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Maximum Security #1.5
Shadows at Dawn
DON'T MISS THIS SCORCHING NOVELLA, PART OF WHAT 'PUBLISHERS WEEKLY' IS CALLING KAT MARTIN'S "TANTALIZING" NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY SERIES!
Private Detective Jaxon Ryker swore to himself he would keep his hands off Mindy Stewart. No Matter how much Jax might secretly with otherwise, his colleague at The Max is strictly off-limits. But when Mindy is the victim of an attempted kidnapping, everything changes. With both of them thrust into danger, Jax swears to protect her. As they work together in search of answers, it becomes clear Mindy's life is on the line, so a trap is set - with Mindy as bait. Jax and Mindy have to put aside their overwhelming attraction, but if they live through this, all bets are off. . .
"Martin keeps the twists and turns coming in the sensuous Maximum Security romantic thrillers." ('Publishers Weekly')
RUNNING TIME => 2hrs. and 36mins.
©2019 Kat Martin (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
Private Detective Jaxon Ryker swore to himself he would keep his hands off Mindy Stewart. No Matter how much Jax might secretly with otherwise, his colleague at The Max is strictly off-limits. But when Mindy is the victim of an attempted kidnapping, everything changes. With both of them thrust into danger, Jax swears to protect her. As they work together in search of answers, it becomes clear Mindy's life is on the line, so a trap is set - with Mindy as bait. Jax and Mindy have to put aside their overwhelming attraction, but if they live through this, all bets are off. . .
"Martin keeps the twists and turns coming in the sensuous Maximum Security romantic thrillers." ('Publishers Weekly')
RUNNING TIME => 2hrs. and 36mins.
©2019 Kat Martin (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
Audible Audio
First published August 12, 2019
332 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Kat Martin
169 books3,176 followersKathleen Kelly Martin (aka Kathy Lawrence, Kasey Mars)
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 12, 2020
This is an entertaining, well-written, enjoyable, steamy, romantic suspense novella. It is fast paced with likable, engaging characters, suspense, action, intrigue, a cute cat, and happily ever after ending. It is an excellent addition to Ms. Martin's outstanding "Maximum Security" series and can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but it is even better when read in order, as there are references to characters from the first novel. I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series with great anticipation.
August 19, 2019
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
Short, entertaining Romantic-Suspense novella that gave up its' secrets way to easily. Love both the hero and heroine and how they both were secretly in lust with each other, but weren't going to do anything about it until they are thrown together is a desperate situation.
Mindy Stewart is the receptionist/bookkeeper for Maximum Security and loves her job and the eye candy that struts around the office, especially former SEAL and PI, Jaxon Ryker. When Mindy is leaving work one evening three men attempt to kidnap her. Jax saves the day and everything changes. Jaxon has had his eye on Mindy and not that she is in danger he is going to do everything he can to protect her. Now, they just have to figure out who and why someone wants Mindy and to stop ignoring the attraction between them.
Short, entertaining Romantic-Suspense novella that gave up its' secrets way to easily. Love both the hero and heroine and how they both were secretly in lust with each other, but weren't going to do anything about it until they are thrown together is a desperate situation.
Mindy Stewart is the receptionist/bookkeeper for Maximum Security and loves her job and the eye candy that struts around the office, especially former SEAL and PI, Jaxon Ryker. When Mindy is leaving work one evening three men attempt to kidnap her. Jax saves the day and everything changes. Jaxon has had his eye on Mindy and not that she is in danger he is going to do everything he can to protect her. Now, they just have to figure out who and why someone wants Mindy and to stop ignoring the attraction between them.
October 10, 2019
ARC received for review
Nice little romance with a bad guy looking to kidnap the girl. This one lacked the meat and heat of the previous Kat Martin books I've read. It just seemed really rushed in places.
Nice little romance with a bad guy looking to kidnap the girl. This one lacked the meat and heat of the previous Kat Martin books I've read. It just seemed really rushed in places.
August 19, 2019
Both Jaxon Ryker and Mindy Stewart work for Maximum Security, so Jaxon swore he would keep his off of her but when Mindy is the victim of an attempted kidnapping, everything changes. They have to put aside their overwhelming attraction, but if they live through this, all bets are off…
This story is a cute, sweet and steamy romance full of suspense, excitement and unexpected twists that keep readers hanging on to the edge of their seat. The characters are strong, captivating and easily grab readers attention with their co-worker relationship full of sizzling chemistry that makes it hard for them to keep their hands off each other. It’s very fast paced and while it is short, it is a full story and makes a perfect read where readers only have a short break from their day and need a quick adrenaline rush & heartwarming pick me up.
This story is a cute, sweet and steamy romance full of suspense, excitement and unexpected twists that keep readers hanging on to the edge of their seat. The characters are strong, captivating and easily grab readers attention with their co-worker relationship full of sizzling chemistry that makes it hard for them to keep their hands off each other. It’s very fast paced and while it is short, it is a full story and makes a perfect read where readers only have a short break from their day and need a quick adrenaline rush & heartwarming pick me up.
November 24, 2019
Shadows at Dawn was a quick, enjoyable read with the perfect blend of romance and suspense.
Jaxon Ryker wanted Mindy Stewart the minute he saw her, but not wanting to jeopardize their working relationship at Maximum Security, he sets his feelings aside. But when someone tries to kidnap Mindy from Maximum Security’s parking lot, Jax swears to protect her at all costs. As the pair begin digging for answers, it becomes clear the person behind the attempted kidnapping will stop at nothing until they have Mindy.
The attempted kidnapping of Mindy proved to be a fantastic suspense storyline. I found myself wondering what Mindy could possibly be involved in that would cause someone to come after her and I have to say that I like the direction the author chose to go. The reason was plausible and I was completely sold on the motive of the person behind the attack. Despite how short this story was, I thought the pacing was well done and there was the perfect amount of action to keep things interesting while also moving the story forward. The ending was well done with just the right amount of stakes and I liked how everything wrapped up.
Mindy and Jax have both been fighting their attraction for one another since the moment they met so when they are forced into close proximity due to the danger on Mindy’s life, there’s no fighting it anymore. The chemistry between the pair is fantastic and when their relationship progresses physically, it’s wonderfully done. The scenes have the perfect amount of steaminess and I loved how well they meshed with one another. One thing I really enjoyed about their relationship was how the two talked out any issues that came up rather than ignoring the potential pitfalls in their romance.
Overall Shadows at Dawn was an amazing addition to the Maximum Security series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Deception, soon. I highly recommend this series if you’re in the mood for some great romantic suspense.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Jaxon Ryker wanted Mindy Stewart the minute he saw her, but not wanting to jeopardize their working relationship at Maximum Security, he sets his feelings aside. But when someone tries to kidnap Mindy from Maximum Security’s parking lot, Jax swears to protect her at all costs. As the pair begin digging for answers, it becomes clear the person behind the attempted kidnapping will stop at nothing until they have Mindy.
The attempted kidnapping of Mindy proved to be a fantastic suspense storyline. I found myself wondering what Mindy could possibly be involved in that would cause someone to come after her and I have to say that I like the direction the author chose to go. The reason was plausible and I was completely sold on the motive of the person behind the attack. Despite how short this story was, I thought the pacing was well done and there was the perfect amount of action to keep things interesting while also moving the story forward. The ending was well done with just the right amount of stakes and I liked how everything wrapped up.
Mindy and Jax have both been fighting their attraction for one another since the moment they met so when they are forced into close proximity due to the danger on Mindy’s life, there’s no fighting it anymore. The chemistry between the pair is fantastic and when their relationship progresses physically, it’s wonderfully done. The scenes have the perfect amount of steaminess and I loved how well they meshed with one another. One thing I really enjoyed about their relationship was how the two talked out any issues that came up rather than ignoring the potential pitfalls in their romance.
Overall Shadows at Dawn was an amazing addition to the Maximum Security series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Deception, soon. I highly recommend this series if you’re in the mood for some great romantic suspense.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
August 19, 2019
4.25 Stars
This book follows Kat Martin’s popular novel, THE CONSPIRACY. It is a short novella but totally worth the read. I only took off .75 stars merely because I wanted more of this book and its characters. I felt like this could have been a full length novel if it wanted to be.
Basic premise: Mindy Stewart is working as what I assume is a temp accounting/receptionist job at Maximum Security. She feels like she fits well with the team but doesn’t seem to be an actual part of the team yet. She has a crush on Jaxon Ryker, one of the investigators on the team. He likes her too but she doesn’t know that when the book starts. As she leaves for the day, later than usual, she is the victim of an attempted kidnapping. Jax saves her from her attacker and is immediately invested to find out who is targeting Mindy.
I thought this book was great. I was invested from the minute Mindy was attacked. She felt like the “every woman” who wanted a man who seemed out of her reach. I liked that aspect. It gives women an idea that maybe they are more than they think they are.
I thought the funniest part was that Jax was trying to make it all business but the second he discovered that Mindy wanted him too, he was lost. A switch was flipped and he dove in head first to a relationship he didn’t know he might crave more of. This was not the same as his old hookups that he could walk away from and that sort of had him distracted sometimes making Mindy more open to attack.
Awesome read. Great story and suspense. I just wished there was more of it. Kat Martin is a must read for me now. Check it out for yourself.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This book follows Kat Martin’s popular novel, THE CONSPIRACY. It is a short novella but totally worth the read. I only took off .75 stars merely because I wanted more of this book and its characters. I felt like this could have been a full length novel if it wanted to be.
Basic premise: Mindy Stewart is working as what I assume is a temp accounting/receptionist job at Maximum Security. She feels like she fits well with the team but doesn’t seem to be an actual part of the team yet. She has a crush on Jaxon Ryker, one of the investigators on the team. He likes her too but she doesn’t know that when the book starts. As she leaves for the day, later than usual, she is the victim of an attempted kidnapping. Jax saves her from her attacker and is immediately invested to find out who is targeting Mindy.
I thought this book was great. I was invested from the minute Mindy was attacked. She felt like the “every woman” who wanted a man who seemed out of her reach. I liked that aspect. It gives women an idea that maybe they are more than they think they are.
I thought the funniest part was that Jax was trying to make it all business but the second he discovered that Mindy wanted him too, he was lost. A switch was flipped and he dove in head first to a relationship he didn’t know he might crave more of. This was not the same as his old hookups that he could walk away from and that sort of had him distracted sometimes making Mindy more open to attack.
Awesome read. Great story and suspense. I just wished there was more of it. Kat Martin is a must read for me now. Check it out for yourself.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
February 13, 2022
Note: This has been combined into a box set (ebook & audio) with other novellas from the series - included: Wait Until Dark, Shadows at Dawn, & Before Nightfall.
This takes place after book 1, The Conspiracy - and while there’s small mentions of main characters from that book this stands fine completely on its own.
At 2.5 hours, this novella is a fun addition to the Maximum Security series. Mindy & Jax work together at Max, so they already know each other and get along. This is also a cute case of “everyone else in the office already knew y’all were interested”, so when sparks start to fly no one is surprised. Except maybe Jax & Mindy.
As with the other stories in the series - there’s a solid amount of mystery/suspense in balance to the romance. Jax thwarts an attempt to kidnap Mindy and it leads the entire Maximum team working to uncover the why. Jax ends up being main bodyguard to Mindy which also gives them plenty of time to get to know each other even better. I like that Martin writes alpha males that aren’t jerks and female characters who are intelligent and capable. Mindy may only be the receptionist, but she holds her own several times.
These two are a sweet & sexy opposites attract match and loved seeing them get their HEA. Looking forward to Jason’s book, The Deception.
Narration:
James Anderson Foster does a good job again. He gives all the characters unique voices. I especially liked the banter between the various operatives and his performance of the suspenseful scenes. I’m happy he’s at the helm for the rest of the series.
This takes place after book 1, The Conspiracy - and while there’s small mentions of main characters from that book this stands fine completely on its own.
At 2.5 hours, this novella is a fun addition to the Maximum Security series. Mindy & Jax work together at Max, so they already know each other and get along. This is also a cute case of “everyone else in the office already knew y’all were interested”, so when sparks start to fly no one is surprised. Except maybe Jax & Mindy.
As with the other stories in the series - there’s a solid amount of mystery/suspense in balance to the romance. Jax thwarts an attempt to kidnap Mindy and it leads the entire Maximum team working to uncover the why. Jax ends up being main bodyguard to Mindy which also gives them plenty of time to get to know each other even better. I like that Martin writes alpha males that aren’t jerks and female characters who are intelligent and capable. Mindy may only be the receptionist, but she holds her own several times.
These two are a sweet & sexy opposites attract match and loved seeing them get their HEA. Looking forward to Jason’s book, The Deception.
Narration:
James Anderson Foster does a good job again. He gives all the characters unique voices. I especially liked the banter between the various operatives and his performance of the suspenseful scenes. I’m happy he’s at the helm for the rest of the series.
August 15, 2019
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Who is trying to kidnap Mindy a receptionist at a Maximum Security office, surrounded by lots of private investigators and detectives. I found this to be a fast read, action packed and the chemistry between Mindy and Jax was off the charts. Can they find out whom is after Mindy before its too late? I look forward to reading more books from this series. I would certainly recommend this book to others.
Who is trying to kidnap Mindy a receptionist at a Maximum Security office, surrounded by lots of private investigators and detectives. I found this to be a fast read, action packed and the chemistry between Mindy and Jax was off the charts. Can they find out whom is after Mindy before its too late? I look forward to reading more books from this series. I would certainly recommend this book to others.
August 18, 2019
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love the characters Mrs. Martin develops and these in this series are no different, they're wonderful. I cannot wait to read the next book from her.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2019
This Maximum Security series is exciting and now we have
Shadows at Dawn,
a novella that highlights Jaxon Ryker at the agency and how he finally gives into his feelings for one of his colleagues, Mindy Stewart. When she becomes the victim of an attempted kidnapping, he steps right in to help her, and that as when the pair are forced to address their strong attraction to one another.
This is a very quick read, and is a very nice addition to the series. If you enjoy romantic suspense, then this book, and series, comes highly recommended.
This is a very quick read, and is a very nice addition to the series. If you enjoy romantic suspense, then this book, and series, comes highly recommended.
June 17, 2022
Thankfully this book took about an hour to read because I would not have invested anymore time. As it was, this was difficult to get through. This was my brief foray into this series and this author, and it will be the last.
Mindy was a temp worker at The Max and has always had a secret crush on Jax who is a PI and also happens to be a former Navy SEAL because, why not? Almost immediately Mindy is nearly kidnapped, and then everything just falls apart. It becomes very clear this author is into macho male stereotypes, which at its best is in poor taste.
Take this example where Mindy's friend is inviting Mindy out on a date and this is her explanation of the potential date: "Thomas has a PhD in psychology. He’s gorgeous and believe it or not, he’s got a super-hot body. Guys like him are usually wimps, but Thomas is an exception. I really think you’d like him. Say you’ll come out with Ben and me." Ummm....what? Clearly the author looks at how ripped a dude is and, I guess, if he gets into barfights. Not only was the information questionable, the writing itself was troubling. The author could have looked at any dating app for a better example of how to write about a potential date.
This stereotype continues into conversation. Jaxon talks to Mindy and drops in "honey" and "sweetheart" immediately. Except, the way it's written, it sounds condescending as hell. But Mindy thinks it's cute, so it continues.
At one point in the investigation to understand why Mindy was kidnapped they interview Mindy's ex-boyfriend, Curt Wyman. Mindy insists on coming because she says he'll open up to her and only her, but the conversation is so brief and Wyman tells them everything that it was clearly a ploy to get the three of them in the same place so Jax could be jealous. And - this starts a whole strange thing of mentioning Curt Wyman. Mindy cooks for Jax because she loves to cook (cue eyeroll of consistent stereotypes) and Jax asks:
You cook for Wyman?” Jax asked.
“Sometimes. He preferred going out most nights.”
“If you were my woman, I’d have a hard time letting you out of the house.” He smiled. “And you can cook, too. How much better does it get?”
This was the most un-romantic dialogue! First, the ex-boyfriend talk is not a turn-on and secondly, Jax's neanderthal-like comment is just disturbing.
But Wyman comes up multiple times, including during a sex scene where Mindy loves "that [Jax] didn’t have Curt’s pale, hairless chest" and another sex scene: "She smiled and shook her head, moving her heavy mane of hair. 'Definitely not. Curt insisted we always make love in bed.'" There's only a few sex scenes so the constant references to Curt are strange.
But! At least there was some dialogue between Jax and Mindy because as it was, their relationship was forced. The dialogue that does exist is funny. I.e. Mindy describing her traumatic past and Jax immediately jumping into his traumatic story so we can feel bad for all the characters, have forced character development, and move on.
Move on to what? I don't really know. The plot moved so fast. This was a novella after all and an entire novel is crammed in, so everything suffers.
It's possible her full-length novels are more developed, but this was so poorly developed and hastily written that it's simply not worth the time.
Mindy was a temp worker at The Max and has always had a secret crush on Jax who is a PI and also happens to be a former Navy SEAL because, why not? Almost immediately Mindy is nearly kidnapped, and then everything just falls apart. It becomes very clear this author is into macho male stereotypes, which at its best is in poor taste.
Take this example where Mindy's friend is inviting Mindy out on a date and this is her explanation of the potential date: "Thomas has a PhD in psychology. He’s gorgeous and believe it or not, he’s got a super-hot body. Guys like him are usually wimps, but Thomas is an exception. I really think you’d like him. Say you’ll come out with Ben and me." Ummm....what? Clearly the author looks at how ripped a dude is and, I guess, if he gets into barfights. Not only was the information questionable, the writing itself was troubling. The author could have looked at any dating app for a better example of how to write about a potential date.
This stereotype continues into conversation. Jaxon talks to Mindy and drops in "honey" and "sweetheart" immediately. Except, the way it's written, it sounds condescending as hell. But Mindy thinks it's cute, so it continues.
At one point in the investigation to understand why Mindy was kidnapped they interview Mindy's ex-boyfriend, Curt Wyman. Mindy insists on coming because she says he'll open up to her and only her, but the conversation is so brief and Wyman tells them everything that it was clearly a ploy to get the three of them in the same place so Jax could be jealous. And - this starts a whole strange thing of mentioning Curt Wyman. Mindy cooks for Jax because she loves to cook (cue eyeroll of consistent stereotypes) and Jax asks:
You cook for Wyman?” Jax asked.
“Sometimes. He preferred going out most nights.”
“If you were my woman, I’d have a hard time letting you out of the house.” He smiled. “And you can cook, too. How much better does it get?”
This was the most un-romantic dialogue! First, the ex-boyfriend talk is not a turn-on and secondly, Jax's neanderthal-like comment is just disturbing.
But Wyman comes up multiple times, including during a sex scene where Mindy loves "that [Jax] didn’t have Curt’s pale, hairless chest" and another sex scene: "She smiled and shook her head, moving her heavy mane of hair. 'Definitely not. Curt insisted we always make love in bed.'" There's only a few sex scenes so the constant references to Curt are strange.
But! At least there was some dialogue between Jax and Mindy because as it was, their relationship was forced. The dialogue that does exist is funny. I.e. Mindy describing her traumatic past and Jax immediately jumping into his traumatic story so we can feel bad for all the characters, have forced character development, and move on.
Move on to what? I don't really know. The plot moved so fast. This was a novella after all and an entire novel is crammed in, so everything suffers.
It's possible her full-length novels are more developed, but this was so poorly developed and hastily written that it's simply not worth the time.
August 22, 2019
Mindy loved working for the Max- Maximum Security. She was seated at her desk and answered the phone and directed the call to Jonah Wolfe - one of the agencies detectives. Mindy had only been working here a couple of months. Originally she had been hired as a temp. But she managed to impress Chase Garett , the owner and was offered a full time job. In the weeks since then , the private investigators, body guards, and bounty hunters had accepted her as part of the team. Mindy didn't mind working over as she got overtime pay . Part of her job was reorganizing ledgers and updating Chase’s QuickBooks so there was plenty to do. Jaxon Ryker worked out of the office and he made her adrenaline spike and her pulse speed up when he glanced in her direction. Ryker was as handsome as sin, yet seemed to be unaware of his masculine charms. He was nice, always considerate. He never flirted, never teased and constantly kept a respectful distance. Sometimes it drove Mindy crazy. Mindy was walking to her car behind the office when three men dressed in black with black ski masks over their faces jumped out of a white van and she turned and ran and screamed. Jax was getting ready to leave and see another client when he heard the scream and rushed out, it was mindy, she was fighting like a wild woman but couldn’t handle three men. Rage burned through Jax’s normal calm. Mindy worked with him, and as far as jax is concerned she was under his protection. More than that, she was calm and sweet and he cared about her far more than he should. Jax wanted to end the bad guys for trying to hurt Mindy . Mondy flung herself into jax and he told her everything is okay once the bad guys took off. Minduy exclaimed “you saved me!” Jax wondered why Mindy had been targeted? Was it a random abduction attempt or something more. He got her back inside and called the police. For weeks jax had steered clear of Mindy. The attraction he felt for her had no place in his life, or hers. But little by little her sweet smile , and vivacious, always cheerful attitude began to melt his iron resolve. He began to think about her even when he wasn’t at the office. Jax job was now to keep Mindy safe and he wasn’t leaving her by herself tonight. Mindy had trouble sleeping. Men had tried to kidnap her tonight . She had no idea why or what would have happened if Jax hadn’t been there to stop them.
I enjoyed this book but felt the romance was just a little rushed which didn’t take away a lot from the book but a little. This was a short read but lacked very little. I loved Mindy and Jax together and how they interacted. I loved the Mindy could help Jax when he was fighting to stop her from being abducted. I loved the intrigue, danger, and the action in this book. I liked how close maddock and jaxon were. I liked the pace and plot. I finished this in one setting. I loved the characters and the the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.
I enjoyed this book but felt the romance was just a little rushed which didn’t take away a lot from the book but a little. This was a short read but lacked very little. I loved Mindy and Jax together and how they interacted. I loved the Mindy could help Jax when he was fighting to stop her from being abducted. I loved the intrigue, danger, and the action in this book. I liked how close maddock and jaxon were. I liked the pace and plot. I finished this in one setting. I loved the characters and the the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.
October 20, 2019
Shadows at Dawn, a novella, is book number 1.5 in Kat Martin's Maximum Security series, and although I generally prefer longer, more fully fleshed-out reads, this one worked for me despite its brevity and it gets 4 stars from this reader.
The principle characters in this novella are Mindy Stewart, the fairly new receptionist/bookkeeper at The Max (short for The Maximum Security Agency), and what's not to like? She's surrounded by the gorgeous hunks/operatives who work there, but she really only has eyes for one of them, former Navy SEAL, Jaxon Ryker, who also has eyes for her, although that thought never seems to cross her mind. Since they are technically co-workers, neither is willing to acknowledge their workplace attraction, both liking their jobs too much to endanger them with a workplace romance.
However, late one night, when Mindy is leaving the office to head for home, she spots a van parked near her car and although she eyes it suspiciously, she continues approaching her car when 3 men suddenly jump out of the van and try to drag her inside it--she manages to let out a loud scream before they silence her, and luckily, Jaxon, who was just leaving the building, hears her, sees the scuffle in the parking lot as Mindy tries to get away from her captors, and Jaxon rushes to her rescue. Neither he nor Mindy have a clue why anyone would want to kidnap her or what they hope to gain by doing so, but it's the beginning of their more than co-workers romance, and the start of this suspense-filled short novel, as they try to figure out the motive behind the foiled kidnapping attempt, soon followed by the break-in and trashing of her apartment, as Mindy's near abduction is what finally allows these two characters to admit to and act on their mutual attraction for one another. So, who wants Mindy and why? To find out you'll have to read this exciting novella.
For a novel as short at this one, it packs quite a romantic suspense punch, and although I would have loved more backstory on Mindy and Jaxon, they were both likable and memorable characters in this well-plotted, page-turner of a novella, and it left me eager to read the upcoming second novel in this series, The Deception.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
The principle characters in this novella are Mindy Stewart, the fairly new receptionist/bookkeeper at The Max (short for The Maximum Security Agency), and what's not to like? She's surrounded by the gorgeous hunks/operatives who work there, but she really only has eyes for one of them, former Navy SEAL, Jaxon Ryker, who also has eyes for her, although that thought never seems to cross her mind. Since they are technically co-workers, neither is willing to acknowledge their workplace attraction, both liking their jobs too much to endanger them with a workplace romance.
However, late one night, when Mindy is leaving the office to head for home, she spots a van parked near her car and although she eyes it suspiciously, she continues approaching her car when 3 men suddenly jump out of the van and try to drag her inside it--she manages to let out a loud scream before they silence her, and luckily, Jaxon, who was just leaving the building, hears her, sees the scuffle in the parking lot as Mindy tries to get away from her captors, and Jaxon rushes to her rescue. Neither he nor Mindy have a clue why anyone would want to kidnap her or what they hope to gain by doing so, but it's the beginning of their more than co-workers romance, and the start of this suspense-filled short novel, as they try to figure out the motive behind the foiled kidnapping attempt, soon followed by the break-in and trashing of her apartment, as Mindy's near abduction is what finally allows these two characters to admit to and act on their mutual attraction for one another. So, who wants Mindy and why? To find out you'll have to read this exciting novella.
For a novel as short at this one, it packs quite a romantic suspense punch, and although I would have loved more backstory on Mindy and Jaxon, they were both likable and memorable characters in this well-plotted, page-turner of a novella, and it left me eager to read the upcoming second novel in this series, The Deception.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 24, 2020
**2.5 Stars**
SHADOWS AT DAWN by Kat Martin is a quick work place and romantic suspense novella. The book starts off with a bang when our heroine, Mindy, is almost kidnapped. Luckily, she is saved by her office crush, the former SEAL and current private detective, Jax.
This plot was a tall order for a novella that’s just over 100 pages. I really liked that the heroine let the hero, a professional detective, take the lead in the investigation. The plot was interesting, fast-paced, and kept me engaged. I also enjoyed Jax and Mindy’s chemistry (brief as it was).
I really think the plot should have focused more on Mindy and Jax’s connection than the complicated suspense plot. Ms. Martin threw a red herring into the plot but couldn’t throw in one or two serious conversations between her main characters. The fact that the bad guys had two chapters of a fourteen chapter book should be a romantic suspense red flag. Mindy and Jax’s lack of emotional connection made it difficult for me to reconcile their quick HEA.
Overall, I think there were a few missed opportunities for a deeper romantic connection between the hero and heroine. I am still going to give this series one more chance because I am invested in this fun group of PIs.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
SHADOWS AT DAWN by Kat Martin is a quick work place and romantic suspense novella. The book starts off with a bang when our heroine, Mindy, is almost kidnapped. Luckily, she is saved by her office crush, the former SEAL and current private detective, Jax.
This plot was a tall order for a novella that’s just over 100 pages. I really liked that the heroine let the hero, a professional detective, take the lead in the investigation. The plot was interesting, fast-paced, and kept me engaged. I also enjoyed Jax and Mindy’s chemistry (brief as it was).
I really think the plot should have focused more on Mindy and Jax’s connection than the complicated suspense plot. Ms. Martin threw a red herring into the plot but couldn’t throw in one or two serious conversations between her main characters. The fact that the bad guys had two chapters of a fourteen chapter book should be a romantic suspense red flag. Mindy and Jax’s lack of emotional connection made it difficult for me to reconcile their quick HEA.
Overall, I think there were a few missed opportunities for a deeper romantic connection between the hero and heroine. I am still going to give this series one more chance because I am invested in this fun group of PIs.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
August 14, 2019
*•*ARC copy was provided by netgalley.*•*
•I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.•
Great read!
Kat Martin always does it for me!!!
She brings sexy, thrilling books that you can’t put down!
This is a maximum security book.
Jaxon Ryker (Jax ) and Mindy both work at maximum security. They work two totally different jobs though. Jax is a badass PI /bounty hunter while Mindy is the bookkeeper/receptionist . They both have always had a thing for each other just have never admitted it :) Mindy finds her self in a serious situation and she literally has no idea what’s happening and why. Now Jax being his hot sexy alpha self steps in to protect what his. No matter what Mindy is stuck with him at least until they figure out what is happening to her.
This book is much shorter then others by this author but it has all the things we love!! Suspense, love , bad guys and big hot alphas that we can’t get enough of! Enjoyable book for sure!
•I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.•
Great read!
Kat Martin always does it for me!!!
She brings sexy, thrilling books that you can’t put down!
This is a maximum security book.
Jaxon Ryker (Jax ) and Mindy both work at maximum security. They work two totally different jobs though. Jax is a badass PI /bounty hunter while Mindy is the bookkeeper/receptionist . They both have always had a thing for each other just have never admitted it :) Mindy finds her self in a serious situation and she literally has no idea what’s happening and why. Now Jax being his hot sexy alpha self steps in to protect what his. No matter what Mindy is stuck with him at least until they figure out what is happening to her.
This book is much shorter then others by this author but it has all the things we love!! Suspense, love , bad guys and big hot alphas that we can’t get enough of! Enjoyable book for sure!
September 17, 2019
Shadows by Dawn is a Maximum Security novella by Kat Martin. It is the story of Jaxon Ryker, former navy SEAL and P.I. at Maximum Security and Mindy Stewart, receptionist and bookkeeper at Maximum Security. Jaxson and Mindy have been interested in each other, but do not want to cross the line of the office romance. That all changes, when an attempted kidnapping is made on Mindy's life and Jaxson comes to her rescue. Jaxson has vowed to keep her safe and ascertain who is behind this attempted kidnapping. The following day, Mindy's apartment is ransacked and the only things missing are USB drives. As they continue to spend time together, Jaxson and Mindy give into their desire for each other. Love the plot twists and the surprises that Kat Martin adds even to her novella. Love the way everyone in the office knows how Jaxson and Mindy feel about each other before they admitted their true feelings to themselves and each other. Great read!
June 18, 2020
Mindy Stewart was the main office girl at Maximum Security and she loved her work. She had only worked there a few months but was highly recommended by an employer of hers that she did accounting work for. Every day was different especially the day that two guys with a white van tried to kidnap her right outside the office doors one evening. She knew to fight and kick and with the help of Jaxon Ryker, who worked at the office, she was rescued. The problem became when the office tried to find out why she was targeted and by whom. Of course, she wanted to help Jax find the guys but Jax did not want the help. It did not take long for Jax and Mindy to realize that they both had been watching each other since she started working at the Max. Could Jax really keep her safe even with the thoughts he had for her? Great story.
October 11, 2022
I was so excited when I started reading this novella by Kat Martin, which is #1.5 in her Maximum-Security Series. I hadn’t read the Synopsis of this book yet and just started reading it blind and was so freaking happy when I saw it was Mindy’s book. I’ve been curious about Mindy since I read book one in the series, and I think she was done proper justice. Even though this was a novella it packs the full punch of a full story. Mindy was another one of those heroines that makes me happy because she wasn’t written as smart but behaved dumb or a damsel in distress, even though she was technically her mindset kept her from being “that” type of character and I loved it. Her and Jax were a great fit. I liked that he was alpha but read with an undercurrent of vulnerability. I also loved that he thought he was so good at hiding his attraction to Mindy, but in actuality he really wasn’t.
August 15, 2019
Cute short novella. Its book 2 inthe Maximum Security Series.
Kat Martin always tells a nice story with intrigue, romance and suspense.
Jax, former Navy seal, now private detective at Maximum Security has a thing for Mindy the receptionist. But he will never act on it since they work together.
Mindy feels the same way. Jax is sooo hot but ssd's he can't act on it . Her job means too much to her.
As Mindy exits the office one evening there is an attempted kidnapping of her. She screams and kicks to try and get away. The screams bring Jax running. They twart the attack but now must find out the reason why.
And the adventure continues bringing the two of them closer together.
Enjoy the action. It was an enjoyable read.
Kat Martin always tells a nice story with intrigue, romance and suspense.
Jax, former Navy seal, now private detective at Maximum Security has a thing for Mindy the receptionist. But he will never act on it since they work together.
Mindy feels the same way. Jax is sooo hot but ssd's he can't act on it . Her job means too much to her.
As Mindy exits the office one evening there is an attempted kidnapping of her. She screams and kicks to try and get away. The screams bring Jax running. They twart the attack but now must find out the reason why.
And the adventure continues bringing the two of them closer together.
Enjoy the action. It was an enjoyable read.
August 15, 2019
Shadows at Dawn (Maximum Security #1.5) by Kat Martin... Love this series and want to thank the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me read this book. Jaxon Ryker ..former SEAl, private detective, works at THE MAX. Mindy Stewart..went from temp worker to full time at THE MAX. The action starts with her attempted kidnapping..Jax saves her and becomes her personal protection. (They have both been crushing on each other ..but have made no moves. There is mystery, danger, some laughs, some steam and fun visiting with old friends at THE MAX all leading to a HEA. I Can't wait for THE DECEPTION in September.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Page-turner Witty Easy-to-read Action-packed Great world building Steamy Wonderful characters Happily Ever After Romantic Entertaining
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Page-turner Witty Easy-to-read Action-packed Great world building Steamy Wonderful characters Happily Ever After Romantic Entertaining
August 20, 2019
Thanks to the peeps at Net Galley for this copy of Kat's book. I don't believe I have read anything by Kat before so her style is new to me. This book appears to be part of a series around The Max Security firm with Chase Wolfe. This particular book focuses on Jaxon Ryker and Mindy Stewart. It was a quick read and took me about 2 hours to finish. Overall, it captured my attention for the duration of the book. The sex scenes were hot, but I was a bit taken aback by the ending around the status of the relationship between the MCs and how quickly that all happened. But otherwise, I enjoyed the read and would have no problem recommending the book to others who appreciate the genre.
September 26, 2019
I’m a big fan of romantic suspense and have really enjoyed Ms. Martin’s books in the past but this one left me feeling disappointed. I liked both characters from the start because Mindy is surprisingly clear headed and composed when she fights off her kidnappers long enough for help to arrive. And Jax is an impressive Alpha male with a protective streak a mile wide, especially when it comes to protecting his co-worker at Maximum Security. The story was good but this book reads more like a rough draft than a final manuscript and I know this author can do better. I read a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
February 16, 2020
An exciting novella in the Maximum Security world. Martin manages to build high-intensity intrigue and hot, steamy sex with a minimum of pages. For readers new to this series, this one works just fine as a standalone and an introduction to the Maximum Security firm. The hero, Jaxon, is one of the PI's at Maximum Security and Mindy is the receptionist/bookkeeper. An attempt to kidnap Mindy forces the two together for her safety and forces them to face feelings they've both been trying to hide. We get a glimpse of some other members of the firm, as well as a good idea of the relationship (loyalty, support) that they all have with one another.
February 28, 2020
A kidnapping gone awry, a sexy alpha male to the rescue and an intelligent and smart women make the next story in Kat Martin's series so very interesting.
Jaxon Ryker thwarts a kidnapping attempt of his colleague and the women he secretly loves, Mindy Stewart bringing them together under one roof as he's tasked with protecting her. As they try to unravel the motive behind her attempted kidnapping, Jaxon and Mindy give a chance to the attraction that simmers between them.
A tight and captivating story as the suspense only deepens as the pages turn, and Kat Martin is a master at writing romantic thrillers!
Jaxon Ryker thwarts a kidnapping attempt of his colleague and the women he secretly loves, Mindy Stewart bringing them together under one roof as he's tasked with protecting her. As they try to unravel the motive behind her attempted kidnapping, Jaxon and Mindy give a chance to the attraction that simmers between them.
A tight and captivating story as the suspense only deepens as the pages turn, and Kat Martin is a master at writing romantic thrillers!
August 17, 2019
This novella captures the sexy suspense that I’ve come to expect from a Kat Martin. There is the alpha hero, a former SEAL, who vows to protect the cute receptionist he’s had his eye on at the security firm where they both work. First he saves her from an attempted kidnapping and then he sticks around to protect her while they begin to explore their mutual attraction.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
September 17, 2021
I didn't have to read this book, I only read it because it was at the end of Deception. Am I a bit OCD? It was almost just like Deception, same formula, same bulge in the pants and heat in the groin, same relationship doubts. I thought I could breeze through this one, but had to put it down and read Karin Slaughter as a chaser. I don't even know why it's called Shadows at Dawn. Very superficial writing, all the main characters could have been gorgeous models. There were a few moments that were mildly engaging. Can't wait to get back to my Karin Slaughter book.
January 15, 2022
Love Jaxon and Mindy. Jaxon won't act on his attraction to Mindy because they work at the same place. She's family. When 3 men try to kidnap her, Jaxon is there to save her. He will not let anything happen to her, no matter what. Finding those responsible is the first task. Why would anyone want to kidnap Mindy? Mindy has always been attracted to Jaxon, but she knows he isn't the one for her. How can he be into someone like her? As they face danger, Jaxon is sure that Mindy is it for him and will do what it takes to convince her of that too.
March 16, 2024
Mindy is the bookkeeper/receptionist at Maximum Security. When she’s the target of an attempted kidnapping in the parking lot, Jaxon stops the attack. Novella. I read the ebook. 3.5/5
August 12, 2019
Wow, from the first page until the last, I couldn't put this book down. It had a fast-paced, suspenseful storyline that kept me turning the pages until the end. Jax and Mindy were great characters with amazing chemistry. I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait to read the next one. There were great secondary characters that I would love to read more about. I would definitely recommend this book and any other books that this talented author writes.
August 13, 2019
Mindy works for a detective agency, Jax is one of the agents. Mindy is attracted to Jax but figures she isn’t his type and Jax is trying his best to keep his distance. When someone tries to kidnap Mindy from the parking lot outside of work Jax comes to her rescue.
This was a very fast read. It had some suspense and a romance. If you are looking for a fast, easy read this book will keep you entertained. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
This was a very fast read. It had some suspense and a romance. If you are looking for a fast, easy read this book will keep you entertained. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
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