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Author Topic: Review: Romantic Suspense series by Kaylea Cross  (Read 2277 times)

Offline lulu7005

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Review: Romantic Suspense series by Kaylea Cross
« on: March 14, 2013, 03:24 AM »
It was my first books by Kaylea Cross and I must say that it was a beautiful discovery.
A thing I liked about this series is that it's a short one. 5 books,  it's a good number. Another thing I liked about this series is (to the exception of the first book) how the author develops the different characters in the books, even the bad guy.

To the exception of the first book who is about a police investigation, the other 4 books are about Black Ops in the Middle East. Each book concentrate on one couple but the general plot starts in book 2 to ends up in the last book.

The series start average but really improve with each book.

Book: Out of Her League (Romantic Suspense series #1) by Kaylea Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published year: 2008
Rating: 3 out of 5 (***)
The blurb:
Christa Bailey is one cut away from making the Olympic softball team when threats from an obsessed fan jeopardize her dream, and her safety. Forced to put her life on hold, she reluctantly turns to ERT officer Rayne Hutchinson for help, praying the police catch her stalker before she is cut from the team or does something stupid, like fall in love with her unattainable protector. But Christa's stalker is something far more sinister than either of them could have imagined. With her life at stake, can Rayne keep Christa safe from this patient predator?
My review:
Even though I felt the story never reached its full potential, I enjoyed reading "Out of her league".

Christa has had a crush on Raine for 2 years, but traumatized by a previous relationship she never acted on it.

I liked that in addition to owning a landscape business, Christa is part of a softball team competing to be selected for the Olympic games. Unfortunately this aspect of her life is quickly relegated to the background, and to my disappointment the high level sport part of her life was more a pretext to plant the plot of the stalker than a real character trait in itself.
Also, not once but twice she had those TSTL moments that I hate in romantic suspense stories.

Raine is part of a SWAT unit and a yummy alpha hero alright. Though he has a Casanova reputation, he is sensitive and handle Christa with care. That being said, I don't understand
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They relationship is sweet and I know that with Christa's past and her current stalker problems and trauma as well as his own reputation Raine was kind of walking on eggshells, but for me the romance per se was long to come and there was no real sexual tension to make up for. I also would have loved more development in the secondary characters as well as a little longer talk between Raine and Luck.


Book: Cover of Darkness (Romantic Suspense series #2) by Kaylea Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published year: 2010
Rating: 4 out of 5 (****)
The blurb:
Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack. With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans fall apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.
My review:
I really enjoyed this book. Cover of Darkness is an action packed story. The story is set in the Middle-East (Lebanon and Iraq) and one of the things I really liked about this book is that Kaylea Cross has managed to make these places alive.

I loved the main heroes but also, unlike in the first book, how she developed the various secondary characters who actually will be the heroes of the next volumes as well as the bad guy. I liked the way KC describes the evolution of Bryn's and Declan's feelings. And even though they aren't many, the steamy parts are well written.

The action parts were well written too. However, I found several points in the plot that didn't make sense for me at all. Luke asks Bryn to act as bait. I'm OK with that. But then
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That said, I'll definitely continue with the series.


Book: No Turning Back (Romantic Suspense series #3) by Kaylea Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published year: 2010
Rating: 4 out of 5 (****)
The blurb:
CIA communications expert Samarra Wallace is on the run from a faceless enemy when she learns terrorists have kidnapped and threatened to execute her cousin. She will do whatever it takes to free her, including breaking cover to contact the former teammate she is dangerously attracted to. Now all she has to do is convince him she's not working for the bad guys. Ex-Army Ranger Ben Sinclair isn't sure he can trust Sam, but he can't turn her away. Lives are at stake and she may be the only way to capture the terrorist mastermind his team is hunting. Despite his reservations, he finds himself falling for her. But when Sam's innocence is questioned again during a botched operation in the remote mountains of Afghanistan, the team pays a terrible price for trusting her. In the wake of that staggering betrayal Ben must decide if she's the innocent woman he fell in love with, or if she's a traitor who'd set them up to die.
My review:   
I really liked this book. The story starts at the end of the previous book, so we have a little overlap from Sam point of view and in this book the story mostly takes place in Afghanistan.

Once again, the author knows how to give life to the different places she chooses to install her story and I really love how she develops her different character but here again there was a point or two in the plot that didn't made much sens for me.


Book: Relentless (Romantic Suspense series #4) by Kaylea Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published year:2010
Rating: 5 out of 5 (*****)
The blurb:
Former Delta Force operator Rhys Sinclair defied the odds by recovering from a traumatic brain injury that should have killed him. Given the chance to repay the beautiful doctor who saved his life by guarding hers, he can't say no--even if it means facing an unknown threat from the cunning terrorist his CIA-sanctioned team had been hunting in Afghanistan. The catch is, she can't know about it without blowing their cover. Trauma surgeon Neveah Adams is finally putting her life back together after her horrific experience in Afghanistan. Giving the keynote speech at a medical conference in Vancouver is her starting point. With Rhys there to watch over her she feels safe for the first time in months, and her biggest problem is trying to hide her intense feelings for him. But Rhys knows something Neveah doesn't. The terrorist who targeted her in Kabul is coming after her again, and he's relentless enough to ensure all his past mistakes are erased with one final strike. Now that the nightmare from her past has resurfaced, Neveah has no choice but to put her trust in the one man who has the ability to break her heart, never knowing an assassin is closer than they realize.
My review:
So far my favorite and in my opinion the hottest book of the series.

For this story we are back in Vancouver, for the marriage of Rayne and Christa as well as a medical conference where Neveah is one of the guests. The suspense part of the book is great, well written and without any hole in the plot. Neveah is really an awesome heroine and with Rhys they make a beautiful and hot couple, but what I loved the most in this book is Rhys. *Le sigh*

Rhys, (very) tall dark and dangerous. Rhys, the highly educated and intellectual man. Rhys, the gentleman. Rhys, the dominant male. Rhys, falling in love. Rhys unraveling. Rhys with Neveah. Rhys with Ben...

I can't wait to read Luke and Emily story!  :)


Book: Absolution (Romantic Suspense series #5) by Kaylea Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published year: 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5 (*****)
The blurb:
A lifetime of regret...
After legendary CIA contractor Luke Hutchinson unknowingly trained the man who would become the world's most dangerous terrorist, he has no choice but to hunt him across the globe. Driven to complete that final mission, he fears his enemy has targeted the only woman Luke has ever loved. Unfortunately for him she's his ex-wife, and already facing another deadly threat he can't protect her from.
A lifetime of pain...
Emily always hoped Luke would find his way back to her, but she's finally given up on that impossible dream. Now that she's fighting her own life and death battle, the last thing she wants is to get entangled with the man who ripped out her heart and left her to raise their son on her own.
One final chance at absolution...
Undeniable sparks fly when they're forced to share a roof, but unless Luke can get Emily to trust him, they won't get the second chance they've waited over two decades for. And time is running out. The monster Luke created is on the move again, bent on destroying him and anyone who gets in the way.
My review:
WOW!

Where to start? The series started average but really evolved from book to book.

This book is about Luke and Emily. Luke is somehow the central character through out the series. He and Emily are divorced for twenty years but they never stopped to love each other. All along the series we got bits and pieces of their story and in this book we have the final outcome as well as the final point to the suspense element of the series.

The least I could say is that Kaylea Cross didn't choose the easy way while writing Luke and Emily story but she brilliantly pulled it off. Not only they are both mature but
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.

Despite at least one TSTL moment from Emily toward the end, I really enjoyed the suspense part of the book and I LOVED Luke and Emily couple. Emily is a fighter and a beautiful soul and Luke is a hot and amazing hero. Not only the smut bits were very well written, sensual and emotional but when these two are in the same room, the sparkles are flying everywhere.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2013, 03:14 AM by lulu7005 »
 
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