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Kella McKinnon
11 books167 followersKella McKinnon lives in New England on a mini-farm with her husband and three children, and is finally making time for her favorite past-time: writing passionate stories that take the reader away to another time or place.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 19, 2014
In Deep, and its sequel In Deeper, by Kella McKinnon, is…a train wreck of a story. Brielle Dalton is an anthropology student, finishing up her PH.D in Las Vegas when she meets Cristos Vicario, a hotel/casino owner who is hiding more secrets than not. Their attraction is instant and explosive leading both of them to make choices that defy every rule they’ve set up for themselves. Reading about them doing so is like coming across an accident that you just can’t look away from. It’s horrifying, yet you’re compelled to watch until every last bit of broken glass is cleaned up.
As an anthropology student, Brielle prides herself on her ability to read people. She’s intent on working in Honduras to help the people there affected by the drug trade, especially after her father is killed by the leader of biggest cartel in the country. That she meets and falls for Cristos, yet fails to see beyond the façade he’s created made me want to bang my head against the wall more than once. Cristos is a dysfunctional, hot mess of a man who has made it his life’s mission to escape the world created for him by his family. Certainly an admirable quality, but one that never quite matches up with the character on the pages of these two books.
I tried hard to like these books. There were moments that I felt the story was picking up as Ms. McKinnon would explode with descriptive passages that made her words jump off the page. But, these were few and far between in the 600 or so pages that make up this series. First, and foremost, 600 pages and two books was just too long to tell this story. Scenes are repeated so often that this could have easily been one book. For example, no less than four times does Cristos drag Brielle out of a nightclub after seeing her dance or talk to another man. At least twice he has her “removed” from a job she’s in. Brielle moved back and forth from her dingy motel room to Cristos’ hotel too many times to count. These were all wasted words and scenes that slowed the pacing and made the characters unlikable because they kept repeating the same mistakes over and over.
And, Cristos is unlikable. Though he appears to finally break free of his misogynistic, violent, ego-centric ways by the end of the book, he was hard to take the rest of the time. From my perspective, he was all about Cristos. Almost every lovemaking session started with him declaring his over the top need for Brielle, followed by her ending up on her back with little to no foreplay. While I’ve read other reviews that found this “hot”, I can’t say I agree. That he is a needy character is never in doubt, but I was hard-pressed to find the growth in his character. And this lack of growth rolled over to Brielle by extension as she continued to go back to this man in a textbook abusive cycle. (Example: he pulls a gun on her and she makes excuses for his actions, ending up back in his bed the same night).
I received these two books in exchange for an honest review
As an anthropology student, Brielle prides herself on her ability to read people. She’s intent on working in Honduras to help the people there affected by the drug trade, especially after her father is killed by the leader of biggest cartel in the country. That she meets and falls for Cristos, yet fails to see beyond the façade he’s created made me want to bang my head against the wall more than once. Cristos is a dysfunctional, hot mess of a man who has made it his life’s mission to escape the world created for him by his family. Certainly an admirable quality, but one that never quite matches up with the character on the pages of these two books.
I tried hard to like these books. There were moments that I felt the story was picking up as Ms. McKinnon would explode with descriptive passages that made her words jump off the page. But, these were few and far between in the 600 or so pages that make up this series. First, and foremost, 600 pages and two books was just too long to tell this story. Scenes are repeated so often that this could have easily been one book. For example, no less than four times does Cristos drag Brielle out of a nightclub after seeing her dance or talk to another man. At least twice he has her “removed” from a job she’s in. Brielle moved back and forth from her dingy motel room to Cristos’ hotel too many times to count. These were all wasted words and scenes that slowed the pacing and made the characters unlikable because they kept repeating the same mistakes over and over.
And, Cristos is unlikable. Though he appears to finally break free of his misogynistic, violent, ego-centric ways by the end of the book, he was hard to take the rest of the time. From my perspective, he was all about Cristos. Almost every lovemaking session started with him declaring his over the top need for Brielle, followed by her ending up on her back with little to no foreplay. While I’ve read other reviews that found this “hot”, I can’t say I agree. That he is a needy character is never in doubt, but I was hard-pressed to find the growth in his character. And this lack of growth rolled over to Brielle by extension as she continued to go back to this man in a textbook abusive cycle. (Example: he pulls a gun on her and she makes excuses for his actions, ending up back in his bed the same night).
I received these two books in exchange for an honest review
December 7, 2014
I think I'm in love with these books. Cristos Vicario is everything a woman could ever want wrapped up in one big ball of hotness!! He's demanding, protective, intelligent, and always one step ahead. Did I mention that the man is "wipe the drool off of your face" sexy?! Well he is! The only problem is... he is the head of a drug cartel. Dangerous and thrilling right? Well dangerous is right.My heart almost jumped out of my chest like a thousand times while reading these books! And don't even let me get started on all the secrets! The man could have all his fingernails ripped out and he still wouldn't spill the beans about anything he wanted to keep secret. That takes a lot of will power.
Brielle is.... well, not quite the opposite of Cristos, but different. She is super smart and has a heart of gold. She's working on her dissertation and that's how she meets Cris. The only problem is, well, she's completely against drugs. He father, who worked for the FBI, was killed trying to bring down a drug cartel. Maybe even the same cartel Cris is a part of.... So of course, Brielle's dissertation is about the drug cartel and how to help families out that have had to experience them. I find Brielle refreshing. She's different from most of the women I read about. I mean, she has some of the same qualities, but there is just something different about her.
I love these books. Couldn't put them down! The only part I really didn't like was the constant break ups and reunions. I mean, how many times can a woman leave a man, or a man tell a woman to leave, before it just gets repetitive. I actually found myself rolling my eyes at one point. Great books! I really loved them, but I could have done without the constant back and forth. I think I got whip lash at one point.
Hope there is more to come! 4 Stars!
Brielle is.... well, not quite the opposite of Cristos, but different. She is super smart and has a heart of gold. She's working on her dissertation and that's how she meets Cris. The only problem is, well, she's completely against drugs. He father, who worked for the FBI, was killed trying to bring down a drug cartel. Maybe even the same cartel Cris is a part of.... So of course, Brielle's dissertation is about the drug cartel and how to help families out that have had to experience them. I find Brielle refreshing. She's different from most of the women I read about. I mean, she has some of the same qualities, but there is just something different about her.
I love these books. Couldn't put them down! The only part I really didn't like was the constant break ups and reunions. I mean, how many times can a woman leave a man, or a man tell a woman to leave, before it just gets repetitive. I actually found myself rolling my eyes at one point. Great books! I really loved them, but I could have done without the constant back and forth. I think I got whip lash at one point.
Hope there is more to come! 4 Stars!
December 24, 2014
Okay.... I was feeling Cristos at first, even though he was being a little stalkerish. Brielle was smart but also very stupid.
In what world would you allow someone to drag you or carry you out of an establishment caveman style over and over and over again! WTF - that is not sexy or alpha, that is psychotic. Where is her FBI brother? Why doesn't he have any intel on Cristos when she first told him about the budding and fast moving relationship? Too Little Too Late!
Anyway, I did like that Brielle and Cristos' sex scene were off the charts. But Cristos was alittle too much for me, even though you can blame it on his childhood. Brielle just needs to "let it go, let it go, turn her back and slam the door". (***SPOILER ALERT) He held a gun at her and all she could think about is "I was starting to fall for him, really fall for him". There is NO coming back from that.
Overall, it was a good read. It kept me interested because I HAD to know how far Cristos would go; how gullible Brielle would be; and how the author would flip the script for a HEA, which it did have.
In what world would you allow someone to drag you or carry you out of an establishment caveman style over and over and over again! WTF - that is not sexy or alpha, that is psychotic. Where is her FBI brother? Why doesn't he have any intel on Cristos when she first told him about the budding and fast moving relationship? Too Little Too Late!
Anyway, I did like that Brielle and Cristos' sex scene were off the charts. But Cristos was alittle too much for me, even though you can blame it on his childhood. Brielle just needs to "let it go, let it go, turn her back and slam the door". (***SPOILER ALERT) He held a gun at her and all she could think about is "I was starting to fall for him, really fall for him". There is NO coming back from that.
Overall, it was a good read. It kept me interested because I HAD to know how far Cristos would go; how gullible Brielle would be; and how the author would flip the script for a HEA, which it did have.
November 6, 2014
~Review completed by Wendy of Sweet N Sassy Book A Holics-Reviewers Group~
I really loved this series. Brielle is a girl who doesn't take life for granted. She knows it can be over before you know it but when she wants to give her heart she is afraid, she wants to go all in but how can she when the one she is falling for won't fall back. Cristo (Chriss) he had a hard up bringing a father who acted like he didn't want him, a brother who did the unthinkable. Chriss was a man who felt he didn't deserve love and didn't know how to trust. When he meets Brielle his world go a different direction one he is not use to. How can he fight his feelings when they feel right. This story is amazing. I was pulled in and couldn't put it down, I didn't want to.
***ARC provided for an honest review***
I really loved this series. Brielle is a girl who doesn't take life for granted. She knows it can be over before you know it but when she wants to give her heart she is afraid, she wants to go all in but how can she when the one she is falling for won't fall back. Cristo (Chriss) he had a hard up bringing a father who acted like he didn't want him, a brother who did the unthinkable. Chriss was a man who felt he didn't deserve love and didn't know how to trust. When he meets Brielle his world go a different direction one he is not use to. How can he fight his feelings when they feel right. This story is amazing. I was pulled in and couldn't put it down, I didn't want to.
***ARC provided for an honest review***
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews