Ryshia Kennie

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Garrett Cole, a sexy, smart, strong female entomologist. She leads her first expedition to Borneo with her group of misfit scientists. Their guide leaves them for a few hours telling Garrett where to meet him, he doesn’t arrive. The group believes headhunters are a thing of the past, only to be read in history books, so imagine their shock when they find Malcolm, their guide, washed ashore, headless! They’ve decided to follow the river and getting pushed away from it into the thick jungle. Aidan, the sexy Nordic, in a loincloth I might add, finds them (Can you say Tarzan?) There’s an instant connection between Aidian and Garrett. But seriously, who wouldn’t, he’s a sexy guy in a loincloth!

I loved this mystery, there are so many possible scenarios that could have led to Malcolm’s death, the truth was quite a surprise and not something I had expected. The sexual tension between Garrett and Aidan was just crazy. She was so independent and tried to fight the inevitable. This was quite the story, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I appreciated the fact that the romance wasn’t the main focus of the book, the mystery was. It was interesting the mix of characters that truly had their own unique quirks. A great relaxing read!
… (mais)

Good second chance romance mixed with some exciting suspense. Sara and Talib were a couple three years earlier. Sara made the mistake of telling Talib when her feelings for him grew into love. He wasn't ready for it and immediately broke up with her. When Sara discovered she was pregnant, she didn't tell him. She rationalized that his avoidance of relationships meant he wouldn't want a baby either. She was also afraid that it would be easy for him to take her baby away because of his wealthy family ties. Three years later, she is being blackmailed by an ex-boyfriend who threatens to tell Talib about Everett. Finally, out of money and tired of running, she takes Everett and flees to Morocco, knowing that Talib is the only one who can help her.

I loved the first meeting between Sara and Talib. The hotel she chose has been attacked, and in the confusion, she lost her grip on Everett. Talib is friends with the owner and has been working on setting up the hotel's security. He arrives at the hotel just in time to see a maid taking a little boy out a side door, and is immediately suspicious. After taking the boy himself, he is stunned to find Sara in the middle of the melee looking for that same child. Sara wasn't ready to face Talib yet but had no choice. I ached for her, as Talib didn't take the news well and said some rather nasty things to her. I also hurt for Talib, once he accepted the truth because he had missed so much of Everett's life.

I liked watching the rekindling of the relationship between Sara and Talib. Neither one had forgotten their feelings for each other, though Talib had become an expert at burying his memories of their time together. He made me mad with his initial suspicions about why she came to Morocco because he knew better. Once he understood the danger that sent her running to him, Talib's protective instincts kicked into high gear. The more time he spent with Sara and Everett, the more he realized that he wanted to keep them in his life. He also knew that he would have to earn Sara's trust first. Meanwhile, Sara knew that her feelings for Talib were as strong as ever, but she couldn't see herself fitting into his lifestyle. I liked the way that Talib overcame her fears, from his immersion in being a father to the special dates where they got to know each other all over again. I loved the ending and the surprise Talib had for Sara.

The suspense was terrific. It started as a simple blackmail scheme but became so much more. The initial culprit, Tad, was bad enough with his greed. The way he was always able to track Sara down, no matter where she ran to was creepy. Things became much worse when Sara ran to Morocco, and Tad enlisted the help of a school friend who was there. Glimpses into the mind of this man showed how his greed and hatred made him so much more dangerous. There were multiple twists to the story, including Talib coming out on the wrong side of some attacks, before the final confrontation. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over. I liked how Sara stayed calm and did what was necessary to protect Everett. Talib's arrival was perfectly timed, and I loved watching him protect his family.… (mais)

Good book. Zafir is in Wyoming filling in at this branch of Nassar Security while brother Faisal is away on a mission. He's at the office when Jade shows up to check the file on her next case before going to pick the man up at the airport. It's supposed to be an easy one - protect a minor Moroccan royal while he's in the US taking nature photographs. Both Zafir and Jade have a bad feeling about the case, even though it looks easy on paper. Those bad feelings are validated when "Stanley" is shot at when they arrived at the apartment complex where he will be staying. Jade calls Zafir for backup, but when he arrives, they discover that Stanley has disappeared.

I liked both Zafir and Jade. Zafir made his first appearance in Sheik's Rule, as Emir's twin brother. Like the other brothers, Zafir is more than just an owner; he is also an active agent. One of the things I liked best about him was that he didn't try to take over the case, but supported Jade as the lead. Zafir also has a reputation as a ladies' man, one who doesn't get serious about anyone. Jade is a highly skilled agent who has a stellar reputation. She is fearless when it comes to doing her job. She can be intimidating when it's called for, but she also has a way of getting through to Stanley, which shows a softer side to her.

I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. There were sparks between them from the moment they met, sparks that weren't unexpected. I found it intriguing that they already knew quite a lot about each other. Jade spent a lot of time reading up on Zafir's cases, learning his methods, and getting to know the professional side of him. Getting to know the man himself was an unexpected bonus. Zafir also read up on Jade before she came to the office to start her case. He was intrigued by what he saw in her files. He did not expect the kick of attraction that he felt when he met her. Zafir fought hard against his feelings for Jade. He never planned to fall for one woman. By the time they ended up in Morocco, he was a goner. I loved his big moment at the end.

The suspense of the story was terrific. I felt Jade's frustration when she first met Stanley. He was obnoxious, whiny, and selfish, and she wasn't sure she wanted to deal with that for the two weeks. Things went from bad to worse when someone started shooting at them. Jade had to worry on two fronts: keeping Stanley under control and keeping them safe from the shooter. Zafir's arrival and their subsequent discovery of Stanley's escape increased the tension. Because of the attack, Jade and Zafir are confident that something is going on that they weren't told about. I enjoyed the complexity of discovering the motivations. I liked seeing them confront Stanley and make him understand the problem. News from Morocco complicated the issues. A different side of Stanley began to come out, making him more likable. Once they got back to Morocco, the action ramped up quickly. I was on the edge of my seat as the final confrontation grew closer. It was intense and a nail-biter until it was over. My heart dropped at what happened to Jade, and I ached for Zafir and the guilt he felt.… (mais)