Singed by Kaylea Cross

On a quest to reread some favorite stories (which I've missed doing of late) and to connect with some stories that feature older characters (Gage is in his early 40s), Singed caught my eye and I'm so glad it did - the timing was perfect! I needed what it had to give (which is more than just a hea story).

I loved everything about this story and how it took me on some emotional highs and lows, how some parts resonated deep inside, and how it made my heart happy-sigh when I got to the end. Gage and Claire's connection flaired brightly and I loved all their interactions. You could feel the love and the struggle and their desire for each other.

******
2013 review
There's not much else to say that hasn't already been said in all the other 4 and 5 star reviews. (so read those for a better review! haha!)

This is an amazing story in an amazing world created by the amazing Kaylea Cross!! I love all her stories - the details, the heat, the adventure - I'm sucked in and don't want to escape!!

Never Surrender by Kaylea Cross

There was so much goodness wrapped up in this novella that it felt like a full-length novel with all the emotional impact, intriguing story line, and good dose of giggles I've come to expect from a Kaylea Cross story.

I loved getting to experience everything through Ryan and Candace's pov, with them being married just over a year. They have quite the connection still, but got slightly off track and it was time to get things sorted - which they did, beautifully! Throw in some quirky fun side characters, adored couples from previous stories, and a healthy dash of surprises and drama, and you can't help but turn the pages. Oh, and the cherry on top was Declan MacKenzie showing up!

BTW, Aiden Snow did an AMAZING job narrating!! Totally loved listening to him.

Lethal Edge by Kaylea Cross

I adored everything about this story and every moment I spent lost in Rifle Creek! Tate was the best mix of rough and tough, protective and loving, totally complimenting Nina's bubbly sweetness, gentleness, and vulnerable strength. Add in the family, neighbors, best friends, the small-town vibe, and some star-gazing and you can't help but wanna stay stuck in the story long after it's over.

I don't have words for it, but this story just hit me a bit deeper and will stick with me. Several KC books have a spot on my favorites shelf, but this one stands out among the best of the best.

I'm looking forward to what's to come next in Rifle Creek.

Disavowed by Kaylea Cross

Disavowed is absolutely amazing!!!

Kaylea Cross again knocked her book out of the park by giving us the perfect mix of romance, adventure, sexy times, and suspense. She had me sobbing by the middle of the prologue and kept me intensely hooked with the Bourne-type adventures B and Matt lived through.

2nd chance romances have to be written *just so* in order for me to fall in love with them (view spoiler)[and believe that the ghost of the dead spouse isn't still hanging over their heads. And Kaylea succeeded 110% there with me! You felt the love Matt had for his first wife in the prologue, but also saw how he was able to process her death and acknowledge that he can still love Lisa, and yet still find love and happiness again with B. (hide spoiler)]

Also, if you've read her Titanium series, you'll love seeing how the guys show up and help save the day!! Sigh, Sean! Love you, man!!

Awesome storytelling by an amazing author! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, and honestly, it can't be written and on my kindle fast enough! haha!

Hunted by Kaylea Cross

2020 reread (audio)
Catching up on some series from years past and the HRT series caught my eye again. I remembered loving the books I made it through back in 2014. When I decided to dive back in, I also wanted to refresh my memory on the first books and fell back in love with Clay and Zoe. I love the devotion and attention and protective nature of both and how they got under each other's skin. Beautiful story and I'm glad I got to hear it all over again.

====== original review ======

Another amazing book brought to us by Kaylea Cross!!

Bauer and Zoe stole my heart from page one! I knew from book 2 that I would enjoy their story and I was not disappointed in the slightest! This book just became my favorite of the series! It also includes some cameos of some of my other favorite characters of KC - which was just the icing on the cake.

I totally swooned over Bauer and adored Zoe! Watching how they grew closer and gave to the other what they needed was amazing. There was just the perfect amount of action, suspense, fun, sweet, and spicy with these two.

Bauer and Zoe also gave me one of my favorite scenes - I'll probably always think of Bauer whenever I do (haha! or see!) push-ups. ;)

Avenged by Kaylea Cross

Avenged was unbelievably amazing!!

I loved Nathan and Taya! Both individually and together as a couple - from their history to where they're at presently in the story is a crazy beautiful and heartbreaking journey. The bond Nathan and Taya had naturally, how their relationship came full circle, how they both gave what the other needed so preciously and willingly, how there wasn't a "magic cure" with their struggles at the end but still growth and healing in their futures, but now doing that together instead of apart.... I stinkin' loved it all!!

Taya had a sense of grace and emotional maturity that served her well as well as bravery in being vulnerable - and all that flowed right over to Nate. Nate had a deeper drive and need in him that kept him going and gave him the foundation to build on to take that grace and love from Taya. He was a protector and that gave Taya the safe spot she needed to land.

There were some things in that I could translate into my personal life and it hit something deep in a good way. I love it when stories touch me that way - such blessing in those connections and nuggets of goodness.

I also gotta mention that Kaylea Cross does such a terrific job giving the villain a sense of humanity. Although they're still the villain and need their comeuppance, you have a unique set of feelings for them. Lol

I'm so glad I got back to the HRT series and I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the series! 

Fast Vengeance by Kaylea Cross

I've discovered another delightful and favorite Kaylea Cross story!

Love how Victoria and Brock achingly needed each other and provided the safe place and the healing touches each one were desperate for.

I adored getting the additional romance of Oceane and Gabe - they made my heart melt in so many ways!

And the theme of brotherhood, the connection the guys all had with each other - that helped to make this adventure of a story complete.

Mix some heart aching moments with edge of your seat anxiety and Fast Vengeance delivers!

Strike Fast by Kaylea Cross

Omgoodness did I love this story!! I went from falling in love to feeling the pain and despair to collapsing in relief along with the characters.

Raw, real, vulnerable.
Respect and honor.
Softness and tenderness mixed with badass and protectiveness.

One of the best and hottest kissing scenes ever.
All the emotions from heat to tears.

Stinking amazing, that's what this is.

Rocky Ground by Kaylea Cross

Such an awesome story! Loved how Tiana refused to give up and kept fighting even though, man, her burdens were heavy and scary - and made my heart both shatter and weep. I simply adored Aidan's pursuit of Tiana and how he was all about keeping Tiana and Ella safe and in his life. His protection and confidence and drive worked perfectly for me. The events that bonded Tiana and Aiden together were intense and kept me at the edge of my seat, and that ending??? Omgoodness! Loved every heart-racing moment.

Fast Fury by Kaylea Cross

 

(DEA FAST #5)

It's been a while since I read a Kaylea Cross book -- not for lack of not wanting to, but you know those tbr piles grow quickly. When I saw the excerpt KC shared on her website for Fast Fury, I knew that I'd have to read this one ASAP. And I'm so thrilled I did. Even not reading any other of the DEA Fast books, I followed along well and now I'm more anxious to catch up on the other's stories and am looking forward to others.

I adored Abby and Kai's hea. Their connection sparked off the pages and the way they read each other and cared for the other and took care of the other was beautiful to experience. Throw in some family drama, a drug cartel, and a few more twists and turns and your breath will stutter in your chest and you gotta work to not read too fast and miss something.

I love the feeling I get from reading Kaylea Cross's stories - from the swoony-happy-sigh heas, to the emotions I face with the antagonists - and I'm looking forward to making my way through more of her books.

Titanium Security series by Kaylea Cross

          

These are amazing stories in an amazing world created by the amazing Kaylea Cross!! I love all her stories - the details, the heat, the adventure - I'm sucked in and don't want to escape!!

Out of all the books in this series, Sean and Zahra's story is my favorite. Sean is one alpha hero that I fell for hard and wish he was mine. :)

Tactical Strike by Kaylea Cross

(Bagram Special Ops, #2)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Kaylea Cross's stories are one of my top go-to whenever I want a RS that I know will give me exactly what I want - the perfect amount of heart, love, action, and suspense!

Bagram Special Ops is one of my favorite series of her's and it's because of how real she brings this story line to life. She's somehow managed to put more research and detail into this without losing the romance or the real.

I love Ryan's attitude and how he wouldn't let anything stand in his way to Ace - including Ace herself. And Candace - well, she was one tough, strong chick and definitely needed someone like Ryan - but only in a way that enhanced her, because she could hold her own.

I think the action scene in the Afghan mountains is one of my favorite bits of this story!!

You cannot go wrong with this book!

Lethal Pursuit by Kaylea Cross

(Bagram Special Ops, #3)

Have I ever mentioned that Kaylea Cross is one of my top favorite authors? Well I'm shouting it out again!! You don't want to miss out on any of her stories, but *especially* this one! I had a feeling before I even started reading this book that my heart would break and be beautifully put back together - and I was not wrong! Jackson and Maya's story is definitely my favorite of this whole series, and one of my top favorite of Kaylea's couples.

This book touched on some scary hard issues that while I know are a reality, I think we all kinda try not to think about it. This book PUT ME IN THE MIDDLE of the terror (more than just one kind!) and very gently led me through. Jackson and Maya's story is beautiful to watch unfold throughout every nightmare and every triumph.

I cannot express clearly enough my love for Jackson and Maya. You just need to experience their story for yourself and feel the intensity and beauty for yourself!

Targeted by Kaylea Cross

 

(Hostage Rescue Team #2)

Kaylea never fails to write a story that for me hits all my buttons - just the right amount of adventure, romance, drama, and heart. In Targeted she also brought me to tears with a couple particular scenes Tuck's dad that just made the story all that more full and beautiful. I love how Tuck pursued Celida and how Celida finally allowed herself to fall into Tuck. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into Bauer and Zoe's story - which thankfully comes next!

Marked by Kaylea Cross

(Hostage Rescue Team #1)

Kaylea is one of my go-to authors whenever I'm needing a military/law enforcement style romantic suspense. With this new series she's again giving me exactly what I want: just enough mystery/suspense, just enough romance (the kind that grows and is truly felt), and just enough fun and excitement!!

I love 2nd chance stories and that's what Kaylea brings us with Jake and Rachel. They met a couple of years ago but for various reasons drifted apart. Then someone enters Rachel's life putting her in a position to need Jake's protection. I loved being there as they caught the bad guys and grew closer again. Their relationship didn't feel rushed and I loved all the yummy tension between them.

I'm looking forward to the next books in this series.

Disavowed by Kaylea Cross

(Hostage Rescue Team #4)

Disavowed is absolutely amazing!!!

Kaylea Cross again knocked her book out of the park by giving us the perfect mix of romance, adventure, sexy times, and suspense. She had me sobbing by the middle of the prologue and kept me intensely hooked with the Bourne-type adventures B and Matt lived through.

2nd chance romances have to be written *just so* in order for me to fall in love with them and believe that the ghost of the dead spouse isn't still hanging over their heads. And Kaylea succeeded 110% there with me! You felt the love Matt had for his first wife in the prologue, but also saw how he was able to process her death and acknowledge that he can still love Lisa, and yet still find love and happiness again with B.

Also, if you've read her Titanium series, you'll love seeing how the guys show up and help save the day!! Sigh, Sean! Love you, man!!

Awesome storytelling by an amazing author! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, and honestly, it can't be written and on my kindle fast enough! haha!

Hunted by Kaylea Cross

(Hostage Rescue Team #3)

Another amazing book brought to us by Kaylea Cross!!

Bauer and Zoe stole my heart from page one! I knew from book 2 that I would enjoy their story and I was not disappointed in the slightest! This book just became my favorite of the series! It also includes some cameos of some of my other favorite characters of KC - which was just the icing on the cake.

I totally swooned over Bauer and adored Zoe! Watching how they grew closer and gave to the other what they needed was amazing. There was just the perfect amount of action, suspense, fun, sweet, and spicy with these two.

Bauer and Zoe also gave me one of my favorite scenes - I'll probably always think of Bauer whenever I do (haha! or see!) push-ups. ;)

Dead By Midnight: An I-Team Christmas by Pamela Clare

(I-Team #7.5)

So I really struggled with starting Death By Midnight right away. I didn't want the book to end, I knew once I got started I wouldn't want to stop reading it, I know how much blood, sweat and tears Pamela Clare and her crew put into it, and I wanted to honor that amount of time and work and not have my part of it rushed. So I downloaded it yesterday and walked away. Went to bed late and figured with it being so late, I'd skip reading.... Then changed my mind, and cracked open my Kindle and eyed Marc's cover.... And tapped... And the rest is history!!

This is such a beautiful story that sucked me in and delivered all the feels!! I was laughing, I was crying, I was hiding under the covers in fear, and I was turning the fan up higher to cool down (whew, did it get hot!!)!!

I love Marc (oh my goodness!!) and his Sprite (they're still my top fav couple, with Zach and Natalie being right behind them), and of course the rest of the gang!! I enjoyed every moment of catching up with everyone and seeing the connection and bonds they've built. This novella is an absolutely totally perfect way to end this series! Perfect high note!

Someone said this was like ITEAM meets Die Hard - and I totally agree!!

So even though the book ended too quickly for me, I'll be rereading this story often! Now that is even more a compliment to an author!!

The cameo appearance of Kaylea Cross's HRT guys was a blast!