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theeclecticreview's review
5.0
After reading the prequel [b:Killer Looks|60572861|Killer Looks (Assassins in Love, #0.5)|Tawna Fenske|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646719235l/60572861._SY75_.jpg|95472110] about three lethal assassins with very different backgrounds, I couldn't wait to find out what made these hot alpha men tick.
Dante is up first. He's all broody, serious, and old school. He likes guns, Cheezits, treating pets as family, printed maps, and his dream girl, Jen. Oh, wait. That can't happen. Jen is his buddy's sister and there's a bro code about that. His mission was to make sure Jen was safe and find proof to get her brother out of prison. But the woman he's falling for is being threatened and he must keep focused on the job. Can Dante free his friend and save the woman he loves before it's too late? Will she forgive him for his lies?
Jen is strong, self-sufficient, and has poor judgment in men. Her ex ran off with the Disney princess winemaker and now she's falling for the big, bald, badass farmhand she hired. She's struggling to keep her vineyard going, but everything is being sabotaged. Dante is her godsend as he doesn't hesitate to help Jen find ways to raise money for her vineyard and find the culprit who is endangering her livelihood. Will she be able to keep the land and the man she loves, or is it too good to be true?
The unveiling of Dante and Jen's attraction is a treat to watch. Dante is not good with words, but he gets high marks for protective instincts. His answers are short and to the point and his actions are oh, so swoon-worthy. For example, his adorable interactions with the princess tea party and with Zsa Zsa the pig is nothing less than hysterical and book boyfriend worthy. Not to mention, his kind and gentle acceptance of an old woman in the throes of dementia and the joy he brings her made me fall in love with him. Dante's persona as a hardened killer is wiped away by his unabashed pragmatism in doing the right thing at the right moment. He falls fast and hard for Jen who is so brave, but she sells herself short. She loves her family, but they worry about her because she is the baby of the family. She shows her moxy and her strength by facing her problems head-on and not letting the setbacks get her down. There was no doubt Jen would forgive Dante for his betrayal because, well, he's a keeper and he proved his love and goodness many times over. Also, with a little help from Dante's friend Sebastian, they were able to clear Matteo's name (Jen's brother) and find the evil person who was preying on Jen (that was a big surprise). To wrap it up, there is a lovely "fresh start" happily ever after which will have me picking up the next book in the series as quickly as I can.
Jen's controlling and overprotective brother Matteo is a savvy prisoner who is able to find out things before Dante does. Sebastian, The Dentist, (yes, he's a real dentist) is hilarious and menacing at the same time. And, Jen's sister Nic is a force to be reckoned with. Can't wait to read Nic and Sebastian's story. It's gonna be amazing!
I highly recommend this quirky romantic suspense that will tickle your funny bone and surprise you. The characters are captivating, the animals are precious, and the plot had me guessing to the very end.
Thank you to Ms. Fenske for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Dante is up first. He's all broody, serious, and old school. He likes guns, Cheezits, treating pets as family, printed maps, and his dream girl, Jen. Oh, wait. That can't happen. Jen is his buddy's sister and there's a bro code about that. His mission was to make sure Jen was safe and find proof to get her brother out of prison. But the woman he's falling for is being threatened and he must keep focused on the job. Can Dante free his friend and save the woman he loves before it's too late? Will she forgive him for his lies?
Jen is strong, self-sufficient, and has poor judgment in men. Her ex ran off with the Disney princess winemaker and now she's falling for the big, bald, badass farmhand she hired. She's struggling to keep her vineyard going, but everything is being sabotaged. Dante is her godsend as he doesn't hesitate to help Jen find ways to raise money for her vineyard and find the culprit who is endangering her livelihood. Will she be able to keep the land and the man she loves, or is it too good to be true?
The unveiling of Dante and Jen's attraction is a treat to watch. Dante is not good with words, but he gets high marks for protective instincts. His answers are short and to the point and his actions are oh, so swoon-worthy. For example, his adorable interactions with the princess tea party and with Zsa Zsa the pig is nothing less than hysterical and book boyfriend worthy. Not to mention, his kind and gentle acceptance of an old woman in the throes of dementia and the joy he brings her made me fall in love with him. Dante's persona as a hardened killer is wiped away by his unabashed pragmatism in doing the right thing at the right moment. He falls fast and hard for Jen who is so brave, but she sells herself short. She loves her family, but they worry about her because she is the baby of the family. She shows her moxy and her strength by facing her problems head-on and not letting the setbacks get her down. There was no doubt Jen would forgive Dante for his betrayal because, well, he's a keeper and he proved his love and goodness many times over. Also, with a little help from Dante's friend Sebastian, they were able to clear Matteo's name (Jen's brother) and find the evil person who was preying on Jen (that was a big surprise). To wrap it up, there is a lovely "fresh start" happily ever after which will have me picking up the next book in the series as quickly as I can.
Jen's controlling and overprotective brother Matteo is a savvy prisoner who is able to find out things before Dante does. Sebastian, The Dentist, (yes, he's a real dentist) is hilarious and menacing at the same time. And, Jen's sister Nic is a force to be reckoned with. Can't wait to read Nic and Sebastian's story. It's gonna be amazing!
I highly recommend this quirky romantic suspense that will tickle your funny bone and surprise you. The characters are captivating, the animals are precious, and the plot had me guessing to the very end.
Thank you to Ms. Fenske for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
rlisaacs's review
3.0
This was a good quick read. I liked how the characters came together throughout the book. Definitely instant attraction, that grows rather quickly into love between these two, though neither is willing to admit it that fast. All in all, I'm pleased with my time here.
I'm not going to continue reading into the rest of the series, but that's just a personal preference on my part. My TBR is too long already, and I did have some things that I would've liked to have happened differently in this book than what actually took place. (Really just one thing, but anyways...) And for notes on that, please see the spoilers below.
But definitely, if you're in the mood for a quick little romance between an ex-assassin and a vineyard owning animal lover, give this a try. It's quick, it's cute, it's got some steam (I could've done with a bit more, but what was here was still great). And while I had my suspicions about who exactly was the person trying to harm Jen, I honestly wasn't positive about who the culprit was until Dante finally figures it out for himself. There were just too many options to pick from for me to really settle on who exactly might be the bad guy. So that was nice too!
Like... I would've been so mad. SO MAD! And Jen is at first, don't get me wrong. Her initial reaction I am on board with. It's the aftermath that I don't agree with. Jen didn't need Dante to come and save her. She saved herself. Would've been fine. He showed up at the last minute and basically helped clean up once he realized she was alright. But even if he had shown up and had to save her, that doesn't negate all the time he spent lying to her about who he was and why he was there. I get Jen being grateful. And I get that she loves him and he loves her. But I would still be so mad!
Dante should've had to grovel more, is basically my only problem here. Yes, forgive him eventually, but after all the time he spent lying and deceiving... I mean, make him prove that he really wants that forgiveness. That he does love her.
The fact that when Matteo called and Dante put it on speaker phone so Jen wasn't excluded anymore was nice, I give him that. It was a sign that he was making a turn around. A sign that he wouldn't be deceiving or lying to her again. But still... I wanted more.
I'm not going to continue reading into the rest of the series, but that's just a personal preference on my part. My TBR is too long already, and I did have some things that I would've liked to have happened differently in this book than what actually took place. (Really just one thing, but anyways...) And for notes on that, please see the spoilers below.
But definitely, if you're in the mood for a quick little romance between an ex-assassin and a vineyard owning animal lover, give this a try. It's quick, it's cute, it's got some steam (I could've done with a bit more, but what was here was still great). And while I had my suspicions about who exactly was the person trying to harm Jen, I honestly wasn't positive about who the culprit was until Dante finally figures it out for himself. There were just too many options to pick from for me to really settle on who exactly might be the bad guy. So that was nice too!
Spoiler
My singular issue with this book, and it really is only one thing... is how quickly they came back together after Jen realized Dante had been lying to her this whole time. Granted, he sprinkled bits and pieces of the truth in there when they were having conversations. But the fact of the matter is that, from day one when he showed up, he was lying. He lied about what his name was. He lied about being a farmhand in search for a job. He omitted (which is still lying in my book) that he knew her brother and that her brother was who sent him. He didn't tell her who he used to be. And if I had been Jen, who only figured this out after they'd finally had sex, I would've figured out he was lying and then assumed that he'd never intended to tell me. Ever.Like... I would've been so mad. SO MAD! And Jen is at first, don't get me wrong. Her initial reaction I am on board with. It's the aftermath that I don't agree with. Jen didn't need Dante to come and save her. She saved herself. Would've been fine. He showed up at the last minute and basically helped clean up once he realized she was alright. But even if he had shown up and had to save her, that doesn't negate all the time he spent lying to her about who he was and why he was there. I get Jen being grateful. And I get that she loves him and he loves her. But I would still be so mad!
Dante should've had to grovel more, is basically my only problem here. Yes, forgive him eventually, but after all the time he spent lying and deceiving... I mean, make him prove that he really wants that forgiveness. That he does love her.
The fact that when Matteo called and Dante put it on speaker phone so Jen wasn't excluded anymore was nice, I give him that. It was a sign that he was making a turn around. A sign that he wouldn't be deceiving or lying to her again. But still... I wanted more.
eg_m's review
4.0
A trained assassin with a soft spot for animals meets a vineyard owner with more trouble than vines. There's a backstory (I haven't read it) featuring the assassin and the grape grower's brother that bring the two together, but the references were clear enough that it moved the story forward rather than dragging it down. Dante and Jen are interesting, quirky, and have fabulous on-page chemistry. Throw in a series of accidents that suggest someone is gunning for Jen and it's a page turner.
*I read the eb00k version but it's not listed on goodreads.
*I read the eb00k version but it's not listed on goodreads.
mistysreads's review
5.0
After reading Killer Looks (prequel) I was looking forward to getting to know Matteo, Dante, and Sebastian better. These three guys seem close as brothers and willing to do what it takes for one another. When Matteo goes to prison, who was setup by a dirty cop, he asks Dante to look after is baby sister. Only when Dante gets there, someone is after her and will do what it takes to get what they want.
Dante at first lies to Jen in order to get the farmhand job. Yes, he worked on a farm as a child but those are skills he has not used in a long time. And he actually has fun getting back to his roots. As they work together to keep Jen alive, more secrets come out than Dante is ready for, like his relationship with Matteo.
Dante is a sweet, protective, loyal guy and has many layers. He and Jen together was fun and chemistry filled. In the moments he is trying to save/protect Jen you can see why he and the other two guys are friends/partners. I loved the names for the animals they came up with, Goat named Scape, Horse named Maple, and Zsa Zsa for a pig. This pig, is hilarious, she acts like a dog and I loved the addition of her. Killer Instincts is full of chemistry, suspense, and regular ole farm work while Dante is trying to help Matteo. I loved this story and cannot wait to see more of Matteo in the next one and oh my the surprise he gets.
Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review
Dante at first lies to Jen in order to get the farmhand job. Yes, he worked on a farm as a child but those are skills he has not used in a long time. And he actually has fun getting back to his roots. As they work together to keep Jen alive, more secrets come out than Dante is ready for, like his relationship with Matteo.
Dante is a sweet, protective, loyal guy and has many layers. He and Jen together was fun and chemistry filled. In the moments he is trying to save/protect Jen you can see why he and the other two guys are friends/partners. I loved the names for the animals they came up with, Goat named Scape, Horse named Maple, and Zsa Zsa for a pig. This pig, is hilarious, she acts like a dog and I loved the addition of her. Killer Instincts is full of chemistry, suspense, and regular ole farm work while Dante is trying to help Matteo. I loved this story and cannot wait to see more of Matteo in the next one and oh my the surprise he gets.
Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review
soonerlit22's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mathchic84's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rosie_p_burke's review
5.0
Bringing back Dante!
Dante was such a fun character to be introduced to in the Ponderosa Resort series and I love that Tawna took him and gave us a spin off series.
This is a sweet love story… with an assassin with a conscious! Dante and Jen are a beautiful balance or outer strength (him) and inner strength (her).
Something I think Tawna always does beautifully is pay attention to details. Just for reference— Dante is from Dovlano. English isn’t his first language— and Tawna gives us snippets of that while he struggles to find the “right American words.” It’s something not every author considers when giving us international characters.
A fast and fun read for sure! It will definitely have you preordering the entire series!
Dante was such a fun character to be introduced to in the Ponderosa Resort series and I love that Tawna took him and gave us a spin off series.
This is a sweet love story… with an assassin with a conscious! Dante and Jen are a beautiful balance or outer strength (him) and inner strength (her).
Something I think Tawna always does beautifully is pay attention to details. Just for reference— Dante is from Dovlano. English isn’t his first language— and Tawna gives us snippets of that while he struggles to find the “right American words.” It’s something not every author considers when giving us international characters.
A fast and fun read for sure! It will definitely have you preordering the entire series!
read_on_reader's review
5.0
From the brief look we got at the guys in the novella I knew each one of them would have a very interesting story to tell, so when Dante shows up to help Jen on her vineyard he is blown away by his immediate attraction to her, but he has secrets. His secrets are ones that should keep him away from her because he promised her brother to help her and watch out for her, but when a series of events start to occur he knows he has to keep her safe no matter what. Jen is a hard worker, has been through so much, and wants to see the good in everyone even if it hurts her or her pride. She knows she will do anything to keep her grandmother’s vineyard, but someone is out to hurt her. When these two are brought together and adversity starts will the secrets Dante keeps help or hinder them? I love this story, the group of guys, and the suspense it keeps us on the edge. I am excited for Matteo’s story and to see what happens next.
daisyknox's review
5.0
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
I was excited for this series after reading the prequel, Killer Looks, but this book exceeded my expectations. It’s sweet, funny and different. Dante is a lonely assassin tasked with checking on his best friend’s little sister but he lets her think he’s answered her ad for a farmhand. This is an insta-love mystery with just enough suspense and a HEA. Assassin or not, Dante is adorable with Jen and they make a great team working to rescue her farm from danger. Matteo’s story is next and I can’t wait.
noelb's review
5.0
Absolutely love this story line! I was interested from page one. Never lost my focus or my attention, wonderful!