Book Review: Bred in the Bone by Kendra Elliott

Bred in the Bone by Kendra Elliott

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, October 29, 2019

Time and setting:  Present Day, Northwest USA

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heat Level: No Heat

Length: 86 pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In the fourth Widow’s Island novella by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kendra Elliot, the truth of a twenty-year disappearance will finally come to light.

When the town drunk ends up dead in a hit-and-run, FBI special agent Cate Wilde expects that solving the case will be cut and dried. But evidence quickly surfaces that the victim was involved with another crime. A crime that has gone cold for twenty years. A crime of personal importance to Cate.

Cate’s best friend, Samantha, went missing at fourteen, leaving behind nothing except a jacket and an island full of unanswered questions. Samantha’s disappearance has haunted Cate for more than half her life, and she might finally be able to find some closure.

But not everything is as it seems. As Cate unravels what happened on that fateful day, she’ll discover that the community of Widow’s Island is full of secrets. Betrayed by someone she thought she knew, Cate will need to piece together the truth…before someone else gets hurt.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Bred-Bone-Widows-Island-Novella-ebook/dp/B07G9YZTFF

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43088878-bred-in-the-bone

Vikki’s Musings

I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Kendra Elliott. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review Bred in the Bone. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

As with all of Kendra Elliot’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. Her action scenes are graphic and send chills through me. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.

At last, Cate has a good lead on her best friend’s disappearance twenty years ago. While Cate isn’t completely recovered from her ordeal a few months ago, she goes after these new clues determined to ignore her fear when approaching a door of a possible criminal.

I loved her tenacity, and that she will not give up until she learns what happened to Samantha. Her romance with the good doctor has progressed and is on solid footing. Will she return to her life as an FBI agent, or will she give it up for Henry?

If you enjoy romantic thrillers with amazing characters, and so much action your heart is pumping fast, then you will love Bred in the Bone. This one has a great ending that I enjoyed a great deal. Widow’s Island is a great series, and I look forward to reading the next one in this series. Happy reading!

Book Review: A Merciful Promise by Kendra Elliott

A Merciful Promise by Kendra Elliott

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, June 18, 2019

Time and setting:  Present Day, Pacific Northwest

Genre: Romantic Thriller

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The job: infiltrate a militia amassing illegal firearms in an isolated forest community. FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick is the ideal candidate. She knows Oregon. She’s near the compound. And having been raised among survivalists, Mercy understands the mind-set of fanatics. Lay low, follow rules, do nothing to sound an alarm, and relinquish all contact with the outside world. She’s ready to blend in.

As Mercy disappears into the winter hills, something just as foreboding emerges. Mercy’s fiancé, Eagle’s Nest police chief Truman Daly, is faced with a puzzling series of murders—three men dumped in random locations after execution-style shootings.

Now, for Mercy, trapped in a culture where suspicion is second nature, and betrayal is punishable to the extreme, there is no way out. No way to call for help. And as plans for a catastrophic terrorist event escalate, there may be no way to stop them. Even if Mercy dies trying.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Merciful-Promise-Mercy-Kilpatrick-Book-ebook/dp/B07C8239Z9

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39888481-a-merciful-promise

Vikki’s Musings

I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Kendra Elliott. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review the sixth, and last book, in her Mercy Kilpatrick series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

As with all of Kendra Elliot’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. Her action scenes are graphic and send chills through me. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.

I love Mercy’s character, and in each of these books, it only grows stronger. While she’s complicated and has a lot of pent-up issues, she never lets them hold her back. She’s fierce in her determination to be the best FBI agent possible and protects her niece like a mama bear. In this one, all doubts regarding Truman are gone, and she has given him her trust completely.

Truman is a drool-worthy hero any woman will love, and I’m one of them. He’s an honorable, caring man, and he’s so patient with Mercy. He never lets anything rattle him, whether it’s a case or Mercy. His kindness and care to Ollie melts my heart, and the bond he’s formed with Mercy’s niece is touching.

By this final book, the love between Mercy and Truman is rock solid and both are looking forward to their wedding. The love is so strong. A Merciful Promise is the fulfillment of the romance that has spanned six books, and I love that they found their happy ending.

There isn’t as much mystery in this final book, but it was still a shock when all is revealed near the end. Ms. Elliott does not disappoint when it comes to the details. She builds the suspense throughout the book until the climax.

If you enjoy romantic thrillers with amazing characters, and so much action your heart is pumping fast, then you will love A Merciful Promise as much as I did. Even though this is the last book in this series, I don’t believe it’s the last time we’ll see Mercy and Truman. Ms. Elliott will bring them back as secondary characters in her future books. That is mentioned in her author notes. Happy reading! 

Book Review: A Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliot

Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliott

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, January 15, 2019

Time and setting:  Present Day, USA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length:   Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Raised by preppers, survivalist and FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick has a deep-rooted need for a safe place. Her getaway in the Cascade Foothills is her secret. But when skeletal remains are unearthed—those of a murdered man linked to a notorious heist—Mercy realizes she isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Thirty years ago, an armored-car robbery turned deadly. The mastermind was captured. Four conspirators vanished with a fortune. One of them, it appears, never made it out of the woods alive. For Mercy and her fiancé, Police Chief Truman Daly, their investigation opens old wounds in Eagle’s Nest that cut deeper than they imagined. Especially when a reckless tabloid reporter draws fresh blood. It’s clear to Mercy that somebody in this close-knit community is not who they seem to be.

Some are still shattered by the heist. Some still have reason to be afraid. But which one will kill again and again to hide three decades of secrets? To land this case, it’s up to Mercy to unmask a familiar stranger before someone else dies.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Merciful-Fate-Mercy-Kilpatrick-Book-ebook/dp/B07C854RL5

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39888482-a-merciful-fate

Vikki’s Musings

I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Kendra Elliott. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review the fifth book in her Mercy Kilpatrick series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

As with all of Ms. Elliot’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.

I love Mercy’s character and in each of these books, it only grows stronger. While she’s complicated and has a lot of pent-up issues, she never lets them hold her back. She’s fierce in her determination to be the best FBI agent possible and protects her niece like a mama bear.

Truman is a drool-worthy hero any woman will love, and I’m one of them. He’s an honorable, caring man, and he’s so patient with Mercy. He never lets anything rattle him, whether it’s a case or Mercy. 

While the romance is secondary in Merciful Fate, it’s still strong and adds a lot to the story. In Merciful Fate, Mercy and Truman’s relationship has progressed quite a lot, which pleased me immensely. 

The suspense in this book builds as the tale of mystery and intrigue unfolds. Lots of good things to move the plot along. Ms. Elliott keeps her cards tight against her chest, so I was completely surprised by the characters involved in the heist.

If you enjoy a novel with plenty of high suspense with a great “who-done-it plot,” then you will love Merciful Fate. I do recommend reading the other books in this series before reading this one, so you’ll fully appreciate Mercy and Truman. Happy reading!

Book Review: A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliott

A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliott

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, June 19, 2018

Time and setting:  Present Day, Oregon

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Thriller

Book Length:  344 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In the fourth book of the Wall Street Journal bestselling series, FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick must unlock the mystery of a mass murder, and the secrets of its silent witness…

For Mercy Kilpatrick, returning to rural Oregon has meant coming to terms with her roots. Raised as a prepper, Mercy is now relying on her survivalist instincts to defend her town from the people the law can’t reach. But this time, an investigation calling up a dark past for her and police chief Truman Daly may be hitting too close to home.

A rainstorm has uncovered the remains of five people—a reprise of the distinctive slaughter of two families twenty years ago. Except the convicted killer is in prison. Is this the case of a sick copycat, or is the wrong man behind bars? One person might have the answer. The lone survivor of the decades-old crimes has returned to town still claiming that she can’t remember a thing about the night she was left for dead. As the search for the truth becomes more dangerous, Mercy fears that the traumatized woman may not have buried her memories at all. She might be keeping them a secret. And there’s a price to be paid for revealing them.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077GRGYJ4/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36605687-a-merciful-silence

Vikki’s Musings

I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Kendra Elliott. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review the fourth book in her Mercy Kilpatrick series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

As with all of Ms. Elliot’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.

I love Mercy’s character and in each of these books, it only grows stronger. While she’s complicated and has a lot of pent-up issues, she never lets them hold her back. She’s fierce in her determination to be the best FBI agent possible and protects her niece like a mama bear.

Truman is a drool-worthy hero any woman will love, and I’m one of them. He’s an honorable, caring man, and he’s so patient with Mercy’s trust issues. He never lets anything rattle him, whether it’s a case or Mercy. In this book, Truman’s life is threatened drastically, and his experience is beyond what most men could endure. 

While the romance is secondary in A Merciful Silence, it’s still strong and adds a lot to the story. In A Merciful Silence, Mercy and Truman’s relationship has progressed quite a lot, which pleased me immensely. 

The suspense in this book builds as the tale of mystery and intrigue unfolds. The plot is heartbreaking, so many families killed. Ms. Elliott does a fantastic job of keeping the true villain under the radar until the climax. I never suspected anything and was totally surprised. Clearly, the villain is mentally deranged. While his actions are gruesome, what he witnessed as a child greatly affected his abilities to make sane decisions.

If you enjoy a novel with plenty of high suspense with a great “who-done-it plot,” then you will absolutely love A Merciful Silence. I do recommend reading the other three books in this series before reading this book, so you’ll fully appreciate Mercy and Truman. Happy reading!

Book Review: A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot

A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, January 17, 2017

Time and setting:  Present Day, Oregon

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense

Book Length: 332 pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A pair of ritual murders could expose Mercy Kilpatrick to something terrifying: her own past…

Raised off the grid by survivalists, Mercy Kilpatrick believed in no greater safeguard than the backwoods of Oregon. Unforgiven by her father for abandoning the fold for the FBI, Mercy still holds to her past convictions. They’re in her blood. They’re her secrets—as guarded as her private survival retreat hidden away in the foothills.

In a cabin near her hideaway, Mercy encounters a young girl whose grandmother is dying from multiple knife wounds. Hundreds of miles away, a body is discovered slashed to death in a similar way. The victims—a city judge and an old woman living in the woods—couldn’t be more different. With the help of police chief Truman Daly, Mercy must find the killer before the body count rises. Mercy knows that the past has an edge on her. So does her family. How can she keep her secrets now…when they’re the only things that can save her?

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Merciful-Secret-Mercy-Kilpatrick-Book-ebook/dp/B06Y5MTNMQ

 Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34868170-a-merciful-secret

Vikki’s Musings

  

I always know I’m in for a treat with a new release from Kendra Elliott. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review the third book in her Mercy Kilpatrick series.

As with all of Ms. Elliot’s books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there’s plenty of emotions running high. One of the things I enjoy most about her books is the suspenseful scenes. She has a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last.

I love Mercy’s character and in each of these books, it only grows stronger. While she’s complicated and has a lot of pent-up issues, she never lets them hold her back. She’s fierce in her determination to be the best FBI agent possible and protects her niece like a mama bear.

Truman is a drool-worthy hero any woman will love, and I’m one of them. He’s an honorable, caring man, and he’s so patient with Mercy’s trust issues. He never lets anything rattle him, whether it’s a case or Mercy.

While the romance is secondary in A Merciful Secret, it’s still strong and adds a lot to the story. The suspense in this book builds as the tale of mystery and intrigue unfolds. Ms. Elliott does a fantastic job of keeping the true villain under the radar until the climax. I never suspected a thing.

There is a strong secondary plot interwoven throughout this book, intricately tied to the main storyline. Salome and her daughter were interesting characters and added a great deal. There is a huge surprise at the end, which really tied this one up exceedingly well.

If you enjoy a novel with plenty of high suspense with a great “who-done-it plot,” then you will absolutely love A Merciful Secret. I do recommend reading the other two books in this series before reading this book so you’ll fully appreciate Mercy and Truman. Happy reading!