From the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Nichole Chase, comes THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN.
Ava McKenzie is a creature of habit. Life is passing her by and she has nothing to show for it. She's had the same job since she started college, she orders the same dish every time she goes to her favorite restaurant, and only reads books from authors she knows. There is nothing new or surprising in her life... until her best friend marries a man from London. When her newlywed friend asks her to house-sit while she honeymoons, Ava jumps at the chance. She thinks this could be the very thing she needs to shake up her life. Ava throws herself head first into her new lifestyle; she wants to try everything, go everywhere, and never get stuck in a rut again. Of course, offing a man in a car garage hadn't been one of the things on her list to try.
Owen Walker spends every day in a new place with a new case. As one of the most renowned assassins in the world, he has his choice of marks--and he's never failed in a mission. When a new hit takes him back to his hometown, he looks forward to spending time somewhere familiar. What he isn't expecting is to help an attractive, confused American woman find out how she's ended up on a hit man's list.
As Ava and Owen dodge bullets, will they be able to escape their undeniable attraction to each other? Or will all of that chemistry blow up in a shower of hot and dangerous sparks?
Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule. For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs. Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, super hero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.
Nichole is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of The Royal Series (Suddenly Royal, Recklessly Royal, and Reluctantly Royal). She has four other novels and several short stories published in different anthologies. Her next novel, The Accidental Assassin, will be available on November 4th.
Nichole Chase is represented by Rebecca Friedman of the Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency.
Ava is a young girl who left from USA and went to UK when her best friend got married and left for her honeymoon with her husband. She accepted to homesit for them and meanwhile she was trying to find a new job in England, in order to stay more and maybe become a citizen.
One day she accidentally kills someone and immediately strange things start happening. People start shooting at her, chasing her and for her pure luck Owen, the handsome stranger from the cafe saves her and kidnaps her. She finds out that he's an assassin and somehow she had killed his target. Eventually, they find out that she's also a target. Is she in danger, since he could always kill her and take the money? Who and why wants to kill her? How is this absurd story going to end?
"I felt like there was a flashing target over my head. How was I going to survive with all these people out to collect some bounty?"
What lured me into reading this book at first was the combination of the title with the cover. I thought it would be interesting and fun to figure out how does someone become an assassin by accident?
I'm afraid that the title though was a bit misleading. Maybe because I thought that she would turn into a badass heroine, faking to be an assassin and that wasn't something that happened in this book. But, it was a really fun and entertaining book. It had lots of suspense and adventure and I loved their banter. The chemistry between the hero and the heroine was palpable and I couldn't help but love how their love story developed. Even though it was insta love [considering everything happened in a few days kind of period], it wasn't that obvious and it didn't bother me. When it's written properly, even insta love can work. I loved the characters, even the secondary ones felt close to me and I didn't want anything bad to happen to them.
Copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Copy provided by author in exchange of honest review **Review also posted on Four Chicks Flipping Pages**
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Are you ready for an action packed romance thriller? Well strapped on and hold on tight because The Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase was BANGING!!!! *pun intended* This was my first book that I have read from this author and it definitely won’t be my last. From the beginning, Ms. Chase hooked her readers with this thrilling, action-packed, and romantic story line. When a hit man and a stranger are caught up in a whirlwind of dodging bullets, will they be able survive a bullet to the heart?
If you think assassin, automatically you associate bad ass with no conscience. A person who does a job with no remorse or feeling but that is not this case with Owen. He is unlike any assassin that you would imagine. What makes Owen stands out is that he picks his cases and the code he uses in following his job. His hits are cases that he feels strongly for and there are justifications for the cause. When Owen is assigned to a job, he did not expect a stranger to get caught up in the mix up. Unbeknownst to Ava on her way to a job interview, her life is hanging on the balance when she accidentally took out one of Owen’s assignment. Soon Ava became a target and so it now lies with Owen to protect her. When an mission goes wrong and new threats are lurking, will Owen be able to protect Ava? Or will Ava be the one protecting Owen?
I really enjoyed The Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase. It had playfulness, suspense, romance, and was able to intertwine elements that will touch the readers. I absolutely loved the relationship between Owen and Ava. They totally complimented and balance each other out. Ava was able to bring out a whole new side to Owen, allowing him to be more open and less guarded. So if you are looking for a book that has depth and characters that are raw, then I suggest you read The Accidental Assassin. Nichole Chase [image error]
Sigh, I really loved this book!! When I found out I was getting this ARC I was totally pumped. Just the synopsis had me excited!! When the time came around to read it, I found out it had been pushed back another month. I was bummed but hey, I can read a lot of other books in a month, lol, but in my head I was constantly waiting to read this. Upon further research I discovered that this book had actually been pushed back several times due to a family illness. I then was more worried that everything was okay, but I haven't seen any details so I just send my well wishes to the author and her family.
Okay, so about the book... Ava has gone to London to house sit for her BFF, while she is away on vacation. She has fallen in love with London and decided that she's going to try to get a work visa so she can stay. When she gets a call for an interview she jumps at the opportunity. She just doesn't know that with that one phone call her whole life changed. As she's backing out, she accidentally hits someone, little does she know someone has been hired to kill them.
Owen, is the hitman sent to kill Mr. Song. When Ava accidentally hits him instead of it making his job more than simple, it actually brings a ring of fire down around them. He's not sure what it is about Ava, but something about her brings out his protective streak. As time goes on, his protective streak just seems to get stronger and stronger, and other feelings start blossoming as well. He will do ANYTHING to protect her, even if he has to protect her from himself.
This story was so good. Even though there was lots of danger and suspicion, it seemed more of a "cutesy type" read. I liked Ava, she was spunky, brave, and eager to learn. However, I loved being in Owen's head. He was falling for her so fast and hard, he just wouldn't let himself have her. Of course male POV are always my favorite anyway.
The only negative I will say about the book, and I'm just trying to be honest here, I think it needed more editing. Like I stated above I read somewhere that the book was being delayed due to a family illness, and if that is true I hope in my deepest depths all is well. But, if it had been put off this long, looks like maybe it could've been put off just a little bit longer for better editing. Sometimes, things seemed to drag on and on, and a few sentences I had to read a few times for them to make sense for me. I guess the thing that bothered me the most was the dialogue. It all ran together. Like, one person would say something and only a space in between someone else was saying something else. I found myself having to read it over and over to decipher who was saying what. It got confusing at times and a few times I ended up not being sure who said what.
Don't get me wrong, I still liked the book, I just think it would've been better with more editing. I actually wonder if there is a chance for this to be a series... I can see where it would work, but if not, maybe a short novella to show where Owen, Ava, and Mavis end up. Oh and btw, did I miss it?? Did they ever end up finding Laura?? I don't remember them doing that exactly.
Arc provided by author in exchange for honest review.
She was heaven and I was headed for the darkest pits of hell. If this was my only chance for bliss I was going to savor it before the angels kicked me out. The fall was going to hurt and I was going to make sure it was worth it. ***
Get ready for another round of rambling by yours truly. When I love a book so much, I tend to do that. I mentioned last year in my end of the year book survey that THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN was one book I was looking forward to most this year. It should have been out sooner, but life got in the way for Chase, pushing back its release. Hey it happens. But that saying, "Good things come to those who wait", has never been truer. I gotta tell you, it was soooo worth the wait. Wouldn't you rather a book be done right, then pushed out the door without a second thought? Yeah me too! So. Worth. The. Wait.
I think one of the things I loved most about this book was the characters. Especially Owen. I think it was his transformation throughout. Well, I really cannot say that, because how he ended up in the end was not far from where he started out. He really didn't change...it was more his true self just came out. I loved that about him. He wasn't one of those cocky, arrogant guys that drives you nuts because they keep pushing the girl away. Nope, he actually would embrace his feelings for Ava and pull her closer. *Swoon*
Ava was a fun, adorable character as well. She is all sweet and innocent looking, but with the mouth of a sailor. I absolutely loved her. She kept the hilarious dialogue going at times, which I thought fit perfectly into the story. Those scenes were just right to break up the heavy that tried to creep its way in.
The story itself was what had me hooked from the beginning. It was like I was in a trance and never wanted to put the book down. I would have happily picked it up every spare moment I had and sadly put it down when I had to be a mom and wife. (Sometimes being a parent is so overrated, am I right?)
Could I see more coming from just this one book? Absolutely. Chase seriously needs to think about making this a series if she isn't already. THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN had everything I could ever want in a book: glorious, hilarious, swoon worthy dialogue...lots of action packed,-sit at the edge of your seat,-bite your nails off moments, and unbelievably hot scenes with a sexy, yummy assassin. Yep, being an assassin never sounded so good.
So drop whatever it is you have your hands on at the moment...well, at least come Dec 4th, and pick up this book. Read. Devour. Love. New Adult fiction has never been so swoony...or deadly. Thank you Chase for making this one of my top reads of 2014!
fast paced , action packed, fun quirky characters and a cute romance. love can find among a hail of bullets and mayhem :)
Let me start by saying that Owen has got to be the sweetest assassin ever, an oxymoron :)
I really can’t go into details regarding the plot, let’s just say you really need to read it in order to fall in love with it. The plot is fast paced and well developed. The characters are fabulously quirky and at a complete contrast to their chosen profession, or should I say the profession that has chosen them ;)
The dual narrative adds depth to the plot and the characters. While circumstances lend themselves to coincidence it does bring a level of fate/destiny. Bringing together the people that should be in your life.
Both Owen and Ava have been missing a certain undefined quality in their lives. Something only the other can give them and when found can’t be lived without *SWOON*
The Accidental Assassin is so much more than a romance, it’s heat pounding action and a thrilling plot on top. Owen will quite literally take your breath away ;) Proving love can be found in the unlikeliest of places even among a hail of bullets and mayhem :)
I turned to look at him and felt my mouth fall open. “A bomb! There’s a bomb in this car? Why is there a bomb in this car? What kind of bomb?” “The kind that goes boom”
I did expected this book to be packed with action and all Tom Cruise shit...was it a disappointment ? Well lets see...
I have always been a big fan of assassins with some heart. This book blows it out of proportion because the plot doesn't only contain action packed scenes, it also has a good back story to go along with. There's also mystery and a hint of drama. However, what's the best here for me is the love part.
AVA AND OWEN SITTING ON A um...hmm.. STOLEN CAR... K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!
Okay so that part didn't really happen, but their love story is still so cute!
You'd appreciate the cuteness because Owen is not a character that I could imagine being that open, that adorable and that... just plain macho mixed with romantic. They are perfect for each other!!!!
The story actually revolves around Ava killing someone accidentally and then getting shot at herself. From thereon, she goes on a wild goose chase to find the perpetrator, of course with my dear, dear OWEN. I said that the love part is cute, but some parts of this book is downright ugly. It's ugly because I would guess that it really is happening somewhere in the world. Be ready for some drama and open your minds for Owen. You have to understand why he is how he is. You also have to give Ava a shot. She's a perfect example of a woman who's still finding her own way in the world. I could probably relate to her a lot because I feel the same way. I'm still trying to figure things out for myself. She's like that. I think many readers would like her because she's adaptable and she's not whiny. It's really very surprising that her character is not portrayed as damsel, but also not a girl version of G.I. Joe. She's somewhere in between which makes her more interesting.
The ending sure is surprising. I didn't see it coming! I smell a series, so I have to ask the author about it. That would be awesome! I don't want to give out major spoilers, so I'll just say that there are a few VERY, VERY INTERESTING characters here that are worth writing about. Just saying. ;)
All in all, of course I'm giving this a perfect score!!!
I'm kinda disappointed. I've read this type of assassin story many times. The badass assassin hero who comes across the idiot heroine and they go on the run from the bad guys chasing after them. One thing I liked was that Owen and Ava didn't push each other away too much. They fell into like and then love pretty fast and decided to keep each other, lol.
In most of the books where the hero is super badass, why must the heroine be a dumbass? Ava had some smart moments but mostly she was a stumbling burden.
Another thing that bothered me:
I don't even know what to think about that ending. Is there more Owen and Ava? I also wanted an epilogue.
Realizing how routine-based her life is, Ava McKenzie accepts her friend Tessa's offer to house-sit for her in London and throws herself to the English lifestyle. That is, until she accidentally kills a man with her car and she gets thrown in with Owen Walker, one of the most renowned assassins in the world.
After reading Nichole Chase's Suddenly series, I had quite the expectation going into this one, and sadly, I was disappointed. The premise of this book had so much potential, but the book was not able to live up to it. It definitely was not what I expected, and I was disappointed.
I hated how Ava didn't seem human because she felt so little remorse after killing Mr. Song. Yes, she puked her guts out, but that was mostly it. Because of that, I was not able to empathize with the characters, and I felt detached to the book. I had a hard time going through it and I had to force myself to finish the book because it had no hold on me. It's not that the book was boring - certainly not, because this book has quite the adventure! It was quite interesting, just not interesting enough to be able to hold my attention for a period of time.
I felt like this book fell flat because even though there were interesting parts, I just can't help but feel like the story lacks some things. I feel like the story itself is just short, and it was just dragged on somehow to make it this long.
I'm so sad that I did not like this one because I really thought I would. That said, this still won't stop me from reading Chase's future works, just maybe not from this series, because it clearly is not for me.
Woah boy. This book just went like Carly Rae Jepsen's career. Shoot's up..... then comes crashing down.
I've been so excited to read this book ever since I first saw it on Goodreads, because who wouldn't love an assassin story featuring a clueless heroine and a hot assassin hero? The synopsis just grabbed me. In fact, the title itself grabbed me.
Ava's life just turned upside down within a couple of hours. From simply house-sitting in London for her newly married couple friends to accidentally killing a man and then all of a sudden, she's on a hitman's list, and is now running away with Owen, the hot guy she met at the cafe earlier who turns out to be an assassin. Why she's being hunted down, she's not sure. Even Owen isn't sure, but together they team up to get to the bottom of the whole fiasco.
See how cool that sounded like? Clueless American heroine and hot British assassin on the runaway -- speeding getaway cars, dodging bullets, gun holsters and hidden knives, and all other assassin stuff. I was so pumped for these scenarios, and yes, these were featured at the beginning and it got me really excited.
Since the story is written in first-person, bouncing from AVA's POV to Owen's, we get a good glimpse on their own personal thoughts. Ava was just funny to begin with. She was just an ordinary American woman trying to spruce up her life by agreeing to house sit for her best friend in London, then all of a sudden, she gets ended up in a hitlist. How her character was trying to stay sane from the whole craze was just funny, and her whole life depended on Owen to survive. However, althroughout the story, she starts to become comfortable with the lifestyle and starts to pick up on the basics.
Meanwhile, Owen was epic, especially at the beginning. He was cool, smooth and suave, especially with his job. He's the dream hero; hot, sexy and smart, except that he kills for a living. But nearing the end of the book, his POVs started to become kind of annoying when he starts going all possessive over Ava. It's both romantic and aggravating at the same time, because of his disregard to his professionalism due to his feelings for Ava.
The whole climax appeared to be absolutely anti-climactic; the reason behind why Ava was being targeted in the first place. It appeared to be kind of unexpected but the whole shebang just got me thinking, "That's it? That's the 'bang' of the story?". Everything just went downhill from there towards the ending. Imagine a graph going up, up, up... then it suddenly shoots down like a plane crash. That's what happened.
This book could have been better. The characters were fun and witty, and the most of the dialogues where hilarious, but if only the whole action included would actually make sense and live up to the book's potential. However, I'm still looking forward to reading the next book as this seems to be the start of a new series.
I've been waiting for so long to read this book and now that I did I feel my waiting has been wasted.
Accidental Assassin revolves around Ava McKenzie, an American twenty-something who just recently moved to England to housesit for her bff Tessa while she's away on her honeymoon. Ava is trying to break out of her insanely boring routine life and once she meets gorgeous Owen Walker, her life will be a roller coaster.
Owen Walker is a professional assassin. He spent the majority of his life taking out lives. He's used to it. But what he isn't used to is feeling attachment to a certain woman, despite his efforts. Owen soon realizes that there's a price of this woman's head and he needs to protect her and she might provide an understand of what is happening to them and why are there bad guys hunting them both?
my time with this book was weird, let's divide it in thirds:
first third: I loooooooooove it, this is going to great..
I just love the first meetings and misunderstandings especially with hot British guys and not nearly damsels in distress.. it was all lining to be a very good experience..
Second third: ok! why is she acting this way?
and then I started having trouble with Ava's character. One minute she'd ask a stupid question and another minute she'll say something smart.. it was really inconsistent. And the dialogues were kinda lackluster.. Still, Owen sounded hot <33333333
and even the meeting with said "bad guy" was really anti-climatic. I hardly believe that the ruthless Marcus would let the gang loose after getting them in "his" place and not even following them.. It was too easy..
last third: again, too easy!
I had to let the Marcus thing go, but then the ending happened and I was "that's it?"
And by the end, I wasn't really convinced her and Owen are really good together, maybe bed fellows but that's all I see for them. Anyways, I had really high hopes for this.. sadly!
I got a little nostalgic reading this book. The story reminded me of one of my favorite 1980’s shows, Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Scarecrow, aka Lee Stetson, (played by Bruce Boxleitner) is a dashing covert operator who meets Mrs. Amanda King (played by Kate Jackson). She is an ordinary suburban housewife who gets reluctantly gets involved with espionage games when she meets Scarecrow. Week after week, they get involved in solving crimes with his skills and her wit. Like the television series, this narrative is whip smart and great fun.
Ms. Chase unerringly strikes the right balance between heart and humor. I found myself smiling and laughing at the clever dialogue and totally engaged in the adventure. There is also something a little old fashioned in the story. It’s the way the hero and heroine interact – with witty dialogue; it is the way their eyes meet across the room; it is the way that their relationship is restrained and allowed to develop instead of being overwhelmed by insta-love.
The characters are highly likable. Ava transforms from what she calls a twenty-three year old “living like a cat woman. Minus the cat,” to a ready-for-action agent taking down a crime ring. Owen is an assassin, not only with a heart of gold, but a strong sense of proper decorum. In my mind, I envision him as a dashing James Bond-like character including the accent. I smirked at his objections to Ava’s “potty mouth”, while at the same time arguing, “I manage to kill people while maintaining a sense of propriety.”
And let’s not forget the bra-ripping, mad race-to-get-naked scene. (We didn’t get a whole lot of this on Scarecrow and Mrs. King because it was broadcast during primetime family viewing hour.) It is intense, consuming, and sweet: “I had been drowning in her blue eyes, in the way she moved, in the way she thought, from the moment I’d first laid eyes on her. Now I’d drown in the way she made me feel.” Sigh, so beautiful.
IN A NUTSHELL: Nichole Chase is a new author to me and having experienced this charming read, I’m certain to be back for more.
Is it wrong to say an assassin is cute? Because as I read Ava and Owen's story, the only thing that kept creeping into my mind was how cute this story was. The dialogue between the characters was witty and often left me with a smile on my face and the emotional connection between the characters and the reader was absolutely perfect.
Ava was in London to house sit her best friend's flat, but she was really looking for a change in her life. She was looking for a way to make things exciting, but she never imagined having a bounty on her head, being chased around London and putting her life in the hands of a very sexy assassin.
I think there's a little bit of Ava in all of us. She was in a rut and was looking for a way to shake her life up. I don't think any of us would want quite the shake up Ava had, but we could relate to her, understand her feelings and see why Owen was so appealing to her. I found myself cheering her on when she decided she needed to be a more active participant in the plans to out her would-be kidnappers. I wanted her to prove to herself that she was so much more than she thinks.
If there ever was an assassin with a conscious, it was Owen. I really liked him, despite his occupation. But when we got Owen's backstory and the reasons behind his chosen profession, you could understand why he was doing what he was. If someone has to take down the bad guys, I'd want Owen to do it.
Owen and Ava were perfect together. Almost immediately they understood each other and knew when to push or when to back off. I loved them together, especially their witty conversation (the Assassins FB page had me rolling).
This was a really fun story and it's one I think everyone should read. Plus...Owen is British and he's hot. What else could you ask for? This is a must read for any Nichole Chase fan. For those that may not have picked up one of her books, this is definitely a good one to start with.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I dived into this book, but it was nice to read something that was a bit lighter than a few of the books that I have been reading lately. The Accidental Assassin was a quirky read about Ava, who is in London to shake her life up and accidently lands in Owen’s complicated and dangerous world.
Ava was such a delight to read about! She’s looking to change her life around and do things outside of her comfort zone. House-sitting for her friend and her new husband sounds like a good start, but she was never prepared for what was coming. She was soon on the run with the hot, British assassin who was trying to keep her alive. Ava adjusted to her life on the run after her initial freak outs. She worked well under pressure and her feelings for Owen grew throughout the journey.
I liked Owen right from the beginning; he was cute and did a few sweet things for Ava, while doing what he knows best: killing people and getting out alive. He opened up a lot throughout the story and let a few people past his well constructed walls… especially Ava. She showed him that he isn’t as cold hearted as he thought and he saw a lot of things differently with Ava in his life.
Ava and Owen were an entertaining couple to read about. I enjoyed being in their fast paced world and meeting the few allies they could count on. Ava and Owen were attracted to each other from the start, and the chemistry between them grew throughout the book. The storyline was deeper than I thought it would be and will carry on into the next book in the series, but for now I am happy with how it ended and to see how their worlds are connected. This was a good start to a new series and I am keen to get more and get deeper insight to all the characters introduced.
I've been a fan of Nichole Chase ever since I read Suddenly Royal, so when I found out about The Accidental Assassin, I was excited to start reading it ASAP. And wow, this book sure didn't disappoint!
Action, suspense, intrigue and a case of mistaken identity all contribute to a thrilling read...and that doesn't even include the romance...which sure as hell didn't disappoint either. And the characters-amazingly well written, you really got a great sense of who they are and why they are that way-really fantastic depth of character for all of them. The story hooks you right from the start, and you'll stay hooked.
For me, a lot of what drew me in was the fantastic action scenes. And Owen...I couldn't get enough of Owen. He was so matter-of-fact about what he does, and some of the banter between him and Ava is pretty funny. Seeing how the two of them come together under these crazy circumstances, then watching things evolve between them makes for some pretty entertaining reading. And of course let's not forget the hot and sexy scenes between the two of them-those, well they'll knock your socks off.
Ava and Owen complement each other like two puzzle pieces that just snap together. By the time you're done, you can't imagine one without the other-her mostly innocent, slightly klutzy ways and his spot-on, man-of-the-world personality. Yin and yang. Plus, you'll get both points of view-one thing I love to see in any book since this lets you see so much more of the story.
This story easily slides into my top recommendation list, and is a no-brainer 5-star rating. Definitely an 18+ read, and fans of romantic suspense will unquestionably want to add this to their reading list.
I am absolutely giddy over this new series from Nichole Chase. The Accidental Assassin had me smiling with a stupid grin the entire time I was reading. Owen is suave, gorgeous and head over heals over Ava - the accidental assassin. The chemistry between Ava and Owen is off the charts. They are flirty, fun and the sexual tension between these two have you squirming.
The secondary characters are just as fun and enduring. Kenny has me rolling as our assassin in training. Fun, fun, fun. The only complaint about this book is I want more...now!
Love Assassin books!! Just signed up for this ones blog tour!!!
Update: I hope the authors daughter gets better ASAP!! I appreciate that she's taking her time with this book instead of rushing it off for publishing. I respect that and look forward to reading this when it's available.
This book has bee in my maybe shelf for a long time and today was the day that I decided to read it. I didn't care for Ava from the start, she seemed a little to flighty, the setting in London made her seem more stupid. I was intrigued by the guy that bought her coffee later, but then when it turned out Owen is an assassin stalking someone in her building I found it odd that he wouldn't have recognized Ava. Then when Ava backed over the guy Owen was after and he came after her, things got too fantastical for me, the car chase, changing drivers while driving, yeah...so not believable. This one just wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Been wanting to read this book for a long time. And finally the mood struck me. Lol. And i'm not dissaponted. Looking forward to read the next book :) Du, du, du..
Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase is a super fun book to read. Ava is an ordinary girl who decides to go on a not so ordinary adventure where she meets a not so ordinary guy. The moment Ava meets Owen the two embark on a crazy run for your life adventure and the real fun begins! Owen and Ava are so cute together and they definitely have super hot chemistry! Read this fun filled 5 star book and you will be so happy to have been there for the ride of your life! For more indie book reviews: Myindieauthorfix.com
The title alone had my interest and then when I started reading the text, my intrigue was further spiked by the contrasting nature of Owen, the story’s hero, interesting how an assassin fits himself into this role, and Ava, the heroine who is definitely the light that Owen needs to help bring out his true self beyond the darkness of his profession. The humorous and quirky storyline despite the dodging bullets part, the chemistry between Ava and Owen from their very first encounter, and the interaction of the main and secondary characters make Nichole Chase’s Accidental Assassin a must read.
Owen is quite the dichotomy from the onset of the story. He’s more of an Avenging Angel than an assassin because he’s very selective in the jobs he takes. He’s an assassin with a conscience, in a way, because he only kills bottom dwellers – those individuals who lead deplorable lives and use others for their own gains. In a way, he’s doing a service to society. But Owen knows what he does makes him a liability to anyone he might care about – that’s why he leads a very sterile and solitary life, leaving connections by the wayside and staying focused on the task at hand. But when Ava enters his life by taking out his next hit in quite an interesting way, he has no choice but to go from assassin to protector, and while they’re on the run, Owen realizes that he might not have anything to offer a woman like Ava but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to claim her as his, no matter how wrong that may be.
I love that readers get Owen’s perspective in the story. It adds to the storyline and shows who Owen is at his core. He’s not your typical assassin due to his selectiveness and the code he uses in choosing his jobs. He’s also not a cocky S.O.B. who’s only in it for the money and notoriety. His interaction with Ava doesn’t necessarily change him because he still is a cold hearted killer, but his connection to her shows a different side of him – the side he hasn’t allowed himself to feel or show for many years.
Ava is definitely the girl who could bring Owen to his knees. She portrays herself to be this innocent beauty, but she has a potty mouth and knows how to throw attitude. She’s placed in this impossible and unsafe situation, and she’s definitely scared shitless, but it also empowers her, forcing her to step outside her safely crafted life and live this scary adventure that she finds herself thrust into. In moments of high tension, her rambling helps to ease the situation and her openness allows Owen to see himself as more than an assassin.
Mavis is a phenomenal supporting character. At first, I didn’t think I would like her…she has past history with Owen, and that didn’t sit well for me and what it meant for Ava. But just like there’s more to Owen than the façade he portrays, what you see is also not what you get with Mavis. She totally kicks ass, and she’s a driving force in helping Ava and Owen out of the mess that is chasing them. I really hope she gets her own story because I can’t imagine the type of man it would take to tame her!
The Accidental Assassin is a well written story with fantastic character development and an interesting storyline. The first person dual point of views that readers get definitely help readers to understand everything that’s going on inside Owen and Ava’s heads as they work to outrun the bad guys who are after them and contemplate giving into their feelings for one another. It’s truly an enjoyable read that has a great mix of drama, steam, and hijinks, and I hope there will be more to come from these characters.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
What a great book!! I haven't had so much fun reading a book in a LONG time!! Nichole Chase is a new to me author and I am definitely going to be diving into her back list when I get the chance. The Accidental Assassin was fun, charming, action packed, sexy and highly addictive. I can't pin point just one thing I loved about this book but I was instantly hooked by Nichole Chase's writing style and was anxious to get back to reading when real life got in the way. The Accidental Assassin just hit all the right notes for me and I can't wait to read more in this (please, please let me be right) series.
Nichole Chase took a pretty serious situation of assassins, sex trade organizations, murder and mystery and made it charming and fun. I love a good "chase" novel and this took the best parts of action and mixed it with humor and heat to make an enticing story that I couldn't stop reading. I am still thinking about this book days later and stalking Nichole's social media sites to learn when to expect more from these characters!
The Accidental Assassin introduces us to Ava and Owen in a most unusual way. I love how quirky and a bit naive Ava is on the outside, but diving deeper into her character we get a strong, intelligent woman that is whisked up in this crazy situation. Owen is everything you could want in a hero. He is a bit closed off, but charmingly sweet and caring (but deadly). I would love to get to know both of these characters more, but in a fast paced novel like The Accidental Assassin, we get to know them in bits and pieces (which is fine) and that leaves you craving more.
Nichole Chase has a fantastic way to weaving a story, she revealed things at a fast pace but I never once felt rushed. The pacing was perfect, the chemistry was hot and the characters were unique. Not only did I fall in love with Ava and Owen, but the cast of secondary characters were interesting and just ripe for more stories to come from them! The Accidental Assassin was not what I was expecting, it was not a dark or gritty story, it was a lot of fun to read and took a darker subject and made it sexy and charming. I loved every bit (which as you know is rare for me).
If you have never read Nichole Chase you are in for a treat!! Fans of action packed stories with romance, heat and fabulous characters will definitely want to 1-click The Accidental Assassin. I have only given out a 5 star review to 10 books this year (I've read over 200 books in 2014), so if you are looking for a guaranteed good book, this is it! Grab your e-reader, turn off the phone and enjoy running away with Owen and Ava...
Do you enjoy lighthearted spy thriller with a bit of romance? Do you enjoy books that are just plan fun? Yes? Then this book is for you. No? Well you should still give this book a try. It might change your mind. The Accidental Assassin was so much fun to read! Even now writing up this review I just have a huge smile on my face because it was just a great, fun, entertaining story!
When Ava's bff gets married and needs someone to house sit for her in London Ava decides to break out of her habits and go do something new. She has been wanting to try new things, not be set in her ways like she has been, so she heads to London ready to mix things up. Boy does she gets more adventure than she asked for!
Owen is an assassin. He has a code though - he will only kill people who deserve it. People who sell women and such like that. Bad guys. He is sent to London to kill a guy, but he likes to do a little recon first. Especially since something seems fishy about this job. He first sees Ava in a coffee shop and there is a moment between them, but that is all it can be he figures.
When Ava accidentally hits and kills Owen's mark in the parking garage of the building she is staying in, her life is in danger. They must figure out who is after Ava and why while trying not to be killed themselves. Oh it was so much fun. Owen and Ava are both drawn to each other, but Owen doesn't think he deserves to be with someone, especially someone like her.
"'You shouldn't want me. I'm not -' 'Don't you dare say you aren't good enough for me. I get to make that decision." I tilted my head and whispered, 'And I decide that I want you.'"
Ava is so sweet, but tough and just perfect for Owen. She helps him in ways he didn't know he needed help. When they get into sticky situations Ava is right there wanting to help in any way she can. Sure she is not a trained killer, but she is open to learning what she can so she can be useful. I loved how she never backed down, she was just so strong. Well for the most part. Like most people she does have a few moments of letting everything wash over her, a few moments of weakness before she was ready to go again and do whatever needed done which to me just made her human and stronger. And in those moments of weakness Owen was there and was just so sweet. Owen's friend, or closest things he has to them, shows up to help and it was just great. Lots of action, lots of romance, lots of fun! You definitely should read this book. It was amazing and I hope we get more adventures soon!
An action filled, sexy, suspenseful, humorous romp that entertains from the first page to the last.
When I first saw the synopsis for this a few months back, I immediately added it to me TBR list, because I’m always looking for something original to read. Well, my excitement wasn’t misguided, because this quirky tale was exactly what I needed to add some zest to my reading.
This story is about Ava, a recent college graduate, who goes to London to escape her humdrum life in the States. She’s promised herself to take in all life has to offer, and never to experience another mundane day again. She gets her wish. After meeting up with Owen, a very sexy, and very lovable (yes, lovable) assassin, her days are adrenaline filled, and without a dull moment.
Owen has lived the life of an assassin long enough to know that getting close to someone is dangerous for his and their health. He shouldn’t care one bit about the danger Ava is in, but he can’t resist her. She brings out a side of him that he thought was long dead, and even if it means she won’t accept him, and leave him in the end, he’ll protect her by any means necessary. The situation these two find themselves in is intense, and their emotions are charged, but I thought the author did a good job building on their chemistry to intensify their connection. And let me tell you, the chemistry between Ava and Owen was juuust right. There is teasing, and enough tension that you’ll think you’re going to snap, but that just makes the romance that much better.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is my first book by Nichole Chase, but I can honestly say that it won’t be my last. I loved her style. Her characters were quirky and original, and her story was just the right balance of, well, everything. This book had my heart racing some moments because of the action, others because of the sexual tension. There were moments when I laughed and snorted, and others when I was tense from nerves. The plot is outrageous, but then, so was Octupussy. I recommend it for those moments when you want a good escape. So put it on your light and entertaining shelf, and pull it out when you’re in the mood for something fun and sexy.
4-1/2 Stars. The Accidental Assassin was such a fun, unique twist on the new adult romance genre. The characters are quirky and likable and the plot weaves danger and humor, keeping me glued to the virtual pages.
Ava is an American house-sitting her honeymooning best friend. Owen is an assassin assigned to taking out one of the other inhabitants in the same building where Ava is staying. When Ava accidentally backs over the target with her car, she finds herself in the middle of a murder-for-hire plot, relying on the the hot, yet mysterious, Owen to survive.
Plot The plot is unique in the new adult genre, at least for me. It's a romance, nestled in danger, surrounded by nearly non-stop action. Nichole Chase pulls off a charming tale of an unlikely heroine, some intense chemistry, and a fast-moving thrill-ride, that is reminiscent of Janet Evanovich but really is all its own.
Characters Ava is likable from the opening paragraph and even Owen makes it hard to dislike him. What with being choosy about who he'll kill, and ensuring there is never any collateral damage and all. These two seem like an unlikely pair, and yet the attraction is palpable from the first meet. The supporting cast are all equally interesting, right down the shop store clerk and the arms dealer.
World Building The world of spies and assassins comes alive between the pages, the settings feel authentic, with pop culture references thrown in to connect readers with the story even more.
Writing I love Nichole Chase's style. She tackles tough subject matter with traces of humor, but never making light of a serious topic.
Top Five Things I Loved about The Accidental Assassin: 1. Ava. She's a fun, refreshing heroine who had me rooting for her from the first page.
2. Owen. He's smexy, intelligent, and loyal. Hard to beat that combination.
3. The settings. Everywhere from Owen's cottage in Oxford to the streets of Notting Hill were as alive as the characters who inhabit them.
4. The plot. A fun idea that was wonderfully executed.
5. The banter. I loved watching Ava and Owen going tit for tat, amping up the chemistry in a playful way.
Bottom Line The Accidental Assassin is a fun, fresh take on new adult romance with a twist.
Disclaimer I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I must say after reading the synopsis and seeing that this was a bit of a spy mystery but one with some romance and a little bit of comedy with naïve American girl who ends up meeting up with a hot sexy assassin, it sounded like a great different read from my normal reads. I haven’t read anything by this author before now but have heard great things about her so figured I would check it out and went in with great expectations. Sadly I was left disappointed.
Ava is house sitting in London for her best friend who has gone on her honeymoon and has decided to get out and see some sights and get a job, getting out there to try something new, which is completely out of her norm. On her way out of the parking garage while on her way to a job interview, she runs over a man and accidentally kills him. What she doesn’t realized as this man was actually the target of a well know assassin, Owen. But Owen is not alone in going after this man and now Owen and Ava are on the run from the other unknown assassin. They soon realize there is a price on both of their heads and they must try to figure out what exactly is going on while at the same time they try to stay alive.
I started this book and must say from the start I struggled to get into it and found myself struggling to connect to both of the main characters. I can’t say I hated the book nor can I really point at anything in particular as to what was wrong, I just couldn’t get into it. The storyline just felt like it was lacking something, the little bit extra that would engage me in the story. I did not find the writing bad I just found the story to fall flat and I just couldn’t connect the characters. There was also several scenes that I was left wondering why they were even there, they really did not add a lot to storyline or the development of the characters and was left with it feeling more like filler than story. And I found myself not getting pulled into the action and sitting on the edge of my seat, for most of it I was left struggling to force myself not to start skimming.
I went into this book with high expectation of it being funny but also action packed but was left with disappointed in a story that just couldn’t engage me at all so sadly at 32% I made the decision to not continue read and instead to DNF.
Ava is asked to house sit in London while her friend is on a honeymoon. While in London, Ava decides that she's too much of a creature of habit, and she should try to shake up her life a little. When Ava accidentally kills a man with her friend's car, her life definitely gets shaken up. Suddenly Ava's running for her life, and people seem to want her dead for reasons unknown. Luckily, she has the help and protection of an extremely hot assassin named Owen, who was hired to kill the same man that Ava hit with a car. With prices on both of their heads for unknown reasons, Owen and Ava try to get to the bottom of what is going on...and stay alive in the process. And shit gets real.
After reading and loving Nichole Chase's other books, I came into this one with high expectations. As my rating would indicate, The Accidental Assassin wasn't all I thought it would be. From the very beginning, I could just never get into the story. At about 70%, I said screw it and skimmed the rest until the end. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it was that was missing from the story. I have no clue why I didn't particularly enjoy it, since it wasn't bad. I've read stories with assassins before and liked them. I've read stories about romance and liked them. I've read stories from this author and liked them. (I liked the brief mention of the Suddenly Royal characters at the beginning of this one! I miss them!) I guess this particular book just wasn't for me, though. What I will say is that I think the book could have used more editing. I'm not sure if it was just the Kindle edition or all editions, but there were some errors that I couldn't help but notice. Even now, I'm not completely sure if
However, regardless of my rating, I did enjoy parts of the first half of the book. I also would still read more of Nichole Chase's books in the future. This one simply wasn't for me!
Okay, what happens when an American tries to reverse out of a parking house in central London? Definitely not what Ava McKenzie expected to happen that's for sure! She is house sitting for her friend Tess and her new husband whilst they are honeymooning. Life wise, Ava is in a rut and looking for a change of scenery and excitement in her life. Little did she know that trying to get to a last minute, unexpected job interview would change her life forever!
Owen Walker has always been very particular about the jobs he takes. He is world renowned and has never failed an assignment. He only considers the jobs where he feels he is doing a service for the good of the people, only his conscience is not good for business and his contact is not very happy about the way Owen is so choosy about his jobs.
This is a fun and humorous escapade with two people who you wouldn't normally associate together. Owen is the most unlikely assassin you will ever meet because he cares about what he does, believing and knowing his actions will make a difference to the innocent victims of the heinous crime of human trafficking and prostitution. Ava is along for the ride because she's a mistaken target, an accidental assassin and been shot at!
The banter between the protagonists laugh out loud funny and witty. The supporting characters are quirky and fun. What is most interesting is the character development of both Ava and Owen. The longer they both spend in each others company, the more they take on some of the other persons traits. In ways you wouldn't expect.
This is an action packed suspenseful romance that is highly entertaining.
4 Stars
***arc received in exchange for an honest review***