Veena’s review of Kill Without Shame (Ares Security, Book 2) by Alexandra Ivy
Romantic Suspense published by Zebra 27 Dec 16
This is a great series with fast-paced action adventure stories and a touch of the paranormal. Lucas St. Clair was raised with a silver spoon to a life of privilege, which he left behind to enlist in the military. His only regret is his childhood sweetheart, Mia, whom he left behind not because he didn’t love her enough but because he loved her too much. When a guy from his hometown turns up dead on his doorstep with Mia’s picture in his pocket, it’s clear to Lucas that she’s in danger and he needs to be by her side to keep her safe.
Mia is a feisty heroine. She’s never forgiven Lucas for breaking her heart and she is definitely not welcoming him back into her life again. A successful owner of her landscaping design business, she’s gained confidence in herself and can more than hold her own against Lucas’ high-handed ways. The sparkling dialogue between Mia and her friend and office manager will keep you chuckling as will her feisty attitude and independence.
Lucas brings the investigative skills of his friends and fellow partners in his security firm as they try to dig into who and what might be threatening Mia. Even as Mia is not the girl she once was, Lucas has seen a lot of the seamy side of things, particularly having survived a horrifying ordeal in a Taliban prison. He knows Mia’s the one for him and he’s determined not only to keep her safe but also to win her back. Sparks fly as a high-handed Lucas makes his way into Mia’s home and bed.
The story takes some interesting twists and turns as Mia has some close shaves with a murderer. Car accidents, poisoned coffee, someone is definitely stalking Mia with a view to murder. The list of suspects starts adding up between her neighbor and a local charity that seems to be desperate to buy up her father’s land. The local police are on the scene doing their own investigation, and it looks like there may be sparks between Mia’s friend and the police officer. Lucas and his friends are racing around the clock to track all the clues while keeping Mia safe. As the threads all come together, it’s an exciting race to the finish.
While the focus in on Lucas and Mia, there are increasing threats against one of Lucas’ friends. The handsome guys from Ares Security make a great cast of characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to each of their books. This is a well-written story, and I highly recommend this series for fans of romantic thrillers.
Grade: A
Summary:
Five brave military heroes have survived the hell of a Taliban prison to return home—and take on civilian missions no one else can. They’re the men of ARES Security. Highly skilled, intimidating, invincible, and one by one, tested again and again . . .
Lucas St. Clair’s prestigious family had a political future neatly planned out for him—one that didn’t include his high school sweetheart, Mia Ramon. Under their pressure, Lucas gave her up. But since surviving captivity, he’s a changed man—and a crucial member of ARES Security. When he discovers a dead man clutching a picture of Mia that bears a threatening message, his fiercest protective instincts kick in, and he knows he must go to her.
Mia has never forgiven Lucas for breaking her heart, and she’s convinced her feelings for him are in the past. But it’s soon clear that isn’t true for either of them. Now, determined to solve the crime and keep Mia safe, with his ARES buddies backing him up, Lucas will have to reconstruct the murder victim’s last days—and follow a lethal trail that leads right back to the fate of the woman he still loves . . .
Other books in this series:
