Photo credits: 12019 (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: The Hit Series: Team Zulu #1 Author: Julie Weaver Publisher: Epic Press Year of Publication: 2021 Format: E-book/kindle app Genre/Themes: Contemporary romance, romantic suspense, Adult fiction, Military, Mafia Review... The Hit is the second full-width debut romance novel I've read in the span of a few months and its reading became a demonstrative prompt that calls forth something worth these words: firstly, that indie lit continues to abound with dazzling handiwork and written wares, and secondly, that debut writers are evincing their place, summoning their fictionalised best and sidling amongst a community of writers like birds of a feather. In the regurgitating world of debuts, The Hit is a wonderful accomplishment. The first thing I have to say about it is it's an excellently written action-romance. I had such a positive first impression, and not even a domestic irritation could have disrupted where I anticipated the story of a target of a kill and her contract killer would go. The plot itself isn't a pioneering piece of fiction (and that's not what I look for In a read). I do, however, look for quality and connection, and the author ties first with a fantastic effort on that front. The foremost pull is a top-tier pull! Within a genre that doesn't always follow up with the 'suspense' part of a romantic suspense, I think Julie Weaver is one such author who understands the delicacy of this romantic sub-division, because well-paced and developed as this story is, I was happily monopolised by a sense of dramatic tension that coloured me as abuzz as I am when I watch a suspense sequence in a feature-film. And in the final chase of the book - which keyed up the action-obsessed seeker in me - I definitely got my eager-beaver dose of that. While some of the best stories start with scandal, some of the best stories also start with peril, as in life-changing, kidnapped-by-a-hitman peril. And that's exactly where female mechanic Cameron McKenzie finds herself. Being told by a hitman who has been tasked with your murder that your life is no longer yours as he details a world of organised crime and corruption is a shock to the system. Held in the humble abode of a mountaintop terminator, knowing her life has been gravely endangered by a careless brother and the spearhead of a criminal syndicate, she's the easy pickings of a dicey countdown. It's as worst-case as a worst-case scenario could get and Cam's in full crisis mode. Namely, trying to evade a specialist-scourge cabin companion who carries out the contract killings for the very mob boss who placed a hit on her. As Cam takes stock of a situation far from civilisation that feels too big and too quick to contemplate, she doesn't know how to trust the word of man who's currently holding her hostage, because how magnanimous can a man made for murder really be? Shep took a massive risk by abducting a hit instead of closing the deal without a sound, but while his job usually facilitates the clean up of people worth the kill, he's floored that his newest target is completely innocent, by every account. In his eyes, he's not a saviour, but ridding the world of bottom-barrel scum feels worth making the difference. Cameron doesn't realise that while her own fate is damned, her hitman sealed the same for himself the moment he double-crossed a crime lord to spare her life. And that's the just first in a line of duty Shep does to protect his protectee. Thankfully (for me), The Hit doesn't subscribe to the scenario of a sinister Stockholm syndrome that has a desperate heroine willing to be manhandled/mistreated as she falls to the knee and accepts a world of accepted abuse by a true assailant who doubles as the story's hero. The author balances the weights with her protective, dominant hero: he's all hard-bitten guardian, a willing shield between his heroine and the scent of peril on the wind, and a sweet supporter. Only in fiction would we romance reading enthusiasts open our hearts to dangerous men with unethical practices, but despite a past that has had Shep in the lane of bloodshed, war, loss and dissociation he's such a shoulder to Cam when she needs him. If you can't scent the sea of swoon already, I assure you, its ripple is mighty. The Hit's leading man is also a surprising emotional support for Cam. For an anti-social man removed from society and content to remain alone, he leans into Cam with every chance he gets, which goes a long way in surfacing the hope in his heart and developing their slow-build (trust included). Every time this wounded hero patched up a wound, comforted his heroine, let her lean on him, cooked her a meal, aimed to make her feel better, wanted her to think the best of him even as he thought the worst of himself, I had decided that one can't not adore him. And let's not forget that incidental effort of subliminally setting the scene for an intimate date. If we're taking the adage of actions being louder than words seriously, then this hulking man wants it all. Cam's character was also really well received! Setting up a booby trap that proves fully effective on a hitman and standing her ground with an never-before-used shotgun screams a good sense of self-preservation to me. Almost as much as not swooning over her kidnapper. I think the author made the right (and realistic) choice to have her oppose and defy Shep initially, despite his assurances of safety. If I were suddenly cuffed and found myself in the company of a strange man in a remote place, I'd deeply doubt his intentions were anything short of menacing as much as I'd thwart any chance of happily indulging a spot of tea with him. After all, a healthy dose of suspicion is positively survivalist. Cam really holds her own in a scary situation and displays an admirable shade of inner strength. There's a lot to come to terms with but she shows a lot of bravery and moxie as she faces up to the people who want her dead. Can you imagine facing a powerful crime lord? And let's not overlook the unswerving loyalty she has to a low-on-life, addiction-dependent brother who's responsible for jeopardising them all - one who always brings trouble to her door without fail. What I can say about The Hit's heroine is she's genuinely faithful to the people she cares about. Even when a frustratingly set-in-stone Shep does his utmost to refuse a life with her, even after all the near-death scrapes faced together, Cam, without pride, only shows him two things: vulnerability and love. The delightful fact that Cam's walk of life was that of a mechanic was an additional draw for me. As much as I wish to request that more writers consider gender-challenging roles for their heroines, I was troubled by the fact that Cam's profession doesn't play into the story at all (sans one small scene in the very beginning). Throughout the book, a delirious me imagined up all manner of ways her skillset could have been blended and made use of in the story. Unfortunately, my delirium was met with a brick wall because my dreams of seeing a woman putting such capable hands to use was as mythical as her brother's choice-making ability. On Cam's part, this can be called an enemies to lovers take, but on Shep's part this can be called a strangers to instant protector romance. While Shep might run the gamut of military, special forces expertise, and is confident with brutality on a battle front, his perspective easily makes a reader feel a fondness to this closed-off hero who dares to be more and want more with his heroine. A hardened hero with a generous heart will always be a deep-dish delicacy to me; it's just amazing to me to see a man who doesn't believe he's fit for civic life be the biggest comfort to his protectee. Can you call a hitman adorably thoughtful? I go against the conventionally couth grain and say yes, yes you can. The plot and the romance have a nice equivalence; the romantic connection has a great pull but neither outweighs or is outweighed by the plot. A balanced marriage of both, paired with the tense topic of Cam and Shep's safety, their individual inner struggle and obstacles pertaining to immediate and forthcoming danger creates a focussing and refocussing lens fit for fun engagement. One of the reasons I really enjoy this genre is you wouldn't expect that the lane of love and its many avenues could be found within a taut situation, - one of criminality, pride and retribution - so the romance and the thrill combined, affiliated with the fact that action/thrill is a seventh heaven for me and well...you could call me truly made up. And when it's done well, I'm proud to say it's the sum of all sweet spots. I generally struggle with conclusions because they don't gingerly tie up a read, and in the same fashion I would have liked a stronger follow up that focuses on a few more developmental details/finishings for the two-years-later epilogue. A few areas could have been touched on and chased up. Another pet peeve of mine is when either one MC takes it wholly upon themselves to control a situation. In this case, that situation is Cam's safety, so I while I was thrilled that Shep sees it as his role to make decisions that pertain to their safety, I wasn't thrilled when he did the same from a feelings perspective. He made a choice that belonged to them both away from Cam. I loved it for the necessary protector situations, but didn't when Shep pushes Cam away 'for her own safety' and then establishes a one-way-only communication where he can both check in on her whenever he desires it and also keeps tabs on her through Kane. Taking away someone's option and right to act upon how they feel never particularly sits well with me, and I did feel that with Shep deciding to kill contact between them, with it not being acceptable for Cam to ask over or about him through Kane, was a bit rob-some. And can sometimes indulge the idea of thievery of personal choice. The Hit is a full-length captive/captor turned protector/protectee romance with a heroine who finds herself in a world of trouble and a hero who'd risk a war with a powerful mafioso if it meant she'd remain unharmed without a hair out of place. Cam shoulders the responsibility of her brother's addiction with every trouble he brings to their door, but with no other living family worth knowing, he's all she has left. A recent offense brings a penalty that's as absolute as a gun shot. Or would have been had a hitman decided against orders to take a blameless woman's life. Shep's smart enough to keep his berth and avoid rattling a man who's power stretches farther than the Wolf Street construct but all's moot when his loyalty builds a steady oath to defending a woman that's not his to think about. It happens. It's inevitable. And it's as inescapable as the current status of their predicament. While Cam might be pronounced fallen to the world, she's alive to him, and yet this brooding lead doesn't think he's worth her salt. I scoff and swoon in equal measure. You'll get a mountain man hitman with a crush, a gutsy heroine, an abduction, a mountaintop cabin with a view, forced proximity, an action/suspense plot, and the threat of organised crime with a side of criminal underworld activity. Guardians come in all shapes and sizes so I must give an honourable mention to a stallion of a furry hunting companion who's as valiant his owner (and had me on tenterhooks when I thought a certain woodlands scene would end terribly). A planned hit turned rescue mission opens up the humanity in a hitman with The Hit. I'm much braver at taking chances on new book and a new author than I am at taking chances within more personal avenues. If bravery goes a long way, then consider yourself courageous within a safe space because, while it's unusually uncommon for a full length debut to become a frontrunner for one's enjoyment, I can say without preamble that the The Hit definitely was! I gave this book 4.5 stars - Content Warning: Drug addiction/drug dependence. Mentions money laundering, drug distribution, and human trafficking. Also mentions/describes murder, violence and torture. Unconsented captivity/handcuffing. Talks a bit about war and the horrors that accompany it. Army life. Mentions childhood abuse. Also mentions overdose/possible suicide. Attempted/suggested assault. Descriptions of injury. Extra Thoughts: 1) There was a largely loony part of me that really wanted Cam to call Shep by his first name, and not only because 'Elias' is one of my favourite names and I wanted Cam to hold the honour of calling him that, but also because it might definitely have something to do with a certain - favourite - hero written by the brilliant Sabaa Tahir. And any reminder of him is far from unwelcome :D --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
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