JUST ONE TOUCH (SLOW BURN #5)

#1 USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks continues her suspenseful and sizzling Slow Burn series with the fifth book featuring the men and women of Devereaux Security Services.

Raised in a strict religious cult since she was a young girl, Jenna has no connection to the outside world beyond vague flashes of memory that seem to be from another life. Memories she clings to when the cult leaders discover her extraordinary ability to heal—and punish her. Years held captive and forced to do the cult's bidding have turned Jenna into a meek, timid woman…or so they think. In truth, she is merely biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to escape.

When a terrified young woman tries to steal the SUV of Devereaux Security’s toughest recruit, Isaac’s anger quickly turns into a strange sort of protectiveness for the beautiful, bruised stranger. But when they are caught in a firestorm of bullets and Isaac is hit, he’s sure the end is near, until Jenna touches him and closes his wounds. As he tries to bring Jenna to safety, she refuses to tell him what danger haunts her or how she healed him, but Isaac vows to do whatever it takes to gain her trust…and her heart. Because with just one touch, Isaac knows he wants Jenna to be his—forever.

Release Date: May 23, 2017

Slow Burn Series #5

Avon

Romantic Suspense with psychic elements

Nikki's Review:

This series has been hit and miss for me from the beginning. Some of the books I've really enjoyed, and others have truly lived up to the name of the series...slow burn! I'm happy to say that this book hit somewhere in the middle. 

Jenna has a supernatural power that makes her target for some really bad people. She was sold to a cult as a young child and has no recollection of her life before her imprisonment in the cult. 

Isaac works for a prominent security firm and comes to her aid when she's pursued by the man who wants her for her powers to heal. 

This book definitely has the "insta love" thing going on. But it worked here. It was intense and Isaac is definitely an alpha hero! I loved his sense of devotion to her, the way he needed to protect her, and keep her close. Their chemistry was scorching from the get go!

My biggest issue with this book was the long, LONG wait for sexy times...like, 191 pages in! It was frustrating. But it's been like that in every book in this series. The plot is strong and kept me engaged the whole time, but I needed more of the physical stuff, too. When I read a Maya Banks novel, I expect smoking hot monkey sex AND a great story! 

You got to visit with past characters from previous books in the series, which I absolutely love. There's definitely several other characters who a need a book, and it's seems there's a story arc already in the works. 

This book has plenty of action, tons of camaraderie between the teams mates, and passion. While I wish there was more physical intimacy between Isaac and Jenna, the story took ahold of me and kept me enthralled. 

I highly recommend you start with book #1 in the series, Keep Me Safe, for the best enjoyment. 

Rating: 3 Stars (B)

WITH EVERY BREATH (SLOW BURN #4)

Eliza Cummings fought free of a monster who terrorized her when she was an innocent teenager and helped put him away for good. She took a job with Devereaux Security Services and devoted every hour to taking down the very thing she’d nearly become. No one, not even those closest to her, know her darkest, shameful secrets. But now the killer has been set free on a legal loophole and it’s only a matter of time before he comes for her. Eliza’s only choice is to run and lead the monster away from the people she loves.

Wade Sterling has always lived by his own rules, a law unto himself who answers to no one. He’s never professed to be a good man, and he’s definitely not hero material. Wade never allows anyone close enough to see the man behind the impenetrable mask—but one woman threatens his carefully leashed control. He took a bullet for her and the result was more than a piece of metal entrenched in his skin. She was under his skin and nothing he did rid himself of the woman with the courage of a warrior and who thinks nothing of putting her life before others.

But when Wade sees a panicked and haunted Eliza he knows something is very wrong, because the fool woman has never had been afraid of anything. And when she tries to run, the primal beast barely lurking beneath his deceptively polished façade erupts in a rage. She may not know it, but she belongs to him. This time, Eliza isn’t going to play the protector. She was damn well going to be the protected. And as long as Wade breathes, no one will ever hurt what is his.

Release Date: August 23, 2016

Avon

Slow Burn series book #4

Romantic Suspense

Nikki’s Review:

Maya Banks' books always bring me a sense of happiness and excitement. She is definitely on my top ten list of favourites. But if I'm being honest with myself, and you, I struggled with this book. Here's why...

Sweet Jesus, this book was slow to start, really slow, painfully slow! I know the series is called, Slow Burn, but this was a bit much. It has never taken me a week and a half to get through a Maya Banks novel...never. But I had to force myself to pick it up and push through. Even when it picked up, just a little, I was still bored.

Eliza and Wade had zero chemistry. I love when the hero and heroine have witty banter and even struggle to get along. But these two constantly threw nasty barbs at each other. Every now and then, I'd get a hint of some sort of attraction, but it was rare. 

The first half of the book, maybe a bit more, Eliza and Wade were at each other's throats, and then BAM! They're all "I can't live without you. You're mine. I love you, baby". Normally I can't wait for these words from the characters, but this seemed forced and completely unbelievable. 

The love scenes were mediocre at best, mainly because I didn't feel their connection; emotional or otherwise. 

This hurts to write this. I have never felt this way about this authors writing. I wanted to fall in love with these characters and their journey to a happily ever after, but I couldn't. 

I adored the previous three novels in this series, but clearly, this one fell way short for me. I will read the next book in this series when it's released. But I'm leery now. I don't want to get my hopes up. But I know that will happen, because I adore this author and her writing so much. I'm desperately hoping that this was an anomaly for me. I'm hoping to connect with the story next time. I'm hoping to find that sense excitement again.  

Rating: 1 Star (D)