Assassin's Core, 8
KJ Russell wakes up from a nightmare she can’t remember only to find herself between a rock and a hard place. She can either help the FBI prove the missing agent Kimberly White was killed by mobster Alexi Russo or she can face serious charges.
April Rayne is finally finding herself. She’s seeing a woman she’s falling in love and doing a job she loves without pressure from anyone. However, she’s a witch with a power she can barely control, but her coven is looking to her to lead them.
KJ knows April knows more than she’s telling, but how can she gain her trust? In the meantime, trouble keeps multiplying, pulling KJ deeper into the cesspool of trouble leaving her with only one out. Alexi Russo.
Will KJ have to make a deal with the devil to preserve her freedom or will the evil stalking them claim her first?
Be Warned: f/f sex
Excerpt:
KJ jerked awake, heart hammering hard in her chest, breathing coming in shallow pants. Sweat dampened her face and her t-shirt clung to her from the moisture.
Shaking, KJ glanced around the room. She wasn’t home—she was in a hotel room with the light in the bathroom left burning at April’s command.
She was alive, but she couldn’t remember all of the dream any more than she could remember what had happened to White.
The thought wouldn’t come, it was as if her memory had been stolen.
April.
KJ glanced down at her. She was sleeping soundly or almost soundly. She flinched in her dream, and KJ leaned down to kiss her forehead finding it damp.
Was she having the same dream that seemed to be more of a nightmare than a simple dream? Was she remembering that afternoon, too?
Was she dreaming about the events that had taken her memory?
“No,” April said and squirmed. “KJ. No. KJ!” She sat straight up in bed, panting, the little slip she’d pulled on before they’d laid down drenched with sweat and clinging to her firm breasts.
“Shh,” KJ murmured leaning toward her, pushing aside her nightmare. She cupped her cheek. “I’m here, April. Everything’s okay.”
April leaned into her, putting her head on KJ’s shoulder as she rested her hand on her stomach. “KJ,” she murmured.
“Tell me about your dream.”
“Someone was trying to hurt you. I couldn’t see their face, but I could see the long nails digging into you. You were in a lot of pain. They wouldn’t let you go, were trying to take you from me.”
April’s breathing grew more shallow, her horror palpable in the rapid tattoo of her heart.
“I’m right here,” she said in a soothing tone. “No one is going to take me anywhere.”
April looked up at her then in the dimness of the room and reached up to smooth the long wisps of hair from her forehead. The look in her eyes was soft as her body and just as inviting.
“What are we doing, KJ?” April asked. “Where is this going?”
“Where do you want it to go?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Before you, I’ve never been with a woman, and everything is happening so fast it scares me, but the idea of backing away scares me more.”
KJ knew what she meant. She wasn’t sure of anything except that April was hers and she’d do anything for her. She just hoped that anything didn’t involve her job when it all came down to it.
Because she loved her job and wanted to keep it.
This is the first book I've read written by Serenity Snow; I can’t wait to read more of her books. This is part of the Assassin’s Core Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about KJ; she knows April knows more about Kimberly’s murder but can’t get her to tell her; she is being forced to help the FBI prove Alexi is responsible but ends up needing his protection. I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
What an incredible edge of your seat, page turning, breath holding, action packed edition to the Serenity Snow collection. My head was spinning, in all the right ways, keeping up with the who's crossing whom and the, "I might need to kill you, but I'd rather not" of it all. A solid 5 star story to while your evening away with.
The love between Alexi Russo and girlfriend Tatiana/Tia strengthens but there are constant threats against Tatiana and her cousin April as her power and confidence grows. Add the complications of the relationship between April and KJ Russell and tensions rise. KJ is a wolfshifter and cop conflicted by the strong mate connection she feels with April. Vampires, shifters and witches battle to gain ultimate power. The Gray Light coven must rise from the ashes to fight. The author's world building with sex, bloody fights and intrigue continues to widen. I liked the expanding thread with April and KJ and the growing bond and the softer side of Alexi revealed. Who is the shadowy figure waiting in the wings? Double dealing and corruption is rampant and far reaching. So many rivals to combat. An intriguing paranormal series with lots of heat, what scenario will Serenity come up with next?
