Showing posts with label Fav Authors. Show all posts
Killjoy by Julie Garwood
Series: Buchanan-Renard Series
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Her razor-sharp mind and ability to gather data and decipher evidence has made Avery an expert crime analyst for the FBI. But soon she will have to use every one of her adroit skills on a case that hits painfully close to home.
Avery’s workaholic aunt, Carolyn Salvetti, is certain her (hopefully soon-to-be ex) husband sent her the gold embossed reservation to the posh Utopia Spa in the mountains of Colorado. At first she is resistant, but then figures it will be a welcome respite from the cutthroat advertising business, not to mention a networking extravaganza. Plus she persuades her niece to join her for the two weeks of luxury and decadence.
But Carolyn never makes it to Utopia. Under false pretenses, she is taken to an isolated retreat by a handsome stranger with a dazzling smile, suave demeanor, and the darkest of motives. His name is Monk, a hired assassin. Now, with scant clues and fewer resources, Avery must track down and save Carolyn—and outmaneuver a brilliant killer who is part of an elaborate plot of madness and lethal vengeance.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble
I've actually lost count of the number of times I have read & listened to this book. Which is a common theme amongst this series. I am pleasantly surprised at how the books still hold up after all these years. For Killjoy yes there is the slightly outdated "typist" reference but that's pretty much the only thing that stands out as dated. The narrator of the audio book version does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.
I will say this is the first time I have ACTIVELY noticed how much time we (the readers) spend getting perspectives outside of Avery and John Paul. That's not really a gripe just something I noticed standing out a bit more when compared to the other books in this series. And another thing that isn't exactly a gripe is the ending for Jilly. I am glad that after all these years and countless rereads the story still pulls the response, I have towards her. Though I suppose that could be in part due to my distaste for unfinished business.
I've actually lost count of the number of times I have read & listened to this book. Which is a common theme amongst this series. I am pleasantly surprised at how the books still hold up after all these years. For Killjoy yes there is the slightly outdated "typist" reference but that's pretty much the only thing that stands out as dated. The narrator of the audio book version does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.
I will say this is the first time I have ACTIVELY noticed how much time we (the readers) spend getting perspectives outside of Avery and John Paul. That's not really a gripe just something I noticed standing out a bit more when compared to the other books in this series. And another thing that isn't exactly a gripe is the ending for Jilly. I am glad that after all these years and countless rereads the story still pulls the response, I have towards her. Though I suppose that could be in part due to my distaste for unfinished business.
Official Blurb:
Avery Delaney has always tried to put the past far behind her. Abandoned by her rapacious, conniving mother when she was only three days old, Avery was raised by her grandmother and beloved aunt Carolyn. Then, when she was eleven, she witnessed her grandmother’s violent death, before Avery herself was shot and left for dead. Miraculously she survived. The man responsible is serving time in a Florida prison. This traumatic experience propels Avery into a life of law and order.
Her razor-sharp mind and ability to gather data and decipher evidence has made Avery an expert crime analyst for the FBI. But soon she will have to use every one of her adroit skills on a case that hits painfully close to home.
Avery’s workaholic aunt, Carolyn Salvetti, is certain her (hopefully soon-to-be ex) husband sent her the gold embossed reservation to the posh Utopia Spa in the mountains of Colorado. At first she is resistant, but then figures it will be a welcome respite from the cutthroat advertising business, not to mention a networking extravaganza. Plus she persuades her niece to join her for the two weeks of luxury and decadence.
But Carolyn never makes it to Utopia. Under false pretenses, she is taken to an isolated retreat by a handsome stranger with a dazzling smile, suave demeanor, and the darkest of motives. His name is Monk, a hired assassin. Now, with scant clues and fewer resources, Avery must track down and save Carolyn—and outmaneuver a brilliant killer who is part of an elaborate plot of madness and lethal vengeance.
Tag :
Buchanan - Renard,
Contemporary,
cop,
Fav Authors,
Favorites,
FBI,
Julie Garwood,
Mackenna,
military,
Mystery,
Romance,
Series,
series romance,
Kraven by Laurann Dohner : Book 2 VLG series
Kraven by Laurann Dohner
VLG SERIES Book 2
Goodreads Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Actual rating 2.5 Stars
Why the low rating? In a word, Bat! At first her bickering with Kraven held promise and humor but that was something that quickly became annoying about her. She had to fight him on every single freaking thing.
And despite being a “Tough Lawyer,” which she stressed all the time, she did stupid things and was in denial or selfish for what felt like 85 percent of the book.
Now do not get me wrong there were some good moments, ones that made me laugh and kept my interest, but this was still a tough and sometimes tedious read.
I wasn't that into having to re-read things from the first book but I get it. Doing so makes it so readers could skip one and just pick up book two and start reading. But don’t.
While I love Kraven’s character even more so because of what you see of him in this book, you can get a lot of his story from “Drantos”. So, if you have to skip anything make it this one.
Having read this series before I can say this book is the odd one out. If you read this and think it's bad don’t let it put you off the series. The later books are so much better.
*****
If after reading book 1 you are interested in finding out more about Bat and Dusti’s parents there is some new information in this book. But overall, it doesn’t make or break the story that is established in the previous book.
View all my reviews
Goodreads Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Actual rating 2.5 Stars
Why the low rating? In a word, Bat! At first her bickering with Kraven held promise and humor but that was something that quickly became annoying about her. She had to fight him on every single freaking thing.
And despite being a “Tough Lawyer,” which she stressed all the time, she did stupid things and was in denial or selfish for what felt like 85 percent of the book.
Now do not get me wrong there were some good moments, ones that made me laugh and kept my interest, but this was still a tough and sometimes tedious read.
I wasn't that into having to re-read things from the first book but I get it. Doing so makes it so readers could skip one and just pick up book two and start reading. But don’t.
While I love Kraven’s character even more so because of what you see of him in this book, you can get a lot of his story from “Drantos”. So, if you have to skip anything make it this one.
Having read this series before I can say this book is the odd one out. If you read this and think it's bad don’t let it put you off the series. The later books are so much better.
*****
If after reading book 1 you are interested in finding out more about Bat and Dusti’s parents there is some new information in this book. But overall, it doesn’t make or break the story that is established in the previous book.
View all my reviews
