Member Reviews
I was sucked right in from the first page. It was a very good book.. A truly excellent example of contemporary romance. So many layers to this book. The suspense, mystery, romance! So many good things about this book. Loved the pace, the writing and the strong characters.
Kiss Marry Kill is a second chance at love romance, and it's plenty hot. So much hotness that there was not really enough room for character development - which is why it got three stars instead of more.
The mystery and suspense were well done for the first half of the book, then it kind of fizzled out in my opinion.
Megan was a great character, and I loved how she was able to stand up to Jax when he was too domineering.
First in the series centered around a security company, this one is centered around a sexy body guard and cutesy pop singer. Throw in a second chance romance story line and you have a premise I absolutely adore! A decent story with likable characters, can't wait to see whats next!
I ended up really liking this book. I have had a copy of this book for over a year and I have to say that I am a little upset with myself for letting this one get lost in pile. I thought that this was a really well done romantic suspense that kept completely entertained. This was one of those books that was easy to spend hours with at a time. I am so glad that I finally decided to pick up this book.
I tend to love second chance romances so Jax and Megan's story was really appealing to me. This pair had a brief but life changing encounter five years ago. Both of their lives have changed dramatically since their time together and they have not even spoken since the last time they were together. During their years apart, Megan has become a music star and Jax is running a security firm after serving in the military. As soon as Jax hears that Megan might be in trouble, he goes straight to her to offer aid.
I really liked how this book was laid out. We learn about their history together slowly throughout the book and I really was just as interested in learning how they met as I was seeing them together in the present. It took a bit of time to learn about their initial meeting but it was worth the wait. Let's just say these two started off in a very unforgettable manner. The story set in the present is pretty exciting since Megan is in quite a bit of danger because of a stalker that may be turning violent.
I loved these two together. I think that they were great together in the past as well as in the present. They had so much chemistry with each other and seemed to be able to be what the other needed. There are few times when Jax oversteps his authority and Megan lets him know it right away. There are a few moments that I felt like Jax was acting a bit like an idiot but things end up working out.
The story was pretty exciting. I really did like the mystery of the stalker and was always waiting for the next big thing to happen. There were a few things that really came as complete surprises in this story but one aspect of the overall mystery was pretty easy to figure out. Even though I had a pretty good idea who the culprit might be, I still had a great time watching everything play out.
I thought that Dara Rosenberg did a great job with this book. I think that this is the first time that I have had a chance to listen to Ms. Rosenberg's narration and I was very impressed. She did a great job with all of the characters and was able to bring a lot of emotion to the story. I did find the narration to be a little slow at the normal speed but once I increased the speed to 1.25, I had no issues with the audio. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to this narrator again in the future.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this book to be a perfect blend of excitement, romance, and great characters. I couldn't help but root for Jax and Megan to safely find their way to a happily ever after together. This was the first book by Sidney Halston that I have had the chance to read and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from the library via Hoopla.
Kiss Marry Kill was a great read! I have a new go-to author. I thought the story line was really well written & the characters had such depth & warmth to them.
I look forward to reading the next book in the Iron-Clad Security series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Sidney Halston knocked this one out is the park. She created charming characters and an enticing world that readers want to return to again and again. Kiss Marry Kill freaking rocked.
Right from the start, I was hooked. I loved the intensity in which Max responded to seeing Megan in need. Nothing was keeping him away from her and it was hot as hell. And the passion and energy didn’t end there - the author carried it easily throughout the book. Giving readers scene after scene to devour. I was consumed by it all.
The storyline moves at a swift pace and there was never a moment that I wanted to put this couple down. I had mixed emotions when I reached the last page - I was psyched Max and Megan got their happily ever after but I was bummed my time with them was over.
I highly suggest you pick up Kiss Marry Kill today - it’s an incredible romance as well as a suspenseful book. The best of all worlds for fans of this genre or for readers looking to try something new.
3.5 stars
Kiss, marry, kill is the first book in the iron clad security series. It's a stand alone novel. The second book sounds very interesting since the bodyguard will be a woman. This book falls under the second chance romance and suspense category. The weird thing is that Meg and Jax didn't know each other for a long time when they were separated five years ago. They met in a baseball game a few days before Jax was supposed to leave. They never thought they would see each other again and since then both of them moved on. Now a stalker is threatening Meg and Jax does his best to protect her.
I don't feel like I was satisfied with this book as a suspense lover nor a reader reading a second chance novel. I also got a little predictable in the end. Yet, for some reason, I was drawn to the book and I couldn't put it down. The pace and the flow were good. There is something about it that makes me not to want to say something bad about the book. I will recommend because I have faith in the author. Kiss, marry, kill wasn't a bad book, even if I found it a little lacking. I don't think you will regret reading the book.
Sidney Halston books are fantastic !! and KISS MARRY KILL was so so good !!!! I cant wait to see what this author will write next !!!
I voluntarily read and advanced reviewers copy of this book
This book from the first draws you in and keeps you wanting more. the only downside is that Jax is the king of all martyrs. He spends most of the book pulling Megan in and pushing her away. Overall not a bad book Jax just got on my nerves.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
As an introduction to the writing of Sidney Halston, I found Kiss Marry Kill an engaging read.
The story starts off with Megan hiding in her closet while a deranged fan has broken into her house and she is cowering in the closet waiting for the police to show up. Talk about an attention grabbing first page! Jax owns Iron-Clad Security and when he hears over the radio about a break in at Megan Cruz’s home (she is now a famous entertainer) – he rushes over to see what he can do.
Now if I had any doubts as to whether this story would catch my interest…..then the following should give you an indication as to why I really enjoyed this book from a romantic perspective:
“Jax stood there dumbfounded, watching her go. If she thought he’d forgotten about the chemistry they had…she was out of her ever-loving mind. It wasn’t just a spark, it was a fire.”
And then from a thriller perspective:
“Clinging tight-knuckled to the vanity, he asked the necessary question. “What was in the box, Josef?”
A beat of silence passed by before Joey finally spoke. “A dead mouse.”
“Fuck.”
“Its head was chopped off.”
Without hesitation he punched the asteroid mirror. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
Needless to say, I was captivated.
I found both Jax and Megan had sufficient depth of character along with a unique past. The baseball scene where the romance started was superb. It was at that point when I realized Megan deserved better…dang boyfriend! And good riddance I say.
Fast forward to the present (five years later) and you can see that the chemistry between Jax and Megan was still off the charts…as usually seems to be the case when the leads have been involved with each other previously, even if that involvement was only four days long (before Jax deployed to Afghanistan). Jax insists on providing security to keep Megan’s stalker out until they can determine who the stalker is. I must say, the liberties that Jax took with the landscaping and Megan’s reaction had me chuckling.
I will undoubtedly re-read this story and I was unable to figure out how the title of the book fits in with the book. A mystery which I will eventually solve (I hope).
In an effort to not spoil the mystery, I shall not expound more on any specifics. If you wish to be captivated by interesting, dynamic characters with depth, sucked into a mystery and enchanted by a HOT romance…then you must certainly read Kiss Marry Kill.
I look forward to reading the next in the series, Last First Kiss.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
A good book in a new series. Lots of action, emotion and keeps you guessing. I'm curious to see what happens next. I posted a review on Goodreads.
I love the way that Sidney Halston brought the characters together. The story twisted and turned and held my attention from start to finish.
I mostly skimmed this book and tried to get into the story. Romantic suspense is a newer genre that I enjoyed reading but I thought there wasn't as much suspense as I thought. I liked the premise of this book and the first scene really had me on edge. But after that initial high, I was slowly let down.
I also didn't like their "meet cute" at a random baseball game. I mean, why would she go off with this guy for the weekend when he was practically a stranger? Anyway, this took me out of the story.
Sidney Halston wrote a story that draws the reader in as she switches from present time and five years ago when the couple met. Jax met Megan at baseball and lays a kiss on her for the kiss cam. They spend 4 days together that alters their life paths. Five years later they are together again Jax is on the path to find a stalker that is hunting Megan down. Can they deal with the stalker and find their way back to each other? Good twist and turns that keep the plot moving quickly.
This novel is sweet and sexy...a beautiful love story with a feisty heroine and a hot alpha male hero. Throw in a little mystery, a hunt for a bad person and some sexy time and you have a perfect read.
This was an accidental click for us. I didn't realize that I was clicking the netgalley widget in the email.
He's been chasing a memory . . .
It was just supposed to be a regular Thursday afternoon…and then he saw her. Sitting in seat L214, one seat over from his at the baseball game, right next to her douche of a soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. An impromptu kiss for the kiss cam, and Jax knew his life would never be the same. Five years and a tour in Afghanistan later, Jax is back stateside running his own private security firm, Iron-Clad, with his best friend. He isn't the man he used to be... but Megan isn't the sexy and sweet, though sheltered, twenty-two-year-old he left behind, either. And she's in trouble.
...but now they're on the run.
Megan Cruz has made something of herself. She’s turned her dreams of pop stardom into a reality. But when a deadly stalker breaks into her home claiming to be her number-one fan, the only person she can turn to is the boy who got away. But Jax isn’t the same carefree charmer who stole her heart, then broke it when he joined the military. This man is seductive, hard, guarded. And he'll do anything to protect what's his.
* * * * *
I think that what really grabbed my attention was the title of this book. KISS MARRY KILL definitely sounds like it would be on a sociopath's check list for romance. So of course, I had to read the book.
This is definitely a character driven romantic suspense complete with characters so detailed that they almost step off of the pages. Megan seems to be the most well balanced of the bunch even though she is being stalked and she is a lead singer for a popular pop group. Jax is the man that opened her eyes to possibilities years ago but the war messed him up.
I really enjoyed this book. All the characters are ones that I would enjoy getting to know even better. The plot was fast paced and kept me glued to the page. The dialogue was quick, witty and down right amusing at times.
KISS MARRY KILL is a great book to introduce a new series Iron Clad Security. I do recommend my readers who enjoy romantic suspense to pick up a copy and get to know these wonderful characters.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
Gah! Why is it over??????!! I didn't want Kiss Marry Kill to end! Damn it. Lol.
When Megan has a run in with a stalker, Jax runs to her side, even though he hasn’t seen her in years. Megan is now a pop star with a serious problem on her hands. Fortunately, Jax runs a private security company and is in the perfect position to help protect her. Jax and Megan had a brief but intense fling five years before, right before he left for a tour in Afghanistan. The relationship changed both their lives and made everything heat up quickly between the two when they are reunited. There are some seriously unresolved issues between these two.
Throughout the present-day story, Sidney Halston weaves in flashbacks of Jax and Megan’s earlier time together. While these flashbacks did help to explain how fast Megan and Jax fall in love, I felt that they made the overall book drag quite a bit. I skimmed the flashbacks liberally because they weighed the book down and took away from the flow of the present-day suspense plot which was my favorite part of the story.
Megan is in trouble. Yes, she has a stalker, but there may be more going on - something that will test Jax’s private investigator skills. Jax is determined to keep Megan safe, whatever the cost. Of course, this puts the two in close and constant contact, rekindling their romantic feelings for each other. Jax is a rather practical man, not terribly romantic, but one cannot doubt his devotion to Megan.
Kiss Marry Kill was an intriguing romantic suspense. There was a good balance between the romance and the suspense, although I didn’t love the number of flashbacks. I assume that the other members of Jax’s security/investigative company will get stories of their own, and I am curious about these characters.
A very enjoyable romantic suspense.
Jax and Megan have a short history withan affair they had before he was deployed.
Years later they are brought back together and things never really changed. Yes, Jax changed as do most military men who come back and Megan has achieved a dream but with that dream there is a nightmare. The chemistry between these two characters is perfect and the story kept me reading long and thinking hard.
I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of reading a book by this author but would definitely consider reading another.
Details are an important factor to me and I did not feel left wanting when all was said and done.
Very well written.