*I received a free copy of Finding Kyle from via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
When you’ve lived your life as a criminal…
When you’ve done unspeakable things …
When your soul has become dark and stained…
The path to redemption begins where you least expect it.
Kyle Sommerville is in hiding and doesn’t want to be found by anyone. Certainly not by his quirky, free-spirited neighbor who’s managed to push her way past the walls he’s built around him. But Jane Cresson’s indomitable will and insatiable curiosity about her reclusive neighbor makes it impossible for Kyle to stay immersed in his dark world.
Little by little, she claws through his shell.
Day by day, she gets him to smile a little more.
Night by night, they both find pleasure they never knew existed.
When Kyle’s terrible past is exposed, Jane begins to think she’s in over her head. Can her love for this broken man finally clear his path to redemption, or will Kyle’s darkness finally extinguish every bit of hope she’s put into him?
From the start of Finding Kyle, I had that awful feeling in my stomach, you know, when you know something is wrong? Just kind of waiting for that bad thing to happen… that, coupled with the tension and sexual chemistry between Kyle and his neighbor, Jane, made for a very good read!
Finding Kyle had a lot of suspense, but it was a very quiet sort of suspense that came with the aftermath of Kyle having been an undercover cop in a very bad motorcycle gang. And where he, himself, had done a lot of very ugly things in order to be accepted into the inner sanctuary of the club in order to bring them all down. And dealing with the guilt of his past actions has made Kyle believe he is no longer worthy of love. Plus, there is a chance he’ll be found, and then it would not do for him to put Jane in harm’s way, right?
Jane was the kind of woman I love to read about. A little shy, but still confident enough to go after what she wanted. And once she got a good look at Kyle, she definitely knew! Finding Kyle is about redemption, and it’s also about finding oneself again. Because of his very deep undercover life, Kyle hardly knew who he was anymore, or what he liked, or what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He even had the nightmares to prove that he wasn’t as bad as he’d had to be in the past, but that didn’t really help him dealing with moving forward.
Able to slowly bring Kyle out of his protective shell, Jane delighted me! She managed to help Kyle see that a simple life with small pleasures was the way to go. With a picnic here, a hike there and a little sight-seeing over there, Kyle started to feel a bit safer again, and when he shared some sweet moments with Jane, my heart swooned for him! Of course, from the very beginning, I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Waiting for the other shoe to fall. For danger to find Kyle again, and for everything to fall apart…
Written in first person point of view, present tense, Finding Kyle has chapters from either Kyle’s or Jane’s perspectives, which made getting to know them very easy. The story works as a stand alone, but if you’ve read the Wicked Horse series or the Last Call series, you will recognize some of the characters you meet in this one. Romantic suspense on it’s best, I enjoyed the tension most of all! Both the one that had to do with the romance and the one that had to do with the feeling of imminent danger.
So what little bit of morality I’ve seemed to keep deep down inside is demanding that I forget Jane Cresson. Fucking bar tramps in back alleys is all I’m good for and I’ll just have to be satisfied with that.
“Went to a school about forty miles away,” I tell him with a laugh. “I’m not very adventurous, I guess you could say.”
“I don’t know about that,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “You certainly kept poking at this bear. That’s pretty damn daring.”
“You’re a bear?” I ask teasingly, my head tilted to the side. He nods, his eyes pinning me in place. “I have claws and teeth, Jane.”
“Is that a warning?” I ask, now more curious than ever, even as a small ripple of fear runs up my spine over his words.
“Would you heed it if it was?” he counters. “Nope.”
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
This has me intrigued. Seems like the kind of story I like to read. Love that it alternates point of views so we can get inside the characters heads. That’s a plus for me too. Great review. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
It was rally good, Shane! And the suspense just kept going…
I love a good redemption story 😀 her books are sounding so good more and more.
I think her books are getting better with each new one, Lily, and I have enjoyed the ones from the beginning 🙂
oh I definitely need more suspense in my life and the heroine sounds wonderful!!! I like the shy but bold heroines.
Shy but bold is exactly right, and the suspense was so well done, Renee!
Oh this is what I like in romantic suspense. Sometimes the women in these books can be annoying so it is good to hear that Jane was a good character. I need to read a book by this author.
Jane was not annoying in the least, she was great, Melissa. This is a stand alone novel, even if I had briefly met Kyle in another book, it wouldn’t take away any of your enjoyment if you start with this.
Twitter: limabean74
I have seen this one around a bit. Great Review! I need to go look up this books and the series that it sort of belongs to 🙂 (((hugs))))
This book has crossover characters from “Wicked Horse” and “Last Call”, Michelle. You really don’t have to have read those to enjoy Finding Kyle, though 🙂
This really was a fun one 😀 I had a good time with both of them and gah yeah waiting for the shoe to drop.
Yeah, I had that feeling from the beginning, Anna… so strong!
You just can’t get bored reading Bennett, can you? I was thinking this one was from Cold Fury and then realized I was wrong while reading your review. Finding Kyle was like an incredible story, with complex characters and plot. I can’t wait to dive into this one!
I’m trying to catch up, Lex, really I am. 🙂 Sky and I are skiing today so it’ll be later when I finally get caught up. Hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday! *LOVE & BIG HUGS*
Bennett is made of awesome-sauce, Brandee! And there will soon be a new Fury Hockey review from me – watch this space!
Finding Kyle was really well done, especially with Kyle’s guilt over things he had to do in order to stay fully undercover. And I’m sure you’re going to love both Kyle and Jane, wifey!
Love and miss you so much! {{{BIG HUGS}}}