Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Book CoverSandy M’s review of The Darkest Hour (KGI, Book 1) by Maya Banks
Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 2 Sep 10

Oh my. This series is right up my alley. Alpha heroes who are brothers, stories full of emotion, loyalty and betrayal, danger and mystery, and love and romance. And it’s all written by Maya Banks. I’ve been in reader’s heaven the last day or so.

Ethan has been mourning his wife for a year. It’s the anniversary of her death, he’s tied a good one on, but not even that good drunk helps him through the pain and the guilt he’s felt before and after he lost Rachel.  In the middle of his current anguish, he receives a package that bring at first disbelief and then a miracle.

Going to his brothers to ask for their help in extracting his very-much-alive wife is both the first thing and the last thing he wants to do. Ethan knows they’ll think he’s crazy, but how can he not check out the information that Rachel’s been alive all this time, held captive in a Columbian shithole? And that’s where he knows his brothers will support him and they’ll help him forge a rescue.

All of this happens early in the book, so I knew right away, and especially in light of the emotion Ethan has already gone through to this point, that I would be in for a very emotional ride. And was I ever right. Rachel has been kept doped up during her captivity, so her memories are jumbled and mostly forgotten. She doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not a lot of the time. Except for her guardian angel. He’s always been with her and she’s knows  he will finally come for her to take her home.

But she’s going to a home and family that she can’t remember, friends whose faces don’t come to mind, and a marriage that she’s grateful for when in Ethan’s arms but one that also rises up to haunt her in her dreams. Between Ethan’s guilt and Rachel’s sublime memories and dreams, we know something had been very wrong in their relationship before her ordeal. Ethan is determined to make it right, even if he has to beg. He loves his wife, he knows he was wrong with his assumptions and accusations in the past, and he’ll do anything necessary to show Rachel he wants her and their life together.

Having to deal with so many thing at once isn’t enough for these two, though, and attempts on Rachel’s life that come out of the blue add to an already full plate for them and their family. There is a bit of a side story with a stray homeless girl Ethan’s mother takes in. I’m not sure at this point why that was done. She only makes things worse for the Kellys, so maybe that’s her purpose. Or maybe Ms. Banks has something in mind for her in future books.

But that isn’t enough to dampen my love for this story and this family. These men were raised right by their mama, taught to play hard and fair by their father, and they have turned out perfect as far as I’m concerned. The banter and arguing among them is fun to read. They act just like brothers do, flipping each other off, getting in one another’s face when necessary, but loving each other and supporting each other just the same.

The scene in which Ethan’s father shows him exactly how much he loves his son, how much losing his son – any of his sons – would cost him is one of the most moving scenes in the book. Of course, when Rachel is finally face to face with these parents of her heart, the tears flow freely along with smiles that won’t quit.

Sam’s book is next, the oldest brother. I am so looking forward to that. There’s six Kelly brothers and I hope, wish, pray that Ms. Banks writes about each one of them!

SandyMGrade: A+

Read Ash’s review here.

Summary:

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can’t…

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he’s built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Book Cover