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Trigger Happy Ending
“I am your divine intervention. Your salvation. And I fear you are mine.”
Raine Maddox doesn’t believe in happy endings.
Soren Blackwood knows better than to want one.
Raised by the Agency, a covert empire built on secrecy and control, Raine has spent her life becoming exactly what they made her to the perfect assassin. Seduce. Manipulate. Eliminate. She doesn’t ask questions, and she never gets attached.
Soren is ex-black ops. A man forged by war and loyal to no one. He’s lethal and far too good at getting under her skin.
When they’re sent to recover PARM-17, a serum with the power to push human capability beyond its limits, they’re dragged into a brutal world of corruption, betrayal, and buried secrets, where trust is a liability and every moment alone together threatens to snap the line they’ve both sworn not to cross.
But the deeper Raine and Soren go, the more dangerous two things the truth, and each other.
Raine Maddox doesn’t believe in happy endings.
Soren Blackwood knows better than to want one.
Raised by the Agency, a covert empire built on secrecy and control, Raine has spent her life becoming exactly what they made her to the perfect assassin. Seduce. Manipulate. Eliminate. She doesn’t ask questions, and she never gets attached.
Soren is ex-black ops. A man forged by war and loyal to no one. He’s lethal and far too good at getting under her skin.
When they’re sent to recover PARM-17, a serum with the power to push human capability beyond its limits, they’re dragged into a brutal world of corruption, betrayal, and buried secrets, where trust is a liability and every moment alone together threatens to snap the line they’ve both sworn not to cross.
But the deeper Raine and Soren go, the more dangerous two things the truth, and each other.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2026
About the author
K.J. Orchard
2 books18 followersK.J. Orchard writes emotionally messy stories for good girls who like to do bad things.
Her debut novel, Wild Thing, was released in March 2025. Her second novel, Trigger Happy Ending was published in June 2026.
Based on the Gold Coast, Australia, she's a PR girl by day, spicy author by night.
www.katorchard.com
IG @kjorchard_author | TikTok @kjorchard
Her debut novel, Wild Thing, was released in March 2025. Her second novel, Trigger Happy Ending was published in June 2026.
Based on the Gold Coast, Australia, she's a PR girl by day, spicy author by night.
www.katorchard.com
IG @kjorchard_author | TikTok @kjorchard
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 26, 2026
This book was amazing! I fell in love with Angel/Raine she is bad***. I loved how the story unfolded and you were on the edge of your seat waiting for what was next. 100% should read this book.
If you want passion, violence and love this book is for you!
If you want passion, violence and love this book is for you!
July 5, 2026
4.75 ROUNDED TO 5 STARS FOR ME.
Raine and Soren,two assasins work for The Agency.They never work together and now they are forced to be a team.When two ego's clash and the attraction sparks Raine and Soren may get a chance at something both didn't expect.
Will they be risk their hearts once the mission is over?
Wow,wow, wow.What a fantastic read.Both characters think they don't deserve anything better,and the cold way of their lives is already complicated without the feelings gets in the way.At the beginning in the plane part I was not sure if I would like Soren,but when Raine turned tables on him that was the part that was so engrossing I knew it will be great.Raine,as an assasin was cold,calculated and didn't play fair,yet in a way she's so vunerable and sweet.Soren with his poetry really win me over,a badass with a heart.Chemistry between them was so hot,this tension and the hateful banter was so good,a slow burn that was explosive once they finally got together.A dangerous mission,The Agent O who's not a nice man,and compliced relationship betweeen them,Raine and Soren will literally fight for their lives.I suspected and was right that someone from Raine life was a person Raine was looking for about her mother's death,can't wait and really hope there will be next book and she gets revenge she deserves.My first book by this author and she's now on top of my favorites.
fAVORITE LINE-
"I am sin.I am all that is unholy,"he growls as he backs me up against the side of the dresser.I suck in a sharp breath,my body vibrating with attraction and desire and horniness I can't even find a word for.
He drops his lips close to mine,our foreheads are touching.
"But I am your divine intervetion.Your salvation.And I fear you are mine."
Like I said Soren is a killer poet ;)
Full of hate,death,romance and spice,what you waiting for?,grab it and induldge in this fantastic story.
Thank you Love Notes PR and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.
Raine and Soren,two assasins work for The Agency.They never work together and now they are forced to be a team.When two ego's clash and the attraction sparks Raine and Soren may get a chance at something both didn't expect.
Will they be risk their hearts once the mission is over?
Wow,wow, wow.What a fantastic read.Both characters think they don't deserve anything better,and the cold way of their lives is already complicated without the feelings gets in the way.At the beginning in the plane part I was not sure if I would like Soren,but when Raine turned tables on him that was the part that was so engrossing I knew it will be great.Raine,as an assasin was cold,calculated and didn't play fair,yet in a way she's so vunerable and sweet.Soren with his poetry really win me over,a badass with a heart.Chemistry between them was so hot,this tension and the hateful banter was so good,a slow burn that was explosive once they finally got together.A dangerous mission,The Agent O who's not a nice man,and compliced relationship betweeen them,Raine and Soren will literally fight for their lives.I suspected and was right that someone from Raine life was a person Raine was looking for about her mother's death,can't wait and really hope there will be next book and she gets revenge she deserves.My first book by this author and she's now on top of my favorites.
fAVORITE LINE-
"I am sin.I am all that is unholy,"he growls as he backs me up against the side of the dresser.I suck in a sharp breath,my body vibrating with attraction and desire and horniness I can't even find a word for.
He drops his lips close to mine,our foreheads are touching.
"But I am your divine intervetion.Your salvation.And I fear you are mine."
Like I said Soren is a killer poet ;)
Full of hate,death,romance and spice,what you waiting for?,grab it and induldge in this fantastic story.
Thank you Love Notes PR and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.
June 28, 2026
A special thanks to K J Orchard for this ARC. While the review copy was gifted, all opinions are my own.
Its been so hard for me to sit down and read lately but trigger happy ending was such a fast and easy read. The pacing was fast and entertaining! I loved the choas and the intricacies of the story. I adored wild thing and I'll be honest- i was expecting something similar but Trigger Happy Ending completely surprised me (in a good way).
Highly recommend giving it a go if you enjoy chaotic and unhinged characters and organized crime with some hot romance 🔥
Its been so hard for me to sit down and read lately but trigger happy ending was such a fast and easy read. The pacing was fast and entertaining! I loved the choas and the intricacies of the story. I adored wild thing and I'll be honest- i was expecting something similar but Trigger Happy Ending completely surprised me (in a good way).
Highly recommend giving it a go if you enjoy chaotic and unhinged characters and organized crime with some hot romance 🔥
June 19, 2026
*Thank you to K.J. Orchard and Love Notes PR for this ARC*
Two assassins with insane chemistry? Count me in. I was hooked from the very first page. Raine and Soren’s banter had me grinning, but their heartbreaking backstories had me completely emotional. The tension, the action, and the slow-burn romance were perfectly balanced. I flew through this book and already need the next one!
Two assassins with insane chemistry? Count me in. I was hooked from the very first page. Raine and Soren’s banter had me grinning, but their heartbreaking backstories had me completely emotional. The tension, the action, and the slow-burn romance were perfectly balanced. I flew through this book and already need the next one!
July 7, 2026
Trigger Happy Ending was an amazing, suspenseful, spicy, and super interesting read that I consumed in one sitting ❤️ I absolutely loved the storyline and was fully invested, start to finish. Raine and Soren had an electric connection that couldn’t be ignored, and their bickering banter was hilarious, tense, and once their control broke, everything got real heated, really fast 😏 The pacing and build up are nonstop, but in the best, eagerly flipping the pages sort of way, and that ending!!! I didn’t want to say goodbye to them, and have such excitement and a need for book two now—I am dying to read more of Raine and Soren 🤍
Raine is confident, sexy, bold, unapologetically herself, and I loved every bit of her personality ❤️ She has so many layers to her character, and seeing them slowly revealed added so much depth to the story. She’s very good at her job, which ends up leading to a friendship with Cherry, who is such a sweetheart, and their relationship was heartwarming and gut wrenching 🥺 It showed a different, vulnerable, and softer side to Raine too. Not like with Soren, who she is majorly all fire with! Every interaction between them is loaded with sooo much chemistry, and her different thoughts about him (and in general) had me giggling a bunch; I found her really funny 😂 Seeing her open herself up to Soren slowly and be vulnerable with him was sweet, but their standoff breaking was beyond spicy and it couldn’t be contained once released 🥵 And she can’t be contained either, certainly not when it keeps her away from Soren! The lengths she went to for him show how much she cares about him, and I loved the way book one ended for her 🤍
Soren is all cold with hard, rigid edges on the outside (😍😍), but is someone who cares so deeply and has a sensitive side to him ❤️ I liked getting to learn more about his character and why he is the way he is, and also thought he changed in such a warm and fuzzy way! Just like Raine, I thought his character and inner thoughts were hilarious, especially when it came to him navigating his growing feelings for Raine and keeping within the lines of their job! From the beginning she had him hooked though, and I really enjoyed their banter and how charged it was, with them meeting each other’s feistiness 🔥 Their back and forth was aggressive and head on in a way at times, but that worked perfectly and just felt like it was naturally them. The tender and intimate moments between them felt really special because of that too 🤍 As his feelings for Raine grew, his perspective shifted in a way that made it clear just how deeply he cared for her and how far he’d go, how much he’ll do, all for her ❤️
This book had lots of suspense, spice, and a very interesting plot that keeps you on your toes! 🤍 Raine and Soren are some of my favorite characters that I’ve read, and I loved watching their journey and seeing them getting together. They each have so much fire and personality to them, and it made for banter that kept me laughing throughout the story! Raine is the perfect match for Soren, and she’ll certainly keep him in line 😌 The reveal near the ending was surprising, as well as their plan at the end, and I wasn’t ready to let them go at all by the last line… but thank goodness I won’t have to!! Book two cannot come soon enough after this amazing read! ❤️
Raine is confident, sexy, bold, unapologetically herself, and I loved every bit of her personality ❤️ She has so many layers to her character, and seeing them slowly revealed added so much depth to the story. She’s very good at her job, which ends up leading to a friendship with Cherry, who is such a sweetheart, and their relationship was heartwarming and gut wrenching 🥺 It showed a different, vulnerable, and softer side to Raine too. Not like with Soren, who she is majorly all fire with! Every interaction between them is loaded with sooo much chemistry, and her different thoughts about him (and in general) had me giggling a bunch; I found her really funny 😂 Seeing her open herself up to Soren slowly and be vulnerable with him was sweet, but their standoff breaking was beyond spicy and it couldn’t be contained once released 🥵 And she can’t be contained either, certainly not when it keeps her away from Soren! The lengths she went to for him show how much she cares about him, and I loved the way book one ended for her 🤍
Soren is all cold with hard, rigid edges on the outside (😍😍), but is someone who cares so deeply and has a sensitive side to him ❤️ I liked getting to learn more about his character and why he is the way he is, and also thought he changed in such a warm and fuzzy way! Just like Raine, I thought his character and inner thoughts were hilarious, especially when it came to him navigating his growing feelings for Raine and keeping within the lines of their job! From the beginning she had him hooked though, and I really enjoyed their banter and how charged it was, with them meeting each other’s feistiness 🔥 Their back and forth was aggressive and head on in a way at times, but that worked perfectly and just felt like it was naturally them. The tender and intimate moments between them felt really special because of that too 🤍 As his feelings for Raine grew, his perspective shifted in a way that made it clear just how deeply he cared for her and how far he’d go, how much he’ll do, all for her ❤️
This book had lots of suspense, spice, and a very interesting plot that keeps you on your toes! 🤍 Raine and Soren are some of my favorite characters that I’ve read, and I loved watching their journey and seeing them getting together. They each have so much fire and personality to them, and it made for banter that kept me laughing throughout the story! Raine is the perfect match for Soren, and she’ll certainly keep him in line 😌 The reveal near the ending was surprising, as well as their plan at the end, and I wasn’t ready to let them go at all by the last line… but thank goodness I won’t have to!! Book two cannot come soon enough after this amazing read! ❤️
June 16, 2026
I DEVOURED THIS IN LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS. Did I stay up until 3am to finish it—yes. Do I regret it? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Could I have read it slower—well no, it was that good. So why would I have wanted to do that. What’s the Gen Z slang the kids use these days? THIS BOOK SLAPS. IT ATE. LEFT NO CRUMBS.
Immediately from the prologue I was OBSESSED. How can you not be when it starts out with an assassin FMC POV. From there, the intensity just gets better. Raine (The Angel of Death) isn’t someone to be messed with. That’s not exactly by choice, she was raised in a secret society as a weapon, and she’s deeply terrifying (but, she does know how to crack jokes and her internal monologue is hilarious). She works alone, refusing to be responsible for anyone. Until she’s told she has to work alongside the “Bodysnatcher”. Someone as ruthless (and dead inside) as her it seems—real name, Soren—tall, tattooed, man of few words (but secretly, writes down his thoughts, observations—and it’s adorable; there’s a golden retriever of a man hidden in there somewhere). When they meet you can cut that thick tension with one of Raine’s knives. I can’t help but be captivated by both on them. They’re ruthless, calculated, and merciless. Absolutely daunting. But together—their chemistry is electric. You could feel through the pages the push and pull between them and everything leading up to the long awaited “fuck it” moment. And it was WORTH THE WAIT. Not only was their banter and hate for each other top tier—but the moment they both gave in—CHEFS MOTHERFUCKING KISS. I think they’ve become a top favorite in everything.
Regardless, not only was their connection perfect, the plot was impeccable. Working together to retrieve a highly secretive serum from high powered men—by any means necessary. Going undercover, befriending the enemy, lies and deception, lots of knives, schmurder. This story was built so flawlessly—action, secrets, betrayal, spice, connections, depth. I had all kinds of emotions getting lost in these pages. Laughing, crying, flustered, frustrated, angry, back to flustered—a damn sky high rollercoaster’s worth. And I regret none of them. I’ll happily put myself through them again to read this for the first time. Ending on a “soft” cliffhanger, this was truly a phenomenal book and I can’t wait to get more of Raine and Soren. I have so many questions and I’m desperate for those answers. Loved. Loved. Loved.
Immediately from the prologue I was OBSESSED. How can you not be when it starts out with an assassin FMC POV. From there, the intensity just gets better. Raine (The Angel of Death) isn’t someone to be messed with. That’s not exactly by choice, she was raised in a secret society as a weapon, and she’s deeply terrifying (but, she does know how to crack jokes and her internal monologue is hilarious). She works alone, refusing to be responsible for anyone. Until she’s told she has to work alongside the “Bodysnatcher”. Someone as ruthless (and dead inside) as her it seems—real name, Soren—tall, tattooed, man of few words (but secretly, writes down his thoughts, observations—and it’s adorable; there’s a golden retriever of a man hidden in there somewhere). When they meet you can cut that thick tension with one of Raine’s knives. I can’t help but be captivated by both on them. They’re ruthless, calculated, and merciless. Absolutely daunting. But together—their chemistry is electric. You could feel through the pages the push and pull between them and everything leading up to the long awaited “fuck it” moment. And it was WORTH THE WAIT. Not only was their banter and hate for each other top tier—but the moment they both gave in—CHEFS MOTHERFUCKING KISS. I think they’ve become a top favorite in everything.
Regardless, not only was their connection perfect, the plot was impeccable. Working together to retrieve a highly secretive serum from high powered men—by any means necessary. Going undercover, befriending the enemy, lies and deception, lots of knives, schmurder. This story was built so flawlessly—action, secrets, betrayal, spice, connections, depth. I had all kinds of emotions getting lost in these pages. Laughing, crying, flustered, frustrated, angry, back to flustered—a damn sky high rollercoaster’s worth. And I regret none of them. I’ll happily put myself through them again to read this for the first time. Ending on a “soft” cliffhanger, this was truly a phenomenal book and I can’t wait to get more of Raine and Soren. I have so many questions and I’m desperate for those answers. Loved. Loved. Loved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2026
🔎📚 ARC Review: Trigger Happy Ending by K.J. Orchard 📚🔎
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
First, a huge thank you to K.J. Orchard and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! I'm so grateful for the chance to experience this story before release—and it's officially out now! 🎉📖
"I am your divine intervention. Your salvation. And I fear you are mine."
This book was fascinating, dark, full of slow-building tension (in more ways than one 😉), and definitely brought the spice.
Raine Maddox is the Agency's perfect assassin—trained to seduce, manipulate, and eliminate without question. Soren Blackwood, an ex-black ops operative, is just as dangerous, and when the two are forced to work together to recover a powerful experimental serum, they're pulled into a deadly web of corruption, betrayal, and secrets where trusting anyone could be fatal.
The entire time I was reading, I kept getting John Wick meets Red Sparrow vibes, and I absolutely loved that combination. The action, suspense, and chemistry between Raine and Soren made it hard to put down.
There were two things I think would really elevate this book:
• Some scene transitions felt a bit abrupt, and I would've loved smoother flow between chapters and scenes.
• The grammar could use another editing pass, and I'm hopeful that with additional editing, it will make an already enjoyable story even stronger.
Overall, I had a great time with this one, and now I'm stuck waiting to see if revenge is actually served in the next book. Seriously... K.J. Orchard, I hate you for ending it there. 😂
If you enjoy dark romantic suspense, deadly assassins, morally gray characters, and plenty of tension with your action, this one is worth checking out!
Have you picked this one up yet? If not, it's available now! And tell me—which book cliffhanger has left you desperately waiting for the sequel? 👇📚
#BookReview #darkromamce #Bookstagram #morallygrey #BookCommunity
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
First, a huge thank you to K.J. Orchard and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! I'm so grateful for the chance to experience this story before release—and it's officially out now! 🎉📖
"I am your divine intervention. Your salvation. And I fear you are mine."
This book was fascinating, dark, full of slow-building tension (in more ways than one 😉), and definitely brought the spice.
Raine Maddox is the Agency's perfect assassin—trained to seduce, manipulate, and eliminate without question. Soren Blackwood, an ex-black ops operative, is just as dangerous, and when the two are forced to work together to recover a powerful experimental serum, they're pulled into a deadly web of corruption, betrayal, and secrets where trusting anyone could be fatal.
The entire time I was reading, I kept getting John Wick meets Red Sparrow vibes, and I absolutely loved that combination. The action, suspense, and chemistry between Raine and Soren made it hard to put down.
There were two things I think would really elevate this book:
• Some scene transitions felt a bit abrupt, and I would've loved smoother flow between chapters and scenes.
• The grammar could use another editing pass, and I'm hopeful that with additional editing, it will make an already enjoyable story even stronger.
Overall, I had a great time with this one, and now I'm stuck waiting to see if revenge is actually served in the next book. Seriously... K.J. Orchard, I hate you for ending it there. 😂
If you enjoy dark romantic suspense, deadly assassins, morally gray characters, and plenty of tension with your action, this one is worth checking out!
Have you picked this one up yet? If not, it's available now! And tell me—which book cliffhanger has left you desperately waiting for the sequel? 👇📚
#BookReview #darkromamce #Bookstagram #morallygrey #BookCommunity
July 2, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Love Notes PR
Trigger Happy Ending is an enemies to lovers dark romance, with plenty of tension and spice ! There’s suspense, morally grey characters, touch her and die vibes, secret societies and deadly assassins and plenty of action.
Raine has trained her whole life to be an assassin and doesn’t even dare to consider a normal life could be possible for her. She’s focused on finding out the truth about her mother’s passing and getting revenge on those responsible and is singular in her focus. She gets paired with Soren, an ex black-ops operative, for a dangerous mission involving retrieving an experimental serum that is more connected to her than she initially could have assumed. This mission is a deadly mix of betrayal and corruption, making it almost impossible for either one to risk trusting each other.
There’s so much potential with the characters and the plot and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series. Having said that, I was definitely put off by some aspects of the writing and editing. There is absolutely no need for an extra internal monologue for the FMC, it was extremely distracting and it can be easily integrated in the first person POV writing. Similarly, some aspects can be shown through the character’s actions and thoughts rather than spelling it out - for example, we kept getting explicitly told that they have tension or that they find each other hot with every occasion when this could have just been shown through their interactions and thoughts instead of it being a recurring mention. At times, I found that the writing was almost like narrating a TV show, where you see the character go through the motions but also narrate them at the same time, not sure if that makes sense to anyone else but that’s how I perceived it.
Hopefully these are things that will be addressed for further instalments as I am
Thank you KJ Orchard and Love Notes PR for this advanced copy.
Trigger Happy Ending is an enemies to lovers dark romance, with plenty of tension and spice ! There’s suspense, morally grey characters, touch her and die vibes, secret societies and deadly assassins and plenty of action.
Raine has trained her whole life to be an assassin and doesn’t even dare to consider a normal life could be possible for her. She’s focused on finding out the truth about her mother’s passing and getting revenge on those responsible and is singular in her focus. She gets paired with Soren, an ex black-ops operative, for a dangerous mission involving retrieving an experimental serum that is more connected to her than she initially could have assumed. This mission is a deadly mix of betrayal and corruption, making it almost impossible for either one to risk trusting each other.
There’s so much potential with the characters and the plot and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series. Having said that, I was definitely put off by some aspects of the writing and editing. There is absolutely no need for an extra internal monologue for the FMC, it was extremely distracting and it can be easily integrated in the first person POV writing. Similarly, some aspects can be shown through the character’s actions and thoughts rather than spelling it out - for example, we kept getting explicitly told that they have tension or that they find each other hot with every occasion when this could have just been shown through their interactions and thoughts instead of it being a recurring mention. At times, I found that the writing was almost like narrating a TV show, where you see the character go through the motions but also narrate them at the same time, not sure if that makes sense to anyone else but that’s how I perceived it.
Hopefully these are things that will be addressed for further instalments as I am
Thank you KJ Orchard and Love Notes PR for this advanced copy.
July 1, 2026
ARC Review
"What did you do?"
"I cut out his eyes and fed him to the sharks"
"Why?"
"Cause he looked at you"
This was so chaotic but in a good way!
Raine (aka Angel) and Soren (aka Lukas) both are assassins that currently work for the Agency were they are reluctantly paired together for a missions to acquire a new bioweapon, and let me tell you, neither one is anywhere close to being okay with that. It's hate from the first meeting.... and attraction.... definitely a lot of attraction and tension between them.
This book has moments that made me laugh out loud and moments where I was tearing up. Both Raine and Soren have gone through their shared amount of trauma and we get to learn more about them and their pasts even through they both clearly have trust issues.
Rain was exactly the person who I wanted my fmc assassin (who takes absolutely no shit from anyone) to be when we first meet her. She's strong, independent, and resilient. And Soren....... he's sexy af and a dick.... Okay no but he has his own issues for why he is the way he is and the second we get his POV I loved him.
Both characters have depth and they grow throughout the story, progressing from enemies, to hate, to tolerate, to possible friends, to more.
Trigger Happy Ending has banter, it has tension, it has spice, it has violence and a way of keeping you hooked and guessing what will happen next.
Be warned though, you're gonna want book 2 after that ending!
What you can expect from this wild ride:
🖤 enemies to lovers
💋 assassin romance (assassin x ex black ops)
🖤 two broken souls
💋 morally grey characters
🖤 forced proximity
💋 touch her and die
🖤 secret society
💋 suspense + violence
🖤 a "fuck it" moment
💋 and banter.... so much banter
"What did you do?"
"I cut out his eyes and fed him to the sharks"
"Why?"
"Cause he looked at you"
This was so chaotic but in a good way!
Raine (aka Angel) and Soren (aka Lukas) both are assassins that currently work for the Agency were they are reluctantly paired together for a missions to acquire a new bioweapon, and let me tell you, neither one is anywhere close to being okay with that. It's hate from the first meeting.... and attraction.... definitely a lot of attraction and tension between them.
This book has moments that made me laugh out loud and moments where I was tearing up. Both Raine and Soren have gone through their shared amount of trauma and we get to learn more about them and their pasts even through they both clearly have trust issues.
Rain was exactly the person who I wanted my fmc assassin (who takes absolutely no shit from anyone) to be when we first meet her. She's strong, independent, and resilient. And Soren....... he's sexy af and a dick.... Okay no but he has his own issues for why he is the way he is and the second we get his POV I loved him.
Both characters have depth and they grow throughout the story, progressing from enemies, to hate, to tolerate, to possible friends, to more.
Trigger Happy Ending has banter, it has tension, it has spice, it has violence and a way of keeping you hooked and guessing what will happen next.
Be warned though, you're gonna want book 2 after that ending!
What you can expect from this wild ride:
🖤 enemies to lovers
💋 assassin romance (assassin x ex black ops)
🖤 two broken souls
💋 morally grey characters
🖤 forced proximity
💋 touch her and die
🖤 secret society
💋 suspense + violence
🖤 a "fuck it" moment
💋 and banter.... so much banter
July 2, 2026
ARC Review for LoveNotes PR
I had such a fun time with this book. From the first chapter, I was pulled into this dark, action-packed world of assassins, secret agencies, and high-stakes missions, and I didn't want to put it down.
Raine and Soren are both incredibly skilled assassins with heartbreaking pasts, but they're complete opposites when it comes to how they work. Raine is fiercely independent and refuses to rely on anyone, while Soren is just as dangerous but has zero interest in babysitting a partner. Watching these two be forced to work together on a mission to stop a dangerous super-soldier serum from falling into the wrong hands made for some fantastic tension.
Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. The banter was witty, the slow burn felt earned, and I loved seeing their walls slowly come down as the story progressed. They were equally capable, stubborn, and morally gray, which made their relationship even more entertaining.
The action kept the story moving, but there was also enough character development to make me care about both Raine and Soren beyond their assassin reputations. I also found myself wanting to know so much more about The Agency and the world K.J. Orchard has created.
And yes... the spice delivered. 🌶️ It fit the characters and their relationship perfectly without taking away from the plot.
If you enjoy romantic thrillers with assassins, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers vibes, plenty of action, and a satisfying slow burn, I'd definitely recommend giving Trigger Happy Ending a try. I'm already looking forward to seeing more from this world.
I had such a fun time with this book. From the first chapter, I was pulled into this dark, action-packed world of assassins, secret agencies, and high-stakes missions, and I didn't want to put it down.
Raine and Soren are both incredibly skilled assassins with heartbreaking pasts, but they're complete opposites when it comes to how they work. Raine is fiercely independent and refuses to rely on anyone, while Soren is just as dangerous but has zero interest in babysitting a partner. Watching these two be forced to work together on a mission to stop a dangerous super-soldier serum from falling into the wrong hands made for some fantastic tension.
Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. The banter was witty, the slow burn felt earned, and I loved seeing their walls slowly come down as the story progressed. They were equally capable, stubborn, and morally gray, which made their relationship even more entertaining.
The action kept the story moving, but there was also enough character development to make me care about both Raine and Soren beyond their assassin reputations. I also found myself wanting to know so much more about The Agency and the world K.J. Orchard has created.
And yes... the spice delivered. 🌶️ It fit the characters and their relationship perfectly without taking away from the plot.
If you enjoy romantic thrillers with assassins, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers vibes, plenty of action, and a satisfying slow burn, I'd definitely recommend giving Trigger Happy Ending a try. I'm already looking forward to seeing more from this world.
June 14, 2026
**ARC REVIEW**
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Reading Method: 📚
Length: 401 pages
Genre: Dark Romance / Thriller
Thank you K.J. Orchard and Love Notes PR for an ARC of Trigger Happy Ending. It was unhinged and incredible!
Raine (aka Angel) and Soren (aka Lukas) both had dark childhoods, no friends or family, and are assassins by trade. One born into it, and one the only viable patch for survival. Neither wants to be paired together, they are lone wolves, however The Academy needs them both to hit their target.
Their mission? A DNA changing vialed solution that gives the people injected super human strength is being sold on the black market - infiltrate the sellers inner circle, but the vials, and don't let anyone or anything get in your way.
This was thrilling and murderous and sexy and so, so good. The 🌶️ was well done.
I can't say much more other than it was a fantastic book - the story, the writing, the character development, the execution - and I highly recommend this if you enjoy thrillers with some slow burn, forced proximity, enemy-to-lovers, spice.
The way the book ends leads me to believe there will be at least a Book 2, and I CANNOT WAIT!
*My only negative is that the author included an inner monologue (hi!) for the FMC (that's me) far too often. It was distracting (annoying) and could have just been built into the actual writing (instead of side thoughts like this).It was bothersome enough (for me) to remove 1/2 star for it.*
IG @lit.fic.lani
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Reading Method: 📚
Length: 401 pages
Genre: Dark Romance / Thriller
Thank you K.J. Orchard and Love Notes PR for an ARC of Trigger Happy Ending. It was unhinged and incredible!
Raine (aka Angel) and Soren (aka Lukas) both had dark childhoods, no friends or family, and are assassins by trade. One born into it, and one the only viable patch for survival. Neither wants to be paired together, they are lone wolves, however The Academy needs them both to hit their target.
Their mission? A DNA changing vialed solution that gives the people injected super human strength is being sold on the black market - infiltrate the sellers inner circle, but the vials, and don't let anyone or anything get in your way.
This was thrilling and murderous and sexy and so, so good. The 🌶️ was well done.
I can't say much more other than it was a fantastic book - the story, the writing, the character development, the execution - and I highly recommend this if you enjoy thrillers with some slow burn, forced proximity, enemy-to-lovers, spice.
The way the book ends leads me to believe there will be at least a Book 2, and I CANNOT WAIT!
*My only negative is that the author included an inner monologue (hi!) for the FMC (that's me) far too often. It was distracting (annoying) and could have just been built into the actual writing (instead of side thoughts like this).It was bothersome enough (for me) to remove 1/2 star for it.*
IG @lit.fic.lani
June 26, 2026
Assassin romance? Count me in! What a wild ride. I smiled 😈(crazy, of course, just like my girl Raine), I laughed, and heck... I even cried. While I wasn't quite sure what to make of it all at first, the story completely won me over.
I loved the depth of both main characters. We get to know their pasts naturally as the current story unfolds, making every revelation hit that much harder. When one character mentions Raine's eyes in Chapter 16, I had a feeling there was history unknown there. The way her truth is revealed throughout the story ties everything together beautifully and gives the emotional moments even more impact.
Soren's chapters are hilarious... and sometimes downright gruesome. 👀 iykyk. I loved watching him go from short, grumpy thoughts to full chapters, with pages from his notebook scattered throughout. Chapter 8 had me laughing out loud!
Chapter 10, where Raine turns Soren's own shitty tricks back on him, was one of my favorites. Her sarcastic humor in Chapter 14? Those lists had me cracking up., her daydreams about a normal life, and her friendship with Cherry all made me love her even more. (😭😭😭😭 Chapter 45.)
I don't want to say too much because I'd hate to spoil anything. The ending left my heart and mind mostly satisfied with a... somewhat happy ending. And that epilogue? I literally screamed at the irony!
Now the question is... will we get a Book 2 to bring everything full circle? Only time will tell.
I loved the depth of both main characters. We get to know their pasts naturally as the current story unfolds, making every revelation hit that much harder. When one character mentions Raine's eyes in Chapter 16, I had a feeling there was history unknown there. The way her truth is revealed throughout the story ties everything together beautifully and gives the emotional moments even more impact.
Soren's chapters are hilarious... and sometimes downright gruesome. 👀 iykyk. I loved watching him go from short, grumpy thoughts to full chapters, with pages from his notebook scattered throughout. Chapter 8 had me laughing out loud!
Chapter 10, where Raine turns Soren's own shitty tricks back on him, was one of my favorites. Her sarcastic humor in Chapter 14? Those lists had me cracking up., her daydreams about a normal life, and her friendship with Cherry all made me love her even more. (😭😭😭😭 Chapter 45.)
I don't want to say too much because I'd hate to spoil anything. The ending left my heart and mind mostly satisfied with a... somewhat happy ending. And that epilogue? I literally screamed at the irony!
Now the question is... will we get a Book 2 to bring everything full circle? Only time will tell.
June 15, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
First off, thank you to KJ Orchard for choosing me as an ARC reader!
This book was so good. It had assassins, spies, revenge, danger, and a romance that kept me completely hooked. Raine was an absolute badass from beginning to end. She’s smart, deadly, and fully capable of handling herself, which made her such a fun FMC to follow. I loved her femme fatale energy and the way she never backed down.
Soren was equally easy to love. A man who falls first is always a win for me, and watching him fall for Raine while navigating all the chaos around them had me invested from the start. Their chemistry was intense, and together they were impossible to look away from.
The action and espionage elements kept the story moving, and the revenge sprinkled in was incredibly satisfying. Every time I thought I knew where things were going, something happened to prove me wrong.
And that ending? 🤯 I did not see that coming. I was sitting there trying to process everything after I finished the last page. It was the perfect way to wrap up a story filled with secrets, twists, and high-stakes tension.
If you love dark romance with assassin and spy vibes, a fierce FMC, a MMC who falls hard, and an ending that will leave your jaw on the floor, Trigger Happy Ending is absolutely worth picking up June 25th. 🔥🖤📚
First off, thank you to KJ Orchard for choosing me as an ARC reader!
This book was so good. It had assassins, spies, revenge, danger, and a romance that kept me completely hooked. Raine was an absolute badass from beginning to end. She’s smart, deadly, and fully capable of handling herself, which made her such a fun FMC to follow. I loved her femme fatale energy and the way she never backed down.
Soren was equally easy to love. A man who falls first is always a win for me, and watching him fall for Raine while navigating all the chaos around them had me invested from the start. Their chemistry was intense, and together they were impossible to look away from.
The action and espionage elements kept the story moving, and the revenge sprinkled in was incredibly satisfying. Every time I thought I knew where things were going, something happened to prove me wrong.
And that ending? 🤯 I did not see that coming. I was sitting there trying to process everything after I finished the last page. It was the perfect way to wrap up a story filled with secrets, twists, and high-stakes tension.
If you love dark romance with assassin and spy vibes, a fierce FMC, a MMC who falls hard, and an ending that will leave your jaw on the floor, Trigger Happy Ending is absolutely worth picking up June 25th. 🔥🖤📚
June 30, 2026
ARC Review
I was lucky enough to be chosen to be an arc reader and what a privilege this was!
To say I loved this book is an understatement, this book is a must read if you love dark romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, twists and turns, hot spice and a slow burn. And that’s just the characters! The story itself was pure brilliance.
You meet Raine, femme fatale, badass, strong, cheeky and the definition of strong. And Soren, sex on legs, tough guy with a past you need to know more of, quick wit, edgy and intrigue.
From the first chapter Raine has you hooked, I mean when it opens with her dressed as a sex worker assassinating some poor unexpecting man, how can you not be drawn straight in!
Raine and Soren work for The Agency, always lone wolves with attitudes full of anger for the paths their lives have brought them down, Raine trying to piece together her mothers death that has meant she is tied for life to The Agency, and Soren who wants to achieve the mission and be done with it, he doesn’t feel like he has anything to live for and has a hard uncaring brutal attitude.
They are thrown together on a forced joint mission (at both their disgust) and are instant enemies with instant loathing for each other. The mission to secure PARM 17, a legal injection that can make someone super human, unkillable, inhuman and a threat to society that can be duplicated to create an unbreakable army. If obtained by the wrong people this could be catastrophic.
Under the disguise of Angel and Lukas they begin their mission to be undercover and discover who has PARM-17 and how they can retrieve it back for the agency. From here leads twists and turns, murder, unplanned side quests and a chemistry they can’t deny as they are forced to work together. From deep hatred to sparks flying as you go on this adventure with them you feel like you are on the edge of your seat to see what happens next. Will the achieve the mission? Will their covers be blown? Will they both make it out alive?
This had me turning the pages so quickly and getting little sleep from not being able to put it down!
The ending leaves you in suspense with needing more and there has to be a book two as there is still so much to be unravelled and I need answers!!
Kat this book is pure joy, the best of suspense, dark romance and intrigue. I need more and these characters will be in my thoughts until you release the next book, yes I say that like it is happening because I refuse to accept there won’t be another book.
Thankyou for the privilege of being an arc reader and thank you to Love Notes PR for trusting me. It was an honour
I was lucky enough to be chosen to be an arc reader and what a privilege this was!
To say I loved this book is an understatement, this book is a must read if you love dark romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, twists and turns, hot spice and a slow burn. And that’s just the characters! The story itself was pure brilliance.
You meet Raine, femme fatale, badass, strong, cheeky and the definition of strong. And Soren, sex on legs, tough guy with a past you need to know more of, quick wit, edgy and intrigue.
From the first chapter Raine has you hooked, I mean when it opens with her dressed as a sex worker assassinating some poor unexpecting man, how can you not be drawn straight in!
Raine and Soren work for The Agency, always lone wolves with attitudes full of anger for the paths their lives have brought them down, Raine trying to piece together her mothers death that has meant she is tied for life to The Agency, and Soren who wants to achieve the mission and be done with it, he doesn’t feel like he has anything to live for and has a hard uncaring brutal attitude.
They are thrown together on a forced joint mission (at both their disgust) and are instant enemies with instant loathing for each other. The mission to secure PARM 17, a legal injection that can make someone super human, unkillable, inhuman and a threat to society that can be duplicated to create an unbreakable army. If obtained by the wrong people this could be catastrophic.
Under the disguise of Angel and Lukas they begin their mission to be undercover and discover who has PARM-17 and how they can retrieve it back for the agency. From here leads twists and turns, murder, unplanned side quests and a chemistry they can’t deny as they are forced to work together. From deep hatred to sparks flying as you go on this adventure with them you feel like you are on the edge of your seat to see what happens next. Will the achieve the mission? Will their covers be blown? Will they both make it out alive?
This had me turning the pages so quickly and getting little sleep from not being able to put it down!
The ending leaves you in suspense with needing more and there has to be a book two as there is still so much to be unravelled and I need answers!!
Kat this book is pure joy, the best of suspense, dark romance and intrigue. I need more and these characters will be in my thoughts until you release the next book, yes I say that like it is happening because I refuse to accept there won’t be another book.
Thankyou for the privilege of being an arc reader and thank you to Love Notes PR for trusting me. It was an honour
July 1, 2026
The book waas such an addictive dark romance filled with action, tension, secrets, and a relationship that completely pulled me in.
Raine Maddox has spent her entire life being shaped into the perfect assassin by the Agency — someone who follows orders, never questions, and never gets attached. Soren Blackwood is the opposite kind of danger: an ex-black ops operative who trusts no one and knows exactly how to get under her skin. When they’re forced to work together to recover a dangerous serum, they’re thrown into a world of betrayal, corruption, and secrets where trusting each other could be their biggest weakness.
I absolutely loved the dynamic between Soren and Raine. Their banter, their constant back-and-forth, and the tension between them were everything. The chemistry was so intense, and every interaction felt like they were fighting a battle against their own feelings. Watching them go from enemies who couldn’t stand each other to two people willing to risk everything for one another was one of my favorite parts.
The moment they finally gave in to what they felt was so satisfying because it felt earned. Their relationship wasn’t just about attraction — it was about slowly breaking down walls, learning to trust, and choosing each other despite everything they had been through.
My heart honestly hurt for Raine. Seeing everything she had to endure and how much of her life was taken away from her made me want so much more for her. She deserved kindness, freedom, and a chance to finally choose her own life.
And that ending?? The cliffhanger left me completely desperate to know what happens next. I need answers immediately because I am not emotionally prepared to wait 😭
Raine Maddox has spent her entire life being shaped into the perfect assassin by the Agency — someone who follows orders, never questions, and never gets attached. Soren Blackwood is the opposite kind of danger: an ex-black ops operative who trusts no one and knows exactly how to get under her skin. When they’re forced to work together to recover a dangerous serum, they’re thrown into a world of betrayal, corruption, and secrets where trusting each other could be their biggest weakness.
I absolutely loved the dynamic between Soren and Raine. Their banter, their constant back-and-forth, and the tension between them were everything. The chemistry was so intense, and every interaction felt like they were fighting a battle against their own feelings. Watching them go from enemies who couldn’t stand each other to two people willing to risk everything for one another was one of my favorite parts.
The moment they finally gave in to what they felt was so satisfying because it felt earned. Their relationship wasn’t just about attraction — it was about slowly breaking down walls, learning to trust, and choosing each other despite everything they had been through.
My heart honestly hurt for Raine. Seeing everything she had to endure and how much of her life was taken away from her made me want so much more for her. She deserved kindness, freedom, and a chance to finally choose her own life.
And that ending?? The cliffhanger left me completely desperate to know what happens next. I need answers immediately because I am not emotionally prepared to wait 😭
June 29, 2026
Actual rating: 4.5/5
Thank you to Love Notes PR and K.J. Orchard for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
There might be something wrong with me given how much I love books about unhinged killers. This time, however, I was not reading about serial killers – these were hired assassins. Which, somehow, made everything even more fun. Trigger Happy Ending tells the story of Raine and Soren, two unhinged human beings who find hate, lust, understanding, companionship and eventually love in one another while being on a mission to murder people. It was a delicious book. Raine's narration, her sense of humor and the way she grows in this story? Incredible. Soren was also delicious (in more ways than one), though I do think I could have used some more information about him.
I also wanted to give a shoutout to both Cherry, an angel who deserved better, and Carson, who was so intriguing that I would love to read a book about him. I love a good side character and these two are absolute favorites. The only thing that pissed me off? Not knowing this was not a standalone because that ending..... How dare you, K.J.? Cannot wait to read the sequel (AND I AM HOPING THERE IS ONE).
Also, how does one get a tattooed man obsessed with them? Asking for a friend!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and K.J. Orchard for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
There might be something wrong with me given how much I love books about unhinged killers. This time, however, I was not reading about serial killers – these were hired assassins. Which, somehow, made everything even more fun. Trigger Happy Ending tells the story of Raine and Soren, two unhinged human beings who find hate, lust, understanding, companionship and eventually love in one another while being on a mission to murder people. It was a delicious book. Raine's narration, her sense of humor and the way she grows in this story? Incredible. Soren was also delicious (in more ways than one), though I do think I could have used some more information about him.
I also wanted to give a shoutout to both Cherry, an angel who deserved better, and Carson, who was so intriguing that I would love to read a book about him. I love a good side character and these two are absolute favorites. The only thing that pissed me off? Not knowing this was not a standalone because that ending..... How dare you, K.J.? Cannot wait to read the sequel (AND I AM HOPING THERE IS ONE).
Also, how does one get a tattooed man obsessed with them? Asking for a friend!
July 10, 2026
Trigger Happy Ending is an enemies to lovers, dark romance, double assassin story.
Raine has spent her entire life raised by The Agency, becoming the perfect assassin. She doesn't believe in happy endings, so she never gets distracted or attached to her targets. She is being summoned for a new job and this one is big. She has to recover a serum that has the power to push human capabilities beyond its limits. In order to do this job though, she can't go alone. She is partnered with Soren, a former black ops. Lethal. And loyal to no one.
This story has the perfect mix of tension, passion, violence, and action. I was hooked to the story. I feel like after the little "incident" on the plane, Soren's whole perspective on Raine changes. When he thought she was just like any other woman and was going to attempt to make her jealous, she showed up and showed out! In that moment, I think he realized she is not any normal, predictable woman. And that changed the game. Raine is so confident and bold and I thought that made her an amazing fit for Soren. I loved the tension and chemistry between them. I also loved the way this ended. It was almost sort of an open ending, where there's the potential for the story to be able to continue. I would love that. I couldn't get enough of these two and was sad the story ended!
Raine has spent her entire life raised by The Agency, becoming the perfect assassin. She doesn't believe in happy endings, so she never gets distracted or attached to her targets. She is being summoned for a new job and this one is big. She has to recover a serum that has the power to push human capabilities beyond its limits. In order to do this job though, she can't go alone. She is partnered with Soren, a former black ops. Lethal. And loyal to no one.
This story has the perfect mix of tension, passion, violence, and action. I was hooked to the story. I feel like after the little "incident" on the plane, Soren's whole perspective on Raine changes. When he thought she was just like any other woman and was going to attempt to make her jealous, she showed up and showed out! In that moment, I think he realized she is not any normal, predictable woman. And that changed the game. Raine is so confident and bold and I thought that made her an amazing fit for Soren. I loved the tension and chemistry between them. I also loved the way this ended. It was almost sort of an open ending, where there's the potential for the story to be able to continue. I would love that. I couldn't get enough of these two and was sad the story ended!
June 28, 2026
I had the pleasure of digging into the advanced readers copy and it was everything!!! 'Men in black' me and wipe my mind so I can read this again for the very first time (yes it was that good). This book gripped me from the first chapter. Well that’s actually a lie because the cover and synopsis had me eagar to get my hands on this novel. And I’m glad to report that it met and exceeded expectations. (I even cried!)
Raine and Soren, a match made in hell, brought out the best, toxic, all consuming yet pure versions of each other - AND I ATE THAT SHIT UP.
Raine really is the epitome of play stupid games get a fucked up prize, and Soren is just as crazy – a tall glass of scorched earth BDE — but yet she always manages to one up it...and I enjoyed that so much. We often times get sold sort on hellraiser female leads who fold in 2 business days. But not Raine. Soren wasn't my fav at the begining, he's got a mouth on him...but he grew on me as he started to melt. I fear Raine and Soren have made it into my Top 5 book couples.
The plot was intriguiging. fun, and the right amount of dark to keep me invested but not put off. I knew I was here for the romance but I really liked how the book made my spidey senses go ‘that isn’t adding up’, and revealing bits and pieces along the way.And that ending? Whew. A solid read.
10/10 - Just get it, you won’t regret it.
Raine and Soren, a match made in hell, brought out the best, toxic, all consuming yet pure versions of each other - AND I ATE THAT SHIT UP.
Raine really is the epitome of play stupid games get a fucked up prize, and Soren is just as crazy – a tall glass of scorched earth BDE — but yet she always manages to one up it...and I enjoyed that so much. We often times get sold sort on hellraiser female leads who fold in 2 business days. But not Raine. Soren wasn't my fav at the begining, he's got a mouth on him...but he grew on me as he started to melt. I fear Raine and Soren have made it into my Top 5 book couples.
The plot was intriguiging. fun, and the right amount of dark to keep me invested but not put off. I knew I was here for the romance but I really liked how the book made my spidey senses go ‘that isn’t adding up’, and revealing bits and pieces along the way.And that ending? Whew. A solid read.
10/10 - Just get it, you won’t regret it.
June 26, 2026
Morally grey and so much fun
Loss can drive a person to do unspeakable things… when you have nothing in this world to ground you- an immeasurable void consumes you… you’ll do anything to find balance. And what creates balance to loss? Revenge.
Raine is the most ruthless assassin. Known as a black widow, she has a perfect record of eliminating targets for The Agency- all on her own. No partners. Ever.
Soren is a wraith. He only exists in hushed conversations where people fear their words could summon him from the underworld itself. He seeks missions out for sport and basks in the glory- and blood- of the marks he takes out. A true employee of the month for The Agency…And he isn’t a babysitter. He doesn’t need anyone.
But when the most critical mission in the agency’s history requires these two to work together all bets are off. This is his way out and her way to find answers and nothing will stop either of them… did I mention he’s a tank of man.. tattooed and gorgeous and she’s the literal femme fatale of his dreams?? Yeah… buckle up. 😏
This was so fun with great banter and so witty. The story was engaging and has so much going on. A world was created that I need to know SO much more about. And the spice was *chefs kiss* well done, Ms Orchard. Well done.
Loss can drive a person to do unspeakable things… when you have nothing in this world to ground you- an immeasurable void consumes you… you’ll do anything to find balance. And what creates balance to loss? Revenge.
Raine is the most ruthless assassin. Known as a black widow, she has a perfect record of eliminating targets for The Agency- all on her own. No partners. Ever.
Soren is a wraith. He only exists in hushed conversations where people fear their words could summon him from the underworld itself. He seeks missions out for sport and basks in the glory- and blood- of the marks he takes out. A true employee of the month for The Agency…And he isn’t a babysitter. He doesn’t need anyone.
But when the most critical mission in the agency’s history requires these two to work together all bets are off. This is his way out and her way to find answers and nothing will stop either of them… did I mention he’s a tank of man.. tattooed and gorgeous and she’s the literal femme fatale of his dreams?? Yeah… buckle up. 😏
This was so fun with great banter and so witty. The story was engaging and has so much going on. A world was created that I need to know SO much more about. And the spice was *chefs kiss* well done, Ms Orchard. Well done.
July 2, 2026
4/5
A huge thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for this eARC. I can say I'm back into my dark romance era. After a few months of just being a reading slump and dragging through these eARCs, I have finally the feeling that I'm back refreshed and ready to read 20 books a month again.
This story has been a fast and easy read. The pacing was fast and I felt like I was flying through it. That was the first thing I absolutely loved and kept me going.
Raine was a freaking badass. She was the type of assassin that wanted to work on her own. She was responsible for no one and took no shit from anybody. She really reminded me of Aelin (Throne of Glass, cough-cough). And Soren, well, my panties melted. He was such a great MMC. Tall, dark and handsome with a side of golden retriever personality. What else can we ask for? And when they come together, their chemistry is off the charts! Good God, they're a power couple through and through.
Their connection was amazing, yes. But the plot was also just as great. Their whole mission of retrieving the serum from high powered men by any means necessary was amazing. Their journey was high stakes and so good, that I know for a fact that I will re-read this book in the future. I loved it.
A huge thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for this eARC. I can say I'm back into my dark romance era. After a few months of just being a reading slump and dragging through these eARCs, I have finally the feeling that I'm back refreshed and ready to read 20 books a month again.
This story has been a fast and easy read. The pacing was fast and I felt like I was flying through it. That was the first thing I absolutely loved and kept me going.
Raine was a freaking badass. She was the type of assassin that wanted to work on her own. She was responsible for no one and took no shit from anybody. She really reminded me of Aelin (Throne of Glass, cough-cough). And Soren, well, my panties melted. He was such a great MMC. Tall, dark and handsome with a side of golden retriever personality. What else can we ask for? And when they come together, their chemistry is off the charts! Good God, they're a power couple through and through.
Their connection was amazing, yes. But the plot was also just as great. Their whole mission of retrieving the serum from high powered men by any means necessary was amazing. Their journey was high stakes and so good, that I know for a fact that I will re-read this book in the future. I loved it.
July 3, 2026
Two badass assassins, forced proximity, murder, and intrigue involving a secret society?!?! Yes please 😮💨 That's just some of what you'll find in Trigger Happy Ending.
Soren and Raine are assassins forced to work together on a case. Neither wants a partner, and they both hate each other on sight. It makes for the best possible tension and angst as their walls slowly and begrudgingly fall down while working the case.
This book was so fun to read. The plot was interesting and drove the story maybe as equally as the characters and their development. The pacing was great, and even though I thought I knew what this book would be like when I sat down to read it, there were unique points in the story that I definitely did not see coming. The banter was witty .
Soren and Raine have an absolutely unhinged devotion to each other by the end of this book, as it should be in their world. These characters deserve each other, they go together bad🥵🫠😮💨. Reading them try to resist each other had me giggling kicking my feet. Their chemistry is off the charts and some of their scenes got a reread already 😅.
I definitely recommend this for readers who adore forced proximity, touch her and die, and suspenseful dark romances.
Soren and Raine are assassins forced to work together on a case. Neither wants a partner, and they both hate each other on sight. It makes for the best possible tension and angst as their walls slowly and begrudgingly fall down while working the case.
This book was so fun to read. The plot was interesting and drove the story maybe as equally as the characters and their development. The pacing was great, and even though I thought I knew what this book would be like when I sat down to read it, there were unique points in the story that I definitely did not see coming. The banter was witty .
Soren and Raine have an absolutely unhinged devotion to each other by the end of this book, as it should be in their world. These characters deserve each other, they go together bad🥵🫠😮💨. Reading them try to resist each other had me giggling kicking my feet. Their chemistry is off the charts and some of their scenes got a reread already 😅.
I definitely recommend this for readers who adore forced proximity, touch her and die, and suspenseful dark romances.
June 23, 2026
I loved this story, summed up perfectly by this quote from the book:
“It’s a blending of two broken souls, two ruined creatures, finding reasons to stay alive.”
You are left rooting for the characters despite all the bad shit they have done. And when I tell you I wanted to throw the book across the room at the end (because how dare you leave me with unanswered questions), I needed more. I was immersed in the story and felt like I could continue reading well beyond the final cover. This is more than just a dark romance, whilst there is spice, the storyline takes precedence and that for me is key. Kat nailed that in this book where the romance and spice was complimentary to the story not overshadowing the storyline. It allowed for deeper character development.
To see an author grow exponentially from debut to book 2 is such a privilege. The story writing, the character development and the overall tone of this book was incredible. Highly recommend to all genre lovers, from romance to thriller and crime, very well executed.
~ note: arc in exchange for honest review. ~
“It’s a blending of two broken souls, two ruined creatures, finding reasons to stay alive.”
You are left rooting for the characters despite all the bad shit they have done. And when I tell you I wanted to throw the book across the room at the end (because how dare you leave me with unanswered questions), I needed more. I was immersed in the story and felt like I could continue reading well beyond the final cover. This is more than just a dark romance, whilst there is spice, the storyline takes precedence and that for me is key. Kat nailed that in this book where the romance and spice was complimentary to the story not overshadowing the storyline. It allowed for deeper character development.
To see an author grow exponentially from debut to book 2 is such a privilege. The story writing, the character development and the overall tone of this book was incredible. Highly recommend to all genre lovers, from romance to thriller and crime, very well executed.
~ note: arc in exchange for honest review. ~
July 10, 2026
ARC review.
First I want to thank K.J. Orchard and LoveNotesPR for the opportunity to read this story.
Trigger Happy Ending follows Raine Maddox and Soren Blackwood. Raine has been trained as an assassin by the Agency. She is a rule follower and does not get attached to anyone. Soren is an ex-black ops operator who loves to get under Raine's skin. Eventually these two are forced to work together and they must come together to trust each other during this time, which is difficult for both of them.
The dynamic between Raine and Soren was written beautifully. I absolutely loved their banter and the chemistry between the two of them was off the charts hot. The action, tension and lust were just phenomenal to read. I will recommend this to anyone!
5 ⭐
3 🌶️
Tropes:
🥰 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Assassin Romance
🖤 Dark Romance Suspense
👀 Secret Society
☠️ Touch Her and Die
💞 Forced Proximity
First I want to thank K.J. Orchard and LoveNotesPR for the opportunity to read this story.
Trigger Happy Ending follows Raine Maddox and Soren Blackwood. Raine has been trained as an assassin by the Agency. She is a rule follower and does not get attached to anyone. Soren is an ex-black ops operator who loves to get under Raine's skin. Eventually these two are forced to work together and they must come together to trust each other during this time, which is difficult for both of them.
The dynamic between Raine and Soren was written beautifully. I absolutely loved their banter and the chemistry between the two of them was off the charts hot. The action, tension and lust were just phenomenal to read. I will recommend this to anyone!
5 ⭐
3 🌶️
Tropes:
🥰 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Assassin Romance
🖤 Dark Romance Suspense
👀 Secret Society
☠️ Touch Her and Die
💞 Forced Proximity
June 20, 2026
Trigger Happy Ending is an absolutely gripping assassin romance that hooked me from the very first page. Raine and Soren’s chemistry is explosive—full of sharp banter, emotional depth, and a slow-burn tension that never lets up. Raine is a fierce, highly skilled assassin who completely owns every scene she’s in, while Soren is the perfect match—lethal, protective, and gone for her far sooner than he’d admit.
The action, espionage, and twists keep the pacing tight and unpredictable, and the romance adds just the right amount of heat and heart. I especially loved how the story balanced high-stakes danger with moments of vulnerability between the leads, making their connection feel real and hard-earned.
A thrilling, addictive read with unforgettable characters and a jaw-dropping finish—I’m already desperate for the next book.
The action, espionage, and twists keep the pacing tight and unpredictable, and the romance adds just the right amount of heat and heart. I especially loved how the story balanced high-stakes danger with moments of vulnerability between the leads, making their connection feel real and hard-earned.
A thrilling, addictive read with unforgettable characters and a jaw-dropping finish—I’m already desperate for the next book.
June 25, 2026
Phew! My nervous system is still recovering from reading this one! Action, tension, betrayal, revenge and sparks. Ohhhh the sparks! This book is for those who love to feel the sexual tension build up between characters as they ride into danger together and take on the 'bad' guys. The main characters both play it tough and don't rely on anyone so when they're thrown together for an important mission, the animosity and sharp one-liners are dripping with venom. Hats off to the author for maintaining the tension and peppering the story with lots of fast action to keep us guessing about what else they'd have to deal with together. If you love spy novels, bad boys or girls or both, movie and pop -culture references order this book now!! I had to force myself to put it down each night and can't wait for the follow-up.
July 2, 2026
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to ARC read Trigger Happy Ending by K.J Orchard.
This is the first book that I’ve read that had me hooked right from the prologue. This story follows Raine and Soren who are two assassins that work for a company called the Agency. When they are sent undercover together, they are forced to work together, and it is clear how much they hate each other. This book includes tropes like assassin × assassin, enemies-to-lovers, touch her and die and morally gray characters. One of my favourite aspects in this book was the tension between Raine and Soren and I enjoyed watching their stories unfold.
The action scenes kept the story moving, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next and I finished this book faster than I've finished a book in a while. Overall, Trigger Happy Ending was an exciting, emotional, and addictive read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys those tropes!
This is the first book that I’ve read that had me hooked right from the prologue. This story follows Raine and Soren who are two assassins that work for a company called the Agency. When they are sent undercover together, they are forced to work together, and it is clear how much they hate each other. This book includes tropes like assassin × assassin, enemies-to-lovers, touch her and die and morally gray characters. One of my favourite aspects in this book was the tension between Raine and Soren and I enjoyed watching their stories unfold.
The action scenes kept the story moving, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next and I finished this book faster than I've finished a book in a while. Overall, Trigger Happy Ending was an exciting, emotional, and addictive read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys those tropes!
July 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ | 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Two assassins. One mission. Zero interest in working together. Unfortunately for them, they were both way too hot for that plan to work.
Raine (the Angel of Death) and Soren (the Bodysnatcher) had chemistry from page one, even while they were busy hating each other for being so ridiculously attractive. The banter, tension, and forced proximity made this one impossible to put down, and when the spice finally hit? It delivered. 🔥
What really sold me, though, was K.J. Orchard’s writing style. It was easy to read, fun, and so engaging. Raine’s little sidebar comments felt like she was talking directly to me, which somehow made an assassin feel surprisingly…relatable?
Between the action, betrayals, secret society, and poor Cherry 🍒 there was plenty of plot to keep me invested beyond the romance.
My only complaint? That ending left me with SO MANY QUESTIONS.
Two assassins. One mission. Zero interest in working together. Unfortunately for them, they were both way too hot for that plan to work.
Raine (the Angel of Death) and Soren (the Bodysnatcher) had chemistry from page one, even while they were busy hating each other for being so ridiculously attractive. The banter, tension, and forced proximity made this one impossible to put down, and when the spice finally hit? It delivered. 🔥
What really sold me, though, was K.J. Orchard’s writing style. It was easy to read, fun, and so engaging. Raine’s little sidebar comments felt like she was talking directly to me, which somehow made an assassin feel surprisingly…relatable?
Between the action, betrayals, secret society, and poor Cherry 🍒 there was plenty of plot to keep me invested beyond the romance.
My only complaint? That ending left me with SO MANY QUESTIONS.
July 4, 2026
You see, I was eating this shit up. Even though I knew the plot from the first few pages, Soren and Raine chemistry was so good I didn't mind knowing the core of the whole thing.
However, the ending did leave me slightly disappointed. Raine claims she'll start a war against the agency but also claims not to want to act out on the revenge of her mom's death. Make it make sense, honestly.
The ending felt rushed, it needed more development, more pizzazz. It almost felt too easy. They get together, love each other and that's it? O's not watching Soren 24/7 to ensure he's keeping his end of the deal? For the reputation he's got, I expected Raine's and Soren's reunion to take a little longer or be harder.
Anyway, I enjoyed the book all the way to the end, I just wished the end gave me a little more. If we had another say 200 pages, it would've been better.
However, the ending did leave me slightly disappointed. Raine claims she'll start a war against the agency but also claims not to want to act out on the revenge of her mom's death. Make it make sense, honestly.
The ending felt rushed, it needed more development, more pizzazz. It almost felt too easy. They get together, love each other and that's it? O's not watching Soren 24/7 to ensure he's keeping his end of the deal? For the reputation he's got, I expected Raine's and Soren's reunion to take a little longer or be harder.
Anyway, I enjoyed the book all the way to the end, I just wished the end gave me a little more. If we had another say 200 pages, it would've been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2026
I loved this book. The tension between Raine and Soren was so good. To see them go from enemies to learning how to love each other was amazing. Their first meeting, i loved it.
Raine is someone who has been through a lot and she is just surviving. Living mission to mission and sometimes not by choice.
Soren is someone who has been betrayed before, he is just trying to move on with his life and live in a quiet place where he won't be disturbed by anyone.
Raine and Soren clash a lot in the beginning and the tension between grows thicker. Slowly they learn they are not enemies to each other but to other people. They sacrifice everything for love including themselves.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
Raine is someone who has been through a lot and she is just surviving. Living mission to mission and sometimes not by choice.
Soren is someone who has been betrayed before, he is just trying to move on with his life and live in a quiet place where he won't be disturbed by anyone.
Raine and Soren clash a lot in the beginning and the tension between grows thicker. Slowly they learn they are not enemies to each other but to other people. They sacrifice everything for love including themselves.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
June 30, 2026
Arc review
*Spoilers!*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am obsessed with Raine and Soren!
The writing, the tension, all of it was just so amazing! I loved the writing style and how you could understand both characters so well. Raine going off on her own trying to find her mom's death was really interesting to read. Sorens military background really explained why he was the way he is.
The eyeballs gifted to Raine. It just suits them both so well (and was deserved). I think one of my favorite scenes was the scene at the end when Soren is helping Raine bathe. My favorite sad one though was when Raine woke up in the hospital and found out what Soren had done for her. It really helped add to how they both felt for each other.
I am so excited to see if their story continues!!
*Spoilers!*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am obsessed with Raine and Soren!
The writing, the tension, all of it was just so amazing! I loved the writing style and how you could understand both characters so well. Raine going off on her own trying to find her mom's death was really interesting to read. Sorens military background really explained why he was the way he is.
The eyeballs gifted to Raine. It just suits them both so well (and was deserved). I think one of my favorite scenes was the scene at the end when Soren is helping Raine bathe. My favorite sad one though was when Raine woke up in the hospital and found out what Soren had done for her. It really helped add to how they both felt for each other.
I am so excited to see if their story continues!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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