I really, really liked this one.
Kadence is a former CIA sharpshooter on the run with her Maine Coon cat, Mac. Out of necessity, she keeps to herself and avoids attachments. When she saves Lyndon from an assassination attempt, all of that goes out the window. Against all of her survival instincts, Kadence finds herself drawn to the gorgeous genius and his heart of gold. His research on Ebola has landed him on a hit list.
Never Miss is a blend of thrilling action, suspense, steamy but clean romance, and a touch of faith.
I thought the faith elements were well-written and not preachy. However, Mac's personal faith came out of nowhere about 50% into the book. This was a little odd to me because before this point, I hadn't gotten the impression that he was a Christian.

What I liked about the book:
The characters. Kadance possesses all the skills that you might expect for a former CIA operative, but her weaknesses and trauma make her so appealing. Lyndon breaks a lot of stereotypes as well. He’s smart yet strong, masculine yet supportive. I especially loved that he supported Kadance’s tactical finesse without downplaying his own masculinity. I'm not usually a romantic novel reader, but their clean passion melted my heart.
All that said, Mac is my favorite character by far!
Fast-Paced. Never Miss kept me hooked all the way through. Even the slowest scenes were filled with engaging dialogue and emotional angst.

What I didn't like:
The plot near the end of the book and the ending. At around 80% into the story, the plot began to feel disjointed and rushed. There were a lot of elements that didn't quite pull together and I was disappointed by some loose ends between the characters and the plot points. I also felt like the final confrontation with the mastermind was a little underwhelming.
Some writing “hiccups”. While for the most part I really enjoyed the author's writing style, there was some word repetition and confusing scenes that pulled me out of the story. Sometimes I struggled to understand what the characters were doing and how they got there.
Despite these reservations, Never Miss was a really good book. I am very excited to see what else Melissa has for us. I really hope she writes about Lyndon and Kadance again.

“I would never tell anyone they should
believe anything simply because I said so,”
he said. “People should study for themselves.
Read both theologians and atheists,
read the history and the science,
and then make your own logical conclusions.”

The author has composed a fast-paced novel on bioterrorism unleashed upon the leaders of the American government and medicine. Two very different people, one a nerd with three doctorates and one a trained assassin, will need to track down a small group of insurgents who have hopes of destroying humanity in support of their ecological motive.

The book occasionally had me looking for added details in Google (always a good sign) and staying up late to finish the book (another good sign). I was amazed how often the characters twitched (13x), quirked (2x), or tweaked (5x), their mouths. At one point it became a distraction - as it might if I were to interact with someone with similar habits in the real world.

Though this faith-based novel did a nice job of explaining faith to a non-believer (part of which is quoted above), and explores the characters response over time to those details, the book is in no way overly religious. I easily give the book five-stars.
_____________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

DNF due to content concerns I have heard from other reviewers that I was unaware of when I began reading. I had already put this book on hold due to the fact it wasn't catching my interest, come to find out it was Romantic Suspense and not JUST Suspense. Someone didn't read the bio carefully which was completely my bad! I just figured I would get around to reading it eventually and put the book on hold for reviewing. However, I have seen multiple reviews pop up stating that there is some Inappropriate content that the reviewers were surprised to read. So I will be DNFing this book due to the lack of interest (which again I wasn't the target audience as I am not a Romantic Suspense fan so this is to be suspected) and because of the content concerns this book just isn't for me. I wish the Author blessed years going forward, and thank her for the Arc of the book I received. May God bless you all.

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the story and the plot was fast paced. The action was not unbelievable. Well done.

I expected this to be a suspense novel but it was not. Most of the novel was character revelation and dialog about character revelation. There might be a scene of suspenseful action and then what seemed like pages and pages of Kadance or Lyndon trying to pry family or career information out of the other. Granted, Lyndon's family background has a great deal to do with the impending bioattack. But rather than a few revealing back story sections, the back story for both characters seemed to be the major element of the whole book.

I found it hard to become engaged with the characters. Kadance, an accomplished sniper, seemed to quickly latch onto Lyndon after the opening where she spotted a sniper and saved his life. Lyndon is an unusual character. He had an eidetic memory, three doctorates, a brain that has issues with focusing causing him headaches, yet is muscular and can fight like the best of them. He can also hack into any computer system since one of his doctorates is in cyber security. His personality revelation was almost painful to read.

I did appreciate the apologetics exploration as Lyndon explains how he can be a dedicated scientist and still believe in God. There is also sort of a gospel message included as one of the characters come to accept God's existence.

This is Koslin's debut novel in the inspirational romantic suspense genre. The suspense was periodic and the romance was very different with the emphasis on the characters prying information out of each other. This is a novel for readers who like an emphasis on revealing character personal history and its effects on current actions. Preventing the bioattack is almost a side issue.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I was blown away by this captivating, fast-paced novel that kind of reminded me of the movie Eagle Eye where two strangers are thrown together, being forced to places they do not want to go, do things they would rather not and If they fail their mission millions will die. This story is similar as former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle finds herself in the wrong place at the right time and runs into Lyndon Vaile literally. She is compelled to help him find out why someone was trying to kill him. Who would be after a Dr. researching Ebola virus? That is the question Kadance and Lyndon try to answer as a Mastermind stalker knows more about the both of them then they suspected.

I was choked up by the tender way this author sent a powerful spiritual thread throughout the novel, showing not telling readers about redeeming love. It is a theme naturally woven into the fiber of this rich layered story with flawed characters you instantly care about and root for them to find the truth that will set them and the world free.

I also liked how the author showed two broken people finding an intense love they’d never known before. It is organic, intense, and beautiful without graphic scenes. I loved it. I also adore Mac, Kadance’s cat. Likewise, I loved the part he played in this story. It is sweet and adds humor to intense situations. This is a great story, fabulous fun read and one that would be wonderful for your next book club pick. I’m excited to discover an author to add to my favorites list. This is an author to watch, and the book is a keeper.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The romantic suspense genre hasn’t seen a lot of new faces in recent years so I’m always excited when I discover a new author that writes it!
First of all I have to say that the plot was definitely intriguing and I was invested in it throughout trying to figure out how it would play out! It was definitely the strongest feature of the book for me.
The characters are where it became a bit of a miss in my opinion. One emotionally stunted character with walls up can be done well and actually work. But when both the hero and the heroine are extremely detached from the emotional it makes it hard to connect with them. It did allow them to understand each other better which wasn’t a bad thing. The speed at which they were able to read and understand each other was just not believable to me since they both were so guarded and she especially was trained hide all emotions. So I just didn’t buy that they could know the other person’s thoughts and preferences so fast. The quickness of the “love” word popping out was a bit of a head scratcher too.
And the cat. I just couldn’t with the cat and the way it had too many human characteristics and was so well “trained” it would have been more believable as a dog but even then it’d be a stretch.
A lot of these things were probably just personal preference and I think that a lot of people will enjoy this story, I just couldn’t suspend reality enough to get lost in it.

Unexpectedly powerful!

Okay, wow, wow, wow! I did not expect to find a nerdy guy who is very much not only a nerd and is actually a perfect hero. I didn't expect to find such a beautifully broken heroine with an extremely hard past.

This is the first book I've read of Koslin's and I'm glad I did! The plot was not anything like I expected though I wasn't sure WHAT to expect.

Kadance's and Lyndon's thrilling ride to outrun killers while trying to stop a horrific attack is one that you won't want to miss.

Warnings: Mature content that is shown in a good way however I recommend this book for 18 and older.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The first few chapters were interesting and I really tried to get into the book.
For me the characters were hard to relate to and just felt stiff to me.
A big part of my reading experience is the ability to care for the characters.
I was made aware of comments that are made later in the book that i strongly disagree with.
I DNFed at 30%
This wasn't my cup of tea.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally and all opinions are honest and completely my own.

Never Miss
by Melissa Koslin
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: May 4, 2021

Wow. What a debut for Melissa Koslin! If you enjoy Christian romance with lots of action and suspense, you will not be disappointed. The author is able to keep a steady pace of action and intrigue with mostly our main characters throughout the entire book. It keeps you guessing as the reader.

When you're born into a family of assassins, you'd think you'd be used to getting shot at, but for former CIA sniper, Kadance Tolle, she does what she can to save the life of a stranger who ends up being a highly intelligent and capable partner, Dr. Lyndon Vaile. With their lives hanging in the balance as people keep shooting at them, this unlikely pair must discover the truth of what's happening regarding the Ebola virus and its use in bioterrorism.

I loved Kadance and Lyndon. As a medical student, I was impressed with Lyndon's character and jealous of his photographic memory. Kadance's skills were exceptional and I loved the shooting range scene. The message of hope and light in the darkest of times was beautiful and I loved how Lyndon explained his logic about believing in a Higher Power - a Designer. The author is incredibly talented in weaving an exciting adventure with high stakes and swoon-worthy moments.

Highly recommend this book if you enjoy inspirational romance with action and suspense with some biological warfare thrown in.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

I had never heard of Christian author Melisa Koslin before. But I enjoy suspense so I thought I would give it a go. It turned out to be a pretty good book! The plot moved along at a good pace, the characters were likable, and the story was memorable.

In the book, the main character is Kadnece Tolle. She is former CIA and has the sniper and spy skills you normally see in movies. She accidentally saves a stranger outside of a storage unit and now feels responsible to keep him safe. Lyndon is a genius but also the awkward, nerdy type. He has always felt more at home alone that with a girl. Especially a girl like Kadence; quick and confident.
Kadence and Lyndon uncover a plot to release a super Ebola virus and must stop it at all costs.
As a side note, I liked Kadence's cat, Max. I was so intrigued, I actually went and researched Maine Coons. Very neat animal!

I’m going to say closer to a 3.5 than a 3. Reading the summary, I wanted to be pulled into this story and dive into the suspense. The storyline has all the markings for an excellent read, loved the plot and the excitement. But. And this is a big “but” for me. The characters fell a bit flat and unrealistic. I can handle geniuses, but their background seemed to contradict their behaviors in some ways. At the beginning I kept wondering how she would just let it slip her name if she’s been trained to hide her identity. They seemed to trust each other too easily for what they’ve experienced. I had a hard time believing these out of character moments, how can they slip up so easily? My favorite character was definitely Mac, he was a fun addition to the book that had me questioning if he truly was a dog 😉
If you’re looking for an action packed novel with some romance involved, I think this could be a book for you.
Melissa Koslin has a lot of potential, I’ll keep tabs on her for future releases. I enjoyed the idea behind the book and I’m hopeful that she can nail her next release

I'm always excited when I read a great book by a new author. There were so many unique things about this book. Kadance is a sniper and had a very unusual, heartbreaking childhood. She has a huge cat that seems to understand just what she needs. When Lyndon comes into her life in a startling way, she is drawn to protect him. Lyndon is a genius working on some cutting edge ebola research. It's clear that someone doesn't want him to use his knowledge to stop a sinister plot. Lyndon and Kadance team together to figure it out.

Both Kadance and Lyndon are loners but they seem to understand each other. It was different than most relationships. I enjoyed that it was different. There were twists and turns that could have derailed everything but God gave grace to see what was really there in them. Lyndon was amazing as he helped Kadance see that God was there in the hard times though she didn't have eyes to recognize Him.

It was fascinating learning more about what it takes to be a sniper. I liked all the action and the sense of urgency. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a DNF for me. I found the characters hard to relate to, you didn't get to know the characters. I felt as if it was just full action without any explainable reason.

I really enjoyed "Never Miss" by Melissa Koslin. This was the first book I've read by this author, and I am hoping she has many more! This book was a little different than most of the inspirational suspense books I have read, and I loved it!

I loved the main characters, Kadance and Lyndon. Both of these characters have had a hard time in life, but they are so likeable. They are characters that stay with you until the end. This book has suspense from the first page and goes throughout the entire book.

I highly recommend this book. It is a great clean and suspenseful read!

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This story has quite a bit of action, right from the beginning, bullets fly, along with sharp knives, and yes, there is murder.

Two unlikely people unite to stop a horrific action, by misguided individuals, but how do these two that really don't know each other fit together?

I was amazed as the author described Lyndon Vaile's mind, lets just say I can't read and carry on a conversation at the same time, never mind up load pages in my mind!

I loved the cat Max, and he does play a part here, along with being a good judge of character.

This read also reminds me that a sin is a sin, even if we want to put our man leverage on them. Then there is forgiveness!

Will these two brilliant, but broken individuals be able to thwart the evil plans here? You will need to get page turning for answers and surprises.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Never Miss is full of action and adventure. It's a story of being loved and accepted just as you are of taking risks to stay and be loved a story of sacrificing self for others. The story literally keeps your attention to the very last minute and keeps you guessing until the last pages. I highly recommend this book.

Never Miss is the debut novel of Melissa Koslin. I will admit I picked the book based on the cover and that it was a Christian novel. The spiritual theme is subtle in the book.

The author created unique characters that I found fascinating. Kadace was a former sniper and extremely good at her job. She has been on the run from her family. While on the run from them she sees an opportunity to save a life. In saving Lyndon’s life and trying to understand why someone would want to kill him, they become aware of an attack on the US with a virus.

My favorite scenes were the two of them talking. The book is full of action also.

I am excited to see what Melissa will write next. I will definitely be following her.

Sexual content - I rated this a one although there is not physical scenes, there are some undertones of sexual thoughts/tone
Violence - there is some violence, none of it is graphically describe. How she was raised seemed more disturbing to me than the assassination parts.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

The SUSPENSE! This book had me turning the pages as quickly AA I could to find out what would happen in the end. It had just the right amount of suspense, relationships and family dynamics in it to make it a great read. At first I thought the cat, Mac, was quirky but by the end I found it quite endearing.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

DNF. I did not finish this book which is saying something because at 60% of the way through, it was practically almost done. I had a hard time getting on board with these characters and the cat that was featured to have human and also dog like characteristics was completely unrealistic and distracting. The thing that made me DNF this book was the fact that it was stated by a main character that God could have been responsible for the Big Bang. Basically science supports the Big Bang as how the universe likely began, but this doesn’t refute the existence of God because he could have caused the Big Bang. This is not what it says in Scripture and I had major issues with this being in a CF novel. I am perfectly fine with a book not having a faith element at all but, if it’s there it needs to support scripture. Not OK! Also there was a quite vulgar in my opinion and highly unnecessary reference to the main character “ripping off a mans testicles” and I felt as though that was inappropriate and should not have gotten past editing. Another phrase could have been used. This book overall was a miss. I am not sure based on the writing style and obvious spiritual misstep that I would read this author again.