4.5-5 stars

This was another great addition to the KGI series. I loved Grace and Rio and this book tied #4 for my fave of the series...both were just so good I can't figure out which was better! :D

Grace is the sister of Shea (the heroine from book #4 Whispers in the Dark) She has psychic abilities that allow her to heal people and is being hunted by people that want to use her as a lab rat. She and her sister have been on the run for a year but had to split up for safety. Grace had been captured by some people using her for experiments but she managed to escape. She's trying to get away from her pursuers again when she's found by Rio, a man claiming to be sent by her sister to keep her safe.

Rio is one of the team leaders for KGI (Kelly Group International), a private company that performs Ops like hostage/kidnap victim recovery & intelligence gathering among other things. Rio has a shadowy past but is a good man deep down. Rio is really awesome and has made it to my book-boyfriend list. He kick's butt but he has such depth and with Grace he's sweet and supportive and knows just what to say to help when it's needed (and also knows when to let her stand on her own feet). The moment he saw Grace, he felt a connection to her and knew she was meant to be his and he's not about to let anything stand in his way of getting to Grace and keeping her safe.

When Rio finds Grace, she had just escaped from the facility she'd been kept in and was in bad shape. They'd overtaxed her abilities and she was bad off because of that. She ended up sustaining injuries while trying to escape that makes things worse. She isn't sure if she can trust Rio or if her sister actually sent him but she has to trust him because she'll die without help. Rio and his team manage to get Grace to safety. Grace is nervous of Rio and his team at first but does start to feel safe with Rio and then slowly begins to trust his men as well. As she regains strength, Rio tries to help with her recovery and with reconnecting with her sister (Grace hasn't been able to do this mentally because of the overload on her system from what she was put through in the lab). They do find out that another military/mercenary group named Titan has taken a job to capture Grace and they wont be an easy adversary to overcome.

Once Grace is feeling safe and is settled in, Rio makes her aware that he has more of an interest in her than as just someone to keep safe for a job. He confesses that he took the job because he felt a connection to her from the moment he saw her picture and from that moment she was his...and he protects what is his. OMG..I just about melted at this point and Grace must have been melting too because she was interested in what Rio was offering. Because of the way her life had gone, Grace was very inexperienced with men but she decided she was very interested in learning more with Rio. They have some hot and tender moments before the action plot kicks in once more. Things go bad when someone Rio trusts ends up betraying Rio and his team in order to use Grace. She ends up suffering from this and is out for days while trying to recover and Rio takes care of her, not leaving her side.

Once Grace is recovered enough to be up and around they decide it's time to move, planning to draw Titan out while keeping Grace safe. Unfortunately, Titan will stop at nothing to get the job done and through nasty methods, they manage to obtain info that allows them to get a step ahead of KGI. When the choice becomes Grace going with Titan or everyone dying in a shootout, Grace decides to go with Titan knowing that Rio and KGI will be coming after her. Grace is taken to the man that hired Titan and Grace (being kind of a kick butt herself) manages to get agreement that if she does what he wants, the man will allow her to go after and KGI can come get her. Unfortunately things go to hell when Titan makes some unexpected moves and some injuries occur which threaten Rio and Grace. The situation looks very desperate for a bit but things work out. Rio and Grace come out of it happy and safe and sweetly head in to their HEA.

I greatly enjoyed this book. Grace and Rio are both great on their own and they're awesome as a couple. This was a good mix of romance and action/suspense and it was always interesting, encouraging me to continue so I could see what comes next. As always, the secondary characters in this story were great, although we don't see as much of the Kelly family in this book. I'll be moving on to the next book in the series immediately. I'd recommend this book. 2 thumbs up! :D

Yes, because it's a really great storyline. This particular story is one of my all time favorites

Rio. Who couldn't love the man

When she saved his life.

yes

Since I read the book first, the narrator wasn't so distracting. He certainly didn't do a bad job, but my imagination while reading was much more gratifying.

Intense,Thrilling and Passionate!

I have to say I love the story line of Nathan and Shea, but RIO is fast becoming my favorite! ( until the next book of course). Typical Alpha male that is dark and dangerous that is passionate, protective and yummy all in one. I am glad to see the the story line extended from KGI- Kelly clan to the surrounding characters.

Harry Berkeley played the rolls in the whole series so far with great accuracy to the character. He pulls you into the books and his voice makes you think dark and dangerous. His voice sounds a bit older than the characters in the books, but I think it was fitting to the total dark dangerous operative.

Spoiler- I was brought to tears when Rio was shot and dying.

Maya Banks does it again, but I think the series just gets better and better! I can't wait for the next one! So,if the first book did not motivate you, keep going! I promise you won't regret it. Definitely worth a credit.

I enjoyed reading this story. I would like to have had a bit more realistic emotions from Grace and Rio, however, I still loved it!!
There were several scenes that evoked such tenderness and love between the characters. I enjoyed hearing Rio's tenderness during their first time together.

The story needed to move a bit faster and have more focus on other characters. I heard a lot of repeating conversations.

Just didn't hold my interest

Yes with accents and changes in his tone.

Not cut but add more interest in why they are there and more of their background

The love affair was steamy but the overall story wasn't

OK, again. I can't say enough about this series. If you like action pack, bad ass men, and passion that is so real. You must read this series. I loved the way Rio and his passion was so unexpected. Grace is so fierce, and strong.
The narrator has totally won me over!
This one is my favorite , except I say this for every book to follow !
Don't miss this one !

As if this series couldn't get any better.........then comes Rio!!!

The narrator has been incredible throughout the entire series, however, he outdid himself in this one. His voice made me write bad check and start smoking!!!

Maya Banks is extremely diverse in her writing; it does amaze me that each one of her series can be so different.....

Rio is sexy from his sexy voice to his sexy body. Who wouldn't want to rumble in the jungle with him. Grace has all the strength and fortitude her sister Shea has. But she also has the guilt that comes with her gift. And the bad guys are on her tail. A rescue by Rio and his team is just what a gal needs. This is actual a romance that builds from beginning to end. While reconnecting sisters. And it's a nice spin that is one of KG team leads and not a Kelly brother that has the lead in this tale. So if you like the series then this is a worth the credit.

I want to be like Grace when I grow up,not for her ability but her kick ass spirit. Her and Rio make an attractive team. It was a great listen.

No but it came close.

We continue into the mystical. Grace is even more powerful than her sister Shea. Banks moves outside of the Kelly brothers and we learn more about Rio. At first I missed the previous narrator, Harry Berkeley. But I liked Paul's voice for Rio and Grace, for that matter. We're also introduced to Hancock in this book as we delve into Rio's past. Definitely worth the credit!