Friday, May 15, 2015

ARC REVIEW: "Retribution" by Katie Reus



Retribution
by Katie Reus


She sees brief glimpses of the future…

Nika and Alena Brennan will do anything to kill a vicious Russian crime boss and they’re using his only son to get to him. Yet when the time comes to execute their plan, psychic Nika hesitates due to an unexpected entanglement with sexy security expert Declan Gallagher. When her sister is kidnapped and all their carefully laid plans go awry, Nika must depend on Declan and her mortal enemy’s son to get her sister back.

He invades her dreams and teases her with sensual pleasures…

As a dream walker, Declan is capable of seeing anyone’s innermost thoughts as they sleep. With Nika, however, he finds himself playing a deadly, seductive game. He knows she’s not who she says she is and he’s determined to find out the real reason she’s in Miami before she gets herself or someone else killed.

Time is running out…

Nika’s window of opportunity is closing to save her sister and find a way to protect their secrets without landing them both in jail. With innocent lives at stake, Nika must decide if the retribution she’s waited a lifetime for is worth losing the man who has won her heart.

I have read and reviewed quite a few books by Katie Reus since discovering her Red Stone Security series.  I’ve enjoyed her romantic suspense (Red Stone Security and Deadly Ops) and her shifter stories (Moon Shifter and Darkness). This one felt a little different than her previous work.  I can’t decide if it is my bias because I know that this is a standalone or if is truly a departure.  

Katie Reus writes very tightly written romantic suspense.  Her books are fast paced and filled with adrenaline.  The elements fit together perfectly and, despite the occasional insta-love, the romance is very engaging and incredibly hot.  (Learning from my experience, do not try to read her books while standing in line at an amusement park. Just trust me on this.) This book is a bit of a departure.  Story lines are not as clear-cut.   There are side turns that make this narrative more complicated. I like chasing the story. However, it also feels slower paced with more emphasis on building the relationship.  I enjoyed going deeper with Declan and Nika, but there were times where their interaction that felt repetitive and it dragged down the story a bit. 

This is also not your typical paranormal romance (PNR).  With many PNR stories, you have shifters, vampires, witches, and mages.  They have over-the-top powers  This PNR focuses more on the extra-sensory skills.  Declan is a dreamwalker.  He can enter into and interact in most people’s dreams. This is a very clever and handy skill for a spy. 


Another interesting element is that although Declan and Nika are the featured characters, Alena and Andre have a significant role as well. There is more to their story and I hope someday the author will decide to develop this story line into a series.  

IN A NUTSHELL:
I will read anything that Katie Reus writes because I know that I will be entertained.  She has not let me down yet. 

Thank you to author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

1 comment:

  1. I haven't read this author, so I especially appreciate your review. It is good to know that she is one of your trusted to go to authors.
    Suzi Q., The Book Dame

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