Review: Ashes of You (Catherine Cowles)

Ashes of You
Series: Lost & Found, #5
Author: Catherine Cowles

Publication Date: February 8, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

Five years ago, I nearly lost everything. But there was a glimmer of hope on that darkest night. There was him—a stranger I could never forget.

Now, I’m finally getting the fresh start I’ve longed for. But when I show up to interview for a nanny position in the small mountain town, the single dad has startlingly familiar blue eyes.

Eyes that have haunted my dreams for the past five years.

Lawson Hartley is everything I know I can’t have. Older, handsome, and my boss. Not to mention the shadows in his eyes that tell me he has demons, too.

Still, he seems to understand me better than anyone I’ve ever met. So gentle and careful of my scars, yet somehow making me believe I’m stronger than I ever thought possible.

And when his lips touch mine, I’m lost.

We find what we’ve been missing in each other. But the terrors of my past aren’t done with me yet, and this time, Lawson might not be able to save me…


If you are a fan of Catherine Cowles’s previous romantic suspense novels, you will enjoy Ashes of You. It is very similar to her other books and was exactly what I have come to expect from Cowles. It had:

  • a woman recovering from a traumatic experience/situation
  • moving to a small town to heal in the beauty of the mountains and nature
  • she falls for a man who is one of many siblings of a big, supportive family
  • he falls just as hard for her, gives her a cringy pet name, and will do anything to protect her
  • her past comes back to haunt, chase, and capture her
  • hero saves the day
  • an HEA.

Despite feeling pretty much like every other Cowles book I have read, I enjoyed it. Hallie was a sweetheart and her falling for Lawson and his three boys was sweet. The dynamics between them all were a lot of fun. It was nice getting to know Lawson better and find out more about his single father status. The entire Hartley clan showed up for support and it was great to see them again. The serial killer part of the book wasn’t surprising, but did add a fun, low level of suspense. Ashes of You was an entertaining read. 

Mini Reviews: Until Hanna (Reynolds), Does He Know? (Ryan), Flame (Locke)

Today I have some mini reviews for you. All three of these books were released mid-November and are part of the KU program.

Until Hanna
Series: Until Him/Her, #13
Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
Publication Date: November 17, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

On the surface, this was a good book. The characters were fun, and the story was fairly light with just a tad bit of suspense worked in. I liked Hanna and Walker. They were great together, but somehow, they were missing something. I was expecting a deeper emotional connection. Despite everything they went through, I never felt like their relationship was particularly deep like it should have been. That’s what kept it from being a better book. I was also kind of curious about Reynolds using the terms “air hostess” for flight attendant and “jump chair” instead of jump-seat. I had never heard that before. When I tossed those terms out to a flight attendant friend who had traveled extensively, she kind of laughed and said “Yeah, no. They’re called the same thing in London as here.” Overall, this was a fun, light read. I was just expecting a little more in the “BOOM” department.

Does He Know?
Series: Everlasting Ink, #1
Author: Kaylee Ryan
Publication Date: November 13, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Does He Know? is up there with my favorite Kaylee Ryan romances. This one was sweet and fairly low drama. It only had one thing that I felt wasn’t really needed but didn’t make me love this less. Emerson has been crushing on her older brother’s best friend for years. Roman is ten years older and doesn’t want to upset her brother by acting on his (and her) feelings. But, as it goes in romance, he can’t stay away. He’s super sweet and protective of her, and she’s all in for him. I loved how this one played out and it’s made me excited for the next book.

Flame
Series: Carmichael Family, #5
Author: Kaylee Ryan
Publication Date: November 13, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Foxx Carmichael has been a bit of a mystery throughout the entire series, so I was excited to finally read his book. He and Bianca were perfectly matched pair. I loved how they bantered. The passion and chemistry between them were fire. I even liked the bit of romantic suspense slipped into the plot of this book. It was a strong end to the series.

Review: Too Far (Sylvia Day)

Too Far
Series: Blacklist, #2
Author: Sylvia Day

Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Publisher: Ronin House
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crossfire® saga.

You can’t believe all of them, but can you trust any of them?

Lily Black was presumed dead for years.
Now, she’s back in the unquestioning arms of her loving husband, Kane.

Where she’s been remains a mystery, but her past sins haunt her and bring deadly danger into the lives of the family.

Meanwhile Aliyah, Kane’s mother, has worked hard for her position of power. She has never believed Lily is who she says she is, and will stop at nothing to expose her.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has always been a pawn in the dangerous games this family plays. But she knows she deserves more, and will do anything to claim the biggest prize.

Three women fight to outrun their pasts.
But could they have more in common than they think?

With the trademark emotional intensity and scorching sensuality of multimillion bestseller Sylvia Day, the dangerous and sultry Blacklist duology comes to its riveting conclusion.


I have been waiting to read Too Far since the moment I finished So Close. The loose ends and revelations at the end had me needing to know what was going to happen next for Kane, Lily, and the cast of characters. Sylvia Day didn’t let me down. She gave me a riveting conclusion to their story. It was just as crazy of a ride filled with so much drama, suspense, and revelations. I loved where the story took each main character and how I managed to be surprised by each. I got my answers and everything I could have wanted in the conclusion to this duet. It was such a fun ride!

Review: In the Likely Event (Rebecca Yarros)

In the Likely Event
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Romance, Military Fiction

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.

Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.

He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.


In the Likely Event was INTENSE!! It had my heart beating hard from the very beginning, and it never truly let up. I was on the edge of my seat pretty much every other chapter. I had to take breaks from reading it at times because I couldn’t handle it. It was almost like reading a thriller.

The way this book was set up worked well for me. It starts in the past when Izzy and Nate meet. From there, the story jump back and forth between 2021 in Afghanistan and their many connections in the past. Izzy and Nate’s relationship grows in the past right alongside what’s happening with them in the future. That set up doesn’t always work for me in a romance, but it was perfect for the nature of this one. It helped that their past was just as interesting as their present. Plus, I loved Izzy and Nate. They were good people with noble intensions. The spark between them was palpable and built into something special throughout the book.

There’s probably a lot more to say. I’m still coming down from the end of this book and I’m kind of at a loss. The only other thing I can think of to mention is that there is a twist at the end that changed my perspective on what I read. It was cool the way Yarros surprised me. Other than that, all I can say is the emotional strain I went through while reading was well worth it in the end.

Mini Reviews: Before We Fall (Reynolds), Meet Your Match (Steiner)

Today I have mini reviews for two recent romance releases.

Before We Fall
Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds

Publication Date: July 7, 2023 
Publisher: Aurora Rose Reynolds
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book because the male MC, Tucker, was not my favorite person in Until Willow. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because I figured he was going through some stuff, and it worked in my favor. I liked Tucker’s presence in this book. He was supportive in the best ways to Miranda. How they met was messy, but I loved how it turned out for them. They were sweet together. I also enjoyed how Miranda’s son fit into the mix. The one thing that felt a little odd to me was how the romantic suspense aspect was pretty contained to Tucker’s job and didn’t really touch Miranda. It made it feel not as important as some of the romantic suspense plots ARR’s written in the past.

Meet Your Match
Series: Kings of Ice, #1
Author: Kandi Steiner

Publication Date: July 7, 2023 
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

 Meet Your Match was a mixed bag for me. It had a lot of good things going for it, but it also had some things that didn’t sit well with me. I loved how Maven and Vince met and how they ended up getting thrown together as influencer/reporter and hockey heartthrob. It was fun to see Vince shoot down all of Maven’s preconceived notions. There were a bunch of really sweet things and some steamy scenes between them. There were also some not-so-great things. Vince was all over the place. One moment he was a sweetheart, the next a jerk. His character tried to be dominant but came off as being inconsistent. I couldn’t completely love him. The way he tried to make Maven jealous didn’t sit right with me. He also tried to call her “Pet” as a nickname and that grossed me out. It just didn’t feel right for the characters. Despite all that, I still enjoyed this book for the most part. I loved all the side characters. I’m excited and hopeful for the next book.

Series Review: Tattered & Torn (Catherine Cowles)

Earlier this year, I listened to my first Catherine Cowles series. I loved how her books came across on audio, so I decided that was how I wanted to experience her other works. That lead me to binge listening to the Tattered & Torn series. Below are my mini reviews for each book. Please note: I have not included content warnings and sensitive readers will want to check those prior to reading.

Snowbound
Series: Tattered & Torn, #0.5
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Ava Erickson, Sebastian York

Publication Date: January 1, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Novella

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

Snowbound was such a quick listen that it never had the chance to capture my heart. I listened to it after I finished the entire series, and it didn’t add anything to it for me. It probably makes a better introduction to the series. You get to meet Hayes (Tattered Stars) for a second in the story. Honestly, I probably could have skipped it, but maybe readers new to the series would enjoy it.

My thoughts:

Tattered Stars
Series: Tattered & Torn, #1
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Andi Arndt, Zachary Webber

Publication Date: January 30, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I actually started with this book instead of the novella. It was a great introduction to Wolf Gap and the people who live there. Everly was returning to town after basically having been ran off by family members who were angry and are now holding a grudge against her. She’s returned to reclaim her family’s land and start an animal sanctuary. It puts her in the path of Sheriff Hayes who has every reason to hate her but can’t stop his feelings for her. I hate to admit it, but I didn’t quite feel their connection or chemistry. Or maybe just not from Everly? Hayes, I knew he was into her. Everly, it seemed like an all of a sudden thing. I guess the chemistry grew the closer I got to the end. This book felt more plot heavy than romance heavy to me. That was fine because the plot was very interesting, and I was engaged the entire time. I just expected to feel more into the romance aspect of the book than I was.

Falling Embers
Series: Tattered & Torn, #2
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Vanessa Ewin, Joe Arden

Publication Date: April 12, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Oh wow. Falling Embers was a fabulous read. I already knew I loved Hadley and Calder as characters from the first book, but their story was really something special. Everything about it was so good. Hadley and Calder had great chemistry and the tension between them at the beginning was off the charts. They were perfect for each other. I loved the way Calder supported Hadley when it came to family issues and her needing to escape in certain ways. I also loved how strong of a person Hadley was in her convictions and standing up for them. Calder’s kids were such a sweet part of the mix, too. The romantic suspense plot kept things moving and there some interesting surprises. I loved everything about this book. It’s made me even more excited to continue this series.

Hidden Waters
Series: Tattered & Torn, #3
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Ava Erickson, Sebastian York

Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

Hidden Waters was almost as good as Falling Embers. I loved getting to meet the eldest Easton son, Beckett, and experience him falling for Addie. He was also struggling with the past, so it was great to see him and Addie bond over that and help each other. I was also happy Addie to rise above her upbringing away from her horrible dad and blossom. This was such a sweet romance mixed with a side dark romantic suspense.

Shattered Sea
Series: Tattered & Torn, #4
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Ava Erickson, Sebastian York

Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I loved how this started out with Laiken’s past. I was looking forward to her moving on from it and finding that someone special in movie star Boden. Boden had an interesting past himself. I liked how these two met and how attraction and feelings started to build. And then somewhere along the way I kind of lost interest in the story. Laiken and Boden’s relationship started to feel like instant love. The romantic suspense part of the story got a little too out there for me. Eli and Jax felt like they could have been the same person. I know this series and Cowles’s others are all romantic suspense, but I think I would have gotten more out of the romance if this book had just been a contemporary romance about moving on.

Fractured Sky
Series: Tattered & Torn, #5
Author: Catherine Cowles
Narrators: Erin Mallon, Joe Arden

Publication Date: October 25, 2022
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Cowles saved the best for last with Fractured Sky. I absolutely loved the pairing of Shiloh and Ramsey. Both had tragic pasts they had done major healing from and were trying to move and live their lives. The hope and comfort they brought each other was so sweet. I loved how the horse rehabilitation ranch and two kids who end up spending time there added to the story. There were so many great, healing moments along with the romance. I even loved how Shiloh’s family and her relationships with them started to completely mend. And then there was the romantic suspense plot. Poor Shiloh had them coming at her from all directions! I didn’t see the twist coming, but I should have expected it! This book was the best way to end the series. I loved it.

Overall series thoughts:

This was a fun series to binge. If you like romantic suspense and don’t shy away from many triggering topics, I recommend it. It did make me wonder how one small town could have that many horrible, suspenseful things happen to the women in it? But that was pretty easy to look past.

Review: A Cruel Arrangement (Tijan)

A Cruel Arrangement
Series: Kings of New York, #2
Author: Tijan

Publication Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Tijan comes the intensely passionate story of a man trying to make amends and the woman who makes him want to keep his promises.

This was my place. My business. Easter Lanes.

Then a guy comes in, trying to rob me, daring to take it away from me.

My home. My life.

Hell no. I won’t let my livelihood be threatened.

No one knows what I’ve done to build this life for myself.

Except he might.

Ashton Walden, a man I remember from when we were kids.

Even back then I could tell how dangerous he would be one day.

He’s now the head of the Walden mafia family, and my father is so in debt to them that they practically own him.

My dad and I are estranged and I want nothing to do with him or his debt, but the day after the attempted robbery, I don’t wake up in the hospital.

I wake up in Ashton Walden’s home. And he drops a bomb on me.

If I want my livelihood back, I need to earn it back.

And thus begins our cruel arrangement.


I’m a big fan of Tijan’s books, so I hate admitting that getting into A Cruel Arrangement wasn’t easy for me. It wasn’t until about 25% in that I was hooked into the characters, the plot, and the romance. I assumed having read the first book in the series that it would be easy to jump right in since the story picks up not too long after that first book ended. I was wrong. Now, that might have been because I was pretty tired when I tried to start this book. Or Tijan’s rambling writing (not a bad thing, just something she is known for) rambled a bit too much in the beginning for me. Or it could just be that I wasn’t all that interested in the buildup to Ashton and Molly’s romance. I didn’t feel their chemistry like I expected I would in those first few chapters. It wasn’t until I finally did that I was into the story. There’s something about the way Tijan writes all-consuming attraction that makes her romances work like magic for me.

Okay, now that I’ve admitted all that, let me get to the rest of the book. I ended up loving how connected Ashton and Molly were. Their chemistry came alive, and I felt that all-consuming attraction I mentioned above. I liked how they became a team. The action also ramped up the closer they got. I loved getting answers to many questions I had from the first book. I enjoyed seeing Trace and Jess again and how they were involved in the story. The only thing that really bugged me in the rest of the book was Molly’s “switch” thing. That was just… I don’t even know what to say about it. There were also a couple of pacing issues for me, but I would attribute those to maybe overexplaining. Overall, it was a good conclusion to the story that began in A Dirty Business.

One last comment, or question I guess… Did anyone else think American Idol or From Justin to Kelly when Justin and Kelly were mentioned? Was that just me? I pictured those two every time the names were brought up. Kind of funny for a mafia romance.

Review: So Close (Sylvia Day)

So Close
Series: Blacklist, #1
Author: Sylvia Day

Publication Date: March 28, 2023
Publisher: Ronin House
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crossfire® saga comes the beginning of a twisty tale of obsession and rage, as a trinity of women protect what they covet at any cost.

You can’t believe all of them, but can you trust any of them?

Widower Kane Black is still ruinously married to his late wife, Lily. Grief has hollowed him… until he sees a woman with his wife’s inimitable beauty on the streets of Manhattan. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, protectively under guard, nestling her in dark opulence where Lily’s memory is a possessive beguiling force.

Aliyah, Kane’s mother, deals in science. There are too many questions, too few answers, and too much at stake. “Lily” has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on the throne.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has been bloodied by deceit and betrayal, and she’s devolving into murderous rage. She’s paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she’s owed.

Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. Kane is happier than he’s ever been, and he’ll do anything to stay that way.

Propulsive and sly, So Close is a lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense with the emotional intensity, scorching sensuality, and complex exploration of female trauma that are the hallmarks of multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day.


I’m going to be honest. I didn’t even read the blurb before picking up this book. I saw Sylvia Day’s name as the author and jumped right in. I’m glad I did because So Close was fantastic. It kept my mind reeling trying to figure everything out. In general, this is a romantic suspense/mystery about a notable man’s wife who returns from the dead and how it impacts his life, his family, and their empire. It’s a crazy, fun ride filled with drama. I don’t know how to review it other than to give you a little insight into who the narrators of the story are and what I thought of them.

WITTE: Kane’s trusty employee. His observations helped set the story up and added a non-female look into Kane’s life. He seems trustworthy.

AMY: Kane’s sister-in-law who is obsessed with him in an obviously unhealthy way. She gave me so much secondhand embarrassment when it came to her thoughts and actions. I felt sorry for her as much as I disliked her.

ALIYAH: Kane’s mother. She was desperately trying to control her entire family and their company. I hated this woman. I thought she was evil except for a couple of moments when I wondered if she was right to be concerned about certain things.

LILY: Kane’s wife who has returned from the dead. She was the most interesting and important character. Not only because of the way she thought about Kane, but because she is truly what kept me guessing and wondering. I was surprised that I liked her so much and wanted her to come out on top of anything and everything when it came to Kane and his family.

I keep mentioning Kane because the story revolves around him, but interesting enough we never get his POV. Everything we know about him, and his actions comes from these four people – and three of them may or may not be unreliable narrators. (I’m still trying to figure that unreliable thing out.) It made me even more curious about what is going through his head and the decisions he makes. I really loved that. I’m hoping we get his POV in the second book.

I have so many, many questions that were not answered in So Close that I’m anxiously awaiting answered. I cannot wait to read Too Far. I took my time reading So Close because I didn’t want to miss out on any detail. I hope Day can wrap this story up in the same way she crafted this first book because it was excellent and kept me guessing.

Review: The Darkest Half (J.A. Redmerski)

The Darkest Half
Series: In the Company of Killers, #8

Author: J.A. Redmerski
Publication Date: September 19, 2022
Genre: Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

With the abandonment of Victor Faust and nowhere left to go, Izabel sets out on her own to continue the assassin’s life she has grown to become so intimate with. But she quickly learns the hard way that such a life cannot be survived alone. Within months, she is captured by The Order, with the true identity of the ever-elusive Vonnegut just a hair away. And to make matters worse—or better?—her cellmate is none other than Niklas Fleischer.

While Izabel and Niklas are being left to starve to death in hopes that their capture will result in Victor Faust’s surrender, Fredrik Gustavsson has also found himself in a predicament of his own. Willa, his childhood savior who became the most notorious female serial killer of the modern age, is keeping him imprisoned. But what does she want from him, a woman devoid of empathy or the faintest understanding of human emotion? And what will become of Fredrik if he fails to give her what she wants?

In the suspenseful conclusion of the In the Company of Killers series, Vonnegut will be revealed—to Izabel and Niklas’ shock and devastation—and the lives of the once thriving rogue Order led by Victor Faust will come full circle.

And not everyone will make it out alive.


If you are unfamiliar with the In the Company of Killers series, I suggest you check out my reviews for the rest of the series. This series is one continuous storyline, and the following review is for the latest and final book in the series.

Oh, man. What a bittersweet goodbye to a consuming and addictive series. I knew going in this book was going to give me answers but also leave me with lingering questions. No matter how Redmerski wrapped it up, I would always want to know more. That’s a compliment to her writing and the world she created for In the Company of Killers. Izabel, Victor, Fredrik, Niklas, Nora, and their “friends” and foes. The series could go on indefinitely, but I know it can’t.

So, how did I feel about this final chapter? I went back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars. I honestly don’t know where to land on the stars, so I will round up. I was pretty pleased with the plot. I thought Redmerski took the conclusion in a natural direction and still had some surprises up her sleeves for us. There was one character who I have mixed feelings about in the end. I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil, but I wish that character had gone a different direction. I understand why they didn’t, though. There were a couple of characters I wanted or needed more from or about. Their final contributions to the story felt a little vague to me at the end, like I needed one or two more chapters in their POV since I won’t be getting more in future books.  That’s one of the reasons I wish this book was longer than the 201 pages I got.

The other reason is that I just wasn’t ready for it to all be over. When I finished Spiders in the Grove, I thought “That’s where it ends??? I need more now! Where is the next book?”. I’ve finally gotten that next book and finished it and I am still saying, “That’s where it ends??? I need more now! Where is the next book?”. I know there won’t be more next books. I wish there would be, but I understand Redmerski needing to move on. Maybe she left some things the way she did in case she ever wanted to come back to the series. I kind of hope that’s it. If that doesn’t happen, it will be okay. I’ll be over here hoping things are going well for those still standing.

Review: The Revenge (Tijan)

The Revenge
Series: The Insiders Trilogy, #3
Author: Tijan

Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Fiction
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis: 

The Revenge is the taut, edgy, sexy, explosive conclusion to The Insiders trilogy by New York Times and USA Today bestseller Tijan!

Bailey and Kash were used to living in the shadows. Now they are thrust into the public eye. Together, they can do anything, but undeniable danger and seemingly insurmountable challenges threaten the love and passion that binds them.

1. Bailey is reeling from the greatest loss she has ever suffered.

2. Enemies are closing in.

3. Even bigger secrets and twists are coming to light.

Win or lose, for Bailey and Kash, everything is on the line. 


After the unexpected craziness that was the end of The Damaged, I was ready to jump right back into Bailey and Kash’s story. The Revenge was like both The Insiders and The Damaged in that it felt chaotic and captivating. This book was rambling in that Tijan way. There seemed to be both nothing and everything going on at the same time. The plot seemed to be leading nowhere until all these little things came together toward the end in several powerful scenes. That seems to be the pattern with the books in this trilogy.

Bailey didn’t feel like quite the underdog this time. She had grown into herself, her relationship with Kash, and her family. She was really struggling with the aftermath of the last book. Bailey was so up and down over everything that was going on. I think that’s what made things feel so chaotic this time around. I had to meander through a bunch of her moods to get to the action.

Kash was still very much the powerful Kashton Colello (I just like saying that name.) we have all admired over the last two books. He’s hard, determined, and willing to stop at nothing to keep those he loves safe. Kash was also kind of mushy when it came to Bailey, and I loved that.

The side characters continued to be impactful. Matthew kept stepping up his game. For someone I couldn’t stand at first, he became a favorite by the end. The rest of Bailey’s family was great. I even loved the bad guys. They added some great drama that were the shining moments.

I enjoyed The Revenge. It was a good conclusion to a fun trilogy. All of the drama and the answers Bailey and Kash finally got were great. I loved how dynamics kept changing and where Tijan took the story in the end. The only couple of things that would have made it better for me would have been a little less meandering through Bailey’s ups and downs and a lot more Bailey/Kash romance. Overall, this book was a strong addition to The Insiders Trilogy. I’m sad to see this series end, but also happy to have the answers.