Monday, June 22, 2015

review || EXIT STRATEGY { blog tour }

Exit Strategy by Lena Diaz

Publisher: Avon (6/30/2015)
Series: EXIT Inc, book 1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: Tasty Book Tours
Purchase links || amazon | bn | itunes | kobo | publisher || add to goodreads

Rating: ★1/2






{ excerpt } .




His mouth curved in a knowing smile.

Damn him.






She nodded again.


She licked her dry lips.

His erection pulsed against her hands.



Surprisingly, he immediately stepped back.


{ review } .
Just in time for the end of Laura Kaye's HARD INK series (so very sad it's coming to an end), here comes another series that I feel will deal with short periods of time, quick romance, but a giant mission.

This story takes place over five days. Yes. Five days.

Hero to lover takes about three, if I recall, and the first "I love you" is exchanged on day four. Or maybe it was early day five. But whatever the time frame, it was quick. But like those HARD INK books, I found myself not caring.

I love when books start with a bang, and EXIT STRATEGY certainly does. We begin this five day adventure with Sabrina stumbling around the house she's currently renting, after she heard an intruder break in. Her arm is bleeding and she's trying to find the best way out of the house without being caught; problem? She doesn't have her glasses and she can't see ten feet in front of her. Just as she can almost taste freedom, she's grabbed.

And so begins the acquaintance of Sabrina and Mason.

Mason works for EXIT, Inc, an enforcer 'company' that does the dirty work that alphabet agencies are hand-tied to do, that is hidden behind the public face of a tour company. When laws and rules get in the way, EXIT (the enforcer side) gets called in and does the deed before the bad guy gets away with any more deaths -- and Mason has carried out a number of these missions.

After a bad tour overseas, he was recruited to this company and while he sometimes questioned the marks early on, afraid that maybe the person was innocent, in the recent years he stopped wondering. Before he came out to complete this mark, the killing of Sabrina Hightower, he heard from an old friend that this particular file may have been falsified. While Mason doesn't completely believe it can be true, he wants proof before he kills Sabrina -- because while he may be a killer, the man has morals.

Immediately, he's drawn to her spunk and her will to fight. Sabrina pulls some risky moves and puts herself in danger, but quickly Mason learns that he is drawn to this little woman with long black hair and pretty blue eyes. He learns that the hit was faked, and now he's doing whatever he can to keep her safe.

As has been my theme in my last few reviews, I want to bring up those dreaded side stories. Like I've said a number of times this last week, I typically don't read them. Hear the bad guy's side? Nah, don't care for it -- surprise me. But I found myself wanting to know; I found myself reading because I was curious how in the heck good girl Sabrina, who loved her Grampy, was good with money, moved across the country to try and avenge (as well as find) her grandfather, yet had a quick hand with a gun (and knew precisely what gun she preferred), got caught up in the mess that was EXIT, Inc. There were things that surprised me, and yes, still people that bored me but hey -- I read the parts I don't typically read, so for that -- good work, Lena!

I very much enjoyed Sabrina and Mason's story. I loved that he shortened her name to Rina; I loved the gut-wrenching fear he felt multiple times where she was concerned. Also, I enjoyed meeting Devlin and Emily Buchanan -- to which I was certain that they must have had a story of their own at some point so I GoodReads'd that and found out that they do (TAKE THE KEY AND LOCK HER UP with the DEADLY GAMES series), and that this EXIT, Inc series is a spin-off.

So while yes, this was 'quick love', there were no promises of rings at the end -- and I appreciate that. Yes, the words 'I love you' get muttered in a moment of panic (although the words are true), and the idea of forever gets thrown around at the end, but this couple has been given room to grow in the series, and I'm so excited to watch it happen. Sure, Mason and Sabrina had extremely serious moments, but they also had playful moments that help assure the reader that what they have growing between them is more than adrenaline and sex.

This series will be about the take down of EXIT, Inc with Buchanan and company -- or so I assume. And as for the next book? Our leading lady is none other than our villain's daughter. Excited much?! I cannot wait... but I must.

Until December.

Late December.


for more reviews & tour goodies
click here { ! }

{ giveaway } .

1 comment: