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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
When a rescue mission goes bad and PJ is raped, she leaves her unit to seek revenge on her own.
A little to gritty and violent for me.
A little to gritty and violent for me.
Let me start this review by saying that this book is not for the weak of heart, and if you have a hard time reading books that have scenes of violence against women then please proceed cautiously. Now, having said that, this book is very well written and was one of the best in the series for me.
P.J. is one of the guys and that's the way she likes it. She has worked hard to earn the respect of her fellow team members and doesn't want anything to jeopardize her spot on the team.
Cole is the joker and he loves nothing more than sparring verbally with P.J. But he has decided that it's time to try a little physical sparring of the sexual kind.
I was a P-Cole fan from the very beginning, the back and forth razzing to the incredible sexual chemistry, I was rooting for them from the get go. The first time they come together was fun and sexy and so believable. But the way that Cole cares for her later in the book is so touching and emotional. I found myself needing these two to find a way past all of the hurt because they deserved an HEA.
This series is not easy on it's heroines, and this book is no exception. P.J. goes to a dark place and it's not always easy to read. But it's also a story of survival and Ms. Banks is one of the best at writing strong, capable women. This book is fast paced with a lot of action and you better have your seat belt on for the emotional roller coaster ride that you are going to take. But it is so worth the price of admission!
P.J. is one of the guys and that's the way she likes it. She has worked hard to earn the respect of her fellow team members and doesn't want anything to jeopardize her spot on the team.
Cole is the joker and he loves nothing more than sparring verbally with P.J. But he has decided that it's time to try a little physical sparring of the sexual kind.
I was a P-Cole fan from the very beginning, the back and forth razzing to the incredible sexual chemistry, I was rooting for them from the get go. The first time they come together was fun and sexy and so believable. But the way that Cole cares for her later in the book is so touching and emotional. I found myself needing these two to find a way past all of the hurt because they deserved an HEA.
This series is not easy on it's heroines, and this book is no exception. P.J. goes to a dark place and it's not always easy to read. But it's also a story of survival and Ms. Banks is one of the best at writing strong, capable women. This book is fast paced with a lot of action and you better have your seat belt on for the emotional roller coaster ride that you are going to take. But it is so worth the price of admission!
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-shades-of-gray-by-maya-banks/
The KGI series by Maya Banks and I have a rocky relationship. I very much enjoyed the first three books in the series and kind of fell in love with these brothers and their big, loving family. Book four was a shock to the system because this series was always romantic suspense and all of sudden, with no warning, it suddenly became a PARANORMAL romantic suspense series. People talking in each other’s minds, healing from afar, I’m still wondering what happened. Did I miss something in the first three books that might have hinted at what was to come? Then came book five, Echoes at Dawn, which in my opinion had an almost ridiculous case of insta-love. Which leads us to book six, Shades of Gray, about PJ and Cole. I decided to give this one a chance because I’ve been a huge fan of these two from the start, PJ seemed to be an exceptionally strong, tough leading lady and the relationship between her and Cole had always been one of friendly competitors. Plus I adore a story about friends turned lovers.
Shades of Gray leads off with Cole following PJ home to Denver in the hopes of finally turning their relationship into more than just friends. PJ has just had an uncomfortable encounter with her former lover and team from her SWAT days. When Cole appears they fall into their easy banter, but are aware that something else is there along with it. They end up back at PJ’s apartment where they have a smoking hot night together, which leads to a weird morning after when they are both called in for a job by Steele. PJ doesn’t know where exactly she wants their new relationship to go, but Cole has no intention of letting her revert back to just teammates after he’s finally gotten her to see him as more.
The new job their team commander, Steele, wants them on is the capture of a known child trafficker who KGI has been hunting and wants to take down. PJ agrees to go in undercover and draw the eye of one of the bad guy’s cronies to find out the specifics of where and when they can apprehend him and free the young girls. Cole has major problems with PJ putting herself at such risk and lets his voice be heard. Turns out he has valid reasons to be so worried as right from the start the mission goes fubar and PJ ends up suffering through the worst thing a woman can go through. Twice. All while her team can listen in and hear what’s going on, but are unable to get to her. It was a terrible scene and I couldn’t believe what was going on as it was happening. Her team does finally rescue her, but are unable to capture the men who did the damage.
When PJ becomes lucid and conscious again she immediately sneaks out of the hospital, resigns her place on the KGI team and disappears. For six months she is missing. Cole goes a little nuts, he’s angry at Steele for letting her leave, worried for PJ and wants revenge on the people who hurt his lover. When the team finally figures out what she’s been up to they are shocked to find out she has struck out on her own, seeking her own kind of revenge for the wrongs done against her.
I was very disappointed in the way PJ’s story played out. While on one hand I understood her need for revenge, I didn’t like that she turned into some kind of lone vigilante to get it. She does horrible things, yes they were done to horrible men, but she becomes her own judge, jury and executioner. I also didn’t care for the fact that immediately after the traumatic event she disappears and the reader doesn’t see her or even Cole for that matter for months. That whole period of time is skipped, six months of important time while she is coming to terms with her trauma and looking for the bad guys just gone. Then when the team finally catches up with her they all seem just a tab bit too comfortable with the fact that she’s been the female version of the terminator for months on end. The ending is a little much. There is a big confrontation where PJ must confront the bad guys, while rescuing Cole and doing it all naked. Yes, naked. For anyone else they would need some type of therapy to get through these hard times, but PJ has the Kelly women and after they have a lovely little chat all is better. *sigh*
Cole is this story’s saving grace. He’s so warm, patient and careful with PJ. He knew what he was getting into from the beginning with such a tough heroine, but had no desire for her to change and after she becomes a victim of a crime he takes care of her. His only thought is to help her get back to being herself.
I’m not sure if this is where KGI and I part ways or if I’m just a glutton for punishment and will pick up Steele’s book. I’ve held out, waiting on Donovan, hoping I can last to see how his future plays out. I’m still not sure.
Favorite Quote:
“I’m a complete mess. I don’t have my head on straight. I’m a master of fucking up everything that’s good in my life.”
“But you’re my mess,” Cole said quietly. “I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be you because that’s who I care about.”
The KGI series by Maya Banks and I have a rocky relationship. I very much enjoyed the first three books in the series and kind of fell in love with these brothers and their big, loving family. Book four was a shock to the system because this series was always romantic suspense and all of sudden, with no warning, it suddenly became a PARANORMAL romantic suspense series. People talking in each other’s minds, healing from afar, I’m still wondering what happened. Did I miss something in the first three books that might have hinted at what was to come? Then came book five, Echoes at Dawn, which in my opinion had an almost ridiculous case of insta-love. Which leads us to book six, Shades of Gray, about PJ and Cole. I decided to give this one a chance because I’ve been a huge fan of these two from the start, PJ seemed to be an exceptionally strong, tough leading lady and the relationship between her and Cole had always been one of friendly competitors. Plus I adore a story about friends turned lovers.
Shades of Gray leads off with Cole following PJ home to Denver in the hopes of finally turning their relationship into more than just friends. PJ has just had an uncomfortable encounter with her former lover and team from her SWAT days. When Cole appears they fall into their easy banter, but are aware that something else is there along with it. They end up back at PJ’s apartment where they have a smoking hot night together, which leads to a weird morning after when they are both called in for a job by Steele. PJ doesn’t know where exactly she wants their new relationship to go, but Cole has no intention of letting her revert back to just teammates after he’s finally gotten her to see him as more.
The new job their team commander, Steele, wants them on is the capture of a known child trafficker who KGI has been hunting and wants to take down. PJ agrees to go in undercover and draw the eye of one of the bad guy’s cronies to find out the specifics of where and when they can apprehend him and free the young girls. Cole has major problems with PJ putting herself at such risk and lets his voice be heard. Turns out he has valid reasons to be so worried as right from the start the mission goes fubar and PJ ends up suffering through the worst thing a woman can go through. Twice. All while her team can listen in and hear what’s going on, but are unable to get to her. It was a terrible scene and I couldn’t believe what was going on as it was happening. Her team does finally rescue her, but are unable to capture the men who did the damage.
When PJ becomes lucid and conscious again she immediately sneaks out of the hospital, resigns her place on the KGI team and disappears. For six months she is missing. Cole goes a little nuts, he’s angry at Steele for letting her leave, worried for PJ and wants revenge on the people who hurt his lover. When the team finally figures out what she’s been up to they are shocked to find out she has struck out on her own, seeking her own kind of revenge for the wrongs done against her.
I was very disappointed in the way PJ’s story played out. While on one hand I understood her need for revenge, I didn’t like that she turned into some kind of lone vigilante to get it. She does horrible things, yes they were done to horrible men, but she becomes her own judge, jury and executioner. I also didn’t care for the fact that immediately after the traumatic event she disappears and the reader doesn’t see her or even Cole for that matter for months. That whole period of time is skipped, six months of important time while she is coming to terms with her trauma and looking for the bad guys just gone. Then when the team finally catches up with her they all seem just a tab bit too comfortable with the fact that she’s been the female version of the terminator for months on end. The ending is a little much. There is a big confrontation where PJ must confront the bad guys, while rescuing Cole and doing it all naked. Yes, naked. For anyone else they would need some type of therapy to get through these hard times, but PJ has the Kelly women and after they have a lovely little chat all is better. *sigh*
Cole is this story’s saving grace. He’s so warm, patient and careful with PJ. He knew what he was getting into from the beginning with such a tough heroine, but had no desire for her to change and after she becomes a victim of a crime he takes care of her. His only thought is to help her get back to being herself.
I’m not sure if this is where KGI and I part ways or if I’m just a glutton for punishment and will pick up Steele’s book. I’ve held out, waiting on Donovan, hoping I can last to see how his future plays out. I’m still not sure.
Favorite Quote:
“I’m a complete mess. I don’t have my head on straight. I’m a master of fucking up everything that’s good in my life.”
“But you’re my mess,” Cole said quietly. “I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be you because that’s who I care about.”
PJ and Cole’s story
Oh man this one pulled at feels and to think I almost skipped this book. Cole and PJs story was a little on the darker side simply because of what happens to PJ during one of the missions (TRIGGER WARNING). It was awful read the teams reactions, especially Cole’s. The suspense plot seemed to play a bigger part in this book, which I liked. I liked the way PJs recovery was also handled. As in everything isn’t magically better. One of the better books in the series.
Oh man this one pulled at feels and to think I almost skipped this book. Cole and PJs story was a little on the darker side simply because of what happens to PJ during one of the missions (TRIGGER WARNING). It was awful read the teams reactions, especially Cole’s. The suspense plot seemed to play a bigger part in this book, which I liked. I liked the way PJs recovery was also handled. As in everything isn’t magically better. One of the better books in the series.
2 stars...least favorite of the series...which is sad because I really liked P.J. and Cole...they've had this little flirtation and ribbing thing going on for a while and I loved that. I loved how the story started, it was very fitting and pretty hot...after that though, it went a bit downhill.
I mean, obviously the bad in this was ...oh so bad and I felt really awful for all of the characters...but that wasn't what bothered me, it was just like...I don't know...the way stuff unfolded and then when
Not holding this book against the series, because I do really enjoy the series and I will stick with it.
I mean, obviously the bad in this was ...oh so bad and I felt really awful for all of the characters...but that wasn't what bothered me, it was just like...I don't know...the way stuff unfolded and then when
Spoiler
P.J. and Cole finally get together...while moments were sweet, it was just...I don't know, I wasn't feeling it. :(Not holding this book against the series, because I do really enjoy the series and I will stick with it.
I was waiting for so long to read Shades of Gray and it was sooooooooo not worth the wait.
I just hated everything in this book- I felt like it wasn't a romance story at all and the plot was stupid and the characters actions were stupid.
I was so annoying that Maya Banks kept using the phrase "kicking ass" in one way or another for so many times during the story.
I really can't believe that an author that is an auto buy for me wrote this book and that she really thought that this is a romantic suspense book.
I really didn't feel like there was a romance plot in this book, the main plot dealt with revenge and violence and scenes of rape and torture.
I just hope the next book in the series will have a real romance plot and better writing since this book was just stupid and insulting to readers.
I just hated everything in this book- I felt like it wasn't a romance story at all and the plot was stupid and the characters actions were stupid.
I was so annoying that Maya Banks kept using the phrase "kicking ass" in one way or another for so many times during the story.
I really can't believe that an author that is an auto buy for me wrote this book and that she really thought that this is a romantic suspense book.
I really didn't feel like there was a romance plot in this book, the main plot dealt with revenge and violence and scenes of rape and torture.
I just hope the next book in the series will have a real romance plot and better writing since this book was just stupid and insulting to readers.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Cole and P.J.
I've been waiting for this one and I wasn't disappointed! I haven't liked the last several books, but it was great to get back to the kinds of romances that made me fall in love with this series to begin with!
I LOVED Cole!
I've been waiting for this one and I wasn't disappointed! I haven't liked the last several books, but it was great to get back to the kinds of romances that made me fall in love with this series to begin with!
I LOVED Cole!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
I was so excited about the teammate romance with one of the characters the only woman on the team! But (spoiler)
then she gets raped. On-page. While her whole team listens. And then this romance turns into a desperate woman alone and out for revenge. Yes, there is found family and recovery, but that was intense and graphic!
then she gets raped. On-page. While her whole team listens. And then this romance turns into a desperate woman alone and out for revenge. Yes, there is found family and recovery, but that was intense and graphic!