Book Review: LAST BREATH by Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick + Giveaway ~Blog Tour~

Title: Last Breath (Hitman, #2)
Author: Jessica Clare, Jen Frederick
ISBN/ASIN: B00ISLNYC4
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: New Adult Romance
Theme(s): Hitman, assassin, sex slavery
Length: 280 pgs
Binding: E-book, Paperback
Published: 24 March 2014; Pear Tree, L.L.C
Buy: Amazon.com, BN.com

Synopsis:

REGAN: I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I'm at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he's here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He's also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it's wrong to fall in love with him, but I can't seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.

DANIEL: For the last eighteen months, I’ve had one goal: to find my kidnapped sister. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and have befriended criminals all across the globe. In every brothel I raid or every human trafficking truck I stop, her face is the one I’m desperate to see. In Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken and still sane despite her weeks in hell. I should leave her behind or send her home because the last thing either of us needs is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I can’t let her go.

My Rating:

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Last Hit, the first book in the Hitman series by the dynamic collaborative writing duo Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick. I was thrilled to get a chance to join the blog tour for their second novel in the series, Last Breath. Despite my excitement, I couldn't help but feel nervous. Would the sequel live up to my expectations? How were they going to handle the "sensitive" nature of the topic that the story is centered around? Well, I obviously had nothing to worry about because my 5 star rating says it all. Last Breath picks up where Last Hit left off. Regan is in a brothel in Rio after being sold by the Bratva, one of the most dangerous factions of the Russian mafia. Nikolai's American friend, an assassin named Daniel, promises to find Regan for Daisy who is consumed with worry and guilt (you'll have to read the first book to see why; check out my review for Last Hit HERE). But Daniel is on a mission of his own: to find his missing sister who he thinks may have been sold into sex slavery as well. For him, it's like killing two birds with one stone. He just didn't count on falling in love along the way...

The story opens with a scene of Regan being raped. This is definitely not a novel for the faint of heart and may be a trigger for those who have suffered from similar situations.  It wasn't easy to read, but my small discomfort is nothing compared to what women in Regan's position have and are going through. Sex slavery seems to be a hot topic right now in the news and media and I've noticed some authors are trying to tackle the controversial subject. While I commend every author in their efforts to create awareness, Last Breath is the first book I've read about the issue that felt the most realistic and didn't try to sugarcoat it.

I first want to talk about the characters, starting with Regan. It's one thing to decide to write about a  sensitive topic, but it's a whole other situation when you are writing a character that is going through it. It has to be handled just right. As I stated above, the story opens with Regan being raped. Despite her months of captivity, she is known as a "biter", and refuses to show any kind of emotion because she knows that most of the men that buy her get off on women that cry, scream, and struggle. No way will she give them that satisfaction. To keep her mind separate form her body, she recites horror movies in her mind by going down the alphabet.  I remember grimacing and smiling while reading this scene which is an odd reaction. Quite honestly, I don't know how Jessica Clare did it. Somehow she was able to infuse the seriousness and horror of the situation with grim humor. Too much and it could have been a disaster.

Once Regan is free and on the run with Daniel, she goes through a roller coaster of emotions. One minute she is fierce, the next minute she is falling apart, the next she is plotting how to keep Daniel from dumping her off at the Embassy. While at first I had a hard time keeping up with her ever changing thoughts and emotions, I soon realized how realistic her mood and behavior were. The fear of being abandoned. The fear of trusting a man after being used over and over again. The fear of being recaptured. The fear of being broken and never being "normal" again. I can only imagine the relief of being free and then the sudden harsh reality of how to even begin to start rebuilding the life you lost. For Regan, it will never be the same again. So I get it.

I don't want to say too much more about Regan's journey, but I will say as the story progresses, her growth as a character blew me away. At the same time, I like the fact that Clare is consistent. What I mean is, some romance authors that write about rape victims will portray them as frightened and broken in the beginning, but are miraculously healed by the end of the story with no after affects. In Last Breath, Regan, with the help of Daniel, is on the road to recovery, but she still suffers from PTSD which is more of a realistic portrayal of someone who has gone through what she has.

Now to Daniel. Where do I even start? There have been times when I've read a series from an author where the hero in each book sound the same. Yes, they may have a quirk or specific trait here or there that makes them stand out from one another, but over all, they are the same. Not the case here. Daniel couldn't be more different from Nikolai and I'm not just talking about the obvious American-Ukrainian difference. Is Daniel a bad ass like Nikolai? Yes. Is he an alpha male that wants to protect Regan like Nikolai wanted to protect Daisy? Yes. But that's where the similarities end. While Nick was serious, stoic, and raised in a world of violence, Daniel had a pretty normal life until he enlisted in the military. Once his sister goes missing, his relationship with his parents becomes strained. All he wants to do is rescue his sister so he can go back to his family's ranch and maybe raise some cattle. But it is Daniel's sense of humor that really sets him apart from Nikolai. He not only uses humor to get themselves out of some sticky situations but I absolutely love the way he uses it to help Regan. The first time he sees her break down, he realizes he rather have a pissed off Regan than a broken one. So he calls her annoying pet names like "babydoll", "sugar tits" (love that one lol)-- anything to get her mad so that it keeps her on task. Regan soon figures this out and is grateful for it. As their relationship progresses, what started as a necessary way to keep Regan from breaking down or loosing it turns into flirting and affectionate teasing.

The next thing to talk about is the chemistry and sexy time. There is no denying the chemistry between Regan and Daniel. And I thought Nikolai and Daisy were a hot pairing? Holy Moses! But going back to what I said about the sensitive topic at hand,  this had to be handled with care. From the first moment Daniel lays eyes on her, he has to fight his attraction, even admitting there must be something fundamentally screwed up with him for getting a hard on at seeing her for the first time. Regan also misconstrues Daniel's intentions. At first, she thinks she has to throw herself at him in order to keep him interested so he doesn't abandon her. This pisses Daniel off as it should. But slowly, Regan begins to realize that Daniel can be trusted and he doesn't just view as a piece of ass. He really cares. Suddenly she wonders what kissing him would feel like. She wants to know if she is completely broken or if she has a shot at being a normal woman with needs. The sexual tension was thick and hot. Daniel basically allows her to do whatever she wants with him, refusing to touch her in any way unless she asks for it. She can go as far as she wants and can stop whenever she wants. As funny as Daniel can be, he also is very tender and patient with her. At the same time, he wants to pleasure her, to show her how good it can really be. In Last Hit, we learn that she had only one boyfriend prior to being kidnapped. So even before the rape, she really didn't know how good sex could be. But of course Daniel feels possessive of her and his thoughts about how he feels is so hot and beautiful at the same time.

"I would rend anyone from limb to limb who tried to come between Regan and I. From now on the only one who would be hearing her screams when she came would be me. The only man who gets to taste the nectar between her legs is me. The only cock that would ever pleasure her, from this moment until I never drew another breath is mine."

I also like that Nikolai and Daisy make an appearance in Last Breath. Their part in the story is important (I'm avoiding any spoilers) but more than that, it is nice to see how they interact with Daniel and Regan. It's also interesting to see where Nick and Daisy are at in their relationship. Daisy is going to college and Nick is trying to live the domestic life by cooking meals (there is one hilarious part where Daisy describes her walking in on Nikolai trying to make Hamburger Helper. So funny!)

Last but not least is the interesting way Clare and Frederick set up their next novel in the series. I don't think this is much of a spoiler since it's been swirling around the internet but I will refrain from saying names. We find out that the next heroine is going to be a high functioning autistic woman and her hero is going to be a member of the Bratva, a Ukrainian from Nikolai's past. Wow. It's almost as if these ladies want to keep challenging themselves. Just like with sex slavery, writing a character with autism can be tricky. I actually work with multiple disabled children, two of which are on the spectrum. In Last Breath, the authors already hinted at some of the sensory issues the heroine for the third book will have, so I can't wait to see how far they will go with this new interesting character and how the hero will handle it. Autism is just not a topic you read about in romance novels. If they are up for the challenge, then I am happy to go along for the ride.

I originally was going to give Last Breath a 4.5 rating because I came across a few inconsistencies. But then I remembered the version I read was an ARC/pre-copyedited version, so it's not really fair for me to mark it down half a star when they might not even be there anymore. But some of these inconsistencies were small, like the scene where Daniel and Regan decide to sleep at a nicer hotel. Daniel puts a dresser in front of the door on top of locking it. Later someone gets into the room and Regan starts shooting a gun at the intruder. Wouldn't someone hear this person breaking in since he has to go through a locked door and a dresser? Also, wouldn't someone in the hotel hear gun shots? Stupid little things like that.

Last Breath far exceeded my expectations. I give both Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick a lot of credit for tackling such a sensitive issue and handling it with brutal honesty and dignity. It appears as if there is nothing these ladies can't write about and I anxiously await to see what they will do with the third book in the Hitman series.

   

best wishes,mia

Jen & Jess have discounted LAST HIT, book 1 in their Hitman series to an amazing price of ONLY $0.99 for a limited time. If you haven't read it yet, click HERE to purchase it!

Excerpt Teaser

Daniel's POV

She’s a biter. That’s the warning given when I point to the blonde with the glazed green eyes in Senor Gomes’ book of whores. He shakes his head and says that he has access to dozens of others that are better and all willing to engage in whatever perverse activity I want. He brags that there isn’t a sick sex act I can think of that Gomes can’t fulfill. I like home cooking, I tell him. A Texan in Rio sees a lot of beautiful Brazilian women, but sometimes you want a little star-spangled banner in the rotation.

He nods as if this makes sense to him, but I think it’s the money that I’m flashing that he understands. We walk up to the second floor and down a narrow hall toward the back, a windowless part of this brick and metal building. I can’t call it a home or even a brothel. It’s a dingy place where men with deep perversions but shallow wallets can get their rocks off.

I don’t want to have sex here, I’ve explained to Gomes. I have a thing against hellholes and having sex in them. I wave around a lot of cash, and Gomes nodded and asks no more questions.

We’re a strange parade—Gomes, me, and some house mom trailing behind. He stops at the second to last door and removes a key.

I’ve seen pictures of Regan Porter before, and not in Gomes’ look book, but nothing prepares me for her full-fledged, magazine-quality beauty. She hasn’t been eating well; her delicate bones are beginning to look sharp in places—at her shoulders, ribs, and hips. But there’s no denying her breathtaking looks. Her blonde hair is damp and small strands stick to her perfect skull. Her oval face, with its pink cheekbones and lush lips and eyebrows that look like wings, stands out like a piece of fine china at a flea market. Though she’s thin, there’s a delicious curviness in the slope of her side as it dips into the waist and flares back out to form a cuppable roundness at the hip. And those endlessly long legs.

Shit. I close my eyes and swallow. No decent man would be standing here thinking about those legs wrapped around his waist. But then again, I’m not decent. I’m no longer army sniper, Special Forces Daniel Hays who may have once been lauded as a hero for killing insurgents in Afghanistan. Now I’m Daniel Hays, mercenary who kills people for money and spends all his spare time in brothels and flesh dens like this one. Decency is a word I don’t even know the meaning to anymore.

It’s been too long since I’ve had a woman. That’s my only excuse. That and I’m becoming the monster that I’m hunting. I focus on the bruises on her knees that are scraped red and raw from time on the floor and the manacle around her ankle. Any feelings of arousal are jettisoned by the obvious signs of abuse.

Glancing sharply at Gomes, I wonder how he’s come to possess a beauty like Regan Porter. Gomes is a small-time flesh peddler, stuck up here in the slums, with a house full of females—half of which are missing their teeth or are too old or too broken.

 He usually gets what the market calls second-hand goods, the girls that no other house wants. But Regan Porter is gorgeous, and while she looks a little rundown, she’s still model beautiful with big pink lips and wide green eyes.

“Nice tits,” I smirk for Gomes’ sake and her shudder of disgust only feeds into my growing belief that I’m as dirty as the flesh trader beside me. The dark edges of the world that I now inhabit are seeping into my skin like an oil slick covering an ocean. I shouldn’t want to touch her. And if I have to fuck her in front of Gomes to get her out of here—I don’t even let myself finish that thought.

There’s still life in her eyes. If she’s biting and spitting out acerbic insults, there’s spirit left in her, and I don’t want to be the one to snuff out that last flame. Her eyes convey her hate, and if she had a knife, I’d be sliced from my throat to my belly. I stare back, not because she’s fucking beautiful, but because she’s still standing. I’m not sure I would’ve been as strong. I don’t know if she sees my admiration or whether she can only interpret varying degrees of lust and degradation, but she sees something. An invisible string spools out between us and her eyes widen when it hits her like an electrical shock.

For months I’ve swum in a pool of blood and death and ugly deeds, and to hold onto my sanity and maybe my soul, I’ve told myself that saving these doves balances the scale.  For every life I take, if I save one then it’s all a wash in the end. Don’t think it’s tallied that way at St. Peter’s Gate, but that’s the lie I tell myself so I can sleep at night and look at myself in the mirror the next day. Regan Porter will either be part of my attempt at salvation or the bloody stone that etches out the words He Failed on my headstone...

Giveaway

US: Enter for a chance to win 1 Paperback copy of LAST BREATH by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick!

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Giveaway Ends 4/12

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good luck,mia

For more info on future blog tours, click on this link to visit the TRSOR Promotions website

Release Day Blitz- LAST BREATH by: Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick

synopsis

REGAN

I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I'm at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he's here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He's also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it's wrong to fall in love with him, but I can't seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.

DANIEL

For the last eighteen months, I’ve had one goal: to find my kidnapped sister. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and have befriended criminals all across the globe. In every brothel I raid or every human trafficking truck I stop, her face is the one I’m desperate to see. In Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken and still sane despite her weeks in hell. I should leave her behind or send her home because the last thing either of us needs is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I can’t let her go.

excerpt teaser

From Regan’s POV

I curl up on the mattress, hugging my legs to my chest and waiting. There will be another man soon enough, and then Freeze, so I enjoy the moment of silence while I can. My lip hurts, a bit puffy from where the last man hit me, and I touch it with my fingertips, wincing.

Then, I lay my head back against the wall, thinking. My mind is filled with the gun and the man I was forced to service, and my stomach roils uncomfortably again. I swallow hard and force myself to think of zombie movies, instead. E. I don’t know what movies begin with E. This one will require some thought. Maybe something with “Enemy” in the title.

I ponder this for minutes, staring at nothing, when there is a knock at the door again. I get to my feet automatically. God, I hope it’s not the man with the gun again. I don’t think I could stomach seeing him twice in one night.

 But when the door opens, it’s not Freeze.

 The man that steps in is unexpected. He’s accompanied by Senhor Gomes, the master, a man I have only seen once but hear about all the time. Gomes looked me over when I arrived and then left, as if I were an uninteresting piece of property.

The man with him is tall, good-looking, and wears a casual suit. He’s got nice brown hair, sharp eyes, and I can tell immediately from the cast of his features that he’s American.

What the fuck. Not again. Not another American jackass. It doesn’t matter if he’s American—he’s here to rape me like all the others before him. Except this time? I’ll know all the nasty, shitty words he yells into my ear.

And later, when he’s done with me and leaves, I’ll feel even dirtier because he’s only made things worse.

 He looks me over, his gaze sliding to my star-spangled bikini, and I can’t help myself. “What’s the matter,” I ask, “international pussy not good enough for you?”

   

book info & buy links

BOOK: Last Breath (Hitman, #2)

AUTHOR(s): Jessica Clare, Jen Frederick

GENRE: NA Romance

ORGANIZED BY: TRSOR Promotions

RELEASE DATE: 24th March 2014

BUY LINKS

Amazon | Apple | Smashwords | AllRomance | Kobo

where it all started...

synopsis

NIKOLAI

I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all bespoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

DAISY

I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Homeschooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best in people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man that has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk..and also, my life. 

   

book info & buy links

BOOK: Last Hit (Hitman, #1)

AUTHOR(s): Jessica Clare, Jen Frederick

GENRE: NA Romance

RELEASE DATE: 2nd December 2013

MY REVIEW OF LAST HIT: Click HERE

BUY LINKS

Amazon | BN | All Romance | Kobo

   

about the authors

Jessica Clare is a pen name for Jill Myles.

Jill Myles has been an incurable romantic since childhood. She reads all the 'naughty parts' of books first, looks for a dirty joke in just about everything, and thinks to this day that the Little House on the Prairie books should have been steamier.

After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own - stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.

Connect With Jessica Clare

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

 

Connect With Jen Frederick

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads     

Giveaway

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good luck,mia




For more info on future blog tours, click on this link to visit the TRSOR Promotions website

Book Review, Author Q&A, and Giveaway: Last Hit by: Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick!

Title: Last Hit (Hitman, #1)
Author: Jessica Clare, Jen Frederick
ISBN: 0989247988
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: New Adult Romance
Theme(s): Hitman, assassin
Length: 288 pgs
Binding: Paperback
Published: 2 December 2013; Pear Tree, LLC
Buy: Amazon.com, BN.com

Synopsis:

Nikolai: I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all bespoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy: I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Homeschooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best in people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man that has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk...and also, my life.

My Rating:

"It takes many muscles to smile, more to frown, but only a few to pull the trigger."
If you haven't guessed already, stories about assassins or hitmen are taking the romance world by storm. The good news is,  Last Hit by the dynamic collaborative team Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick is at the top of the leader board. You want sexy? Check. You want edgy? Double check. There are so many more "it" factors this story has which I will be getting to momentarily. I like to think of Last Hit as a cross between HITMAN the movie (starring the sexy-as-ever Timothy Olyphant) and Roxie Rivera's My Russian Protector series. Since I am a fan of her work, I became a little worried when I noticed many of the character names in Last Hit matched those in Rivera's My Russian Protector series, such as Nikolai, Sergei, Yury, Vasily. Thankfully, the stories are extremely different and I've read and learned enough to know that these names are quite common in the Russian/Ukrainian world.

I first want to talk about the very distinct dual perspectives and voices of Nikolai and Daisy, in particular Nick's accent. It's been a long time since I've been reminded as to why this technique works so well. I've read stories with alternating character POV that have left me confused or worst of all, having to go back a few pages to figure out who's head I'm supposed to be in (even with the help of character names at the beginning of chapters or section breaks). Last Hit does not suffer this fate. Nikolai's Ukrainian accent was AMAZING. I don't know how Frederick was able to translate his accent on paper, but I swear, I could almost hear it through the pages. I've been reading romance novels since I was 12, everything from historical to paranormal, with characters from all over the world and in different dimensions. Most authors take the easy way out when writing characters with foreign accents, often telling the reader that the character has one but doesn't go about showing it in any way (especially in the dialogue where it would be most prevalent). Showing Nikolai's accent through his narration, dialogue, and even text messages to Daisy made him feel almost 3-Dimensional.

Daisy... how can I sum up my feelings about this fascinating female heroine? Jessica Clare, who wrote Daisy's parts, also has a gift. I'm not even going to lie. I started this story with blinders on. After reading the first two chapters, I had Daisy figured out and put in a neat little box. I thought she was going to be your typical, "damsel in distress"-- weak, virginal, naïve girl that Nikolai would be rescuing at every turn, even from her own shadow. While she was a virgin and definitely a little naïve (which makes sense considering her extremely sheltered childhood due to her father's severe agoraphobia), I couldn't have been more wrong about the kind of female character she turned out to be.  My level of respect and awe grew for her during the part when she is confronted/accosted by the men from Nikolai's past. Instead of Daisy panicking, screaming, or crying, a strange calm fills her. Years of her father's obsessive survival practices envelops her. While she may not be a match against these trained killers, she sure as hell doesn't make it easy for them. I didn't expect her to be so strong. I don't think she even realized it.

I also liked the ages of the characters. I know, sounds strange, but I was shocked when I read a few negative reviews complaining about Daisy and Nikolai's ages. Some felt that by keeping the characters in the 18-25 year bracket, it was an easy way for Clare and Frederick to market Last Hit as a NA romance. Hmm, not sure about that, nor do I care. However, what really bothered me were those who found Nikolai being a 24/25 year old world-renowned hitman unrealistic. They felt there was no way a person that young could have that kind of skill set. I obviously disagree. We are not talking about some random guy in his 20's taking up a gun and running around the country shooting people. Nikolai was targeted, trained, and desensitized at a very young age by the Petrovich Bratva, one of the most dangerous and powerful criminal organizations in the world. At the age of 15, he was kicked out by his mentor, Alexsandr:

"...Alexsandr dismissed me from the ranks and sent me off on my own. At fifteen, all I knew how to do was kill. And so that is what I do. I am a man who kills for money."

So let's put this into perspective. How is Nikolai and his upbringing any different from the children in Uganda that are taken from their homes by force at the tender ages of 6, 7, and 8 years old and trained with guns to be killers? Just because an idea or topic may be foreign to you doesn't mean there is no truth to it. There are so many unbelievable acts of evil and violence going on in the world that most of us are oblivious to and maybe that's the problem. Some people rather live in a bubble then admit that these kinds of things are happening everyday. I choose to live with my eyes wide open and that's how I know Nikolai being an experienced hitman at 24 is possible.

Anyway, Daisy being 21 makes sense as well. Any younger or older may not have worked in her particular circumstances. When she finally decided it was time for her to make her escape, waiting until she was 21 gave her an advantage. If her father tried to get the police involved to bring her back, he would have no leg to stand on because in the eyes of the law, she was legally an adult. If Daisy had been older, say 25-26, I don't think her story would have been as believable. At that point, what would be holding her back? Nikolai and Daisy compliment each other exceptionally. They are two young people that in many ways are outsiders, don't quite know the social norms for their age group, and have lived and survived through their own personal kind of hell but refuse to allow their pasts to define them. They truly are two halves of a whole.

Last Hit is remarkably well written and had me going through a multitude of emotions. There are parts that are funny, such as Nikolai not quite understanding American slang or figures of speech which causes him to say things awkwardly:

"'Daniel,'" I answer. "'What is happening?'"

Daniel coughs into the phone, as if he is covering a laugh. I wonder what mistake I have made.

"'It's what's happening. You're too formal." --Nikolai

Parts that are sexy:

"I'd rub my body over hers so that she smelled of me. When she walked this city, other men would stay away, recognizing she was marked as my own. Belonging to Nikolai. Maybe I would tattoo it around her neck like a collar." --Nikolai

And parts that are thought provoking, sad, and heart wrenching:

"There is something so vibrant, so aware, so alive about him that it sings to me. I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Is it because my father has always been a shadow of himself and because he did his best to break me? Nick, I think, would never be broken. I like this about him." --Daisy

"This girl in Room 224 is unprotected, but she is innocent and sweet. I envy her. When she first walked into her apartment, she did not notice the cracked and peeling paint, the cheapness of the mattress on the floor...it all looked wonderful to her. I wonder what she would think of me--I am not unlike her apartment. I am cracked and peeling inside."  --Nikolai

"When I killed, I targeted those who were the dregs and vermin of the world. Someday someone would take me out, and no one would mourn. But if Daisy was killed? Some light in the world would have been snuffed out. I want a piece of that light for myself, even if just for a short time. I know I do not deserve it--nor will I be able to keep it."  --Nikolai

What also made this story feel fresh and gave it a sense of unpredictability was the pacing and deviation from the normal formula. Again, I thought I had everything figured out because at the 200 page mark, there were no resolutions in sight and Nikolai and Daisy hadn't done the deed yet, although there was some really hot sexy time along the way that kept my attention riveted to the screen of my kindle. The way the story was going, I was almost positive the sequel, Last Breath, was going to be a continuation of Daisy and Nick's story. Thank the gods I didn't bet any money because as that thought entered my mind, I decided to read the book blurb for Last Breath...and was shocked to learn it would be Daniel and Regan's story. That's when I started to sweat. How were Clare and Frederick going to wrap things up and add in all the hot lovin' Daisy and Nikolai deserved in 60 pages without making it feel rushed? Well, as you can see from my rating, I was not disappointed. They not only met my expectations, they surpassed them. They even earned extra brownie points for taking the time to address the issue with Daisy's father. I also wasn't quite sure how I originally felt about Nikolai's "gift" he gives to Daisy. That was probably the one and only thing I struggled with, but after he explains his reasons why and how Daisy comes to terms with this "gift", my reservations faded away. And yes, I am being vague to avoid spoilers!

There was only one minor inconsistency that I caught in the beginning of the story, but nothing that would cause me to mark my rating down. When we first meet Daisy, we learn that she only leaves the house for an hour or two a day. All windows are boarded up, so since the age of 8, she has had very little real sunlight. Daisy is described as being pale, which makes sense. But once she leaves home and Nikolai sees her, he contradicts himself twice while describing her:

"Her skin is creamy but golden as if she lives outdoors instead of within the stained brick walls of this dirty rundown apartment complex."

"Her pale skin is lovely even in this dimly lit basement."

So which is it? Is her skin pale or is it golden? Again, it's nothing major, but when I looked back at my notes to prepare for this review, I had a question mark next to these quotes.

Last Hit by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick will forever hold a special place in my heart because quite honestly, I can't remember the last time I gave a book a perfect 5 star rating. While I was sad to see Daisy and Nikolai's story come to an end, I walked away feeling satisfied. Now I have something else to look forward to Last Breath, book 2 in the Hitman series, also written by the dynamic duo. I can't wait to read Daniel and Regan's story which sounds even more tragic and edgier than its predecessor.



   

reviewed by,mia

AUTHOR Q&A With Jesicca Clare and Jen Frederick

1. It seems that the "Hitman" trope is becoming extremely popular lately. What inspired you both to write about the world of a hitman, specifically one that is from the Ukraine? What kind of research did you both have to do in order to make the story as authentic as possible?

JEN: I did a lot of gun research. There is no such thing as a sniper rifle only a rifle that snipers use. And bolt action rifles are more popular than others because they tend to be more accurate. AND the lighter the trigger pressure, the better you have to be at aiming. So yeah, I learned a lot about guns.  

JESSICA: I had it easy! Because I did Daisy's parts, it was all right when she didn't know the things Nick did, though I did learn a lot about tasers. I think we picked the Ukraine because we were tossing around locations that Nick could have come from. He more or less sprang into our heads as Eastern European and messed up.

2. I've always been curious about books that have been written by two authors, but never had the opportunity to ask how it works. Is Last Hit the first book you've co-written together? Why did you decide to write this particular book together? Can you shed some insight as to how the writing process works for you both? How do you decide who writes what?

JEN: Last Hit came about as a result of some email goading. I was telling Jess she should write a New Adult book because I love her voice and I thought it would suit the genre perfectly. She laughed at me and said that if she was going to write a New Adult it would be about a hitman in college trying to learn algebra or something like that. I thought that was the best idea ever. Weeks passed (maybe even months) and she didn't write it so I bugged her again. Finally she said she'd only write it if I wrote it with her. Challenge accepted. I wrote Nick's first scene and Jess emailed me back with something like "I'm in."

It's the first collaborative writing project for either of us and it's super fun. We plot out the scenes in advance and then loosely assign scenes. From there we simply trade off chapters. Jess' scenes will often inspire mine.

JESSICA: Yeah! I admit I had the idea for a hitman hero for a while but I also felt like I wouldn't be able to carry it on my own, because I wouldn't be able to do the hero POV justice. Jen wrote a couple of pages of Nick, and I did Daisy, and it more or less fell together. We start out with a plot and characters, and some scene ideas. I try to leave my scenes off at places that I want Jen to pick up (so I can see what she comes up with!!!) and she usually sends me pages that make me squeal with excitement, and then I can't wait to write the next part.

3. I originally thought Nikolai and Daisy's story would continue in Last Breath, book 2 in the Hitman series which comes out at the end of the month. But after seeing the cover and reading the blurb for Last Breath, I quickly realized a new hitman takes center stage which I am very excited about. Will the series continue on after Last Breath? Or will you both be working on different projects?

JEN: We are definitely going to continue the "Last..." series for as long as we can. You'll meet at least one new character in Last Breath that I can foresee as having his own story.  But in the meantime, we are both working on separate projects. I write a New Adult series called The Woodlands and the fourth book will be out late fall, early winter. This summer I hope to publish an adult contemporary duology about a bike messenger forced into unsavory acts and a wealthy man bent on revenge.

JESSICA: We squeeze in the hitmen between projects. I've got my next Billionaire release - ONCE UPON A BILLIONAIRE on April 15th and I'm currently working on book five in the series (Jonathan). I also have a scatter of self-publishing projects in the hopper in various stages of completion.

AUTHOR BIOS

Jen Frederick is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Woodlands series. Jessica Clare is the NYT Bestselling author of the Billionaire Boys Club series. One day via email, Jessica challenged Jen that she would write a hitman romance, but only if Jen would co-write it with her. Jen responded by writing the first scene. The rest is history.

Connect With Jessica Clare

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GIVEAWAY



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