Review and Giveaway: Midnight Pursuits

Midnight Pursuits (Killer Instincts - Book 4) by Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0451465695
ISBN-13: 978-0451465696

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Elle Kennedy on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Killer Instincts:

1. Midnight Rescue
2. Midnight Alias
3. Midnight Games
4. Midnight Pursuits

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Midnight Pursuits, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Her job is to stay hidden.
Too bad he can’t take his eyes off her.
 
Soldier-for-hire Ethan Hayes is the youngest member of an elite mercenary team. While he may be affectionately nicknamed the rookie, the skills Ethan honed as a Marine make him seriously dangerous. But when a sudden distress call puts him in close quarters with a rival, he finds more than his field skills being put to the test.
 
Juliet Mason stands out as the master thief in a covert group of assassins and spies. Her latest mission is personal—and it’s gone horribly wrong. Juliet may prefer to work alone, but when the rookie comes to her aid in snowy Eastern Europe, she can’t deny they make a good team. But even up against a powerful enemy, their most challenging task yet may be fighting the passion between them....

Thoughts:

Elle Kennedy brings readers the fourth book in her Killer Instincts series, Midnight Pursuits. This is an action packed story with moments of levity and some serious romance. The intense chemistry between the hero and heroine is undeniable. Kennedy knows when to ramp up the romance and when to let action take the center stage. Readers who are fans of the series will love the lead in to the next book and new readers to the series will fall in love with the great secondary cast, as well as the main couple. A great addition to the series.

What I liked:

I haven't been reading romantic suspense for very long, but the more I read it, the more I like it. Elle Kennedy certainly knows her way around the genre and makes each scene in her books action packed and full of sizzle, not just in the bedroom. This is one of those books that makes your heart rate speed up, it's just that intense. From the situations their jobs create to the passionate response they have to each other, Ehtan and Juliet provide a great deal of emotion for the reader. Midnight Pursuits is a real nail biter in more ways than one and Kennedy does a wonderful job with it.

The main couple in this one provides a classic example of the law of opposites attracting, but they also have some things in common that the reader may not see at first glance. Ethan is the rookie on a team of mercenaries that can really kick some butt, but he isn't low man on the totem pole. He is a very capable and extreme. He is a former Marine and can hang with the best of them. His passion for the job is fierce and he loves the same way. Juliet could be characterized as the ice queen. She's an assassin and she loves her job. She doesn't let people get close and she isn't looking for romance. These two make quite a pair. The passion between them borders on a ferocity of sorts. It's almost animalistic. I think the thing that is so similar about them is that deep seeded need for adrenaline in every thing the do. I loved them sepately but together they were a force to be reckoned with.

I have not read the previous books in this series, but after reading this one, it's a given that I will go back and pick up the others. One of the things that made this book such an enjoyable read, were the great secondary characters, many of which have their own stories told in previous books and several with stories yet to tell. This book can easily be read as a stand alone, but I think reading them together probably provides the reader with a much more emotional connection to the group. I liked the underlying tension that existed between the leaders of both groups and it appears that their story is up next. I think each character had a place in this book and I definitely want to know more about each one and these amazing two groups with such strong men and women.

What I didn't like:

The main couple is drawn to each so strongly even from their first meeting that reader can easily see that they will end up together, there is no doubt of that, but things heated up a lot faster than I expected. I wanted a little more angst and build up to those all important three little words. 

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a read that will almost literally knock your socks off, this is it. Midnight Pursuits is that book that will keep you up at night and make you think about it when you are supposed to be working. It's that book that has just as intense love scenes as it does action scenes. What else can I say, you really gotta read this book.

Midnight Pursuits is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

RITA-nominated author Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines, alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting! 

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Midnight Pursuits by Elle Kennedy.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 30th.

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