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Killer Instincts #5

Midnight Action

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She's got a broken heart...
and a fully loaded arsenal....

Ex–army ranger Jim Morgan leads a team of elite mercenaries, but eighteen years ago in Paris, he was part of a black ops unit whose mission was to hunt down a rogue operative. In order to trap the criminal, Jim seduced Noelle, the man's daughter—a ruthless act that cost him the love of his life and turned her into a mortal enemy. Now he can't trust her, but he still desires her. He also needs her help....

Older, wiser, and unwilling to play the fool again, Noelle runs a group of highly skilled assassins. And she's just been offered the hit of the Eliminate Jim Morgan. History gives them no reason to trust each other, but with their lives in jeopardy at the hands of a common enemy, the lines between love and hate are soon blurred. Now Noelle and Jim must face the past if they want to have a future—let alone a future together.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2014

90 people are currently reading
3435 people want to read

About the author

Elle Kennedy

179 books90.1k followers
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession.
1,225 reviews3,701 followers
July 18, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this one. As much as I liked Jim and Noelle I feel there was still to much that happened between them for them to end up HEA. I don't feel completely sold on their love. I did really like them though. I also have a really hard time with the fact that Noelle slept with D a number of times. I don't care that Jim or Noelle slept with other people as they were not together for years but D lives and works with Jim and I feel that it's just eww. I loved Jim's daughter. Cate was awesome and I seen she gets her own book yay. I just wish I would have been more connected to Jim and Noelle. Liam and Sully had one hot scene and then a bunch of crap. I would have liked more from them. On a side note I listened to this book on audio and the narrator Allyson Ryan was amazing. She does so many different voices and accents it really brings the book to life!
Profile Image for Kathleen.
691 reviews89 followers
October 2, 2017
4 1/2 Stars! I really enjoyed this one, I just don't understand why it took me so long to finish it!!
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,279 reviews924 followers
January 3, 2016
Midnight Action was an exciting second chance romance filled with action, danger, and hurt fueled by an old betrayal!

Noelle was betrayed by Jim Morgan eighteen years ago when he seduced her to get to her father as part of his uncover assignment. Noelle was crushed, but she picked up the pieces of her life and vowed revenge. She got it and ever since then Noelle and Jim have been at each other’s throats. Still, every time they meet it’s a battle to keep their hands off to themselves and not just because they’d like to kill each other.

Noelle, who has since formed an elite company of assassins’, receives an offer you’d think she couldn’t refuse: kill Jim Morgan. Instead of carrying it out she bands with him to find the killer, and finally after all these years they’ll have to work together and face the past, a past that is filled with pain on both sides. Is it possible they could ever have a future after all they’ve put each other through?

Years ago Noelle was crushed when she found out how Jim used her and when the details were revealed my heart ached for her. But the situation is different from what she was led to believe. Still, the betrayal stings fresh because Noelle was so in love with Jim. As the true events are revealed Noelle and Jim’s relationship becomes very complicated. It’s a passionate tug of war between these two. As if the revealing of past events wasn’t enough excitement for this story we have the mystery behind who wants to kill Jim supplying danger and action at every turn.

Part of the problem over the years between Jim and Noelle was his refusal to accept responsibility for how things played out. I wanted to shake him for blaming Noelle, at all! Really, the revenge that Noelle took was his own fault, but thankfully it’s not long before Jim wakes up and realizes what a complete moron he was. Once that happens it clears the way for healing to take place in between assassination attempts, that is. And between HOT, angry hookups, and I do mean HOT!! During these encounters, Jim and Noelle can’t help but let some of their true feelings come through and it helps them let go of the past a little bit at a time.

I adore second chance romances. It makes me sad when a couple loves so intensely and then everything goes tragically wrong. I long for their HEA! But it was evident to everyone around that Jim and Noelle had a one of a kind bond and it was only a matter of time before they realized it as well. I haven’t read the previous stories in this series, but it’s not necessary to enjoy Jim and Noelle’s addictive and moving story!

Midnight Action
was full of intriguing secondary characters and the set up for future romances were included as side stories. I found one very sizzling, indeed!

A copy was kindly provided by Signet in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Pavlina Read more sleep less blog  .
2,434 reviews5,102 followers
March 26, 2017
5 AMAZING Stars <33

From the moment I finished Midnight Target I wanted to know more about Jim and Noelle!I knew these two will drive me crazy in a good way!!!I freaking loved their story, these two loved each other and hate in the same time for their own reasons.

Noelle and Jim has to work together and this is a great opportunity to work on their issues.Whenever these two are together is like an explosion!They are super hot,passionate,intense and erotic!I admired Noelle and loved her, she is sassy,badass,strong and sometimes funny.Jim is simply perfect, stubborn,bossy and sexy.I loved all the other characters!!

If you are looking for a series with action,suspense and fantastic characters this is perfect!!!



  
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,875 reviews6,701 followers
February 10, 2017
Midnight Action is the fifth installment in Elle Kennedy's romantic suspense series titled Killer Instincts. Ms. Kennedy has been teasing her readers since book one with a palpable but undisclosed history between mercenary leaders Jim Morgan and Noelle Phillips. In Midnight Action, we finally got the nitty gritty details of it all. It's sweet, innocent, sad, sexy, angry, resentful...and it all makes sense why their relationship is the way it is present-day. I loved that this book was their story. It's my favorite of the series to date. However, in addition to Jim and Noelle, there are equally engaging side stories that offer some explanation for Jim's on-and-off MIA status and a separate but seriously sexy relationship setup for an m/m romance that I hope isn't too long down the road. Midnight Action will absolutely be a re-read for me. If you follow this series, you can look forward to a spectacular #5. Check it out!!

My favorite quote:
"She suddenly realized how fleeting it all was. You always thought you had all the time in the world. You took it for granted that the people you cared about were always going to be there."


2/5/17:
My fav in the series so far. Completely engaged and absorbed every page!
Full review to come...
Profile Image for Ezi Chinny.
2,691 reviews529 followers
April 25, 2016
Jim Morgan and Noelle Phillips have had a contentious relationship since book 1. None of their operatives knew why Jim and Noelle hated each other, only that the feelings of animosity were palpable when they are in the same room.

In this book, the author gives the background to this volatile relationship by alternating past and present every other chapter. The narrator does an excellent job with so many characters because this installment had a lot of moving parts.

18 years ago, a young Jim Morgan seduced a 17 year old Noelle Phillips to gain information on Noelle's dad who was on the government wanted list for selling intelligence to the foreign enemies. The information resulted in the apprehension and death of Noelle's father. Noelle was devastated at Jim's betrayal and vowed vengeance.

In this book, Noelle receives a call from a client who wants her to murder Jim Morgan and it seems like Noelle finally got an offer she couldn't refuse. Except she told Jim and they decided to work together to uncover who wanted Jim dead.

The heat and chemistry between those two was among the highest I have ever read. They were wildly attracted to each other but there was no trust and no forgiveness for past wrong. This new assignment allowed Noelle to address her grievances and Jim to make amends. I was hoping the "D would be part of the equation, but this was a second chance romance trope and "D was a third wheel.

Allyson Ryan did an amazing job on this book. I was never lost in this audiobook. I loved the voices she used for each character because it was believable. The author didn't disappoint in Jim and Noelle's story which was my fear since the author has been alluding to it for 4 books now. I like them together and I understand why Noelle was so prickly and caustic. She had been constantly betrayed at a young age by those she trusted. She had been through a lot and survived through sheer grit and inner strength. While I hadn't liked her in prior stories, having her background made all the difference. It also allowed me to understand Jim's journey and sacrifice. The action in this book was constant and the plot was really interesting. I was entertained as the stubborn protagonists finally addressed the elephant in the room, their love. It was slightly angsty but the ending was expected. This was my favorite in this series. This book utilized many of the supporting cast we have met and it set up two new storylines. I am glad Jim and Noelle finally got over their hate and moved on to love.


*Special Thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook given in exchange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Saly.
3,437 reviews580 followers
November 8, 2014
Rating 3.5 stars
Oh Noelle I love you so much that I can't even express it and if it were upto me you would have gotten a much longer, prolonged and agonizing grovel from Jim Morgan, the guy who broke your young heart and made you into the queen of assassins. I had such astonishing expectations from this book and it couldn't be met but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading this one. But I wanted much more page time for Jim and Noelle and was annoyed reading about Bailey, Liam, Sully, Sean when I just wanted this compelling couple to come back on page. I loved seeing the very few glimpses in your past and would have loved to read more about your transformation. And another thing I feared came to pass in this book, the plot device that threw you and Jim together and made the story move forward. I have suspected this plot device for a while but was hoping it was just a red herring but alas it wasn't. But I expect to see plenty of novellas about you and Jim especially how Jim convinced you to MARRY him.
Profile Image for Jae.
693 reviews178 followers
November 8, 2014
This book was all Noelle. She was such a hardassed b**ch in the previous books, that I was worried that she would make a terrible heroine. But there was so much to her story after all. It explained a lot on how and why she turned up the way she was. And I even shed a few tears for her.

But I finished the book with a bitter dislike for Morgan. For what he did to Noelle he should've grovel harder for her forgiveness. Make some effort at least. Super-soldiers are allowed to be softies from time to time too.

I like my soldier soft-for-me 4 STARS.


Profile Image for AH.
2,005 reviews386 followers
December 27, 2015
Initial Thoughts: My favorite book in the series so far. Midnight Action lives up to its name: Lots and lots of action packed edge of your seat moments, explosions, thrills, and more. The lead couple Noelle and Jim have chemistry that is right off the charts. These two sizzle and a lot of furniture is destroyed...This is a great little escape - perfect for summertime reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group NAL for a review copy of this book.
Profile Image for nick (the infinite limits of love).
2,120 reviews1,528 followers
July 14, 2015
4.5/5

SO SO GOOD! This is by far my favorite book in the series. I absolutely LOVED Jim and Noelle together and all that pent up passion they had between them. Also, kudos to the author for surprising me with a few twists in this one. Elle Kennedy is a writing goddess!
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author 5 books402 followers
September 17, 2015
I wasn't five pages in and I started mentally kicking myself for waiting so long to pick up this book. Yep, it was sensational, jaw-dropping, can't breathe, squirming, all the good stuff romantic suspense. I've read many that claim the description of 'enemies to lovers' trope, but really didn't. However, this baby, it was the Real McCoy. These two hated each other and had good reason, but they also had the skills to kill and never get caught so that added some real edge to it all.

This was the fifth installment of the Killer Instincts series. I'm going to pull a 'do as I say not as I do' bit of advice and suggest that they get read in order even though this was my first in the series. I say that because yes, I loved it and had little difficulty reading it as a standalone, but there were also times that I wished when little hints or familiar characters appeared in the scene that they had been, in fact, familiar to me. I think that I would have gotten even a stronger connection than I did to the story, characters, and series if I had but read them in order. So yeah, it will work as a standalone, but would be a much better reading experience in its place.

The story opens with super assassin, Noelle, getting contacted to do a hit. She is surprised to discover the hit is on her greatest enemy, ex-Army Ranger and now mercenary, Jim Morgan. Jim used her and betrayed her in the worst way nearly 20 years before, but Noelle is uneasy about the hit and does something unprecedented for her.

Jim is the leader-owner of a merc group that are quickly going from a bunch of single soldiers of fortune like himself to people in strong satisfying relationships. He never wants that for himself, but his latest short-term situation with a woman has ended and he is edgy after the woman speculates about what woman in his past burned him for a second chance. He can't and won't share that he once loved a woman and betrayed her love for his country before she revenged herself in a bigger way destroying any feelings he had for her.

Something is coming his intuition warns. And when he finds Noelle in his compound, the source of his edginess is explained. The years roll back and they both remember the past even as they warily circle each other now. Jim is astounded that Noelle has come to warn him about the hit, but no more than she is by her actions. He has to trace the source of the hit and neutralize it before the hit goes public and every assassin is after the reward for his death.

Noelle thought to inform Jim and then leave, but he returns to Paris with her and will not go away even requesting her help, reluctantly and through gritted teeth. Their love was killed long ago and the hate is very hot, but what neither of them anticipate is the heat of passion blazes even hotter. While they follow the clues back into Jim's past and through the present to the identity of his shadowy enemy, they also are forced to confront their own shared past. Noelle will not give in and let Jim close and Jim wonders if she is too broken to ever love again. Meanwhile, there is one surprising and deadly twist after another waiting for them and their team of helpers.

As I said, this is enemies to lovers at its best. It's a story told switching between point of views and alternating present with the past. I thought that part was all well done and easy to follow. I liked how it all worked on me so that I was forced to revise my opinion several times with each new surprising reveal. I felt a certain way about the characters and thought I had their motives worked out, but I only got some of it right. I enjoyed the fast pace of the action that still allowed room for introspective moments. And the passion? Good golly Miss Molly, these two channeled all their frustration and emotions into the physical and it was as dangerous and intense as any action scene.

The romance was by necessity slow to develop. I was grateful to the author for distinguishing between lust and love. These two were lusty, but the growth of love was something wispy and didn't become tangible for a long time. Even then, it was the sort of love that was bruised and tentative because of what they had done to each other in the past and because of who they are, hard-core people in the death-dealing business.

There were a couple other minor character plot threads that I enjoyed, but were also a little distracting because I wanted to stick with the main plot. I think these must be setting up for books following this one.

Speaking of minor characters, there is a whole host of them. There is the plethora of people from Jim's merc team and Noelle's assassin squad that mix and match because of previous stories in the series brought them together. They are all lethal operators and yet they form a hodge-podge family. Other secondary characters include the villain group. I liked that the author took the time to develop the villains' characters and their motives so that their actions and emotions make sense and there is depth.

Alright, so this was one brilliant thrill ride that I hope to repeat both by catching up on the series and continuing forward with it. I heartily suggest Romance Suspense lovers give these a try.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jess.
1,076 reviews158 followers
November 12, 2014
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B+

Ah, the story of Jim Morgan and Noelle – FINALLY! Throughout the series, these two have hated each other. Hated. Each. Other. To the point that I wouldn’t have been surprised to see one of them kill the other at some point. But their chemistry was off the charts and while they loved to pick at each other’s soft spots and make each other’s lives miserable, it was clear there was more to their relationship than what was on the surface. Midnight Action flashes back to nineteen years ago when Jim and Noelle first met. Noelle was a young 17 year old, Jim a few years older and he was her hope. She was living with an abusive step-father, enduring repeated rapes and counting down the time until she could leave that situation forever. Initially, Noelle was a job for Jim. Get close to her and get information on her birth father, a man suspected of selling government secrets. Jim got more than he bargained for when he fell for Noelle, but not before the truth came out and crushed Noelle. Not only did she lose the man she thought she loved but she lost her father as well. Noelle vowed revenge and got it when a couple years later Jim was pulling the same mission this time on another woman and with a tip from Noelle, the whole mission went sideways. There were deaths and disappearances and Jim has never forgiven Noelle for losing track of the woman he was seducing at the time. It ends up being obvious as to why, but I’ll leave that little tidbit alone for you all to discover ;-)

So we keep going back and forth from flashbacks to the present, and present day is pretty crappy for Jim. Someone hired Noelle to assassinate him. She lets Jim know that if she doesn’t complete the job by her deadline, then the assassination order will go out to any and every one in their crazy, dangerous world and Jim will be a hunted man. Reluctantly, Noelle agrees to join her team with Jim’s and figure out who wants Jim dead and why.

First, the suspense and the hit on the Jim – I liked seeing this play out. It gave both teams a chance to work together, see the other characters interact and especially see Noelle and Jim in action, always fun. They’re both ruthless, but there’s something that just made me smile about Noelle, she’s a badass, period. She comes off as being heartless, but as we can see throughout the flashbacks, she has a huge heart and it just takes her letting some walls down around it to let Jim back in. Make no mistake, even as her relationship with Jim changes, she doesn’t. She starts and ends the book as the same, take no shit, assassin that we’ve come to love in the series. She just has a man standing by her side now.

As Noelle and Jim work this case, they also start to work on their issues and do they ever have issues. There’s so much hate between them, I started to wonder how they were going to be able to move beyond their past and try to start something new. It takes Jim just letting it all go, putting himself out there (this guy goes through a lot emotionally) to try and win Noelle back. She’s the woman he’s never stopped loving and trying to get her to believe that will take everything he has. In the meantime, they have some hot angry sex, hot dirty sex and just plain hot sex. Elle Kennedy brings it for these two characters and their romance is exactly what you’d expect – combative, explosive and the best parts being when they’d let their guard down, just a little, and show tenderness.

I feel like I’ve been waiting ages for Noelle and Jim’s book and it doesn’t disappoint. Their story and journey stayed true to the them as the characters we’ve come to know and I really liked getting the details of their past and seeing them find a way back together. I also really liked the supporting storylines that are in motion and setting up future books. Some good stuff is coming and I can’t wait!
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
May 28, 2015
Afrodyt's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

There are so many things I love about this story that I don’t even know where to start!

Midnight Action is the much anticipated fifth installment of this series where we get to finally find out why Jim and Noelle became bitter enemies and also reluctant allies.

Now, I have a vivid imagination and I have to confess that when I cracked open this novel I was just certain that I knew what happened and where this was going. I thought I’d followed the clues and pieced together a likely reason why Jim broke her heart and how Noelle betrayed him. I wasn’t even close!! This plot was so unexpected and deliciously twisted that I was practically sweating the entire time I read it. The heat between these two was positively exquisite. Jim and Noelle epitomized the phrase, “It’s a thin line between love and hate,” and in this case that line was razor thin.

Since the beginning of the series we’ve know Jim Morgan is searching for something or someone but he’s kept it on the down low. An enigma even to those closest to him, Jim is a super soldier, well connected with many allies and enemies around the world, but none more well known than the queen of assassins and leader of her own team of chameleons, Noelle.

When we first meet Noelle in Book 1, she’s arriving to Jim’s secret compound, unannounced, to ask for his help in finding one of her girls that’s been captured. She’s a gorgeous, steely-eyed, cold hearted bitch that strikes fear in the hearts of others just at the mention of her name. Everyone but Jim, that is. From the start the tension between them was off the charts. Sexual tension, anger, hatred, loathing, and deep resentment. Since they are both deadly in their own right you wonder why they wouldn’t just kill each other and get it over with. But there’s no fun in that, right? In the most brilliant and subtle ways, Elle Kennedy lets us know that at the root of their relationship was a deep love, mutually shared, that somehow went terribly wrong and left them both deeply scarred. It’s within this framework that the story unfolds, masterfully.

I could not put this book down and even when I finished it the characters stayed with me. The sex in this book is as gritty, raw and passionate as Jim and Noelle. The action is pulse pounding and the circumstances they find themselves in will simultaneously rip your heart out and make you soar. For its absolute perfection I give this book an enthusiastic 5 stars!!

Review copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Valerie.
927 reviews437 followers
November 28, 2014
This book is brilliant in it's diversion. I'm reading along and thinking I know the deal. I'm thinking that James feeling are one thing and then BAM! Something happens and I'm think....what? I love books that can do this to me. I'm usually really good at picking up the hints but this book just misdirects a lot. I love that.

I wasn't a fan of Noelle. She seemed great in the past (we get a glimpse of what happened in the past from time to time) but her present self was just annoying. Now, don't take this wrong. She was supposed to be like this. Once everything get's resolved, I'm happy with her. The most important thing about Noelle is that she evokes some strong emotion from me. That's a great thing.

Written in third person with a variety of perspectives, this isn't my normal fare. But I enjoyed it. That's pretty high praise from me. I don't usually enjoy third person at all but this one is good.

I loved James from the beginning. I didn't get his feelings but that was because I didn't have the whole story. But I always liked him. Once I understood, then I just loved him.

This one has smoking hot heat. These two have chemistry. They may not want that chemistry but it's there. AND the hatred they feel for each other makes for some pretty high emotion. Yeah, and that fine line between hate and love? Pretty much the story here.

This one is some hot chemistry with some suspenseful action on the side. If you enjoy a little more story to your romance book, then this is the series for you.
Profile Image for Laura.
731 reviews55 followers
August 7, 2018
With this we finally get to see what is behind the decades long feud between Noelle and Jim, and it did not disappoint. The story alternates between the past, when Noelle first meets Jim as a teenager and the present. I was riveted with both. I'm not usually a fan of flashbacks but this worked and was written beautifully. I'm not going to reveal anything about the past, (find out for yourself) In the present Noelle's assassin skills are hired and her target turns out to be Jim. She warns him and they work together to discover who put out the hit. Their banter is hilarious, and one minute they are cursing each other, and coming to blows and the next they are banging around the room. They are HOT! Do they hate each other? Love each other? Hard telling from one second to the next. Things are never dull when they get together that's for sure. The team as usual is there to assist, LOVE them. As you can tell I loved this one. 5 stars!!
Profile Image for RachelW (BamaGal).
746 reviews77 followers
November 8, 2014
Blehhh...after waiting so very long for Morgan and Noelle, this was a let-down. Where was the team OP, the action, the suspense in the Romantic Suspense? This was just a big ol' Soap Opera. This series is turning into an OOU sex romp, a series I loved when I read it; but 'Killer Instincts' is supposed to be RS. Disappointing...
Profile Image for Under the Covers Book Blog.
2,840 reviews1,344 followers
November 5, 2014

I felt like a little kid opening this book, I was so excited.  Don't you love it when there's that one couple you've been wanting to see together and then it's finally that time.  I might've done a happy dance when I read the blurb for this book!  I've waiting, literally, since book one!  Starving for any second of interactions between Noelle and Jim.  Trying to put out of my mind the fact that she was playing around with someone else.  These two just HAD to happen.  But then there's the nervous side of me that was sooooo worried about my expectations.  Too high?  Would it disappoint me?

MIDNIGHT ACTION is my favorite book in this series to date and it exceeded all my expectations!  It delivered on everything I knew was there and everything I had no clue could be.  What an incredibly deep and emotional book.  Just as it's action packed, with an intriguing storyline that will keep you on your toes, this book was a heart breaking emotional journey through Noelle and Jim's past.  Neither one of those stories was easy.  And the author did an amazing job at telling the story in flashbacks that blended perfectly with the current plot.

utc-top-pickDid I mention how much chemistry Noelle and Jim have always had?  I think if they are in the room together, their sparks would burn you.  But their history has brought them to a place of hate.  And that hate runs deep. And is there ever anything better than straight up, angry, hateful f*cking? Gosh I feel like I need a cigarette (or two) after that....and I don't smoke!  This book embodied raw sexual chemistry and then took it up a few notches.  Be careful when handling it, because you might get scorched!

I know I always focus on the alpha male, and yes Jim Morgan is THAT alpha male you want.  But I think more impressive for me was Noelle.  I've always loved her character because she's kick ass and ruthless.  Don't mess with her because she may not have a heart left.  And I was moved by her story.  She's gone through so much betrayal in her life that I understand where she's been coming from.  And I'm happy that she's gotten her HEA.

With the side stories in this book, I can say I'm so excited for two of them!  Liam&Sully (yes, this book had some minor m/m) and Sean&Bailey.  I'm especially anxious for Sean & Bailey and I know it's next.  I think Sean better watch his balls from now!

If you are looking for an edge of your seat romantic suspense series to read, but you also wants lots of steam, then this is it for you.  The Killer Instincts series is all about alpha males, kick ass women and the adrenaline filled lives they lead.

*ARC provided by publisher

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Profile Image for Marta Cox.
2,862 reviews210 followers
May 19, 2015
The fifth book in this series and for those who have followed the journey an intense crazy and much anticipated instalment . This group of elite assassins and mercenaries have constantly entertained this reader with their trials and tribulations but finally we get to the bottom of the love hate relationship shared by Morgan and Noelle. They have history that's always been obvious but this is more than just a second chance romance it's a chance at redemption and Ms Kennedy just keeps piling on the agony .
Midnight Action showcases the reasons for so much anger and hatred. Perhaps not as action packed as previous stories it nevertheless is a gripping standalone that offers both backstory, a huge surprise and a fabulous payoff. This is a standalone but if read in order this series just keeps building up the tension and this utterly ruthless couple are so intruiging. Notice I don't give a rundown of the story? I wouldn't wish to ruin it for others but will say it's a captivating storyline and the heat between this couple is incendiary ! So much is packed in with a great cast of supporting characters to add to the mixture. If you enjoy sizzling stories with alpha males and totally kick ass heroines then the Killer Instincts series is a must read.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Kelly | xoxo, Kelly Nina.
1,515 reviews297 followers
March 31, 2016
5 sexy, assassin worthy, mercenary intense fucking stars. Holy FUCK was this book awesome. I have been looking forward to Noelle and Morgan's story since, oh I don't know, chapter 2 of the first book of the series. For reals, the sexual tension between these two is on.another.level. I was ACTUALLY breathing a little heavy and my heart was racing. The hate sex is FUCKING unreal!!! OMG read this book. READ. THIS. BOOK.

Full Review at Belle of the Literati
Profile Image for Kimberly.
2,306 reviews97 followers
October 28, 2014
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2014/10...

Midnight Action is flat-out spectacular. In a series filled with strong heroes and heroines, sinfully hot love scenes, and adrenaline-filled action, Elle Kennedy has outdone herself with her most compelling, emotional Killer Instincts book to date.

I admit, I almost didn’t want to start Midnight Action . After four books of Jim and Noelle’s tense-in-all-ways confrontations, I had incredibly high expectations for their story. Warily, I cracked the first page of Midnight Action … And didn’t set the book down until I finished it hours later. I should never have doubted Ms. Kennedy, for this book not only met, but blasted through all my expectations for Jim and Noelle. These two are the scariest of badasses – powerful, commanding, and yet strangely vulnerable. Their shared history has ensured that there’s no thin line between love and hate for them; both emotions furiously mix together, making their story intense from page one.

Though they’ve been major players throughout the Killer Instincts series, Queen of Assassins Noelle and ruthless mercenary Jim were an intriguing mystery to me. I loved peeling away the layers of their characters over the course of the story, and what I learned tugged at my heart. Ms. Kennedy does an impeccable job of weaving their past and present together, and I’m thrilled we got to see Jim and Noelle’s history. It’s not easy for these two to even work together, never mind fall in love. Both clearly loathe one another, yet even when presented with clear opportunities, neither one can kill the other. It takes an unusual set of circumstances (which I won’t spoil) to get them to team up. The fireworks when they do would put a Fourth of July celebration to shame. Quite simply, the pure passion Jim and Noelle have for one another is insanely hot. I was rooting for these two every step of the way, and though it’s an incredibly rocky road for them, Ms. Kennedy makes the journey worth it.

There is so much I’d love to say about Midnight Action but can’t, for I don’t want to spoil the story. Suffice it to say I’ve only touched on the surface and readers are in for one hell of a ride. Fans of the series will get to catch up with some of their favorite mercenaries, and man, oh man, am I eager to see what Ms. Kennedy has in store for Liam. That being said, don’t be afraid to dive into Midnight Action if you’ve never read a Killer Instincts book before – it can easily be read as a standalone.

Midnight Action rocks! It’s a tempest of emotions that’s impossible to put down, and it’s also a sizzling thrill ride that will feed the appetite of any romantic suspense lover. Don’t miss this book!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Aileene.
243 reviews119 followers
April 9, 2015
For dayS I have tried to construct an honest to goodness and no spoiler review but to no avail...
...still grinning though and buzzing...even days after reading it. I think the sides of my mouth have reached my temples already.
Hey, in my defense it's the story of mighty Morgan and this beautiful but deadly celestial being known as Noelle.
Really, words can't express what this book made me feel. I'll just say thanks to Ms Kennedy for writing (and still continuing writing) this epic series.
HIGHLY recommended
5 stars
I encourage everyone to READ THIS BOOK. READ THE SERIES!





Profile Image for Jo.
957 reviews242 followers
November 18, 2015

I expected more


description

Unfortunately I felt that this book was more about Jim finding his daughter than his and Noelle's romance. They were more like background noise.

Jim betrayed Noelle horribly 19 years ago, and crushed the girl she was then. Her actions in retaliation were justified and expected. The fact that he conveniently forgot about his actions and didn't really feel remorse, made me sad for Noelle. She deserved a lot better from someone who supposedly loved her. There was in no way near enough grovelling on his part to convince me of his regret and love of her.

Profile Image for Eesh.
1,277 reviews91 followers
April 2, 2017

It took me a while to get to this book. I read the first four almost one after the other, but with this one, I was wary. You see, the two main characters in the book, both introduced in book 1 and prominent in the series, had expectations to live up to, and they had a history. The latter is more of a personal issue because history often entails backstory/flashbacks, and I've mentioned before how I hate those fucking things.

But in this case, they worked. Mainly because Elle Kennedy is awesome. She knows just how much she needs to give the reader and just when. She balances the past and present, the scenes that we need to see, the info we need, all of it, so well. You can tell she knows what she's doing and it's brilliant.

Now for the plot of the book: As I said, the protagonists, Jim and Noelle, have a history. And while I can't tell you what that is, I can say that it's not particularly good. The both of then hate each other. There are, on every meeting, semi-serious death threats going around, maybe more serious than semi, so it's quite a surprise when, on being contracted to eliminate Jim, Noelle instead decides to help him find whoever wants him dead. Oh and, did I forgot to mention? Jim is mercenary/super soldier, and Noelle is an assassin.

Now add all of that to the severe amounts of sexual tension between the two, and you have an awesome book. One which I think I've already sold. I mean. what else do you need me to say?

The book is very well written, both the characters kick ass, are interesting and likable. I love the story of the novel, the romance, and the revelations. The pace is fantastic and this is, overall, a really good read that you won't be able to put down. Seriously, I read it in two sittings (food is important, too) and I highly recommend reading this book and others by Elle Kennedy. She's a great author and this is one of her best book (second best, for me, to be accurate).


Midnight Rescue
Midnight Alias
Midnight Games
Midnight Pursuit
Profile Image for Deea (Andreea).
813 reviews97 followers
December 30, 2022
Eeeek! This one was my favorite in the entire series, I've been waiting so long for Jim and Noelle's story! The teasers and glimpses, the tension we saw in the other books was just... aaah.

It gave me major Mr and Mrs Smith (the movie) vibes, both of them were so strong, badass, cold yet passionate! They literally destroyed beds and rooms with their fights and their spicey passion. I will gladly revisit them when I'm in the mood for strong characters, lots of action spiced with lots of tension and smoldering love.
Profile Image for Nadia.
557 reviews
March 26, 2019
I would have loved a longer epilogue. Overall a very good book.
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