Killer Instincts
(Assassins in Love #1)
by Tawna Fenske
He’s a hired gun. A hardened killer. So how’d he end up bottle-feeding lambs for his best friend’s sister?
Dante didn’t set out to deceive. His favor for a pal in prison got him this farmhand job, and Jen needs help guarding more than her blueberries. Someone’s set on hurting her, and he’ll make damn sure they don’t. She can’t know who sent him or why he’s handier with a handgun than a hoe. But none of that matters more than keeping Jen safe.
To save the girl, he’ll have to pair old skills with new. A princess tea party and an old-fashioned gunfight? Why not. Grape stomping and grenades? Sign him up.
But as the enemy closes in, there’s one skill Dante finds he doesn’t have: The strength to walk away when the job is done.
My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
“You have a goat named Scape and a horse named Maple?” Like he wasn’t already half in love with her. Jen’s cheeks pinken like he’s spoken out loud. “Scape Goat and Maple Stirrup, yes.” Her chin tips up. “Pony Soprano’s on loan to a kids’ petting zoo this week.” It’s official. She’s his dream girl.
“Gabor. Well, Ga-boar.” A pig pun like Maple Stirrup and Scape Goat. “I tried Eva and Magda, but she’s more of a Zsa Zsa.” The pig squeals behind him but stays on the couch. Maybe her hoof hurts, or maybe life’s better on a La-Z-Boy.
He’s never met a woman so delicate and daring, so fragile and fierce.
“You’re a hitman.” He flinches. “I prefer ‘bodyguard.’” “And I prefer ‘princess,’ but I’m a goddamn farmer, okay?” Jen huffs a breath. “You’re an assassin.” It’s just semantics, and he knows he shouldn’t argue, but— “Security professional.”
“Didn’t go well?” “Nope.” A pause. “Cover’s blown?” Dante flinches but keeps walking. “Yep.” “Had a hunch when she stalked past muttering how all men should be castrated at birth.”
“Do you really love me?” “Yes.” No hesitation. “Really?” “More than anything.” He takes a step closer, arms opening to enfold her. “More than chili or Cheez-Its or my Ruger Mark IV Hunter.” “More than Cheez-Its?” She draws back and gives him a skeptical look. “Sounds serious.” “You have no idea.”
My Review:
This was a fun, lively, smirk-worthy read and I loved every cleverly written word of it. The storylines were engaging, vastly entertaining, and actively paced with crisp and cunningly snarky humor that caused a few giggle-snort eruptions during my rapt perusal. I haven’t had this much fun in ages and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. This wily author has more than redeemed herself for that demonic cliffhanger of a prequel, which now that I think about it, was rather ingenious.
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When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”
Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.
This author is a load of fun in person, too!
This sounds delightful. Glad you enjoyed it.