Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes… even if it destroys her. Soon, the two former lovers find themselves working side-by-side in a breakneck race to stop a world-class killer with a secret that could end everything.
From: https://junorushdan.com/book/every-last-breath
I received this book as an ARC from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I knew that I would fall in love with this book as soon as I saw the cover. Although I wasn't familiar with the romantic thriller genre; the fleeing figures enshrouded in a hazy mist of red and blue immediately intrigued me. What could they be running from… or to? A quick read of the first chapter and I was all in. The action-filled pages engulfed me. I left every reading session reluctantly as I wanted to consume the book whole.
I'll confess to never actually reading the synopsis of the story until after reading the book. Truth be told, I didn't read it until I started writing this review. The cover art and that first sampling of words (excerpt found on author's site here) were so enthralling that I wanted to jump right into the tale. I am still happy with this choice.
The story is told from the shifting POVs of three characters. Right off the bat, we're thrown into the impossible lives of a badass secret agent - Maddox Kinkade, her resurrected ex-fiancé/ Russian mob prince - Nikolai Reznikov, and an intensely skilled and overall scary assassin out for revenge - Aleksander Van Helden. Instead of completely rehashing each scene we are given a continuous flow of action. At first, I quickly grew annoyed as my mind filled with unanswered questions, only to gain the knowledge I sought in a later chapter. This feeling of irritation grew into appreciation and anticipation as I plowed through the book. Each artfully delivered back story tidbit had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the next revelation.
The descriptors used by Ms. Rushdan put me right into the thick of the action and sent my imagination soaring. Her action sequences were so skillfully delivered that I found myself flinching more than once during a few nail-biting situations. The characters, both main and ancillary, are excellently introduced and developed. I can't wait to find out more about them in subsequent installations. The underlying love story is both beautiful and tortured. It is seamlessly intertwined with the action elements, making this a truly expert blend of romance, action, and suspense. By the end of the novel, I felt connected to all characters; especially the outwardly seeming vicious villain. Every Last Breath is a great read for all action fans! An incredible narrative filled with heart-pounding twists that will have you asking for more.
I look forward to reading more by Juno Rushdan.
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