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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I’m so sorry Stacey Abrams, this has confirmed that political thriller/romances are not my thing
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this because of the revelation that Selena Montgomery is Stacey Abrams, probably will not read further (apparently this is part of a trilogy) as I did not especially this beyond imagining Stacey Abrams writing this. Extra star because I did giggle often thinking about the duality of the author's personas.
Fun mix of romance and mystery with a strongly developed cast. I didn't realize this was the beginning of an (unfinished) trilogy until I got to the end and only one of the two mysteries was resolved! The pages flew however and I had fun with this one.
I enjoyed the brief courtroom scenes and wish they had been a bigger part of the novel. While I liked the main characters individually, I listened to this audiobook over the course of several days, and it felt like they were having the same disagreement about trust with each listen. The story ends in a cliffhanger, so I may continue the series.
adventurous
fast-paced
After reading three books by Selena Montgomery, I have to say that the prologues for each of the books I read aren’t sufficient. I ended up reading this book after reading Book 2 (Deception) in this trilogy, because I didn’t know it was a trilogy (which was maddening to find out too late). The prologue for this story immediately follows the defining moment that changed Kell’s, Fin’s, and Julia’s lives and created a ripple effect, but we’re not told what happened. We’re just shown their reaction afterward and their plan to split up. We’re finally told about everything that happened in Book 2, secondhand rather than experiencing it. That’s what this prologue should’ve done. It would’ve been nicer to have known what Kell couldn’t tell Luke and to not have gotten the details secondhand in Book 2. It wasn’t mysterious, as I’m sure was the aim. Instead, it was an annoyance and then a complete letdown.
As for the rest of this story, it was rather slow. The one thing that kept me reading was Luke. I really, really liked Luke. Overall, though, it’s not a bad story. There’s some flaws, sure, and it was slow, but the characters redeemed it. Especially Luke. I said that already. Didn’t I?
It’s unfortunate that Book 3 for Julia was never written/published because we’re left with the leader of Stark still at large and questions unanswered. And sweet Julia never gets her man, which was promised to her. (Sorry, Julia.) I wish I could know who that man would’ve been and how he would’ve fit into the story to help them solve the rest of the mystery.
One final thing, the head-hopping really gets to me. (This is the case for everyone one of her books…Nora Roberts-style head-hopping.) In Chapter One, we’re told what a few jurors are thinking, which we shouldn’t know in Kell’s point-of-view. Then the very next line says, “Kell wasn’t privy to the thoughts of the jurors,” which, again, means we shouldn’t have been told any of that. Then in Chapter 8 we’re suddenly in a nameless intruder’s POV right before switching to Kell’s POV in the same scene. Those are things, as an editor, that bring me out of an otherwise good story.
3.75 stars…could be rounded up to an optimistic 4 stars.
3.75 stars…could be rounded up to an optimistic 4 stars.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one really took me a while...
What I loved - Kell, the mystery, and the matriarch and found family vibes! Kell is badass from page one and I loved how well she knew herself and was ultra-confident in everything from her profession to her car to her sexuality. She was also realistic in her discomfort in all emotional situations. (Holy Moly I felt that!) What I didn't love - Luke. I can't decide if it is the cop thing I didn't love. (He is the town Sheriff.) The boy scout/ captain America vibes? I don't know... His near-obsession with Kell was fun but he was also such a jerk sometimes and very judgemental about her life.
Stars: Four Stars (all four for Kell)
Steam: Level Two
Tropes: slow burn, small town, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, solving crimes
Subgenre: contemporary romance
CW/ TW: mentions of racism, mentions of food and money insecurity, parental abandonment
What I loved - Kell, the mystery, and the matriarch and found family vibes! Kell is badass from page one and I loved how well she knew herself and was ultra-confident in everything from her profession to her car to her sexuality. She was also realistic in her discomfort in all emotional situations. (Holy Moly I felt that!) What I didn't love - Luke. I can't decide if it is the cop thing I didn't love. (He is the town Sheriff.) The boy scout/ captain America vibes? I don't know... His near-obsession with Kell was fun but he was also such a jerk sometimes and very judgemental about her life.
Stars: Four Stars (all four for Kell)
Steam: Level Two
Tropes: slow burn, small town, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, solving crimes
Subgenre: contemporary romance
CW/ TW: mentions of racism, mentions of food and money insecurity, parental abandonment
"Reckless" is a romance novel that gives the reader an even amount of intrigue, romance, and emotion. The novel begins with a prologue occurring in August 11, 1991 which has three friends and orphans, Kell Jameson, Findley "Fin" Borders, and Julia "Jules" Warner on the run from an warehouse fire with a large sum of money. After the events of that night, the three friends decide to spilt the money they obtained from the warehouse and vow to never discuss what happened. Before parting way, they vow to meet four times a year one each of their birthday and on the anniversary of the warehouse fire.
The first chapter of this novel has Hallden Sheriff Luke Calder investigating the murder of local drug dealer Clay Griffin. Since that night on 1991, Kell Jameson has transformed herself into a famous lawyer in Atlanta who represents famous-if guilty-clients which is a far cry from her childhood as a orphan in rural Georgia. After successfully winning another high profile legal case, Kell is suprised when she receives a frantic phone call from Eliza Faraday, the head of her childhood orphanage asking her for her help since she's going to be arrested for a murder.
Kell arrives is Hallden with plans to help Mrs. Faraday over the weekend before returning back to Atlanta. When Kell arrives in Hallden, she has a verbal sparing match with the police and discovers the true nature of Mrs. Faraday's situation which leads her to stay much longer than she originally planned.
Sheriff Luke Calder is investigating the mysteriously death of local drug dealer Clay Griffin. Eventually, Calder finds evidence that connects Mrs. Faraday to the murder but due to her reputation, he finds it hard to believe that she is a murder. Kell knows that Mrs. Faraday is innocent of Clay's murder as well and soon Kell and Luke enter into a fragile partnership to help clear Mrs. Faraday's of the murder.
As the novel progresses, Kell and Luke fall in love, yet both are defensive are find it hard to trust. Despite their different previous life experiences, they manage to work towards a common goal as well as learn to let their guards down and find love.
"Reckless" was an enjoyable read and I liked the amount of backstory that the author put into the development of the characters. Although the sexual chemistry between Kell and Luke is undeniable, it was interesting to see that manner in which their relationship unfolds. Overall, this was a great read and I definitely plan to read "Deception" which is the follow-up book to "Reckless."
The first chapter of this novel has Hallden Sheriff Luke Calder investigating the murder of local drug dealer Clay Griffin. Since that night on 1991, Kell Jameson has transformed herself into a famous lawyer in Atlanta who represents famous-if guilty-clients which is a far cry from her childhood as a orphan in rural Georgia. After successfully winning another high profile legal case, Kell is suprised when she receives a frantic phone call from Eliza Faraday, the head of her childhood orphanage asking her for her help since she's going to be arrested for a murder.
Kell arrives is Hallden with plans to help Mrs. Faraday over the weekend before returning back to Atlanta. When Kell arrives in Hallden, she has a verbal sparing match with the police and discovers the true nature of Mrs. Faraday's situation which leads her to stay much longer than she originally planned.
Sheriff Luke Calder is investigating the mysteriously death of local drug dealer Clay Griffin. Eventually, Calder finds evidence that connects Mrs. Faraday to the murder but due to her reputation, he finds it hard to believe that she is a murder. Kell knows that Mrs. Faraday is innocent of Clay's murder as well and soon Kell and Luke enter into a fragile partnership to help clear Mrs. Faraday's of the murder.
As the novel progresses, Kell and Luke fall in love, yet both are defensive are find it hard to trust. Despite their different previous life experiences, they manage to work towards a common goal as well as learn to let their guards down and find love.
"Reckless" was an enjoyable read and I liked the amount of backstory that the author put into the development of the characters. Although the sexual chemistry between Kell and Luke is undeniable, it was interesting to see that manner in which their relationship unfolds. Overall, this was a great read and I definitely plan to read "Deception" which is the follow-up book to "Reckless."