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Edited by Vaishali
Title: In Kelly's Corner (Fighting Connollys #1).
Author: Roxie Rivera. Genre/Themes: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, suspense/sports/military. Publisher: Night Works Books. Year of Publication: 2013. Format: E-book - kindle app. R E V I E W...
"If there's one thing I know better than anyone on this earth, Kelly, it's that secrets kill beautiful things. Don't let secrets kill the thing you two are trying to build before it's even had a chance to draw a full breath."
Bee Langston, tech wizard and a rising name as a prospering web developer can’t shrug off the stream of paranoia that has been hunting her in recent weeks. Her growing profile and company has made her a target and she’s certain of the irrefutable outcome that she’s being stalked. A young success, but still youthfully tender in a lot of ways, you can see that in the ways Bee struggles in enforcing a certain dominating profile in the business world. And of course, her kind heart doesn’t bode well for the role of aggressor.
Ex-marine and best friend to Bee’s older, Kelly Connolly has since worked for The Lone Star Group as a private investigator. An ill-timed kiss forced a barrier between Kelly and Bee’s old friendship, a barrier that breaks when the seriousness of a threat lands very close by and Kelly sees it as his mission to keep her safe.
In Kelly’s Corner is a high-speed, well-written sports/military/my brother’s best friend romantic suspense - yes, there’s a lot going on and you won’t complain! Various threads feed into this story of romance and suspense. Plot-wise it’s very busy which made this a very interesting read. I was never once bored or waiting for the final page to grace my screen. It was absorbing, page-turning and highly entertaining.
Though In Kelly’s Corner is first in the Fighting Connollys series, it’s one of those books that stands proudly enough as a fully functional standalone despite this series existing in the same universe as Rivera’s Russian Protector series - which I’ve not read, admittedly. If Rivera’s books all read like this one, I’d suitably recommend branching out and trying each one. A great read! 100% worth a read and worth investing in.
I wouldn’t be misled by the front cover because this book isn’t actually about fighting, nor is Kelly a professional fighter. As a part of the faceted plot, it’s an underground event he has to take part in. There are several threads of conflict and suspense that keep this story moving headlong, that keep it alive. The side characters make for some very compelling reading, but be aware that there are a lot of them so many names are thrown around. With all the various plot conflicts and characters it’s fair to say that a reader might feel limb-pulled in different directions by names and plot points, but personally I loved it because it set a swift, bustling pace.
I love the approach to physical/sexual intimacy in this book. It was affectionate and highlights the main couple’s chemistry perfectly without the over-gratification of voracious gluttony. Not that I mind, but many romance reads have an unforgiving, devil-may-care attitude toward those types of bodily intimacies, to run hot with sexual material, to throw sexual exploits left, right and midpoint and usually it serves as filler, a reason to exploit and to prove how amazing time between the sheets can be can be (Not always reliable or realistic). Sex isn’t used pointlessly as a tool or a crutch in this story and I loved that Bee and Kelly took things at their own pace. It was refreshing.
In terms of objections, the big ones were, firstly, the abrupt closure of the story without a real sense of closure for the couple, including the 8-weeks-later epilgoue. You know the testament of a good story when you don’t want It to end, and I didn’t, but the issue with this one was the neglect of a better ending. The story had the potential to close up effectively by making reference to and exacting a better clean-up job, but it didn’t. It was far too rushed an ending. The second one being Kelly’s major error toward the end of the book, because firstly, it felt like an unrealistic effort to separate the couple, secondly Kelly and the other bodyguards protecting Bee are real-life agents and ex-servicemen who have years of combined and acquired skills to piece puzzles together and read situations (the least of their skills, considering) yet they readily believed Bee was lying through a bunch of a guessing without further investigation and without considering her safety. Let’s not forget that Bee and Kelly have a long history and he’s characterised by his protective streak throughout the book so it felt contrived. His manly pride was also a very big obstruction.
But I have to give this ending points for not falling into the baby/marriage resolution cliche. The couple in this book are really sensible in taking their time with each other in their new relationship. I can’t say the same for a lot of romances out there.
Loan sharks, crime bosses, debts, deals, blackmail, bargains and secrets sharpens the fringes of a story that’s bound inherently by probing delicate love. You’ll get a touch of everything with this one.The larger workings of the story such as the threats, drama and action nicely frame the intermittent, intimate connections between Bee and Kelly. Fast-paced with blending ties of a faceted storyline and compellingly characterised connections and relationships.
As far a romantic suspense goes, this is a winner. Readers, I highly recommend! I gave this book 3.5/4 stars -Trigger Warning: Mentions alcoholism/gambling addictions child abuse. Also mentions a previous battle with cancer. A few descriptive sex scenes, some swearing (Not copious amounts) and attempted rape/assault/harassment. I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers and hearing about reader opinion, so get in touch and comment below! --------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------
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