Veena’s review of Kill Without Mercy (Ares Security, Book 1) by Alexandra Ivy
Romantic Thriller published by Zebra 29 Dec 15
Ms. Ivy is my go-to author for paranormal and supernatural stories, so I was pleasantly surprised with this new series. Five men bonded together in a Taliban prison under the harshest of conditions. Back stateside while they each deal with their memories and scars in their own unique way, they definitely live the motto “one for all and all for one,” as is amply demonstrated in this book. Readers fear not, this story is not completely vanilla, since the author builds in some interesting psychic elements that assure her reputation as queen of paranormal remains intact.
Rafe Vargas dreads going back to his late grandfather’s farm to wrap up personal effects and get the property ready for sale. Fortunately he runs into Annie, White who intrigues him with both her beauty and haunting familiarity. Soon he’s pulling in the resources of Ares Security to look into the puzzle she poses. She definitely raises both his protective instincts as well as his libido, causing his friends all to head to the little town that he’s in one by one to flank his sides.
As a child Annie had left this town behind in the midst of controversy and murder. Years later her dreams force her back here on the anniversary of the earlier killings, just as a series of disappearances hit the town. While she doesn’t remember much from her childhood other than happy memories, which ended in blood and death, she seems to have a psychic lock on a killer as he hunts down his prey.
When the local sheriff and the townspeople are less than friendly, Rafe comes to her rescue, his friends and the newly minted Ares Security firm help her hunt down the clues from her mind and from the earlier case to answer the mystery behind the current events. Is it a copy cat or did the wrong guy get punished for a crime he didn’t commit the first time around?
What they uncover puts them both in the cross hairs of a madman who’s killed before and certainly has no qualms about killing again. However, Rafe’s blood brothers take exception to that plan and descend in force to protect him and keep him alive. The writing brings alive small-town nowhere USA, as well as the chilling impact of a mad mind.
I stayed pretty much at the edge of my seat as Rafe and Annie follow the clues and piece together the chilling events of the past that are behind what’s happening. Of course, they’re falling in love along the way as attraction morphs into protection and into a full-blown romance.
An excellent start to the series and I for one am definitely looking forward to each of the other four men finding their HEA.
Grade: A
Summary:
From the hellhole of a Taliban prison to sweet freedom, five brave military heroes have made it home—and they’re ready to take on the civilian missions no one else can. Individually they’re intimidating. Together they’re invincible. They’re the men of ARES Security.
Rafe Vargas is only in Newton, Iowa, to clear out his late grandfather’s small house. As the covert ops specialist for ARES Security, he’s eager to get back to his new life in Texas. But when he crosses paths with Annie White, a haunted beauty with skeletons in her closet, he can’t just walk away—not when she’s clearly in danger…
There’s a mysterious serial killer on the loose with a link to Annie’s dark past. And the closer he gets, the deeper Rafe’s instinct to protect kicks in. But even with his considerable skill, Annie’s courage, and his ARES buddies behind him, the slaying won’t stop. Now it’s only a matter of time before Annie’s next—unless they can unravel a history of deadly lies that won’t be buried.
