big fan of Maya Banks but Drake has left me wondering how I feel about him. One minute he has you adoring him and the next he has you thinking otherwise. I hope that in the end he redeems himself and has us adoring him. Evangeline is a good woman who begins to find what she wants with Drake but how far will she go for him? Watching the two work through everything in this book made for a good read but there is a lot of tearing down of Evangeline’s self-esteem and confidence.  There are many things about both characters that I loved and some that I did not like but hopefully both will grow in the next part of their story and realize just what could be. I enjoyed meeting some of the secondary characters like Drake’s men. They show themselves to be good men and I hope that we get to see more of them in the future. This book is a cliffhanger and does not end well for this couple but we will hopefully see redemption in the second half of their story.

MASTERED is an intense read from start to finish. Love is hard to find and harder to fight for. Drake learns this lesson the hard way and I cannot wait to see just how he will redeem himself for what he has dome to Evangeline.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DARKEST BEFORE DAWN by Maya Banks

KGI #10
Penguin Publishing, October 2015
ebook
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN:  0425276996
ISBN13: 9780425276990
Contemporary Military Romance
****


The tenth book in Maya Banks’ KGI series, DARKEST BEFORE DAWN, is a contemporary military romance filled with fast action, misdirection, mystery and suspense.

Maya Banks is back with another fast paced military romance, DARKEST BEFORE DAWN.  This is the mysterious Hancock’s story.  Hancock never shirks his duty, but his allegiance has been in question a time or two in the past.  He has spent years working a mission when he is assigned to look after and possibly eliminate if need be, Honor, a relief worker in a war zone.  But Honor doesn’t realize Hancock isn’t her savior but her jailer and her honest goodness and need to “do the right thing” have him questioning his mission.  Now that she has cracked his emotional armor, he has to decide how to go through with sacrificing Honor for the greater good.

Others may disagree, but this reader thought DARKEST BEFORE DAWN may just be Ms. Banks best KGI novel.  Unlike so many military romances, Honor and Hancock don’t simply fall in lust as soon as they see each other.  Hancock really fights his attraction to Honor and has to trick her as part of his mission.  The deception lasts for a good part of the story and it really bothers him and his men as they genuinely like Honor.  I could not imagine how Honor and Hancock were possibly going to have a happily ever after and found the ending of the story a surprise that I really enjoyed.  This story was filled with boatloads of emotional turmoil and really complex characters.  The action was fast paced and the hook was set very early in the story.

On the negative side, Honor was a little too virtuous to believe.  There really aren’t too many, if any, women willing to be tortured and sacrificed for the greater good especially after finding out she has been betrayed by her savior.  Still, DARKEST BEFORE DAWN definitely holds reader interest throughout the story.  Kudos to Maya Banks for yet another fantastic military romance that keeps readers guessing right to the end.


Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."