Armed with Steele

Hometown Heroes #1

by Kyra Jacobs

What happens undercover, stays under covers.

Jessica Hartley is looking for answers surrounding the mysterious car accident that nearly claimed the life of her best friend. She's willing to risk it all, even her fledgling business, to find the person responsible and bring them to justice.

Nate Steele is more than willing to help Jessica, but for reasons all his own. He's been watching the infamous Maxwell Office Solutions for some time now, convinced there is more going on than meets the eye. When his chief issues a cease and desist order yet again, Nate has no choice but to accept inexperienced Jessica as an undercover partner outside the letter of the law.

Will Jessica and Nate be able to flush out Maxwell's elusive villain, or will their growing attraction for each other sabotage their undercover ploy? Motives aren't always what they seem when Jessica finds herself armed with Steele.

CONTENT Beware drool-worthy men in uniform, touchy-feely coworkers, and vindictive ex-girlfriends.
97,248 Words

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Romance

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Kyra Jacobs is an extroverted introvert who writes of love, humor and mystery in the Midwest and beyond. When this Hoosier native isn’t pounding out scenes for her next book, she's likely outside, elbow-deep in snapdragons or spending quality time with her sports-loving family. Kyra also loves to read, tries to golf, and is an avid college football fan.
Be sure to stop by her website www.KyraJacobsBooks.com to learn more about her novels and ways to connect with her on social media.

Reviews

[Rhenna Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by Kyra Jacobs and it didn't disappoint! I just loved Nate as a hero and the way he interacted with Jessica. I loved the descriptive way Kyra wove the story and the tension and chemistry between the couple.

If you're looking for a good, solid romance with a dose of suspense, then this is a great read to pick up!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Kyra Jacobs’ (“Jacobs”) debut novel, “Armed with Steele” turned out to quite an intriguing read full of mystery, suspense, and romance. Jacobs does a terrific job entertaining her readers with a well-developed story, which includes some quirky moments, and some really loveable characters that she brings to life. There were even moments where I found myself smiling and laughing at some of the antics that took place. I loved both protagonists, Nate (police officer) and Jess (computer nerd). Even better are the secondary characters, in particular Nate’s friend Charlie who I found to be not only sexy but fun. Then there’s Jess’ mom that is so embarrassing at times you can’t help but cringe and feel for Jess. I’m sure there are aspects of Jess’ mom that a lot of readers can relate to. There’s also Brutus, Nate’s dog that he literally drops off on an unsuspecting Jess leaving her stuck with him.

Instead of the typical heroine who is stunningly gorgeous, tall, thin and rich, etc., Jess is an average, pretty girl who loves her job as a nerdy computer geek, who’s fun, smart, and intelligent, and, as scared out of her mind she is, who’ll go to great lengths to help out her best friend, Grace. You honestly can’t help but love her. Jacobs does a terrific job of creating characters that come across as genuine and real. Nate is the hot, sexy cop who Jess really likes but isn’t sure if her feelings are reciprocated. Regardless, she doesn’t let her feelings for him consume and deter her from her main goal which is finding out who caused her best friend to end up in the hospital and why. When she goes undercover, her fear and thoughts of being caught were normal and expected. She didn’t have the attitude of going in with guns blazing. As for the attraction between the two, it’s most definitely there; however, unlike so many other novels where the hero and heroine quickly jump each other’s bones within hours of meeting each other, it takes a while for Nate and Jess to come together. It’s when Nate finally tells Jess of how he really feels about her that they finally share a hot, scorching kiss. I have to mention that except for some kissing and hands going under shirts, there’s not much else disclosed. Basically, there are no steamy sexcapades. So if you’re looking for erotic, or even mild sexual interludes, you won’t find any here. Too bad as the chemistry is quite evident between the two.

Lost half a star as I felt the story lagged just a bit; and even though Nate and Jess were a hot couple, I wish more romance was written in. Some great sex would’ve been great too but we can't have everything. In the end, a terrific debut novel that I highly recommend for those who enjoy mystery and suspense with a bit of contemporary romance. Jacobs has a new fan and I look forward to reading more works by her.

[Mandie Foxylutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC received in exchange for my honest review

I was quite surprised by this book, even though I had not read this author before I was expecting a titillating sexy read about a BDSM loving cop. How wrong I was and delightfully so.

Jessica Hartley is devastated to find out that her best friend Grace has been in a serious car accident and is in a coma. This brings her into contact with Officer Nate Steele who is investigating the crash. Driving past the scene of the accident, Jess stops to look around and finds an insinuating clue. Nate then confesses when telling her the state are not pursuing the case, that he is carrying out his own private investigation which coincides with Jess’s evidence she found. Both link to where Grace was working, Maxwell Office Solutions.

As part of this private investigation, Nate ask Jess to go under cover and work for Grace’s company to dig deeper into what is happening behind the doors of Maxwell Office Solutions. Jess is reluctant at first, not only as she does not want to step foot into Grace’s office but also it will mean closer contact with Officer Steele, who’s twinkling blue eyes, sexy smile and hot body are some things she is trying to resist.

I really liked the characters in this book – not only the main pairing but the secondary ones too, especially Nate’s best friend and partner in business, Charlie. He was such a dirt bag but hot with it – he deserves his own book too! As for the friends and colleagues of Grace, it really had you second guessing each of their behaviors to see who was behind the mysterious goings on at Maxwell and if it would lead to finding out what exactly had caused Grace’s car to crash that night and why.

Whilst there is some romance intertwined in this story, I would say I felt the main plot-line was the mystery and suspense, thus it would deliver to a wider audience than just to the romance genre.

The story was well constructed and kept the reader guessing at every step. It was not a predictable plot either as the one person I thought was behind it all ending up being far from being the baddie!

I really enjoyed this book, it was intriguing and entertaining with believable characters and plot.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very intriguing novel that I found myself getting into more and more as the pages past. Jacobs’ descriptions were amazing and showed you exactly what she was seeing.

You get to know the main characters very well in the here and now but really have very little idea of anything before the first page of the book. The author gives very little insights as to how they developed the quirks that they have, simply that they have them. That said, the main characters in this novel were priceless. They had me giggling and wanting to throw a pillow at them more than a time or two. I really appreciate that the Alpha male lead in this novel is neither an a#shat nor a super-secret agent. There is also an inherent geekyness worked into his tough guy persona that sets him apart from the rest. The supporting cast was also awesome. You get to know everyone quite well and want to know them more. Personally, I’d love to run into Charlie on the street…

For me, the difference between a 4 and a 5 star rating on this one lay in the relationship between the two main characters. I’m still trying to figure out how they ended up in their relationship with the amount of lying that they did to each other. It has me quite perplexed, but not nearly enough to detract from the novel as a whole.

Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone who wants a little romance and suspense in their lives.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Armed with Steele by Kyra Jacobs was a really pleasant surprise. This book was a little less steamy then I am personally used to, but I found myself hooked from the first chapter. The heroine Jessica is a great character and kept me smiling throughout the book. Officer Nate Steele is an excellent hero, sexy and protective, although he did do a few things that annoyed me. This book also had some great secondary characters! I loved Brutus the dog and would really like to see Charlie, the ultimate playboy get his very own happily ever after! Armed with Steele has a sexy cover but I found the romance side of things a little lacking in this book. Fortunately Mrs. Jacobs definitely makes up for it with a fun storyline and great mystery.

http://www.boekiesreviews.com/

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story

Armed With Steele is the first book in Kyra Jacobs Hometown Heroes series, but not the first of her books I have read. I love her work, and this book is another great read. The characters in this book are easy to love and easy to hate. The storyline kept me interesed from the very beginning. A little romance, drama and suspense, all rolled into one great book. A must read for any Kyra Jacobs fan or anyone who would like to be.

[Zara West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sassy heroine and a hot cop make this a fun to read romance. The patter between the two is brilliantly written. I certainly expected such a hot couple to get it on sometime during the story, and they do, but behind a closed door. Readers should be aware that there is a rather graphic almost rape scene near the end.

[Liana Smith Bautista | Libervore Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

* First published on book blog WillReadforFeels.com.
* I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What do you do when your best friend falls into a coma following a terrible accident you alone suspect was a deliberate attempt on her life? Why, recruit a hot cop to help you get to the bottom of things, of course! And that’s exactly what Jessica Hartley does in Kyra Jacobs’ novel, Armed with Steele, the first book in her Hometown Heroes series. She teams up with Officer Nate Steele, who just happens to have a side business selling spy cams and other surveillance gadgets.

When the city closes the case on Grace’s “accident” due to political pressure, Nate and Jessica decide to do a little investigating on their own, driven by the need to find out what happened to Grace and clear her name of the embezzlement she’s been accused of. This means Jessica must set aside her home-based business as a web designer and apply for Grace’s old job as an administrative assistant at Maxwell Office Solutions. Their efforts bring them closer and closer together, but also place Jessica’s life at risk.

It took me a while to get behind Jessica as a character, which I think was something Ms. Jacobs must have intended. She doesn’t get right on board when Nate proposes they go rogue and investigate on their own. But once she decides she’s going to do it, she really commits to it, even getting a makeover to complete her disguise. She’s not really a people person and neither is she particularly organized, but she pulls it off and actually becomes a stellar AA, despite her lack of experience in an office environment.

The mystery is the meat of this novel, and the twist of having a few eligible candidates for the position of villain and also making the villain’s accomplice a reasonably likable character (and that’s all the spoiling I’m determined to do) really keep you guessing through much of the book. I felt that the plot could have been a bit tighter, the pacing a little faster, but I still appreciated the way Ms. Jacobs made me really need to see the novel through to the end.

As for the romance, this was also a bit of a slow burn, and I’m not sure if there was a need to have the love story keep pace with the mystery or vice versa, but both parts of the story, for me, could have been sped up a bit. I suspect my steam and swoon factor ratings got affected by the pacing of the romance, as the frustration of seeing Jessica and Nate dance around each other without either person making a move for such a large part of the novel made me feel like there was less of a spark than there should’ve been, especially given the ab-licious cover. Still, when they do amp up the passion levels, it’s alternately sweet and snarky and sexy, so my little bit of angst is that there isn’t more of that earlier on in the story.

Issues aside, though I did enjoy the book. It sparked my curiosity and made me want to know who the bad guys were and how they’d get caught more than I wanted to sleep, as a good mystery should. And I believed Jessica and Nate as a couple (so much so that I was just drumming my fingers waiting for them to actually become a couple instead of playing the colleague card). I also liked the supporting characters and would really love to see more of Charlie, Grace, and one or two other characters sometime in the future.

[AM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally read YA or Paranormal books, but was given the opportunity to read and review this book, and I am so grateful for that! “Armed with Steele” went above and beyond my expectations, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Jessica and Grace have been best friends since College, when they met at a local coffee shop. They are now roommates, and Grace just landed herself a new position at Maxwell Office Solutions, while Jessica does Web Design from home. Grace is fortunate enough to be in a wonderful relationship, and has been trying to set Jessica up with someone for a while. One day in particular Jessica avoids Grace’s phone call because she didn’t want to be reminded of the double date they have after work, and wishes she could somehow get out of it. And then she gets a call from Matt, Grace’s boyfriend- there’s been a bad accident. Grace slips into a coma and Jessica beats herself up for not answering that call- perhaps Grace would not have drove off the road and end up in the hospital.

Of course, in a hurry to get to the hospital, hoping she makes it in time to see her best friend, her roommate, Jessica gets pulled over. The officer doesn’t buy her excuse that her friend is in the hospital, in critical condition, and she needs to get there, right now. After a traffic stop that seems to take longer than it should, she is sent on her way. Matt fills her in on what he knows, which isn’t much, and she is left with even more questions than before. Nothing about this makes sense, but who is going to believe her that she smells foul play?

Coincidently, the officer that was at the scene of the accident stops by the hospital, hoping to get some answers himself, and Jessica gets her chance to question him herself. Never did she think it would be the same officer that just pulled her over, the one with the striking blue eyes, Officer Steele.

Jessica even drives by the scene of the accident, not intentionally, and decides to step out of her vehicle. There she finds something that disturbs her, and is certain this was no “accident”, and the clue left behind points to someone from Maxwell. Matt doesn’t want to believe that someone was trying to kill Grace, so she is left with no other option but to rely on the ever-so handsome officer. Unfortunately, the case is closed, and Nate Steele offers her another route- go undercover. Of course, Nate has some secrets of his own, and his own reasons for wanting to find out who is behind this all.

Is Jessica strong enough to go undercover to find out who is behind all of this? And will she make it out alive, or suffer the same fate as Grace? And will Grace ever come out of her coma, and possibly provide some unanswered questions. And can Nate and Jessica continue to fight the attraction to each other, or are they brave enough to find out what can become of them?

If you are interested in mystery and crime stories, with just a bit of romance mixed in for good measure, then you will not be disappointed by “Armed with Steele”.

[Rabid Readers Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy characters have to be imbued with a special confidence that says everyone is getting it wrong and I need to look closer. The character forgets the danger and dives in feet first with a strong sense of justice outweighing every dangerous consequence that may occur. Jessica has a very personal connection to the event. The victim is someone as dear to her as family. When Jessica hears that her friend’s beloved designer purse is open and spilled everywhere she doesn’t buy that perhaps it fell as a result of the accident. Jessica smells a rat and knows the only way she can keep her friend safe is to make sure anyone and everyone responsible for the attempt on her life is locked up.

Jessica is a great cozy character. She is over the top in the way women often aren’t but in a way that leads a reader to nod knowingly and say, “If anyone is going to do that, it’s this character.” There is a solid confidence built in Jessica that she is not just a pretty face despite her first meeting with Officer Steele might tell us and she will get to the bottom of this case and get the job done. Her confidence is reassuring and slightly dangerous as she may get it done but that’s not to say there may be some loss on the way.

If you expect all sex and no story from “Armed with Steele,” you’ll be disappointed. Jacobs’ novel suffers a bit from a belabored start but once it gets going the story is compelling and well crafted. Once working undercover at Grace’s (the friend nearly killed) workplace, Jessica just happens to have the right skills and just happens to fit the bill and just happens to be hired. Someone I worked with many years ago said “Everyone hates the new person.” In real life this is true but in cozy stories especially the new person always finds someone with wide eyed trust and verbal diarrhea who is willing to run down the suspects and call me cheesy but I just love that. Of course, Jessica learns that the mystery is deeper than she ever suspected and rather than candy coating and moving on from the new information, Jacobs develops the story for the reader. What’s a little embezzlement between friends?

If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend “Armed with Steele.” If you pick it up, be sure to contact Jacobs to inquire about a follow up novel involving one of the male background characters in this book. You’ll know who he is.

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description:
What happens undercover, stays under covers.

Jessica Hartley is looking for answers surrounding the mysterious car accident that nearly claimed the life of her best friend. She’s willing to risk it all, even her fledgling business, to find the person responsible and bring them to justice. Nate Steele is more than willing to help Jessica, but for reasons all his own. He’s been watching the infamous Maxwell Office Solutions for some time now, convinced thereis more going on than meets the eye. When his chief issues a cease and desist order yet again, Nate has no choice but to accept inexperienced Jessica as an undercover partner outside the letter of the law.

Will Jessica and Nate be able to flush out Maxwell’s elusive villain, or will their growing attraction for each other sabotage their undercover ploy? Motives aren’t always what they seem when Jessica finds herself armed with Steele.


Review:

I totally loved Armed with Steele by Kyra Jacobs. It’s a great murder mystery, with a few really hot kisses thrown in for good measure The characters are well written, and I immediately took to them. The nerdy computer genius meets the gorgeous cop, what more does a girl need
It had a few twists and turns, and one person that I didn’t expect was in on it :-O

Jessica is devastated to find out her best friend and room mate Grace, has been in a serious car crash, (Jessica blames herself, as she was dodging her friend’s calls about a double date). This brings her to meeting the gorgeous officer Nate Steele, who is investigating the crash.

These characters had me cringing, and laughing at the most odd moments (And those hot kisses, damn, almost melted my Kindle ). Then Nate tells Jessica that the state is closing the case, he drops into their conversation that he is part owner an investigating agency, and they have been following this case. He suggests Jessica work with him to crack the case.

Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone who wants a little romance and suspense in their lives.

[Cianna Sunshine & Mountains Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade: A

I reviewed this on my blog as a part of a blog tour, and was given a copy in exchange for a honest review.

I am not a romance lover, let me start with that!

This is a great book! :) It's one of those books I always ask for. It's not filled with purposeless sex, page after page. It has a lovely, intriguing story, with characters that are real and believable. This book is written well, and it's a real story. A sherlockian mystery with a handsome man and a lot of attraction.

Jessica & Nate's attraction builds throughout the story, but it doesn't completely overthrow the mystery they are trying to solve, we use the attraction to help build the story, enhance the drama and it's a wonderful merging of story and romance.

I couldn't guess where the story was heading as I was reading. This isn't one of those stories where you have the answers figured out by halfway in, this story will take you on twist and turns, filled with drama, romance, and humor, and leaving you guessing and wanting more at the end of each chapter. I kept turning pages, way after the lights were off. This book has caused more then a few sleepless nights! :)

Don't write this book off if you aren't a big romance lover. This book can stand up against crime thrillers and mystery stories any day. This book has a little of everything and it will grab every kind of reader. If you get to chapter 2 and this book hasn't grabbed you and excited you, then I'm sorry, you must be a very different kind of reader, because I loved this book. I loved the story, the romance, the mystery and the humor!

Kyra Jacobs is someone to watch, she has a gift. Her writing is smart, detailed, organized and wonderfully easy to read. Her characters are real, and the struggle, and you struggle right along with them.

A wonderful, wonderful mix of romance and mystery. A perfect pair!

[Paper Crushes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I even finished chapter one of Armed with Steele I knew that it would be a book that I would love every word of until the very end, and that couldn’t have been truer. I was crying by chapter three, I believe, and loving every chapter afterwards! Right away Armed with Steele had the same feeling as Don’t Say A Word by Barbara Freethy, two completely different people team up to find out the truth and one thing leads to another. :) The one thing I was excited about after reading the synopsis was the evil ex-girlfriend part, and Kyra didn’t disappoint.
The characters are super easy to love, especially Brutus. Nathan Steele is someone any girl could easily fall in love with. I mean what girl doesn’t love a blue eyed man! :) Jessica is trapped between doing what she loves best or giving up everything she’s worked for to figure out the truth behind her best friends accident. If she wasn’t heartbroken about her last relationship the choice might have been easier or if Nate wasn’t part of the situation. Sexy blue eyed Nate, who is a cop!
This was a great story and was one that I didn’t want to put down- put I didn’t want it to end either. Decisions…decisions. Kyra did an amazing job with this story and all the characters! This is a book that I would reread again sometime in the future- and one I wish to gain a signed copy of! :)
I would give Armed with Steele 5 stars!!! Armed with Steele created characters a reader could connect with and contained a truth any friend would want. Armed with Steele pulled out many emotions throughout the whole story and is a great read for any reader! :) Also the preview for Saint and Scholar at the end of the book also sounds really great as well!
Congrats Kyra for such a wonderful story and I hope to see many more greats published in the future.

[Zili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit when I saw the title Armed With Steele I was expecting a smutty story about a stripper policeman. BUT the story Kyra Jacobs has written is an exciting contemporary mystery/romance.

Devastated after her best friend's car accident, Web designer Jessica Hartley is convinced the crash was most definitely not an accident! Jess starts her own investigation into Grace's car crash and discovers a link between Grace's workplace and the scene of the accident. This leads Jess to policeman extraordinaire and extreme hottie Nate Steele!

Nate and Jess end up working on their own less-than-authorised investigation into Grace's employer. The only solution Nate can think of is for Jess to take over Grace's old job and work for Maxwell Office Solutions. I really enjoyed reading the scenes with Jess and Nate, because most of them were hilarious - Jess seems to have an innate ability to make a fool of herself!

Jess's Mum was a great edition, she kind of reminded me of Bridget Jones's Mum for some reason?! I also loved Nate's pervy best friend and college Charlie, he had some brilliant one-liners! Nate's crazy ex-girlfriend Katie added some drama to the plot and was a great way to get Jess all flustered. I would have liked seeing Jess and Nate's relationship building a bit more, but I enjoyed seeing Nate go all possessive alpha male around Charlie!

A fun book with an interesting mystery and some smexy scenes which will have you wanting your own hot cop!

4 Stars in my Sky!

My fav non-spoilery quotes:

•Brutus had been demoted to sleeping in the hallway the night before. Licking the enemy - I was certain many wartime mascots had been killed for less traitorous acts.

•"Well you can leave your guns and cuffs in the car, thank you very much." "Darn," he said, a twinkle in his eyes. "There goes that idea."

[Alicia Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic suspense with a local twist

So I'm an admitted fan of romantic suspense. And I stumbled upon this particular author after finding out that she was a fellow Hoosier. Considering that this book takes place in Fort Wayne - my hometown- I was sufficiently intrigued enough to hit the one click button. I'm glad that I did.

This was an enjoyable read that was heavy on the mystery, fairly adept with humor and a bit lighter on the steam than some other books in the genre. Jess and Nate had plenty of rooting value and loads of sexual attraction between them. But those that like their romances sweeter will appreciate that there are no explicit scenes in this one.

The mystery plot of this story was well done in my opinion. There were plenty of clues throughout that made me feel like I was solving the case right along with Jess. I may have put two and two together slightly faster than she did, but this wasn't a problem for me.

There were just a couple of things here that were personal pet peeves and no one else will likely notice them. Being a local, I found it sort of strange that the author name drops specific streets and one of the shopping malls in our city, but the hospital name is totally made up, even though it was obvious to me which one she was referring to. And I noticed many instances where sentences started with a verb and left out the subject completely. Sentences structured that way occasionally for emphasis don't bother me, but this happened a lot and sort of took me out of the storyline, bringing out my inner grammar critic.

All in all a good read and happy to support an author from my neck of the woods. Off to buy the next book in this series....

[Rebecca Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR HONEST REVIEW

This was a good fast paced story. There's mystery, some romance, and even some laughter.

Jessica Hartley doesn't believe that the car accident that left her best friend, Grace, in a coma was an accident at all. She believes that someone tried to kill Grace. The clues point to someone who works with Grace at Maxwell Office Solutions. When she tries to tell Matt her suspicions he doesn't want to hear it. Leaving her only one person to turn to. The cop assigned to the case, Nate Steele.

Nate Steele is only to happy to look into things for Jess. That is until the case gets closed. Leaving them only one option at this point to find out the answers and that is for Jess to go undercover. She can apply for Grace's old job and see what she can figure out from the inside. Nate has his own reasons for helping Jessica out. He's been watching Maxwell Office Solutions for awhile and this could finally be the chance he needs to bring them down.

Will Jessica find out who the culprit is before they catch on to her? Will Grace come out of her coma and be able to give them some of the answers they are searching for. Will Jessica and Nate's attraction to one another interfere in their investigation. To find out the answers to these questions and so much more you will have to buy the book. You won't be disappointed. I do wish that the author would have shown more of the chemistry between Jessica and Nate. Other than that this is a good book that I will recommend to my friends.

[Karen Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a book that grabs you from the first chapter. It’s better still when it grabs you on the first page. I’m pleased to say that Armed with Steele grabbed me from the very first page.
I think this book appealed to me in many ways. However, I’m still not sure which part of it I liked the best. Maybe it was the combination of the elements which made it a great read.
First of all, I loved the characters. Jessica Hartley is the ‘heroine’ of this book although she would probably the first person to say that she is NOT a hero. She’s shows sass with a wicked sense of humour but she also has weaknesses which make her more endearing. I especially loved her inner monologue. Matt is gorgeous but also frustrating. I alternately liked or hated the minor characters. But more importantly, not one of them was predictable.
Neither was the story. There were a few twists and turns which took me on unexpected side trips. However, they didn’t detract from the story. They made it better. I must admit would have liked a bit more spice in the romance department, but that’s not going to stop me reading the next book in the series, Flirting with Fire.
I gave Armed with Steele 5 out of 5 stars.

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read, full of mystery and suspense. Although this is a romance novel, (and you won’t be disappointed in the up-and-down relationship between heroine, Jessica Hartley, and hot cop, Nate Steele), there’s plenty of gripping suspense and page-turning mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat too!

After stopping her for going through a red light, Officer Nathan Steele convinces Jessica to go undercover at the corporation where Jessica’s best friend Grace was employed. It doesn’t take much prodding because Jessica is already convinced there’s something fishy about the car accident that put Grace in a comma and she thinks it’s tied to Grace’s job.

The author did a great job of ratcheting up the tension in both the mystery plot and the building romantic relationship between Jessica and Nate. Jessica was a wonderful heroine, believable and bright and not afraid to step out on a limb for her bestie. The ending was nerve-wracking and thoroughly satisfying. Great job! I look forward to more from this author.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

4.25

I love mystery/romance books, so when I came across this title I just had to read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Armed with Steele. The title and cover make you think you're in for a steamy romp but you'd be mistaken.

Its a fast paced story with mystery & a little romance. The characters, Jessica a devoted best friend and Nate the hunky cop are well developed, as are the secondary characters. Even though Grace is in a coma you feel like you know her character well.

Jessica doesn't just jump into things blindly. You aren't rolling your eyes ever few pages wondering WHY the character would do something so unbelievable. Even though she wants to find out what happened to Grace, she isn't just going to throw herself in the way of a would be murderer. Jessica is a smart cookie and she uses her brains to solve this mystery.

Kyra did an excellent job building the suspense. I'd like to see Jessica and Nate again.

Thank you Kyra for supplying me with a ARC copy to review.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer - I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The novel begins with Jessica Hartley rushing to the hospital after her best friend and roommate, Grace, is involved in a serious car crash. While at the hospital Jessica is handed Grace's purse and she quickly realizes things are not adding up to all of the little items she knows and loves about Grace. It's impossible to convince Grace's boyfriend, but she is able to convenience Officer Steele, the hunky cop who pulled her over for speeding and also happened to be the one to work Grace's accident.

Armed with Steele has it all, romance, mystery, suspense and laughter. I truly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great read. It was easy to be pulled into the story and an enjoyable read!

[Traci Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It was a smooth read from start to finish. The characters were well defined and the plot was exciting and fast-paced. Though it was in first-person, which isn't always my favorite, author Jacobs did a magnificent job of making her heroine compelling and her hero hot. My only wish was for more steam... but I always have my imagination for that. Would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read with a little mystery and a nice romance thrown in for good measure. Well Done! :)

***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.