MINI-REVIEWS: LAST HIT and LAST BREATH by JESSICA CLARE AND JEN FREDERICK

Series: Hitman #1Genre: Erotic/Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 11/30/13

Format: Kindle

Pages: 272

Source: Author

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Nikolai:

I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all bespoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy:

I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Homeschooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best in people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man that has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk..and also, my life.

I've been curious about the Hitman series since Last Hit released. I'm a fan of Jen Frederick's Woodland series, and pretty much want to read whatever she writes. She did warn me that this series is very different from her contemporary romance. And it is. But you know, I liked it.

I'll admit, I had a bit of a time connecting with this story. I felt more detached from the characters than normal. At first this bothered me, but then...I got to thinking about it, and it suited the story. Nikolai is a Ukranian hitman. His stilted American dialogue and his awkward manners were well-placed in the story. If he'd been perfectly comfortable, with an American dialect, that would have been out of place in this story. I don't have to feel completely connected to every character to enjoy a story, particularly when he's a Eastern European hitman. I did like Daisy quite a lot. She came from a tragic, strange background, and once again, the way she was written fit that. Daisy was innocence and light to Nikolai's darkness and sin. I wondered how she would react to his life, would she run away or brush it off. The answer was...really neither, and that worked for me.

I know this review has been a vague, rambling hot mess. I don't know why! I was really into Last Hit, and read it within a matter of a couple hours. The story was strange and intriguing, the last half was exciting. There was never this one moment that completely blew me away, but I was in it throughout. Last Breath, book two, was set up very nicely. Daniel was a fun and engaging character and I have a feeling I'm going to adore him. And with what Regan went through in this book, I can't wait to find out what happened, and what happens next.

 

Series: Hitman #2

Genre: Erotic/Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 3/24/14

Format: Kindle

Pages: 280

Source: Author

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Regan

I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I'm at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he's here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He's also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it's wrong to fall in love with him, but I can't seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.


Daniel

For the last eighteen months, I’ve had one goal: to find my kidnapped sister. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and have befriended criminals all across the globe. In every brothel I raid or every human trafficking truck I stop, her face is the one I’m desperate to see. In Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken and still sane despite her weeks in hell. I should leave her behind or send her home because the last thing either of us needs is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I can’t let her go.

After that perfect set-up at the end of Last Hit, I was really excited to start Last Breath. Daniel was ridiculously charming, intriguing, and I wanted to follow along as he sets out to rescue Regan. Now, I knew that whatever had happened to Regan couldn't be good, but I hoped that maybe I was wrong. I wasn't. The horror that Regan experienced made Last Breath both an intriguing and stomach-churning/turning read.

Please don't get me wrong, Last Breath was a good read. It was just hard for me, given what Regan endures and how it's dealt with. I'm not saying how the aftermath was written was right or wrong, it just didn't sit so well with me. I will say that if you have sexual assault triggers, proceed with caution. In some ways, I admired the way Regan was written, dealing with the aftermath of what she'd undergone. In other ways, it made me uncomfortable but that may be just my issue. I just don't know...

What I really liked about Last Breath was that was an adventure, a mystery. The action kept the story moving at an excellent pace, and kept me on the edge. The details the author gave to the setting and the characters gave the story an enormous sense of authenticity. The dialogue was humorous and witty. I enjoyed the verbal sparring between Daniel and Regan very much. And when it came to the dirty talk, wow, Daniel was pretty hardcore!

In the end, I did like Last Breath. Because of the trigger issues, I wouldn't recommend it to those sensitive to that. That aside, I would recommend it to those who are looking for adventure and steamy romantic suspense.

 

About Jen Frederick

 

Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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About Jessica Clare

Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.

She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.

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REVIEW: UNRAVELED (WOODLANDS #3) by JEN FREDERICK

Series: Woodlands #3
Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pear Tree LLC
Publication Date: 1/20/14
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Rating: 4.5 stars

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

 

First Impression.... Oh. Looks like I have another great Woodlands book in my hands.

 

The Story... The Woodlands series takes a turn in a slightly new direction with Gray Phillips, not officially a member of the Woodlands gang, but a close friend and fellow Marine to Bo and Noah. Gray is at a crossroads, at a point where he must decide whether to reenlist in the Marines, or join civilian life. Burned badly by an ex, Gray is not interested in relationships, and then he meets Sam Anderson. Sam lost her husband in the war two years ago, and has spent the time since barely existing. Meeting Gray for her is like waking up. He's everything she thinks she never wants again, but can't stay away from. Gray feels the same, but his past may destroy his future.

 

The Characters... Gray was introduced in Unspoken, when Bo and AM visited him in San Diego. He didn't have a lot of page time, but he did make a big impression on me. When I learned Unraveled was his book, I was very intrigued. That interest paid off, because Gray was a very engaging and likable character. He has a strong dilemma on his hands, with his choice between his duty to his fellow Marines and the stress of the lifestyle. I was honestly prepared to be more frustrated by him, given his anti-relationship stance, but Frederick gave much insight to his thoughts and doubts and feelings.

Sam Anderson is a character that even the hardest-hearted readers will find impossible not to like. She's a young war widow who is exhausted by being defined by her husband's death. Her sense of obligation to her husband's memory is admirable, and the author did a brilliant job of conveying her pain, exhaustion, and struggles in moving ahead. I did love that we got to meet Sam at a point in which she was beginning to be ready to move on, and not in the midst of full-on grief. She was just a really well-developed and endearing character.

 

The Writing... I think Frederick is an incredible writer. Her style is a bit quiet or subdued, with great prose. The dual point-of-view was done well, with each character having a distinct voice. And I really love how she writes her men. They're Alpha, without being Alphaholes.

 

The Heat... No doubt about it, Unraveled is definitely the steamiest book in the Woodlands series. And when I say steamy, I mean WOAH. Gray and Sam have a great chemistry. The intensity and frequency of their...interactions was on par with the situation and feelings moving through them.

 

Was Unraveled Un-putdownable? It took me approximately two paragraphs to fall into this story. It's not that the opening was especially attention-grabbing. It's more that Frederick is a great writer, and I felt like I was slipping into the comfort of an author who's never let me down. Invaluable.

 

In the End... Unraveled is a great addition to the Woodlands series, possibly my favorite. If you love this series, you'll love this installment. If you haven't tried the series, wait no longer.

 

Favorite Quote:

  "I'm going to kiss you now." His voice was deep, rough and matched the rest of his thoroughly masculine body.
  "I know," I whispered back. And I wanted that kiss from Gray who ordinarily wouldn't be my type at all. I wanted it more than I wanted breath. When his mouth molded against mine, it felt like bliss, as if my whole cold body had been submerged into a warm bath. If I thought I was engulfed before it was nothing like I felt at that moment. My entire world--my thoughts, my feelings, my senses--were full of him.

 

The Woodlands Series

 

    

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

My Reviews

Undeclared  |  Unspoken

 

 

Purchase the Woodlands Series

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Connect with Jen Frederick

Website  |   Facebook  |  Twitter

 

     

REVIEW: UNSPOKEN (WOODLANDS #2) by JEN FREDERICK

Series: Woodlands #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 9/16/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 5 stars

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

 

Welp, now that I've read the second Woodlands series book, I think I can officially say that I am a fan of both this series and author Jen Frederick. My favorite type of series is the companions, with each story focusing on a different member of a group of friends or family.  In this series, we get the guys of the Woodlands. The first book, Undeclared, was Noah Jackson's book. Unspoken is his best friend Bo Randolph's story.

If you've read Undeclared, then you've met Bo Randolph. And if you've met Bo Randolph, then you know why I wanted to read this as soon as possible. Bo is a blond-haired, sexy, charming former Marine. He's a good time guy who's always up for a fight or a f--- (you know what I'm saying). But the thing is, Bo is a good guy. A good friend. Best of all, he's more than good to the girl he cares about.

Not only does Unspoken have a worthy guy, but also a heroine who does my heart good. AnnMarie, AM, is a girl that I, like way too many women I'm afraid, could identify with. She's a girl who has been labeled, mistreated, harassed for one event during her first semester in college. She's become withdrawn from university society in an effort to protect herself, the campus ghost. Some might say AM's reaction to the bullying is weak, but I say she's not. That however she handles her feelings and fears is okay and part of a process. Unspoken is not only a love story, or Bo's story, but also AM's journey past the people who've persecuted her, and reclaiming her life and voice.

I absolutely loved AM and Bo together. I like how they started out as friends and had a natural chemistry that was both fun, antagonistic, teasing, and suggestive. I love that their relationship didn't revolve around the physical, though they definitely did have that going for them. It was a layered and beautiful relationship that did revolve around trust and friendship and becoming stronger together. A team.

Undeclared deals with several heavy issues: bullying, society's unbalanced treatment between the genders in regards to sexuality, physical and emotional abuse and how it affects a victim's decisions throughout their lives. It also deals with trust and the safety you can find in someone that loves you in your entirety.

Author Jen Frederick has really hit on something special with  the Woodlands series. Her stories are fun, funny, steamy, and thoughtful. Each story delivers enough of the other Woodlands guys to have you itching for more. And now, Frederick and this series have a permanent spot  on my "Highly-Anticipated" list.


Favorite Quotes:

    "I can't believe you're my lab partner. Would you just stand up an let me out?" She threw her backpack over her shoulder and gestured for me to move, but I couldn't. I had a little wood in my pants and I needed her to be about fifteen degrees less cute in order for me to be able to obey her commands.    ~ eARC, 6%


  "His breath was warm and his voice, deep and strong, raised the hair on my neck. "We'll have to test the hypothesis. I'll ask again when it's over."
  As he drew back, it felt like his lips dragged across the top of my lobe, and a shiver shook me from head to toe. He removed himself slowly, one arm pushing upward and off the barrel. I looked at him and bit my lip, trying to suppress any dumb statements. He grinned and brought his thumb up to draw my lower lip out of my teeth and rubbed his thumb over the abused area. My lip plumped up under his ministrations.    ~eARC, 26%


  "I like to think we have a more elevated form of bacchanalia," Finn quipped. "You should come see for yourself."
  "What special events occur if I do?" I smiled. The banter with Finn was easy and nonthreatening.
  "Me, of course. Once you've seen my delectable form in my natural habitat, every other guy will look dull and unformed to you." Bo's hand appeared heavily on Finn's shoulder. "Especially this guy."
  "Are you poaching on my territory?" Bo squeezed Finn's shoulder.
  Finn leaned toward me. "Bo's still stuck on level three of the evolutionary scale."   ~eARC, 30%
 

  "Now whenever you feel alone, know that I've got your back. No matter who's against you, know that a thousand others wait to avenge you."
  "But I'm not a Marine," I whispered back, my voice catching on the tears threatening to spill out.
  "You're a fighter, Sunshine. Plus, you belong to this Marine."  ~eARC, 80%

Woodlands Series

(cover will take you to GoodReads page)



My Review of Undeclared

Purchase the Woodlands Series
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Connect with Jen Frederick:

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: UNSPOKEN by JEN FREDERICK

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

 

 

Series: Woodlands #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Pear Tree LLC

Publication Date: 9/16/13

 

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

 

 Why I'm Waiting ~ I recently read Undeclared, the first book in the Woodlands series, and I loved it. I cannot wait to get my hot little hands on this one!

 

Woodlands Series

(cover will take you to GoodReads page)


What do you think of my pick? Be sure to comment, and I will come check your WoW out!