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aboutthatstory's review against another edition
5.0
This. Was. So. EXCITING! I picked it up and could not put it down. I think I might have held my breath through those first chapters, I was riveted! I was pulled into all the turmoil and heartache, passion and love, and had to know how it would all play out. Loved it!
Mason and Denise were awesome characters. I could feel their pain, love, and need. I loved the conflict that they’re married but he doesn’t remember and the tension and turmoil it created. I felt bad for them and loved watching them reconnect. I loved Mason and Denise's chemistry, that pull they had one another, it was intense. I loved their heat and passion as well as all of the emotion, it was consuming.
The writing was great and I love how the storyline was crafted, I thought it had an amazing build. Wonderful details and development. There's a great cast of characters as well, if you've read anything in the Stark world before you'll see some familiar faces. If not, you'll be intrigued and want to read their stories too.
From start to finish I flew through this, a seriously awesome read. Amnesia stories aren’t normally something I read so I was slightly nervous going in. J. Kenner totally made me a fan of this trope because I was just so into the drama and excitement from the start. Another great story in the Stark Security series!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
Mason and Denise were awesome characters. I could feel their pain, love, and need. I loved the conflict that they’re married but he doesn’t remember and the tension and turmoil it created. I felt bad for them and loved watching them reconnect. I loved Mason and Denise's chemistry, that pull they had one another, it was intense. I loved their heat and passion as well as all of the emotion, it was consuming.
The writing was great and I love how the storyline was crafted, I thought it had an amazing build. Wonderful details and development. There's a great cast of characters as well, if you've read anything in the Stark world before you'll see some familiar faces. If not, you'll be intrigued and want to read their stories too.
From start to finish I flew through this, a seriously awesome read. Amnesia stories aren’t normally something I read so I was slightly nervous going in. J. Kenner totally made me a fan of this trope because I was just so into the drama and excitement from the start. Another great story in the Stark Security series!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
rotellareads's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first reading experience with J. Kenner. Honestly I had no idea what to expect with this book and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't read the first book in the series but that didn't effect my ability to follow the story or characters.
The read was suspenseful, hot, and kept me thinking and guessing the entire time. I really liked the thrill of the chase in this read, with the main characters trying to piece together a time span of broken memories and lost identity. The top secret nature of their professions made for a delightful mysterious quality to the story line.
I really liked the two main characters, Denny and Mason. I was invested in their marriage and success and just wanted to see them get their HEA at the end. You could just feel their love and devotion to each other throughout the book, regardless of the fact that one of them couldn't remember a single thing about the other person.
This author's writing style was the perfect pace for my liking and just descriptive enough to keep me invested and wanting more.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The read was suspenseful, hot, and kept me thinking and guessing the entire time. I really liked the thrill of the chase in this read, with the main characters trying to piece together a time span of broken memories and lost identity. The top secret nature of their professions made for a delightful mysterious quality to the story line.
I really liked the two main characters, Denny and Mason. I was invested in their marriage and success and just wanted to see them get their HEA at the end. You could just feel their love and devotion to each other throughout the book, regardless of the fact that one of them couldn't remember a single thing about the other person.
This author's writing style was the perfect pace for my liking and just descriptive enough to keep me invested and wanting more.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
bookaddictreviews's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK! It was different in the best way possible. I will be honest, I didn’t read the blurb. I went in completely blind and it was AMAZING! This story was completely unexpected and I loved every single minute of it.
Denise works for Stark Security and if you read the first book in the series you met her and know her as Quince’s partner. Mason is Denise’s husband, he has also been deep undercover. Denise had no idea where he was, if he was okay or really anything about him. That is until she received a phone call that changed her life.
This story broke my heart. Poor Denise. I seriously wanted to hug her so many times throughout the story. I can’t even begin to imagine all the emotions she went. She was finally able to be with the man she loves and he didn’t remember her and she couldn’t even tell him the truth. I just kept yelling at Mason to remember Denise. To remember his wife. I loved that despite not having any memories there was something familiar about Denise, that he was drawn to her. Their chemistry and their love was HOT.
I was not expecting this story to be so emotional. It was heartbreaking, it was full of loss and pain, but also there was so much love and joy. It was the perfect storm of emotions and a MUST READ!
Denise works for Stark Security and if you read the first book in the series you met her and know her as Quince’s partner. Mason is Denise’s husband, he has also been deep undercover. Denise had no idea where he was, if he was okay or really anything about him. That is until she received a phone call that changed her life.
This story broke my heart. Poor Denise. I seriously wanted to hug her so many times throughout the story. I can’t even begin to imagine all the emotions she went. She was finally able to be with the man she loves and he didn’t remember her and she couldn’t even tell him the truth. I just kept yelling at Mason to remember Denise. To remember his wife. I loved that despite not having any memories there was something familiar about Denise, that he was drawn to her. Their chemistry and their love was HOT.
I was not expecting this story to be so emotional. It was heartbreaking, it was full of loss and pain, but also there was so much love and joy. It was the perfect storm of emotions and a MUST READ!
tita_noir's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I got this book by this completely unknown to me author because I have recently developed a fascination with amnesia in romance novels. Always interested in how it gets deployed etc. and how well I think the author handles the concept.
This was ok.
Mason is an agent with some government agency where he goes under deep cover. His most recent recent mission has taken him deep for two years.
His wife Denise was also a member of the same agency and worked as his partner. But now she is with a private security company and is despondent because she misses him so.
As the book begins, Mason was been tortured and thrown out of a truck with no memory of who he is or his past. But he is still a spy with a spy's instincts. He doesn't know his own name so he takes the name of Jack. And he somehow intuits how to make contact with is handlers.
Fearing he has been compromised or made into some kind of sleeper agent a la The Manchurian Candidate, he is swooped up by the agency, head shrunk and placed on constant surveillance. And Denise is called in to meet with him. She is thrilled to know her husband is back but terrified and sad that he doesn't recognize her at all.
Jack/Mason knows what is happening as doesn't care. He wants to interact with people and try to gt his memory back. But it is obvious there was something critical his mind hiding that even the torture couldn't break out. And then he meets Denise. His ex-partner and, as he is told, a married woman. He doesn't recognize her, but he is immediately attracted to her. Even though their closeness could be chalked up to their being partners in a dangerous business, he wonders if they were ever more? But he shies away from that thought, since it is obvious she is a happily married woman whose husband is currently on a mission (snerk).
So yeah, the set up is interesting and the conundrum the author sets for Denise and Mason is also very interesting. She knows he is her husband and understands the attraction they feel but can't act upon it or tell him anything. Jack/Mason feels something for her but refuses to mess around with a married woman.
There is a medical hoo-hoo hand-wavy conceit behind why they just don't tell him who he is. Apparently if they try to prod his memory he'll have a completely psychotic break and lose his mind and they'll lose whatever important intel his mind has shut down to protect.
Yeah. That's what I said.
Anyway, the rest of the book is Denise being sad that he didn't magically remember her while they spend more time together and she can barely keep herself from jumping him. Jack/Mason is tortured because he thinks he is lusting after a married woman. Also there is a lot of background spy stuf going on.
I like that Jack/Mason finally does figure out who is he so he and Denise can get to boning. And not because he suddenly remembers but because for a group of spies, Denise and all the rest can't lie for shit. And Jack/Mason puts two and two together plus he get tiny little deja vu type memories.
In the end the big villainous scheme was kinda ludicrous honestly and I couldn't help but laugh a bit. All of this for that Wile E. Coyote scheme?
And finally, this is a second book in a series but read like a 5th or 6th given all the names, back info and established relationships of all the supporting characters that are thrown at us immediately. I felt like I was already supposed to know all these people and their situations.
Anyway, a pleasant way to spend some time but not the best rom suspense and felt a little try hard with all the dangerous rich men littering the landscape.
I got this book by this completely unknown to me author because I have recently developed a fascination with amnesia in romance novels. Always interested in how it gets deployed etc. and how well I think the author handles the concept.
This was ok.
Mason is an agent with some government agency where he goes under deep cover. His most recent recent mission has taken him deep for two years.
His wife Denise was also a member of the same agency and worked as his partner. But now she is with a private security company and is despondent because she misses him so.
As the book begins, Mason was been tortured and thrown out of a truck with no memory of who he is or his past. But he is still a spy with a spy's instincts. He doesn't know his own name so he takes the name of Jack. And he somehow intuits how to make contact with is handlers.
Fearing he has been compromised or made into some kind of sleeper agent a la The Manchurian Candidate, he is swooped up by the agency, head shrunk and placed on constant surveillance. And Denise is called in to meet with him. She is thrilled to know her husband is back but terrified and sad that he doesn't recognize her at all.
Jack/Mason knows what is happening as doesn't care. He wants to interact with people and try to gt his memory back. But it is obvious there was something critical his mind hiding that even the torture couldn't break out. And then he meets Denise. His ex-partner and, as he is told, a married woman. He doesn't recognize her, but he is immediately attracted to her. Even though their closeness could be chalked up to their being partners in a dangerous business, he wonders if they were ever more? But he shies away from that thought, since it is obvious she is a happily married woman whose husband is currently on a mission (snerk).
So yeah, the set up is interesting and the conundrum the author sets for Denise and Mason is also very interesting. She knows he is her husband and understands the attraction they feel but can't act upon it or tell him anything. Jack/Mason feels something for her but refuses to mess around with a married woman.
There is a medical hoo-hoo hand-wavy conceit behind why they just don't tell him who he is. Apparently if they try to prod his memory he'll have a completely psychotic break and lose his mind and they'll lose whatever important intel his mind has shut down to protect.
Yeah. That's what I said.
Anyway, the rest of the book is Denise being sad that he didn't magically remember her while they spend more time together and she can barely keep herself from jumping him. Jack/Mason is tortured because he thinks he is lusting after a married woman. Also there is a lot of background spy stuf going on.
I like that Jack/Mason finally does figure out who is he so he and Denise can get to boning. And not because he suddenly remembers but because for a group of spies, Denise and all the rest can't lie for shit. And Jack/Mason puts two and two together plus he get tiny little deja vu type memories.
In the end the big villainous scheme was kinda ludicrous honestly and I couldn't help but laugh a bit. All of this for that Wile E. Coyote scheme?
And finally, this is a second book in a series but read like a 5th or 6th given all the names, back info and established relationships of all the supporting characters that are thrown at us immediately. I felt like I was already supposed to know all these people and their situations.
Anyway, a pleasant way to spend some time but not the best rom suspense and felt a little try hard with all the dangerous rich men littering the landscape.
adele420's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maureensbooks89's review
5.0
A view years back I read two books in the Stark Saga series by J. Kenner. And I absolutely adored those books. Somehow I never got to reading the third book in the series. But it has been on my TBR for a long time. So when I saw a sign up for ‘Broken With You’, the second book in the Stark Security series, I knew I wanted to read this book. And I was super excited to hear I got approved for an ARC shortly after.
Although ‘Broken With You’ is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are some characters that apparently where in the other book, but I never felt like I missed something important while reading this book. And I loved ‘Broken With You’ from the beginning till the very end.
In ‘Broken With You’ we meet Denise. Denise is married to her true love Mason, and she is really happy. But Mason has been on a secret assignment for almost two years, and Denise is afraid he is never coming back to her. But then one day, Mason returns. Unfortunately he doesn’t remember anything.. Not his name and certainly not who Denise is. And now Denise can’t even tell him who she really is.
The romance in this book was just so good. I loved reading about Denise and Mason. The chemistry between them was flying off the pages. It was both heartbreaking and toe – curling good to read about these two. And the thing I liked the most about this read was the fact that the romance was good, but there was also a lot of suspense.
Denise’s character was fun to read about. But Mason’s was my absolute favorite. He woke up without any memory of who he was and what he was doing. And instead of freaking out he kept on trying to find out more. And although he felt an instant connection with Denise, he kept trying to want to do the good thing because he just felt he was a person who didn’t take another guys woman. I loved that about him.
After finishing ‘Broken With You’ I definitely can’t wait to read more by J. Kenner.
Although ‘Broken With You’ is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. There are some characters that apparently where in the other book, but I never felt like I missed something important while reading this book. And I loved ‘Broken With You’ from the beginning till the very end.
In ‘Broken With You’ we meet Denise. Denise is married to her true love Mason, and she is really happy. But Mason has been on a secret assignment for almost two years, and Denise is afraid he is never coming back to her. But then one day, Mason returns. Unfortunately he doesn’t remember anything.. Not his name and certainly not who Denise is. And now Denise can’t even tell him who she really is.
The romance in this book was just so good. I loved reading about Denise and Mason. The chemistry between them was flying off the pages. It was both heartbreaking and toe – curling good to read about these two. And the thing I liked the most about this read was the fact that the romance was good, but there was also a lot of suspense.
Denise’s character was fun to read about. But Mason’s was my absolute favorite. He woke up without any memory of who he was and what he was doing. And instead of freaking out he kept on trying to find out more. And although he felt an instant connection with Denise, he kept trying to want to do the good thing because he just felt he was a person who didn’t take another guys woman. I loved that about him.
After finishing ‘Broken With You’ I definitely can’t wait to read more by J. Kenner.
lanegirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hero wakes up in a hotel room remembering only a ten digit number that turns out to be a phone number in LA. After he calls it, and learns he's been undercover for two years, he's swept up in a race to regain his memory so he can get vital information. Along the way, he's reunited with a woman he believes is his partner at the agency. But where are these erotic dreams with her coming from? She said he's married. Were they having an affair? Why does she have the name Mason tattooed on her wrist? And now turns out she's 16 weeks pregnant and he's the father?
I loved this twisty, suspenseful story & highly recommend it.
I loved this twisty, suspenseful story & highly recommend it.
sgarrett27's review against another edition
5.0
Broken with You is the second book in the Stark Security series. It is seriously brilliant!
This book had me on the edge of my seat all the way through and I barely managed to put it down to sleep.
The story of Denise “Denny” Marshall and Mason Walker is a bit heartbreaking but at the same time truly beautiful. Mason is an undercover agent for the government who has been deep undercover for two years. All of a sudden he wakes up in a motel not knowing who he is or where he is. All he remembers is a telephone number.
The story had me intrigued straight from the start and had me guessing all the way through.
I cannot recommend this book enough! You NEED to read it!
This book had me on the edge of my seat all the way through and I barely managed to put it down to sleep.
The story of Denise “Denny” Marshall and Mason Walker is a bit heartbreaking but at the same time truly beautiful. Mason is an undercover agent for the government who has been deep undercover for two years. All of a sudden he wakes up in a motel not knowing who he is or where he is. All he remembers is a telephone number.
The story had me intrigued straight from the start and had me guessing all the way through.
I cannot recommend this book enough! You NEED to read it!
proud_book_nerd's review against another edition
4.0
A love felt even from the shadows
When I started "Shadow of You" I wasn't prepared for the twists and turns that happened in this book. I can't imagine going through that, finally getting your husband back and he has no clue who you are. Denise is so incredibly grateful Mason is okay, but he's not her Mason he's Jack. And Jack feels incomparably drawn to this beautiful creature he's dreamt of, but trying to keep to the man he believes himself to be. I think Denny did what any woman in her situation would do, have what you can in that moment. I wasn't expecting the devious person behind the plot. I was positive it was someone else. I just wish we could have gotten a sneak peek farther into the future.
When I started "Shadow of You" I wasn't prepared for the twists and turns that happened in this book. I can't imagine going through that, finally getting your husband back and he has no clue who you are. Denise is so incredibly grateful Mason is okay, but he's not her Mason he's Jack. And Jack feels incomparably drawn to this beautiful creature he's dreamt of, but trying to keep to the man he believes himself to be. I think Denny did what any woman in her situation would do, have what you can in that moment. I wasn't expecting the devious person behind the plot. I was positive it was someone else. I just wish we could have gotten a sneak peek farther into the future.
bookishforlife2's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this book blind and even though I didn’t read any of the Stark books, I understood who was who.
Denise (Denny) works for a private security company. Her husband Mason has been undercover for the past 2 years for the government and she misses him.
When she gets the call that he’s been retrieved, but has lost his memory of her, she has to play by the rules and not tell him who she is.
I thought this was a good storyline. Started slow and then the last 30% it all came together. I will look out for Liam’s story!
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Denise (Denny) works for a private security company. Her husband Mason has been undercover for the past 2 years for the government and she misses him.
When she gets the call that he’s been retrieved, but has lost his memory of her, she has to play by the rules and not tell him who she is.
I thought this was a good storyline. Started slow and then the last 30% it all came together. I will look out for Liam’s story!
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.