DARKEST BEFORE DAWN (A KGI NOVEL)

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.

Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

Release Date: October 27, 2015

KGI series book 10

Penguin Publishing Group

Review copy provided by publisher

Nikki’s Review:

I love this series. When the first book came out, I was captivated. Each book is filled with such wicked and brilliant story telling. I have cried more ugly tears reading the KGI series, than any other series...ever. Darkest Before Dawn was no different.

I'm not gonna beat around the bush, I struggled a bit at the beginning of the book. It took me a few chapters to get into it. I felt that the first 2-3 chapters could have been condensed a bit more. But there was no way in hell that I was giving up. I was not putting this book down. And thank goodness I didn't because, wow...just wow! I'm having a hard time right now, pulling together the words to tell you how much I adored this book. It was awesome. Thrilling. So good that I suffered a book hangover when I was finished reading it.

Guy Hancock has been enigma to me. I met him so many books ago and each time I got a sliver of a glimpse of who this man is. But that didn't prepare me for his book. There are so many facets to him. In past books I thought maybe he was a bad guy...literally. But he isn't. He just does all the shit that no one else wants to taint their hands and souls with. The stuff that keeps others safe but destroys him piece by piece. Honor was suppose to be another job. She was suppose to be his ticket to getting close enough to kill the real bad guy. 

Honor is a kickass heroine. When the clinic where she volunteers as a relief aid worker is bombed, she goes into survival mode. She's the only survivor. She's alone in the Middle East and knows that she needs to find help or she'll never make it home. Man, the quick thinking of this woman was astounding. And all the little details that surely saved her life were just jaw dropping. Maya Banks outdid herself with this heroine. This character was written to be real. Honor's terrified, but Ms. Banks wouldn't let her stop moving forward. Incredible. 

When Hancock and Honor are thrust together, the shit gets real. I was frustrated because Hancock was essentially marching this woman to a terrifying death. But he didn't want to. I kept thinking...just come up with another plan to capture the bad guy. But he stayed on task. Though it was difficult for him. He respected the hell, out of Honor. But even more, he wanted her.

Holy freakin' ugly cry in this one! When emotions starting clouding the mission, tears started clouding my eyes. I wasn't sure if this book would end with an HEA. But I knew Maya NEVER wrote sad endings. But she makes you think that maybe, just maybe, they won't make it. That's story telling, folks! This author keeps you on your toes. 

I can't go into detail how the plan changes or what follows after without giving up way too many important and intimate details. You need to discover them on your own to truly appreciate it. This book is full of action packed excitement and a love so strong that it hurts the heart to even try and comprehend it. I didn't think Maya Banks could make me love Guy Hancock, but like always, this author turned my world upside down and proved me wrong.