At least that’s what Briar South medical records say.
Set up by the very people he trusted with everything he’d built, he becomes a ghost, a dead man with one mission, reclaiming his life and destroying everyone who had a part in his demise.
Survival comes with a fee though. He doesn’t return the same. Silence is his language and frigid is his temperature.
Then he encounters Liora Pierce—morally gray, emotionally detached, and lethal in her own right. She was never supposed to be what warmed a dead man’s heart. Somewhere between vengeance, violence, and stolen moments in the midst of chaos, they build something neither of them expected.
As his hit list grows and Briar South business attempts to drag him back to familiar territories, Iso is forced to decide if it’s worth risking it all.
Surviving death is one thing, but learning to live afterward is the hardest part.
I have to be completely honest about this book: by the time I finished it, I could barely remember what I had just read. That's how little impact the story had on me. Nothing about the plot, the characters, or the overall storyline really captured my attention or made me feel invested in what was happening.
For me, one of the biggest problems was that I never formed a connection with any of the characters. I kept waiting for someone to stand out or for a moment in the story to pull me in emotionally, but it never happened. Even now, after finishing the book, I struggle to remember who some of the characters were or why I should have cared about them.
The pacing felt slow, and instead of building suspense or excitement, I often found myself wondering, "What exactly am I reading?" There were moments that seemed like they should have been dramatic or shocking, but they didn't leave much of an impression. I felt like the story wanted me to be invested in certain situations, but I never got there.
Without giving away too many spoilers, there were aspects of the plot that felt obvious and predictable. I spent a good portion of the book feeling like I already knew what was going on, which took away any sense of mystery or excitement. Instead of being surprised, I found myself waiting for the story to catch up to what seemed apparent from the beginning.
Overall, this book simply wasn't for me. Reading should make you feel something—whether it's excitement, sadness, suspense, or even anger—but unfortunately, this story left me feeling mostly bored and disconnected.
I know every reader has different tastes, and some people may enjoy this book more than I did, but personally, I would not recommend it. For me, this was a disappointing read, and I wouldn't choose to read it again.
This was a strangers-to-“what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained” to forever kind of love story.
Liora was at a crossroads in her life, feeling unfulfilled and not really used to staying still, commitment, or routine. He gave her a reason to want those things and slowly turned her into a lover girl 🩷
Iso, on the other hand, was trying to reconcile the meaning of life after literally dying and being brought back while also navigating betrayal, survival, vengeance, and figuring out how to truly live again.
Their love story felt natural and progressed realistically. We got to watch their relationship grow through small vulnerable moments, close proximity, unconditional acceptance, and a shared darkness. It wasn’t built on grand gestures, but on truly seeing one another and showing up consistently. Both of them were carrying a lot, and I loved that their connection never felt unnatural.
I think what I appreciated most was that this story wasn’t just about falling in love, it was also about learning how to live again. Watching two people carrying so much find peace, acceptance, and something worth holding onto made this an easy story to get invested in.
This was kind of love at first sight, and never coming up off each other. I love that they were never the drama of the story. Often times authors think they need to cause problems in a relationship to make things interesting but them simply being together with all they both had going on kept me very entertained, so much so that I should have been sleep instead of reading this in one sitting. I look forward to more of Briar South, I hope Psy gets a story too him and Akillah.
That opening scene was so good, it literally pulled me in from page one. I loved Iso and Liora's friendship. It was random, but it made sense. They both live in the gray, so they both understand what each person is grabbling with, with no judgment. I loved Lee, he was a funny character. Wish I got more of Mama and Junior, but I get it because that's not the way the story flowed. I was not expecting that information they so casually mentioned on that phone call.😳🤯 That was an unexpected connection. And as dark as Iso was, he was equally tender. I think because he was "dead" he had nothing to lose so he was more comfortable being vulnerable with Liora. This was a great book!
Kennedy wrote a hood chemistry. Iso wasn't who the streets thought he was for real. My guy was on his way out but jealousy and greedy cost the lives of many. It was funny because he was a one shot pony and everyone should have known he was a lot smarter than those who decided to take on the mission.
Liora was in a crossroads of her life and career. I enjoyed her laid back persona and linking with Iso was pure genius. They clicked like their pieces. Sounding boards for each other's soul.
“Like a phoenix I rose from my own ashes” that statement hits different once you’ve grown and experienced life! This story was also about rebirth and how we have to be a new creature. Iso may not have been what you expected in terms to those saying but Iso and Liora needed to sit down and reinvent one another. Now when one became two was it made a dynamic duo: I loved their relationship that came easy. This read kept me captured with the right amount of action/mess!
Iso is who he thinks he is and Lioara was just what he needed and vice versa! One of the main reasons I read Kennedy B is she is always going to give you an emotionally complex MMC who is going to get straight to it when that feeling hits him. I love every man in her universe. This book was just enough to have you fawning over this couple and rooting for their happy ever after! Dark Moody and wrapped in love!!!!!
Overall I enjoyed this book. There were times that it was a little long-winded and I felt that the final chapter should have been extended a little more to sum up the book. However, this was a really good story. Great MMC and FMC.
There was a supporting character, an officer, I was hoping we would get a little more action and detail about as far as he was concerned, because he was a whole problem.
This book is definitely worth taking time out of your day to read.
Iso is back from his end and moving in the shadows to find out who betrayed him. He meets Liora through a contact that I'd helping him.
Liora does not know what stillness feels like. She is home after a mission and meets Iso. They struck up a friendship that evolved into more.
Iso and Liora are to people with very similar personalities and wants. She is able to help him with clarity, and he is able to give her the peace she quietly yearns for.
This was gritty, messy & a little dark, yet still funny with a constant theme of love & family.
I loved Iso & Liora’s dynamic. They fit perfectly. Both detached and standoffish, but still attracted to & open with each other. Their transition from loners to lovers was nearly effortless.
favorite quote: “I had come across this woman I didn’t intend to need but her nervous system understood mine.”
Yasssss Kennedy B. Iso Brooks is the Man. I love it when a man is quietly unhinged. He didn't rush, he didn't make noise or a scene, he ghosted his way through the streets to learn who was responsible. On his journey, he met Liora, Special Agent and spy. They were absolutely made for each other.
This was a very good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A great read! If you like mysteries and love happening quickly this is a book for you! Iso and Liora were made for each other, they brought bout the best in one another, while enjoying being themselves! I so had a strong family as did Iso, but he had to deal with snakes. Absolutely loved the ending!
ISO and leiora was exactly what the other needed. The deadman’s and the ghost neither was suppose to exist but they brought out the best in one another.
I fell in love with these characters and hate their story is over.
All Iso wanted was to be legit and take care of Junior. It was all a mess. Everybody was tripping. I loveeeeee Liora. She doesn’t play. And really is the female him lol.
4.8 ⭐️⭐️⭐️This was much better than I expected. For it to be such a short book, you understood where each character was coming from. As such, it made for such a good read and such a good story of how they came together. I loved the military FMC that was a good twist. I also loved that she was just of a bad ass as the MMC. Really enjoyed this short read.
3.5 for me!! They went from strangers to lovers in a fairly easy way. They both had their own things going on, both kinda guarded, but when they were with each other they just flowed and I loved that.