Kennedy LayneBesprekingen

I read this book from a series out of order, so my review is probably tainted by not knowing the backstory. A witch, who owns a tea shop in a small town (a completely original setup right there), solves the town’s mysteries. In this one the festival’s prized giant pumpkin disappears. Quite a good little story about finding the pumpkin. But…the familiar, a cat, is irritating as heck. I don’t want to read anymore just for that reason alone. But what takes it over the top is that the town is full of supernatural creatures, but no one knows? For example, the cemetery groundsman is the grim reaper?? And no one knows that Ted is actually a golem made of wax? This makes for complex explanations without good reason. Why not write it for a world where everyone knows these beings exist? It was confounding½

Easy enough read. I didn't hate the main characters but I didn't particularly love them either. The rest of the team weren't fleshed out enough but they did at least seem interesting. The suspense aspect was good but not quite enough for my tastes. The romance was pretty mild, lots of angst about how they left one another - but it wasn't too overwhelming. The villain was unexpected. I'll likely pick up the next one at some point. 2.5 stars.

[b:Red Starr Box Set Volume 1|30761212|Red Starr Box Set Volume 1 (Red Starr, #0.5-3)|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467039671s/30761212.jpg|51315729] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442946745p2/7266600.jpg]
bookshelves: kennedy-layne

Starr's Awakening (Red Starr, #0.5) Read & Reviewed Nov. 3rd 2015 5 Stars
Kennedy Layne has me salivating to read both her CSA & the Red Starr series. One of the things I love is the characters from both series interact with each other, yet they are 2 entirely different series.
You know a series is going to be great when a short 100 plus page prequel makes you ravenous for more. I love the character Catori Starr & can't wait to read the 1st book in this series, which I have already downloaded to my Kindle.
Red Star HRT is a Hostage Rescue Team, while CSA is a Security Agency. Both are run by ex-military.
I am impressed by Kennedy Layne. Her writing pulls you in and seduces you. You can't put it down. Her details are no more nor less than what the story needs. Her characters are developed and feel real. Her situations are tense. There is mystery & suspense.
Definitely going on my Favorite Authors List & Series Following List.

Hearths of Fire (Red Starr #1) Read & Reviewed Nov. 14th 2015 4 Stars
This was not my favorite Kennedy Layne book.
That said it was still outstandingly good.
Well written. The words flowing from the pages.
My mind wonders......
How good would a book be written by both Kennedy Layne & Kresley Cole? I think they have complementary writing styles. Their co-authored books could be the biggest thing to hit the literary world!

Targets Entangled (Red Starr #2) Read & Reviewed Aug. 7th 2016 4 Stars
A Military Suspense Contemporary Adult Romance.
It is very well written. Red Starr HRT's 'Promised Land' is heading for their mission target. Only a few of the crew know where and what the mission is. Shortly after they get on way strange things start to happen. They seem to be just accidents or someone being careless. Until one of the crew is found murdered.
Daegan is one of the few who knows what their mission is. He is the Sniper for Red Starr HRT. Ferrin works in the Radio/Communications. Daegan and Ferrin soon find themselves involved not only in the murder but each other as well.
I always enjoy Kennedy Laynes stories and that stands true for this one too. My only problem with her books it that occasionally she gets just a bit technical for me. A description of a gun or equipment can take up a paragraph or more and by the time I'm done reading and digesting the information I have to go back to see what the action was.
Her romance and love scenes are always passionate and on a glorious adult level.
This story is filled with action, suspense and hot romance. It will keep you intrigued and guessing till the very end. In fact, even then, you only get enough answers to give you an HEA and satisfy the 'Who Done It'. But there are more questions to be answered. Which means I will most definitely be reading Book #3 'Igniting Passion'.

Igniting Passion (Red Starr #3) Read & Reviewed Jan. 23rd 2017 4 Stars
An Action/Adventure Suspense Adult Romance
A few editing errors. Flows well. Plenty of action. I enjoyed it very much. Ms. Layne didn't overdo the technical talk on this one and that is a major plus for me.
I already have the next book in this series. I am looking forward to the next step in their mission.

[b:CSA Case Files - Volume 1|22700004|CSA Case Files - Volume 1 (CSA Case Files, #1-3)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404943454l/22700004._SX50_.jpg|42219403] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres; Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
4.3 Stars (Averaged)

4.5 Star's for a Grand Total

Book #4 Campaign of Desire ~ 4 Star's
I was hoping for more suspense and action. This one and #3 doesn't have that heart pounding suspense throughout that I loved in the first 2 books.
That said, it was still a good story. Both Lach and Phoebe's characters were well portrayed.
The last five chapters had the excitement, danger and heart pounding uncertainty that made me a fan of Kennedy Layne's CSA series.

Book #5 Internal Temptation ~ 4.5 Star's
Much better than #3 & #4. More action, suspense & surprising twists to the story.
Problem with repetition. And I would have liked for the various action sections to be more intense.
That said, I enjoyed this one very much. Its a good series with the potential to be a great series.

Book #6 Radiant Surrender ~ 5 Star's.
Some editing problems, BUT it has all that Heart Pounding Breath Holding Intensity that I look for in a book.
Twist & turns from the start.
Action scenes that keep you on the Edge of your seat.
Curl your toes Romance & off the charts Erotic SEX.

Finished Reading October 25, 2015

[b:Captured Innocence|25827821|Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files, #1)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435716462l/25827821._SY75_.jpg|26166906] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
5 Stars

I COULD NOT put it down!!
I cannot express how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The writing was absolute perfection.
The story flowed with sheer perfection. All the characters were written in such a way as to make you feel they were real. It was thrilling to say the least.

The CSA team has a murder to solve.
The clues are all there.
A spectacular whodunit wrapped up in mystery, suspense, adult romance and intrigue.

The story literally weaves around you and leaves you breathless with anticipation.

I am so enamored with this book & the writing of Ms. Kennedy Layne that I have added her to my top 5 favorites.
Trust me, as much as I read that is not as easy thing to achieve!!

Finished Reading November 14, 2015 –

[b:Hearths of Fire|23441931|Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, #1)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1414135470l/23441931._SX50_.jpg|43005846] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
3.75 Stars

This was not my favorite Kennedy Layne book.
That said it was still outstandingly good.

Well written. The words flowing from the pages.

My mind wonders......

Finished Reading November 20, 2015

[b:Renewed Faith|21826456|Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files, #3)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396415427l/21826456._SY75_.jpg|40297817] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
3.5 Stars

Even though I truly enjoy the CSA series, I had trouble with this one.
It was the constant repetitive thoughts of Elle, the female lead in the story that gave me so much trouble. To read the same thoughts over & over again was monotonous. One of my pet peeves is when the words in a story seem to be more about the count of them, then the importance they have on a story.
I call them 'Filler Words'.

Kevin & Elle were both interesting characters, the romance scenes were steamy.

More could have been done on the crime investigation, the personalities of the 'bad guys' and other supporting characters.

I loved the previous books in the series & have already purchased books 4-6. I plan to devour each one of them with pleasure & delight!

That said, I believe this book is more of a 3.5 star's.

Purchased from Amazon October 31, 2015

Finished Reading November 3, 2015

[b:Starr's Awakening|23790616|Starr's Awakening (Red Starr, #0.5)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435180804l/23790616._SY75_.jpg|43405727] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
4.75 Stars

You know a series is going to be great when a short 100 plus page prequel makes you ravenous for more.
I love the character Catori Starr & can't wait to read the 1st book in this series, which I have already downloaded to my Kindle.

Kennedy Layne has me salivating to read both her CSA & the Red Starr series. One of the things I love is the characters from both series interact with each other, yet they are 2 entirely different series.
Red Star HRT is a Hostage Rescue Team, while CSA is a Security Agency. Both are run by ex-military.

I am impressed by Kennedy Layne. Her writing pulls you in and seduces you. You can't put it down.
Her details are no more nor less than what the story needs.
Her characters are developed and feel real.
Her situations are tense. There is mystery & suspense.

Definitely going on my Favorite Authors List & Series Following List.

Purchased from Amazon October 25, 2015

Finished Reading November 6, 2015

[b:Sinful Resurrection|19325978|Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files, #2)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386649762l/19325978._SX50_.jpg|27382267] by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
4.75 Stars

Constant action, intrigue and suspense. Even to the very last word. You just have to keep reading because you literally don't know what is coming next.

Not only are Jax & Emily both great characters in the book, but even the 'Bad Guy' keeps you spell bound.

And YES! Hot, steamy, erotic ADULT romance.

I am hooked on this series. I just can't get enough!

Purchased from Amazon October 31, 2015

Finished Reading December 1, 2015

4 Stars

I was hoping for more suspense and action from the beginning then what there was.
This one and #3 doesn't have that heart pounding suspense throughout that I loved in the first 2 books.
That said, it was still a good story. Both Lach and Phoebe's characters were well portrayed.
The last five chapters had the excitement, danger and heart pounding uncertainty that made me a fan of Kennedy Layne's CSA series.

Purchased from Amazon November 11, 2015

Finished Reading December 5, 2015

4.5 Star's

Much better than #3 & #4.
More action, suspense & surprising twists to the story.
Still has a problem with repetition. And I would have liked for the various action sections to be more intense.
That said, I enjoyed this one very much. Its a good series with the potential to be a great series.

Purchased from Amazon November 11, 2015

Finished Reading December 7, 2015

5 Star's.

Even though this one has editing problems, it has all that Heart Pounding Breath Holding Intensity that I look for in a book.
Twist & turns from the start.
Action scenes that keep you on the Edge of your seat.
Curl your toes Romance & off the charts Erotic SEX.

Purchased from Amazon November 11, 2015

Thriller Mystery
Steamy Sex Scenes
HEA
Purchased from Amazon December 12, 2017

Finished Reading November 3, 2016

[b:Essential Beginnings|25478797|Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, #1)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431039326l/25478797._SY75_.jpg|45250538] (Surviving Ashes, #1) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg] is an Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance.
First the bad: There are quite a few editing errors; misspelled words; words in the wrong place; abrupt stops and starts in scenes. They disrupt the flow of the story. You end up confused and rereading sections. I have read a lot of Kennedy Layne's books. This type and amount of errors is unusual for her. Normally she tends to get caught up in technical talk. It's like her editor deleted whole sentences needed for the flow of the story, but left the errors.
Now the good: Great world build and awesome characters. While I have a problem with Henley's reason for initially being cold to Maverick, they both end up being strong, complex and well developed personalities. The secondary characters are well portrayed and implemented to create a story that keeps you interested. Even with the editing problems, the story flows well. The adult romance scenes are just that, ADULT. Which I very much appreciate. The suspense, action and intrigue is absorbing.
Here is a thought provoking fact. The Yellowstone Caldera is a well known topic in our time. The truth is, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN will it blow. According to the scientist who study it, it is overdue for a cataclysmic eruption.
Now to leave you with one of my favorite lines from the story.
'Mav had always been an open book which she’d chosen not to read, but he didn’t want her to just peruse the prologue. He wanted her to join him in his story ......'

Purchased from Amazon September 7, 2016

Finished Reading April 5, 2017

[b:Untold Devotion|27431621|Untold Devotion (Red Starr, #4)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446700282l/27431621._SY75_.jpg|47483353] (Red Starr, #4) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
An Adult Action/Adventure Mystery/Suspense Contemporary Romance. (Military)
4.5 Stars.
This is one of my favorites of the Red Starr series so far. There seems to be more action and suspense in this one. The technical talk of weapons etc., is not overdone and easier for my simple brain to follow without zoning out then some of her other books.
The world build and ALL the characters are well defined. I swear my brain often thought I was Jade!
There are a few spots that started to drag just a little bit for me. Then bam..... it was back to full on action. Sometimes it was of the 'Steamy' romance type action. Other times it was 'Kick' butt action.
I can so easily see Bruce Willis or The Rock in these books. Kicking butt and screw taking names baby! And the ending! Oh, now I got to read the next book in this series. It is an Imperative Priority!

Purchased from Amazon November 15, 2016

Finished Reading January 23, 2017

[b:Igniting Passion|25024074|Igniting Passion (Red Starr, #3)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425989976l/25024074._SX50_.jpg|44698337] (Red Starr #3) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg]
An Action/Adventure Suspense Adult Romance
A few editing errors. Flows well. Plenty of action. I enjoyed it very much. Ms. Layne didn't overdo the technical talk on this one and that is a major plus for me.
I already have the next book in this series. I am looking forward to the next step in their mission.

Purchased from Amazon July 28, 2016

Finished Reading August 7, 2016

[b:Targets Entangled|24362075|Targets Entangled (Red Starr, #2)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438773340l/24362075._SY75_.jpg|43943737] (Red Starr #2) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg] is a Military Suspense Contemporary Adult Romance.
It is very well written. Red Starr HRT's 'Promised Land' is heading for their mission target. Only a few of the crew know where and what the mission is. Shortly after they get on way strange things start to happen. They seem to be just accidents or someone being careless. Until one of the crew is found murdered.
Daegan is one of the few who knows what their mission is. He is the Sniper for Red Starr HRT. Ferrin works in the Radio/Communications. Daegan and Ferrin soon find themselves involved not only in the murder but each other as well.
I always enjoy Kennedy Laynes stories and that stands true for this one too. My only problem with her books it that occasionally she gets just a bit technical for me. A description of a gun or equipment can take up a paragraph or more and by the time I'm done reading and digesting the information I have to go back to see what the action was.
Her romance and love scenes are always passionate and on a glorious adult level.
This story is filled with action, suspense and hot romance. It will keep you intrigued and guessing till the very end. In fact, even then, you only get enough answers to give you an HEA and satisfy the 'Who Done It'. But there are more questions to be answered. Which means I will most definitely be reading Book #3 'Igniting Passion'.

Purchased from Amazon July 28, 2016

Finished Reading January 15, 2022

4 Stars
While I'm enjoying this series there is definitely a lot of room for improvement.
The pace needs to pick up and the Steam needs to improve.
Yes it has Sex Scenes but they need some tweaking.

Prch January 25, 2020 Amz

Raven Lattice Marigold is coming into her own as a witch. She's becoming more comfortable with running her late Nan's teashop with her magical familiar Leo. But nothing could have prepared her for meeting a ghost! This ghost has heard about Raven's amateur sleuthing skills and wants to hire her to investigate the possible abduction of her familiar. As Raven and Leo will soon discover, working this case will have far-reaching implications, far beyond a 'simple' kidnapping.

The world of magic that Layne has built is imaginative and full of intrigue. The familiars, the coven, Raven's reckoning with her own magic... they all combine to make the paranormal aspect of this mystery strong. Lovers of paranormal and fantasy cozy mysteries will appreciate this aspect of the book.

However, I wasn't a big fan of the author's writing style. Raven and Leo often address the reader directly. This was charming at times, but I felt that it also distracted from the flow of the plot and was a bit too heavy-handed. Raven also likes to go off on tangents quite a bit, which further distracts from the plot and from the execution of the mystery itself.

As someone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries for the mystery element, I would have preferred that the fourth wall breaking and tangents were limited so that the mystery could have shone more. But if you don't mind this writing style and you're not as interested in the mystery itself, you might enjoy this book.

I wouldn't recommend that you jump into the series in the middle like I did. Starting from the beginning would give you a much better understanding of how Raven's magic works. This book also has a larger storyline that seems as if it will continue into future instalments, so I wouldn't consider it to be a standalone.

This is a clean mystery, with minimal violence, a small romance side-plot, and no foul language.

For more of my reviews, please visit:

Spirited Blend is a fun and unique mystery. It's a nice low-key read when you're looking for a relaxing cozy mystery that isn't too suspenseful. Unfortunately, for me, the mystery was a bit too low-stakes for my liking.

My favourite part about this book was the premise behind the mystery. It's a non-murder, non-violent mystery where protagonist and witch Raven investigates the mysterious appearances of ghosts around the town of Paramour Bay. In a genre where there are a lot of commonly used tropes, I really appreciate seeing authors taking different approaches.

However, the risk with a non-violent mystery is that it can be difficult to build up suspense and a sense that the mystery itself is high-stakes. I think this is where the book most faltered for me. The mystery is more so presented as an interesting problem that needs to be addressed, not a mystery with real and serious consequences. It was difficult to me to see why the mystery mattered and why I should care about it being solved.

This may also be because this book is best enjoyed with knowledge of previous instalments, as it heavily refers to larger overarching storylines. While I have already read one book in the series, I'm the type of reader who enjoys jumping around. I don't think that this series is great for readers with this kind of habit.

That being said though, I enjoy the magic system that this series features and I think Raven is a fun character to read about!

For more of my reviews, please visit:

The Forgotten Widow (The Widow Taker Book 1) by Kennedy Layna

FBI Agent Dean Malone is assigned a case where Widow's are being Murdered by a person they are calling "The Widow Taker. Kenna, a Widow and could be the next victim, Agent Malone is determined to protect her and find this ruthless killer. No Widow is safe until he is caught.

A fast paced thrilling suspense filled story. The characters are well developed and likable. I was on the edge of my seat and hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed The Forgotten Widow and look forward to reading more in this engrossing series. I recommend to those who enjoy thrilling (murder) mysteries.

I hesitated over how many stars to give thus one. Most of the stories weren't very good, and the title just gives me the giggles. There were a couple of good ones though and it was supporting a good cause...so it got an extra star for that.

I was behind on writing book reviews, and when I came to this one, unfortunately I had to rack my brain trying to remember it. Not a great sign when a book is so forgettable.

It was well edited, no glaring plot issues or misspelled words. And the story flowed fine, albeit a bit slow to begin with.

Since this is the first book in the Paramour Bay Mystery series, there is room for it to grow. But I can’t say that the character development was very deep, or that the world building was vast. The character that stood out the most was the cat, Mr. Leo.

I won’t be continuing this series, but do see it’s potential.

Fantastic

This is one fantastic book. Great characters. Great storyline. Great mystery. Add in the BDSM and it's fantastic. Just wish the series was available in Kindle Unlimited or or that I had more money for books!