Rachel Kelly has traveled a long, hard road in her journey back to her husband, Ethan, and the Kelly family. Now, as she and Ethan are poised to move into their new home, safe behind the walls of the Kelly compound, Rachel wonders if she’ll finally be free of the ghosts that have haunted her for so long and if she’ll step into the sun after a past steeped in darkness.
Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.
Rating 3.25 stars This was kind of sugary sweet. This book is set four years after Rachel came home and she is still adjusting. She is now ready to live her life yo the fullest, moving into a new house and leaving the old one with its bad memories aside, even trying for a baby(she gets pregnant with twins) and going back to her teaching job. Ethan as usual is by her side, still counting his lucky stars because he got a second chance with her. I kind of found the book cheesy, not bad though.
I absolutely loved being able to catch up with Rachel & Ethan. I had often wondered how they were getting on and although we still caught up with them in the other books we were never really given much info.
Really looking forward to reading Cole & PJ's story.
This is a novella from the KGI Series, #5.5 just before the release of #6, Shades of Gray in December.
I want to thank Stephanie with Blue Fountain Media and Maya Banks for allowing me to read this novella!
The purpose of a novella is to give you a 'taste' of the series, of the writer, and especially, to wet your appetite for more of their books. Softly at Sunrise meets and exceeds these expectations, leaving me salivating for more of her books.
I went into this read entirely cold, having not read any Maya Banks book previously. She had been on my To Be Read list for ages, but it just hadn't happened yet. I was a little worried, being unfamiliar with the series and jumping right into #5.5. There was absolutely NO problem whatsoever following along without the previous books. However, I would highly recommend to any reader interested in the series, but in the same position I was in to start with book #1. While following the plot and characters is easy, there is much of the back story touched upon that I wish I could have read first. It may not be as emotionally charged for me knowing what happens further in the story.
There was romance a-plenty, despite the hints of their tortured past. The Kelly Family is a tight knit group of hot special ops trained men (primarily.) That lends itself nicely to alpha male eye candy promises for the entire series. Rachel and Ethan's story is not your usual fairy tale... the antithesis, in fact. Divorce, and even death itself all was just the tip of the iceberg of hurtles for this couple to overcome.
I am also always fearful with a novella, that it will have next to no plot, or have a huge cliffhanger... you never really know what to expect. Rest easy and fear not, there is action, romance, plot, an entire story that leaves you wanting more and no cliffhanger ending. Just the lingering yearning to check out what all those Kelly boys are all about in the KGI Series. I will most definitely be reading more by Maya Banks.
Rachel Kelly has had a long and road back from the hell she experienced almost two years ago when she was kidnapped during a mission to South America. She was held for a year and given hallucinagens for most of that time, with her family believing that she had died in a plane crash. With the nightmare behind her, she's slowly struggled to reclaim her life, including her husband, marriage, family and career.
The series began with Rachel's terrible ordeal and since her return, she's had to contend with memory loss, flashbacks and the climb back from an abyss. Her last memories were of a miscarriage, disentegrating marriage and Ethan asking for a divorce right before she left for South America. Even though they are united, it's still been a challenge. The move to a new home signals a new start and the chance to replace those memories.
This story was a breath of fresh air. I always had faith in Rachel because her ordeal isn't one most would have survived. I expected that we would see her emerge and begin a new chapter but I was pleasantly surprised to find an added element of suspense. It was riveting and Rachel rose to the challenge, giving her the opportunity to prove her mettle not only to herself but her family. It was a wonderful story of triumph and happiness and I read this in one sitting.
Though I'm not a big fan of novellas, this one was long overdue and it delivered. If you've been waiting for Rachel and Ethan to turn the page on an ugly chapter, you will not be disappointed. Oh, and you may need a few tissues.
Can Rachel not get a break? Seriously, this woman is held captive for a year and tortured while praying for her husband to find her. During that time, her husband, Ethan did nothing because he thought she was dead. And he served her divorce papers before she "died". Now that she's back and more or less healed up, things are looking good.
Her job teaching again is even looking good. What happens? Crazy gun man shows up at the school. WTF. Rachel is held at gun point. Seriously? And of course her husband and brother in laws are going to go ballistic. This woman's life is filled with drama and danger.
This novella was a sweet return to the KGI series. It tides me over until the next full novel. Ms. Banks does another good job with a fast paced story with endearing characters. The entire cast is back and the theme of family united is one I very much enjoy. Makes me wish for a large family like this one. I realize this is only in the books and not realistic. Still, it's a fantasy I enjoy. This book is recommended for romance lovers who love family ties.
This novella is a heartwarming look at Ethan and Rachel's life after the trauma of her abduction, torture and rescue. Ethan is treating every precious day with her as a gift. They have built a new home in the Compound for safety, and Rachel is so anxious to start their lives there. Their old home just holds painful memories . We reunite with the whole wonderful Kelly family, quiet and content.....for the moment. But wait...this is a KGI novel ; we have action! I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, which just wets your appetite for the next KGI story. Ms. Banks weaves this story with old and new characters, bringing us up to date with the Kelly brothers, their extended family, and a wonderful surprise. I would highly recommend this story .
Hmmmm... this one was too sappy. There, I said it. There was too much "you're wonderful, we love you, we'll keep you safe". Over and over and over. I have enjoyed all of Maya Banks's books so far, but was a little disappointed with this one. Doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to the next one in the KGI series! Can't wait for that one.
Buonasera, lettrici! Oggi vi parlo di “Alba di Fuoco”, novella della serie KGI di Maya Banks, edita Leggereditore. Rachel Kelly sta cercando di riprendere in mano le redini della sua vita insieme a suo marito Ethan Kelly. Sono passati diversi anni ormai da quando è stata salvata dalla sua terribile prigionia, ma le ferite di quel periodo non sono ancora del tutto guarite. Questo non la scoraggia, però, tanto che ha voluto dare un nuovo inizio alla sua vita. Riuscirà a superare i suoi demoni e finalmente vivere?
Dopo la fine di “L’ora della verità”, non potevo che non chiedermi come sia continuata la storia di Ethan e Rachel, visto che la strada per la guarigione di lei, e di entrambi, era molto lunga. E finalmente l’autrice ci regala una novella su loro due! Rachel non ha molti ricordi della sua prigionia, soprattutto visto che gli ultimi ricordi sono del suo matrimonio in declino. Questo però non la scoraggia e decide di ripartire da zero, con una nuova casa e l’inizio di un nuovo lavoro, ma soprattutto riprende in mano la sua relazione con Ethan. È una protagonista che ha voglia di vivere e di guarire, nonostante tutto. Pur essendo sopravvissuta ad una terribile situazione, Rachel non ha perso la speranza e si è rialzata più forte che mai. Non è guarita subito, certo, ma giorno dopo giorno mette ci tutta se stessa. Inoltre affianco a lei c’è Ethan, premuroso e protettivo, che la ama. Rachel mi è sempre piaciuta molto e in questa novella non mi ha delusa. È un bel personaggio con una forza sovrumana e un cuore grande. Anche Ethan sta affrontando un percorso di guarigione. Il senso di colpa per ciò che è successo lo accompagna ancora, ma anche il voler rimediare ai suoi errori fa sì che sia sempre presente per sua moglie, proteggendola ogni minuto del giorno. Ethan è un uomo che ha paura di riperdere la sua donna dopo averla ritrovata, e questo lo rende iperprotettivo e concentrato sui bisogni di lei. Quello che però deve fare è riprendere la sua vita ed essere quello di cui Rachel ha bisogno: un uomo che le sta affianco e che la fa sentire speciale ed amata, non accudita. È stata una lettura romantica e dolce, mi è piaciuto rincontrare questi due personaggi, ma l’autrice ci regala anche una storia con colpi di scena e azione. Con questo vi lascio e ci vediamo al prossimo romanzo di questa serie all’insegna dell’azione e del romance. A presto.
Well....a couple of things first. Even though this story is #5.5 in the series, this actually takes place in the middle of book six. However, there is only one minor reference to something that I guess happens in that book and everything else is independent.
Problem with automatically buying books by an author you like? You stop reading blurbs. At least I do. Anyway, I'm reading this series already so of course I bought this the day it came out. But here's the problem. This story is mainly about Ethan and Rachel. My least favorite couple in the series.
Ethan and Rachel have had the worst time getting together and quite frankly I had some issues to start with in their book (#1) because their marriage was already in shambles when she got taken and tortured. How could their marriage be at that low point and then after she's gone through so much we can expect a HEA? I do think this short story was needed because it gives an epilogue to their romance. If not an epilogue it opens up another chapter.
I wish I could've seen a little more of them connecting in this story, however they are the same distant people. Except now Rachel is pregnant...with twins. And she started working again.
At least I'm happy to see some of the Kelly family that I was missing in the last book!
I cannot tell you how excited I am to read PJ & Cole's book though. They might take the top spot as my favorite couple (now occupied by Sam and Sophie).
This is the summary story for Rachel and Ethan from the KGI series. We first met Ethan and Rachel in the first book of the series . After saving her from a year of captivity, Rachel had very spotty memory and was in physically poor shape.
This book touches back with the couple and we see a much improved Rachel and Ethan. She is just starting back in her teaching career and they are moving to a new home to leave the bad memories in the old home.
Although a novella a lot has been crammed into every page. Angst builds in the classroom with a gunman, in the doctor's office with surprising news and in the bedroom with remorse being defeated.
I have such MAD LOVE for Maya Banks and this series. She is one of my favorite authors!! I love Rachel and Ethan and was so looking forward to reading Softly At Sunrise. I was not disappointed. AWESOME read!!! Loved it from the beginning to the end!!! So happy to see all the characters from the previous books!! Can't wait for PJ and Cole's book!!! Softly At Sunrise has found its place in my keeper pile to be reread along side the rest of the KGI series!!!! Definitely one of my favorites in the series!!! January can't come fast enough!!!
Just a bunch of mushy crap for the first half of the novella, but finally something interesting happened that could've been a whole lot more interesting. Then a bunch more mushy crap. Series tend to get that way once most of the main characters have found love and start popping out babies.
It was the perfect ending to the first KGI book. They both needed time to heal and go on with their lifes again and i took a couple of years for it to happen. But they are finally over the past and they got their happy ending. Finally..
I really liked this novella bringing closure to Rachel and Ethan's story. This is what this series does best combining the covert ops with the Kelly family dynamic, both biological and the close knit KGI "family".
Manufactured chaos for a little bit of a return to some well loved characters. This was good, but not great for me. I'd give this 3.5 Stars overall. I liked seeing Rachel and Ethan and the growth that happened between them. This story makes for a stronger happily ever after as these two faced some of the little remaining tension resulting from their past. But the suspense/thriller aspect of this story felt pretty unnecessary for the resulting gains in the relationship. Sure it was a fun little bit of action, but it was a bit of a "why?" moment for me. Still I always love seeing this family.
I am so glad that Maya Banks decided that Ethan and Rachel had more to their story to tell. Her KGI series is a favorite and Ethan and Rachel’s story is nearly at the top because of its emotional force. The follow up novella, Softly at Sunrise keeps that punch going.
If you haven’t already read The Darkest Hour, I highly recommend that you do before reading this sequel. I don’t think that you will appreciate the edgy emotional state of the characters without it.
This story takes place after the first book in which Rachel and Ethan are reunited after a year-long separation in which they are on their way to a divorce when Rachel is kidnapped by a terrorist group. Ethan spends the year thinking she is dead and regretting every action that led up to him presenting divorce papers to Rachel right before she leaves for her humanitarian mission. Of course, her kidnapping is no accident and soon she is targeted again while on hometurf and it is up to Ethan and his brothers of the Kelly Group International (KGI) to save the day.
As you can imagine, being held hostage, drugged up for an entire year can leave a girl a little emotionally fragile. Especially since Rachel lost some of her memory, specifically those events leading up to her departure. When she does slowly start to remember, the memories are emotionally fresh and she is stung by their immediacy. She has a difficult time opening up and trusting Ethan and part of their story in the first book is him trying to win her back.
That is why this book is so poignant. I can’t speak about the plot without giving away spoilers, but needless to say, the story works. Rachel still has some uncertainty and Ethan still has residual guilt, but this is a story about redemption and moving forward after an extreme trauma And of course, because this IS part of the KGI series, there has to be a suspense element in it as well. This novella is like getting an extended Epilogue to The Darkest Hour. It touches the heart and leaves us fans with a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that this couple is going to continue their Happily Ever After.
She was no longer a victim of the past, held prisoner by the demons who haunted her mind. She was moving beyond that, into a future filled with the promise of brighter days and happier times. She was a Kelly. And she was loved."
I am pleased Maya Banks created a novella just for Ethan and Rachel. They were the couple that we fell in love with in The Darkest Hour, the first book of the KGI series. Rachel has always been haunted by past events and in this book, she really grew into her marriage, moved onward from those past demons and stepped out into a new beginning.
I will say, I would have probably read this book after #6 just because a few things were mentioned that must happen in the next book. Nothing was given away in this novella, luckily, but I think some events mentioned in this novella happen in book #6.
Anyway, a great little nugget addition of this series :)
Great novella that recaptured my passion and spirit for this series! I'm glad the author decided to give us more of Ethan and Rachel's story. And she packed so much into this novella! She really thought about the story and the reader is given the elements of what makes this series special: intrigue, action, suspense, and most of all love - romantic love and love of family. Fans of this series won't be disappointed. The story is fresh, and we get to catch up with Ethan and Rachel and get a glimpse into their life after her rescue. Ethan is such a good combination of a tender and dominant hero. And we revisit with the entire Kelly clan. This novella was just what I need to get back into this series.
A short novella included in the back of my copy of the Shades of Gray paperback. Softly at Sunrise is part of the KGI series by Maya Banks and revisits Ethan and Rachel Kelly's relationship. The couple are moving out of their old home to their new home at the compound. Rachel is going back to teaching and they have began the process of trying to have a baby. If you have been following the series then this will be a delight for you. The story concentrates on Ethan and Rachel but we get to see other members of the Kelly family.
It was nice to get an update on the family and it ties in nicely with the Shades of Gray story.
:) mais uma historia deliciosa da familia Kelly, mais propriamente uma short novel, com o primeiro casal da serie. Ethan e Rachel, são novamente os protagonistas nesta historia onde nos é mostrada a sua vida recem adquirida. A felicidade alcançada e uma familia sempre presente. Uma historia de entrega assumida e um amor sem limites.
Uffff... me lo he bebido en un suspiro.... tan dulce, tan romántico, tan tierno, tan Ethan y Rachel..... Me ha encantado! Se merecían un relato para completar su historia tan intensa y desgarradora. Precioso. Mi puntuación 9,5.
Great little novella of my fave couple Ethan and Rachel Kelly. It's short and sweet, with a touch of suspense and of course more sexy Kelly brothers, that's guaranteed to put a smile on that dial!