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Exit Strategy #4
Forbidden Lover
Devlin Relic was off limits.
The sweet man had already lost a husband and nearly lost his life when someone put a contract on his head last year.
He needed to focus on raising his adopted son and finding a nice, normal man.
Kai was anything but nice and normal.
He was an assassin, and that did not fit into Dev’s neat and tidy life.
But when a dead body mysteriously appears in Dev’s bathtub, it looks like an assassin is exactly what he needs.
Maybe this time Kai will be brave enough to fight for Devlin and finally put his exit strategy to use.
The sweet man had already lost a husband and nearly lost his life when someone put a contract on his head last year.
He needed to focus on raising his adopted son and finding a nice, normal man.
Kai was anything but nice and normal.
He was an assassin, and that did not fit into Dev’s neat and tidy life.
But when a dead body mysteriously appears in Dev’s bathtub, it looks like an assassin is exactly what he needs.
Maybe this time Kai will be brave enough to fight for Devlin and finally put his exit strategy to use.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2021
134 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Jocelynn Drake
141 books2,890 followersNew York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
June 22, 2021
Story was slow at times and not quite as exciting as I was hoping a book about an assassin would be, but overall I enjoyed this, and I enjoyed Dev and Kai together.
Full RTC...
~*~
I meant to do this the next day after I posted this, but it was father's day and I just couldn't find the time.
But now I can dive into my review.
So, as I said above, I enjoyed this. I vaguely remembered Dev from the previous books, but didn't remember Kai at all.
But the more I read, the more it started coming back to me.
And Kai is a deadly assassin, one who practically never lets his targets live. All except Dev.
Mainly because of Justin and Gabriel, who knew Dev was innocent. But Kai himself sees after he doesn't kill Dev, how true that is. How sweet and kind Dev is.
For the next year, Kai has mainly stayed away, because he knows as an assassin he and Dev could never be anything more, as it would always put his life, and the life of his son in danger. But he has watched from afar a few times, even talked to Jake a couple of time, because he just can't seem to get Dev out of his mind, no matter how hard he tries.
And when a dead body of someone Dev has never met before ends up in his bathtub, it sets off a series of events that bring these two together.
Because it obviously wasn't Justin and Gabriel, and when they tell Kai, he is as surprised as they were. But when Dev describes the man who was in his bathtub to Kai, Kai knows who it is.
For Dev's safety, Kai comes and stays at his house to protect him while trying to find any leads on who could have left the body in Dev's home. Luckily Jake is away at summer camp for a few weeks, and Justin and Gabriel can look after him while he's there, so he's safe.
But that means Dev and Kai, who are both attracted to each other and are growing feelings, are alone in a house together, for 2 weeks.
And since they're spending almost all their time together, and there was already feelings, it doesn't take long for the feelings to grow.
For me, this felt slow at times. I wasn't really into it at parts, and I kept starting and stopping, a lot. For a book about assassins, it wasn't as crazy exciting as I was expecting. Justin and Gabriel's books had more excitement, for sure. Even when more bodies popped up around Dev, it still didn't really pick up for me.
And maybe it was because Dev isn't an assassin, I don't know. But when the story was focused on the plot and not their romance, it dragged for me. It took awhile for them to even get a lead, when it was brought up, for the longest time nothing at all was discovered, not even a little clue. And then once it was found out who was doing all of this stuff, they for the most part, took them down fairly easily.
That aspect of the story just didn't quite work for me, thus the 4 stars instead of 5 stars.
But still, these two were great together, I enjoyed them together, they were sweet and cute, even with one of them being a cold blooded assassin, and worked well together.
If the story had just picked up a little more, been a little more exciting, I would have given this 5 stars. But still, I definitely recommend this and it was great to see a kind man like Dev get his HEA, especially with Kai who was just a damaged guy brought up in a dark world, but who had a good heart under all of it (yes, even though he was a professional killer.)
Overall, a good installment in this series that I didn't know I needed. It was fun to revisit the Exit Strategy world, for sure.
Can't wait for when the next (and last?) book comes out in the series! :D
Full RTC...
~*~
I meant to do this the next day after I posted this, but it was father's day and I just couldn't find the time.
But now I can dive into my review.
So, as I said above, I enjoyed this. I vaguely remembered Dev from the previous books, but didn't remember Kai at all.
But the more I read, the more it started coming back to me.
And Kai is a deadly assassin, one who practically never lets his targets live. All except Dev.
Mainly because of Justin and Gabriel, who knew Dev was innocent. But Kai himself sees after he doesn't kill Dev, how true that is. How sweet and kind Dev is.
For the next year, Kai has mainly stayed away, because he knows as an assassin he and Dev could never be anything more, as it would always put his life, and the life of his son in danger. But he has watched from afar a few times, even talked to Jake a couple of time, because he just can't seem to get Dev out of his mind, no matter how hard he tries.
And when a dead body of someone Dev has never met before ends up in his bathtub, it sets off a series of events that bring these two together.
Because it obviously wasn't Justin and Gabriel, and when they tell Kai, he is as surprised as they were. But when Dev describes the man who was in his bathtub to Kai, Kai knows who it is.
For Dev's safety, Kai comes and stays at his house to protect him while trying to find any leads on who could have left the body in Dev's home. Luckily Jake is away at summer camp for a few weeks, and Justin and Gabriel can look after him while he's there, so he's safe.
But that means Dev and Kai, who are both attracted to each other and are growing feelings, are alone in a house together, for 2 weeks.
And since they're spending almost all their time together, and there was already feelings, it doesn't take long for the feelings to grow.
For me, this felt slow at times. I wasn't really into it at parts, and I kept starting and stopping, a lot. For a book about assassins, it wasn't as crazy exciting as I was expecting. Justin and Gabriel's books had more excitement, for sure. Even when more bodies popped up around Dev, it still didn't really pick up for me.
And maybe it was because Dev isn't an assassin, I don't know. But when the story was focused on the plot and not their romance, it dragged for me. It took awhile for them to even get a lead, when it was brought up, for the longest time nothing at all was discovered, not even a little clue. And then once it was found out who was doing all of this stuff, they for the most part, took them down fairly easily.
That aspect of the story just didn't quite work for me, thus the 4 stars instead of 5 stars.
But still, these two were great together, I enjoyed them together, they were sweet and cute, even with one of them being a cold blooded assassin, and worked well together.
If the story had just picked up a little more, been a little more exciting, I would have given this 5 stars. But still, I definitely recommend this and it was great to see a kind man like Dev get his HEA, especially with Kai who was just a damaged guy brought up in a dark world, but who had a good heart under all of it (yes, even though he was a professional killer.)
Overall, a good installment in this series that I didn't know I needed. It was fun to revisit the Exit Strategy world, for sure.
Can't wait for when the next (and last?) book comes out in the series! :D
Read
October 16, 2022DNF @ 23%
My goodness 🤦🏽♀️, this is not going as well as I thought 😅. I’m developing a headache from rolling my eyes excessively 🙄.
Wow what a let down, everything is so cringey 😬, I thought I’d be able to continue reading but I’m not doing this to myself I’ve been good this week I don’t deserve to punish myself 😅
The MCs dialogue is just flat, Dev is behaving like a teen and his reactions to coming across dead bodies is just incongruent with his thoughts, thinking of jumping Kai’s bones with a dead body right next to him🙄 “ I like it when you call me Dev” my goodness , don’t get me started on him accepting everything at face value from a total stranger who was contracted to kill him 🙄🤦🏽♀️ he is not behaving like a responsible dad at all , I’m not going to continue with this one.
I’ll skip straight to Alexei maybe it will be better
My goodness 🤦🏽♀️, this is not going as well as I thought 😅. I’m developing a headache from rolling my eyes excessively 🙄.
Wow what a let down, everything is so cringey 😬, I thought I’d be able to continue reading but I’m not doing this to myself I’ve been good this week I don’t deserve to punish myself 😅
The MCs dialogue is just flat, Dev is behaving like a teen and his reactions to coming across dead bodies is just incongruent with his thoughts, thinking of jumping Kai’s bones with a dead body right next to him🙄 “ I like it when you call me Dev” my goodness , don’t get me started on him accepting everything at face value from a total stranger who was contracted to kill him 🙄🤦🏽♀️ he is not behaving like a responsible dad at all , I’m not going to continue with this one.
I’ll skip straight to Alexei maybe it will be better
August 17, 2025
There was a dead body in his bathtub. Dev was sure his days of assassins and danger were long over. Even if he did ache to see the sexy and secretive Kai again. What he needed to do was focus on raising his adopted son. But there was a corpse in his bathtub.
We met both Devlin and Kai in the previous book in the series. Kai was the assassin sent to kill Devlin. Luckily Gabriel and Justin were there to help Devlin and talk to Kai. After learning that Devlin has a child and was an innocent man, he didn't take the hit.
Now a year later Dev is trying to put his life back together. It has been 3 years since his husband was murdered and a year since he had a price on his head. Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and calls the police, only when they arrive, the body has vanished. Kai comes to Dev's aid after a call from our two favorite assassin husbands, Justin and Gabriel.
There is something so special between Kai and Dev. The spark ignited a year ago and it hasn't dimmed since. Kai will do everything he can to keep Dev safe. I loved how Dev wasn't scared of Kai and just saw him for who he was. He's such a strong person and he's been through so much.
Kai, or "Ghost" as he is known in the assassin world, cares deeply for Dev and his son. He is such a kind and sweet man, which kind of surprised me. We learn about his past and what a truly amazing person that he is. He scared...scared that he isn't good enough for Dev.
Dev is a scientist and a widower, loosing his husband 3 years ago. His son, Jake is adopted and he has been through so very much heartache and grief the past few years. But he's a strong man and he sees people for who they are, it doesn't matter about their past. He thinks of all the assassins as very close friends, he just believes that their is some measure of good in everyone.
These two guys danced around each other for so long so it made me happy when they both got their heads out of the sand. They just worked well as a couple despite their differences....which were pretty big. You can see that they really care for each other and the sexy times?....really hot!
The mystery part of the story was a little difficult to figure out. I had a fairly good idea about what type of person they would be...but i also was still surprised when it was all revealed. Considering "who" they were, I wasn't surprised about how they knew Kai.
The ending was perfect...especially when you take into account how different their lives were. I really wanted them to get their "happy ever after" so I was really glad about Kai's decision in the end. He is one amazing and loving man and this was a wonderful addition to the Exit Strategy series. One more, unless Ms. Drake keeps the series going...which would be fine with me!
We met both Devlin and Kai in the previous book in the series. Kai was the assassin sent to kill Devlin. Luckily Gabriel and Justin were there to help Devlin and talk to Kai. After learning that Devlin has a child and was an innocent man, he didn't take the hit.
Now a year later Dev is trying to put his life back together. It has been 3 years since his husband was murdered and a year since he had a price on his head. Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and calls the police, only when they arrive, the body has vanished. Kai comes to Dev's aid after a call from our two favorite assassin husbands, Justin and Gabriel.
There is something so special between Kai and Dev. The spark ignited a year ago and it hasn't dimmed since. Kai will do everything he can to keep Dev safe. I loved how Dev wasn't scared of Kai and just saw him for who he was. He's such a strong person and he's been through so much.
Kai, or "Ghost" as he is known in the assassin world, cares deeply for Dev and his son. He is such a kind and sweet man, which kind of surprised me. We learn about his past and what a truly amazing person that he is. He scared...scared that he isn't good enough for Dev.
Dev is a scientist and a widower, loosing his husband 3 years ago. His son, Jake is adopted and he has been through so very much heartache and grief the past few years. But he's a strong man and he sees people for who they are, it doesn't matter about their past. He thinks of all the assassins as very close friends, he just believes that their is some measure of good in everyone.
These two guys danced around each other for so long so it made me happy when they both got their heads out of the sand. They just worked well as a couple despite their differences....which were pretty big. You can see that they really care for each other and the sexy times?....really hot!
The mystery part of the story was a little difficult to figure out. I had a fairly good idea about what type of person they would be...but i also was still surprised when it was all revealed. Considering "who" they were, I wasn't surprised about how they knew Kai.
The ending was perfect...especially when you take into account how different their lives were. I really wanted them to get their "happy ever after" so I was really glad about Kai's decision in the end. He is one amazing and loving man and this was a wonderful addition to the Exit Strategy series. One more, unless Ms. Drake keeps the series going...which would be fine with me!
July 9, 2022
Another good assassin caper
While I liked this book, I don't think it had quite the same impact as the previous three.
Mostly this was because obviously Devlin isn't an assassin, so there's less of the banter between rivals that we'd got with Justin and G Love.
That's not to say that I didn’t enjoy this book, I did. Finding out more about Kai, aka Ghost or Casper as Justin calls him, was an interesting plotline, as was the continuing romance between him and Devlin.
What did drag it down a bit though was the repetitive introspective inner thoughts of unworthiness on both men's part.
I mean, if Dev said he couldn’t understand what a sexy assassin would see in his dad bod boring life once, he said it at least half a dozen more.
Same with Kai and his "oh my god, I'm an assassin, I'll put him and his kid at risk" worries.
That's my main niggle, the bad guy was a credible opponent, his weird obsession felt like it worked as the main narrative tension.
We get a couple of check ins with my favourite married assassin pair and there's a very cute Epilogue.
While I liked this book, I don't think it had quite the same impact as the previous three.
Mostly this was because obviously Devlin isn't an assassin, so there's less of the banter between rivals that we'd got with Justin and G Love.
That's not to say that I didn’t enjoy this book, I did. Finding out more about Kai, aka Ghost or Casper as Justin calls him, was an interesting plotline, as was the continuing romance between him and Devlin.
What did drag it down a bit though was the repetitive introspective inner thoughts of unworthiness on both men's part.
I mean, if Dev said he couldn’t understand what a sexy assassin would see in his dad bod boring life once, he said it at least half a dozen more.
Same with Kai and his "oh my god, I'm an assassin, I'll put him and his kid at risk" worries.
That's my main niggle, the bad guy was a credible opponent, his weird obsession felt like it worked as the main narrative tension.
We get a couple of check ins with my favourite married assassin pair and there's a very cute Epilogue.
June 7, 2021
An assassin hunting a serial killer with a side of sweetness.
Kai was not what I expected at all. He was the assassin that had been sent after Devlin in another book. Justin and Gabriel stopped him from making a massive mistake. Since then Kai has been drawn to Devlin, watching him from afar. He's called in to protect Dev from a new threat appears that is connected to Kai.
Dev has been through a lot but is drawn to Kai and they share a lovely connection. Dev is just a ball of sunshine and so normal, well in comparison to Kai.
I loved everything about it. The exit strategy series was one of my first m/m series so it was great to get little bits of Justin and G-love
Kai was not what I expected at all. He was the assassin that had been sent after Devlin in another book. Justin and Gabriel stopped him from making a massive mistake. Since then Kai has been drawn to Devlin, watching him from afar. He's called in to protect Dev from a new threat appears that is connected to Kai.
Dev has been through a lot but is drawn to Kai and they share a lovely connection. Dev is just a ball of sunshine and so normal, well in comparison to Kai.
I loved everything about it. The exit strategy series was one of my first m/m series so it was great to get little bits of Justin and G-love
March 24, 2023
Finally, the 4th book in Exit Strategy Series we get Devlin & Kai's story.
Life for Devlin and his son, Jake, is back to almost being normal. Accept Dev has a hard time getting the sexy assassin out of his mind.
When a dead body appears in his bathroom, and disappears again when the police arrive on the scene. That is Dev's cue to call his friends Justin & Gabriel for help, only to have Kai turn up on his doorstep the next morning.
With Justin and Gabriel keeping an eye on Jake at summer camp, Kai is determined to find out who is trying to get his attention by targeting Devlin, bur more importantly, Kai desperately needs to keep him safe.
While investigating, they grow closer and confess they have both fallen hard.
Told in dual POV the story is fast paced and intriguing, it will have you guessing where the plot is taking you, and you'll have it wrong.
Another great read of this author.
Part of the Exit Strategy Series and must be read in order:
August 8, 2021
4 stars.
June 11, 2021
Kai intrigued me in the previous books in this series, and getting a firsthand look at his protectiveness of Devlin only made me love him faster. Though he presented himself as a suave, sexy killer, the "real" Kai was adorably awkward around Dev. I had so much fun watching him and Devlin interact, and despite the deadly threat lurking about their romance had a delightfully warm and sweet quality.
It takes a talented author to make the life of an assassain feel relatable, and Jocelynn consistently manages to deliver stories that blend deadly danger with honorable characters. Was Kai kinda terrifying when he was ultra-focused on a threat? Yes, but his killer instincts never overrode what I knew I could trust about Kai the man. Just like Justin and Gabriel, Kai had a strict honor code and was fiercely protective of the people he cared about. Sure, that list of people was pretty small, but Devlin and Jake were right at the top. If I was ever in doubt about his integrity, the way Kai dropped everything to figure out who was targeting Devlin made me sure his feelings were real.
Speaking of Kai and Devlin's feelings, I loved the way the romance unfolded in this story. Instead of jumping into bed right away, Devlin and Kai took some time to seriously consider the consequences of being together and to make sure their feelings were genuine and not born out of the crazy stressful situation. Knowing that they were aware of the risks before they decided to pursue each other made me even more ecstatic to see them give into their passion, and once things heated up between the sheets I knew there was no going back. In all the time Kai and Devlin spent gathering information, they bonded on a deep, emotionl level, and that companionship translated into a blistering hot chemistry.
As if the characters and romance weren't enough to make this story enjoyable, the thrilling suspense plotline kept me guessing all the way to the end. It was fascinating to see how Kai took tiny scraps of information and turned them into potential leads, and the resulting adventure was full of unexpected surprises. From meeting with other deadly assassains to learning more about Kai's family, this journey took me on a winding chase. I was not expecting Devlin to be so involved in the final showdown, but there was something deeply satisfying about knowing that he could and would protect Kai just as fiercely as Kai would protect him.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
It takes a talented author to make the life of an assassain feel relatable, and Jocelynn consistently manages to deliver stories that blend deadly danger with honorable characters. Was Kai kinda terrifying when he was ultra-focused on a threat? Yes, but his killer instincts never overrode what I knew I could trust about Kai the man. Just like Justin and Gabriel, Kai had a strict honor code and was fiercely protective of the people he cared about. Sure, that list of people was pretty small, but Devlin and Jake were right at the top. If I was ever in doubt about his integrity, the way Kai dropped everything to figure out who was targeting Devlin made me sure his feelings were real.
Speaking of Kai and Devlin's feelings, I loved the way the romance unfolded in this story. Instead of jumping into bed right away, Devlin and Kai took some time to seriously consider the consequences of being together and to make sure their feelings were genuine and not born out of the crazy stressful situation. Knowing that they were aware of the risks before they decided to pursue each other made me even more ecstatic to see them give into their passion, and once things heated up between the sheets I knew there was no going back. In all the time Kai and Devlin spent gathering information, they bonded on a deep, emotionl level, and that companionship translated into a blistering hot chemistry.
As if the characters and romance weren't enough to make this story enjoyable, the thrilling suspense plotline kept me guessing all the way to the end. It was fascinating to see how Kai took tiny scraps of information and turned them into potential leads, and the resulting adventure was full of unexpected surprises. From meeting with other deadly assassains to learning more about Kai's family, this journey took me on a winding chase. I was not expecting Devlin to be so involved in the final showdown, but there was something deeply satisfying about knowing that he could and would protect Kai just as fiercely as Kai would protect him.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 10, 2021
The Assassin and the Scientist! They actually made an Adorable opposites attract sort of Pair! Kai is our Ghost assassin but he turns out to be so much more then that! Watching him trying to interact with Dev like a regular person was awkwardly enjoyable given how deadly he really is! And Dev.. sweet, geeky Dev. His thoughts about Kai that lead to him planning a seduction are hilarious! The chemistry between these two is off the charts while remaining undeniably sweet! Their First kiss and first steamy times together are so sensual, visual and Fun!! There is of course action and suspense perfectly woven in with the romance! Loved seeing Justin and Gabriel those two are too much!! I received an ARC of this book and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy sweet, steamy, fun romances with mystery and action plots! Can be read as a standalone but you will want to read the entire series!
June 10, 2021
Kai and Dev tackle dead bodies, dating, and the marvelous world of assassins.
Given the subject matter I didn’t think it would be so much fun to read. The characters are well rounded and an excellent compliment to each other. The mystery is engaging and the bad guy is the perfect sicko.
This works great as a standalone but reading the other books in the series will make it more enjoyable.
I received an arc of this book.
Given the subject matter I didn’t think it would be so much fun to read. The characters are well rounded and an excellent compliment to each other. The mystery is engaging and the bad guy is the perfect sicko.
This works great as a standalone but reading the other books in the series will make it more enjoyable.
I received an arc of this book.
September 8, 2021
Read for a group challenge. Another day and I might’ve rated this one higher. I’ve been reading psychopaths and gunslingers, so as an assassin Kai felt sloppy. The ghost was painfully visible and unravelling because of his feelings for Dev. I liked the teasing from Justin and Gabe. The grocery shop moment was a little annoying. I’m not one for the walk alone and run into trouble thing. Plenty of sex. I liked the ending. Favourite part was covering up a murder and Jake saying he saw Justin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2022
Realmente insufrible. Banaliza y trivializa tanto que los personajes pasan a ser caricaturas y ni funciona la historia ni conectas con los MC y su relación romántica.
June 11, 2021
So happy to be returning to this series. This book picks up from book three in the Exit Strategy series. It’s not necessary to read that one first but it is helpful as the events of that book are referred to frequently in this book.
Dev is a scientist and father whose husband was murdered and had a contract placed on his head. Kai is an assassin who is sent to kill him but realized (with the help of Justin and Gabriel) that all was not what it seemed. Those are the events (briefly) from book three which lead us to this book. It’s been a year, things are going well for Dev but he’s not quite gotten over his attraction to Kai. And it appears that Kai has been keeping track of Dev and Jake as well. Then Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and he calls Justin and Gabriel for help who in turn contact Kai. Kai shows up to help protect Dev while Jake is fortunately off at camp.
The story and the mystery around the dead bodies (bc of course there are more than one) seems to center on Kai’s life and yet Dev is being targeted. The plot is suspenseful and as I got closer to the end I wanted things to speed up as I was so anxious for a resolution! Lots of tension!! As the mystery becomes more dangerous and suspenseful, the relationship between Dev and Kai grows even though both wonder how they can have any kind of a lasting relationship.
The climactic moment is exciting with a thrilling and satisfying ending. And the ending of the book is amusing and sweet. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series which was promoted at the end of this book. I’m hoping we continue to see all these characters again in that book.
**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**
Dev is a scientist and father whose husband was murdered and had a contract placed on his head. Kai is an assassin who is sent to kill him but realized (with the help of Justin and Gabriel) that all was not what it seemed. Those are the events (briefly) from book three which lead us to this book. It’s been a year, things are going well for Dev but he’s not quite gotten over his attraction to Kai. And it appears that Kai has been keeping track of Dev and Jake as well. Then Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and he calls Justin and Gabriel for help who in turn contact Kai. Kai shows up to help protect Dev while Jake is fortunately off at camp.
The story and the mystery around the dead bodies (bc of course there are more than one) seems to center on Kai’s life and yet Dev is being targeted. The plot is suspenseful and as I got closer to the end I wanted things to speed up as I was so anxious for a resolution! Lots of tension!! As the mystery becomes more dangerous and suspenseful, the relationship between Dev and Kai grows even though both wonder how they can have any kind of a lasting relationship.
The climactic moment is exciting with a thrilling and satisfying ending. And the ending of the book is amusing and sweet. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series which was promoted at the end of this book. I’m hoping we continue to see all these characters again in that book.
**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**
June 9, 2021
I was so excited when I found out that this author was writing a book about Kai and Devlin. There was definitely something there when Kai first encountered Dev and Jake in Final Lover when Justin and G Love were protecting the widower and his son. Kai was horrified to learn that the contract he had taken was false and that his target had a kid. Now someone is using Devlin to send him a message. Devlin has become good friends with his former protectors and they are the first ones he calls when he finds the body in his house. It doesn’t take long for Kai to show up at his doorstep. Thankfully Jake is away at summer camp. Kai and Devlin are amazing together, especially once they both stop fighting their instant attraction. They are “almost” as sweet as Justin and Gabriel. I loved this story! Kai is so sweet on the inside and believes that he is not good enough for Devlin. But Devlin knows what he wants. These two just have to figure out who is after Kai and if the target is Kai or even possibly Devin himself. Only then can they figure out how to make their relationship a true reality. Sigh….again these two were amazing and I highly recommend this story if you liked the rest of this series at all.
June 14, 2021
Dev and Kai are awesome
I love this addition to the Exit Strategy series. Kai and Dev met in the previous book - yes, it's best to read the series in order, I think - and have both been pining for each other. So the question is, how do a very active assassin who's used to flying solo and a single dad scientist with some legitimate middle-aged concerns overcome their differences so they can be together? Especially when of them has a past complication that won't stay in the past...
Forbidden Lover is a great read. The blend of super cute / hot (opposites attract) romance and intriguing mystery / action is pretty much perfect. Dev and Kai are fabulous MCs: Dev is certainly still naive to the details of an assassin's life, but that doesn't mean he's not a capable man willing to fight for what (and who) he wants. Kai, meanwhile, finds it easy to let his softer side show with Dev but every now and again he has to go all scary alpha assassin - they're a fantastic pairing. Also, I love the cameos from Justin and Gabriel.
It's 4.5* from me and I'm already looking forward to the next in this seriously entertaining series.
I love this addition to the Exit Strategy series. Kai and Dev met in the previous book - yes, it's best to read the series in order, I think - and have both been pining for each other. So the question is, how do a very active assassin who's used to flying solo and a single dad scientist with some legitimate middle-aged concerns overcome their differences so they can be together? Especially when of them has a past complication that won't stay in the past...
Forbidden Lover is a great read. The blend of super cute / hot (opposites attract) romance and intriguing mystery / action is pretty much perfect. Dev and Kai are fabulous MCs: Dev is certainly still naive to the details of an assassin's life, but that doesn't mean he's not a capable man willing to fight for what (and who) he wants. Kai, meanwhile, finds it easy to let his softer side show with Dev but every now and again he has to go all scary alpha assassin - they're a fantastic pairing. Also, I love the cameos from Justin and Gabriel.
It's 4.5* from me and I'm already looking forward to the next in this seriously entertaining series.
June 7, 2021
***Received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
This was a perfect read for me. It was amazing and very cute.
For me characters are very important and I am in love with both the characters equally. And that rarely happens.
Kai: A reclusive assassin who is also known as Ghost.
“Kai was a powerful, frightening angel of death in the world, but with Dev, he pleaded and begged” 😍😍😍😍
That's the best description of Kai. He will do anything for Dev.
Devlin: A gay widower scientists with a kid.
Dev is this simple, warm and caring guy who is very confused about his fascination over the lethal assassin. 😍😍😍😍
I loved the characters, their conversation. Really enjoyed Justin and Gabriel's scenes. The book is funny, cute and adventurous.
Totally recommended 🤩🤩
This was a perfect read for me. It was amazing and very cute.
For me characters are very important and I am in love with both the characters equally. And that rarely happens.
Kai: A reclusive assassin who is also known as Ghost.
“Kai was a powerful, frightening angel of death in the world, but with Dev, he pleaded and begged” 😍😍😍😍
That's the best description of Kai. He will do anything for Dev.
Devlin: A gay widower scientists with a kid.
Dev is this simple, warm and caring guy who is very confused about his fascination over the lethal assassin. 😍😍😍😍
I loved the characters, their conversation. Really enjoyed Justin and Gabriel's scenes. The book is funny, cute and adventurous.
Totally recommended 🤩🤩
September 7, 2021
4.5 Stars
I enjoyed getting to see the rest of Kai and Dev's story play out. They were the obvious couple coming, the attraction between them in the last novel was clear. I liked how this novel brought them back together. Kai needed some sort of threat to bring him back into Dev's orbit. He was always going to stay away if not. But a threat or danger to Dev, and Kai's back to protect him without a thought.
These guys are a good match for each other, and I liked seeing Kai realize what he really wants. Together these guys have a wonderful normal future. I have enjoyed the books in this series and I look forward to the next one.
I enjoyed getting to see the rest of Kai and Dev's story play out. They were the obvious couple coming, the attraction between them in the last novel was clear. I liked how this novel brought them back together. Kai needed some sort of threat to bring him back into Dev's orbit. He was always going to stay away if not. But a threat or danger to Dev, and Kai's back to protect him without a thought.
These guys are a good match for each other, and I liked seeing Kai realize what he really wants. Together these guys have a wonderful normal future. I have enjoyed the books in this series and I look forward to the next one.
June 7, 2021
I really liked the mix of romance and danger. This is part of a series and we met Dev and Kai in book 3. In this an Assassin (Kai) tries to protect Dev when he becomes the objective of a mad mans crazy plan.
There is a trail of bodies and a hunt for the perpetrator that creates a page turner. There is also the storyline of two men falling in love and overcoming their pasts and their fears for the future.
Essentially it has a bit of everything which makes it a satisfying read. I liked that we got to see the main characters from the previous books as supporting characters here. The series is well worth a read if you like MM romantic suspense/action.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and am leaving a review voluntarily.
There is a trail of bodies and a hunt for the perpetrator that creates a page turner. There is also the storyline of two men falling in love and overcoming their pasts and their fears for the future.
Essentially it has a bit of everything which makes it a satisfying read. I liked that we got to see the main characters from the previous books as supporting characters here. The series is well worth a read if you like MM romantic suspense/action.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and am leaving a review voluntarily.
June 11, 2021
This is my favorite in this series and probably my favorite from this author’s solo books.
Dev and Kai were absolutely fantastic together. I liked the little moments between them the best. Just the two of them, quietly figuring out how to intertwine their lives as they fell in love. The action and suspense was definitely there too.
Also…Jake spotting Justin in a tree? LOL
You should probably read the books before this one to best enjoy it. Kai and Dev don’t come along until book three tho.
What fun!
Update: the author has two bonus scenes on her website and one of them talks about Justin in the tree and now I want more 😆
Dev and Kai were absolutely fantastic together. I liked the little moments between them the best. Just the two of them, quietly figuring out how to intertwine their lives as they fell in love. The action and suspense was definitely there too.
Also…Jake spotting Justin in a tree? LOL
You should probably read the books before this one to best enjoy it. Kai and Dev don’t come along until book three tho.
What fun!
Update: the author has two bonus scenes on her website and one of them talks about Justin in the tree and now I want more 😆
June 11, 2021
Great premise... piqued my interest from first page. Classic Drake style with showing the fun and loving but also vulnerable sides to Alpha men. Expert mixing of romance and thriller. Dead bodies are piling up during a dangerous cat and mouse with a psychopath that seems to be one step ahead of them. And of course, love abounds. Kai is a hottie and Devlin is a perfect grounding source for the lovable assassin.
June 13, 2021
Kind of fun
It’s hard to make assassins into cinnamon rolls but the author seems to manage. Somewhat predictable but engaging and escapist.
It’s hard to make assassins into cinnamon rolls but the author seems to manage. Somewhat predictable but engaging and escapist.
August 18, 2021
Fantastic
This was another beautiful love story with yet another lovely mm couple.
I must say I love this authors work and plan to read all their books on KU.
This was an easy 5 stars from me.
This was another beautiful love story with yet another lovely mm couple.
I must say I love this authors work and plan to read all their books on KU.
This was an easy 5 stars from me.
December 14, 2022
in love
I’m still dumbfounded by the fact that I’d never read this. Dev and Kai! Although I must admit I missed Jake, this books as just amazing, I absolutely loved it! It had action, intrigue, HOT scenes and even sweeter scenes, I just loved it! The assassin and the single dad just WORKED!
I’m still dumbfounded by the fact that I’d never read this. Dev and Kai! Although I must admit I missed Jake, this books as just amazing, I absolutely loved it! It had action, intrigue, HOT scenes and even sweeter scenes, I just loved it! The assassin and the single dad just WORKED!
June 21, 2021
Forbidden Lover is the 4th book in the Exit Strategy series by Jocelynn Drake. The characters from this book were introduced initially in Final Lover. Reading that will help give more context in some of the things mentioned but this can be read as a standalone.
Coming from the high of finishing the first three books of this series, I had some really high expectations. Add in the fact that the character types and the tropes used are right up in my alley is an added bonus. Things didn't really turn out the way I expected it to be.
Devlin Relic has just come out of a very sticky situation involving a bounty on his head. He is slowly getting back on his feet when once again his life gets turned upside down when he discovered a dead body in his bathroom. With no one else to turn to, he asks help from Justin and Gabriel. Unexpectedly, this brings him in contact once again with Kai, the assassin who was once contracted to kill him. Right from the start, the attraction between the two can't be denied. Their lifestyles might be night and day but the chemistry sizzling between them is as true as it can be. But when corpses seem to follow wherever Dev is and the message is clear Kai and Dev had to navigate their feelings and wants while trying to keep both of them alive.
Jocelynn Drake crafted a thrilling story with an interesting mystery interwoven with some tender moments and really hot sexy scenes. She made lead characters that are relatable with their insecurities, imperfections, wants and wishes.
Kai as the assassin is a cool, no-nonsense kind of guy, always in control with everything planned including his exits when completing a contract. He is also kind, gentle, sweet and protective of the one he cares for. He also thinks himself not worthy of Dev because of his past. Dev is a brilliant, gentle and kind-hearted soul wanting to change the world in a non-violent way. But he can also be stubborn as a mule and have some low self-esteem issues.
The romance between the two MC may come off as insta-love but as the story progressed that notion was immediately dashed. It was good to see Devlin and Kai navigating the dynamics of their relationship and taking some time to consider if their feelings were genuine or not. Watching them consider the consequences of them getting involved is gratifying and seeing their happily ever after is a nice reward in the end.
The plot of the story is intriguing and guessing who could've been after the two of them was fun. The pacing is pretty great as well. However, there were times when the Dev's uncertainties and naivety bordered on the annoying and Kai's inner monologue of not being worthy of Devlin's love got really old fast.
Another point that was pretty jarring for me at least was how Kai was described as Asian. Asian meaning that of East Asian descent. It's very stereotypical and just lumps all Asians into this one mold and not distinct from each other.
Overall, I'd still recommend this book despite all of the issues I had mentioned above. It is still a fun, thrilling story and Jocelynn Drake's writing is wonderful to read. I'm giving this 4 stars out of 5.
I received an arc copy of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Coming from the high of finishing the first three books of this series, I had some really high expectations. Add in the fact that the character types and the tropes used are right up in my alley is an added bonus. Things didn't really turn out the way I expected it to be.
Devlin Relic has just come out of a very sticky situation involving a bounty on his head. He is slowly getting back on his feet when once again his life gets turned upside down when he discovered a dead body in his bathroom. With no one else to turn to, he asks help from Justin and Gabriel. Unexpectedly, this brings him in contact once again with Kai, the assassin who was once contracted to kill him. Right from the start, the attraction between the two can't be denied. Their lifestyles might be night and day but the chemistry sizzling between them is as true as it can be. But when corpses seem to follow wherever Dev is and the message is clear Kai and Dev had to navigate their feelings and wants while trying to keep both of them alive.
Jocelynn Drake crafted a thrilling story with an interesting mystery interwoven with some tender moments and really hot sexy scenes. She made lead characters that are relatable with their insecurities, imperfections, wants and wishes.
Kai as the assassin is a cool, no-nonsense kind of guy, always in control with everything planned including his exits when completing a contract. He is also kind, gentle, sweet and protective of the one he cares for. He also thinks himself not worthy of Dev because of his past. Dev is a brilliant, gentle and kind-hearted soul wanting to change the world in a non-violent way. But he can also be stubborn as a mule and have some low self-esteem issues.
The romance between the two MC may come off as insta-love but as the story progressed that notion was immediately dashed. It was good to see Devlin and Kai navigating the dynamics of their relationship and taking some time to consider if their feelings were genuine or not. Watching them consider the consequences of them getting involved is gratifying and seeing their happily ever after is a nice reward in the end.
The plot of the story is intriguing and guessing who could've been after the two of them was fun. The pacing is pretty great as well. However, there were times when the Dev's uncertainties and naivety bordered on the annoying and Kai's inner monologue of not being worthy of Devlin's love got really old fast.
Another point that was pretty jarring for me at least was how Kai was described as Asian. Asian meaning that of East Asian descent. It's very stereotypical and just lumps all Asians into this one mold and not distinct from each other.
Overall, I'd still recommend this book despite all of the issues I had mentioned above. It is still a fun, thrilling story and Jocelynn Drake's writing is wonderful to read. I'm giving this 4 stars out of 5.
I received an arc copy of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
June 20, 2021
Kai and Dev
As uaual, it was murder, suspense, love and a bit of joy and laughter.
I enjoy reading this author, her writing is smooth, engaging and full of energy. The plot was not what I expected even though the blurb was spot on.
The plot had me engaged and hoping that everything worked out. If course we met up with Gabriel and Justine.
Good story 4.5stars.
As uaual, it was murder, suspense, love and a bit of joy and laughter.
I enjoy reading this author, her writing is smooth, engaging and full of energy. The plot was not what I expected even though the blurb was spot on.
The plot had me engaged and hoping that everything worked out. If course we met up with Gabriel and Justine.
Good story 4.5stars.
May 15, 2022
We met both Devlin and Kai in the previous book in the series. Kai was the assassin sent to kill Devlin. Luckily Gabriel and Justin were there to help Devlin and talk to Kai. After learning that Devlin has a kid and was an innocent man, he didn't take the hit.
A year later Dev is trying to put his life back together. It has been 3 years since his husband was murdered and a year since he had a price on his head. Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and calls the police, only for the body to vanish. Kai comes to Dev's aid after a call from our favourite assassin husbands.
There is something so special between these two. The spark started a year ago and hasn't dimmed since then. Kai will do everything he can to keep Dev safe. I loved how Dev wasn't scared of Kai and just saw him for who he is. He is such a strong person and he has been through so much.
Kai, or Ghost as he is known in the assassin world, cares deeply for Dev and his son. He was so kind and sweet, which surprised me. We get to learn about his past and what an amazing man he is. He is just so scared that he isn't good enough for Dev, he just wants the best for him.
Dev is a scientist and was widowed 3 years ago. He has an adopted son called Jake and has been through hell the past few years. He is such a strong person and sees people for who they are, it doesn't matter about the past. He took all the Assassins as close friends, he just sees the good people they are.
They danced around each other for so long and it made my heart happy when they both got their heads out of their arses. They just worked so well as a couple despite their bid differences. They truly care for each other and the sexy times were so hot. They just were so full of love which made them even more intense and Electric.
It was a hard mystery to figure out. I had an idea about what kind of person they would be but they were nuts. They so wanted to make a statement and had an end goal in sight. When we find out who they are I wasn't surprised about how they knew Kai. Dev was so brave and didn't let the pressure get to him.
The ending was the one I so wanted to see. Especially with how different their lives are. I wondered how they could get their HEA and I was so happy about Kai's decision in the end. He is one amazing and loving man. I was also happy to have some G love and Justin moments. I love this series and can't wait to read the next book.
A year later Dev is trying to put his life back together. It has been 3 years since his husband was murdered and a year since he had a price on his head. Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and calls the police, only for the body to vanish. Kai comes to Dev's aid after a call from our favourite assassin husbands.
There is something so special between these two. The spark started a year ago and hasn't dimmed since then. Kai will do everything he can to keep Dev safe. I loved how Dev wasn't scared of Kai and just saw him for who he is. He is such a strong person and he has been through so much.
Kai, or Ghost as he is known in the assassin world, cares deeply for Dev and his son. He was so kind and sweet, which surprised me. We get to learn about his past and what an amazing man he is. He is just so scared that he isn't good enough for Dev, he just wants the best for him.
Dev is a scientist and was widowed 3 years ago. He has an adopted son called Jake and has been through hell the past few years. He is such a strong person and sees people for who they are, it doesn't matter about the past. He took all the Assassins as close friends, he just sees the good people they are.
They danced around each other for so long and it made my heart happy when they both got their heads out of their arses. They just worked so well as a couple despite their bid differences. They truly care for each other and the sexy times were so hot. They just were so full of love which made them even more intense and Electric.
It was a hard mystery to figure out. I had an idea about what kind of person they would be but they were nuts. They so wanted to make a statement and had an end goal in sight. When we find out who they are I wasn't surprised about how they knew Kai. Dev was so brave and didn't let the pressure get to him.
The ending was the one I so wanted to see. Especially with how different their lives are. I wondered how they could get their HEA and I was so happy about Kai's decision in the end. He is one amazing and loving man. I was also happy to have some G love and Justin moments. I love this series and can't wait to read the next book.
February 6, 2023
I was entertained. It’s not my favorite in the series.
Rating: 3.5🌈
Forbidden Lover has its beginnings in Final Lover, Justin Mallory and Gabriel Prescott’s “put a ring on it”storyline. That’s the book that solidified their romance into a HEA by slipping them into a mission that sees them protecting a man and his young son from a mistaken hit contract.
The assassin who took the bad contract was Kai , an old acquaintance of Gabriel’s, and someone Gabe knew would never kill a child. It stopped Kai once he knew the information was bad and then he helped them protect the man and son. Yes, there was definitely chemistry involved but it was just a wisp and gone.
Here all the dropped parts from that book that pertained to the father ,Devlin Relic and son , get picked up and woven into a new adventure and romance.
This time between Devlin and Kai.
As much as I liked the character of Kai, what makes the series work is the development of the relationship between the two characters of Justin and Gabriel over a period of time, especially with the differences in personalities. Here Kai is lacking all that history and groundwork, even with his introduction in the last book, to give him a larger dimension to his character.
It makes the drama with the villain just a bit confusing, even coming off as a forced storyline because we have nothing to frame it around.
I liked Devlin and his son, the father/son dynamics feeling more realistic than the fact that Devlin might be any sort of brilliant scientist. No one is that naive anymore, especially about other members of their scientific community. Nice character, not realistic enough for the field.
So I was entertained. It’s not my favorite in the series. Feels like more of a filler story than a actual part. Maybe people were asking for it because of Kai from Final Lover.
Read it to finish the series, or because you’re curious about that character. It’s a fun book but not necessarily a great one.
The series should be read in the order that they were written to understand the character development and events that happened.
Exit Strategy series:
- [x] Deadly Lover: Special Edition #1
- [x] Vengeful Lover #2
- [x] Final Lover #3
- [x] Forbidden Lover #4
- [x] Accidental Lover #5
Rating: 3.5🌈
Forbidden Lover has its beginnings in Final Lover, Justin Mallory and Gabriel Prescott’s “put a ring on it”storyline. That’s the book that solidified their romance into a HEA by slipping them into a mission that sees them protecting a man and his young son from a mistaken hit contract.
The assassin who took the bad contract was Kai , an old acquaintance of Gabriel’s, and someone Gabe knew would never kill a child. It stopped Kai once he knew the information was bad and then he helped them protect the man and son. Yes, there was definitely chemistry involved but it was just a wisp and gone.
Here all the dropped parts from that book that pertained to the father ,Devlin Relic and son , get picked up and woven into a new adventure and romance.
This time between Devlin and Kai.
As much as I liked the character of Kai, what makes the series work is the development of the relationship between the two characters of Justin and Gabriel over a period of time, especially with the differences in personalities. Here Kai is lacking all that history and groundwork, even with his introduction in the last book, to give him a larger dimension to his character.
It makes the drama with the villain just a bit confusing, even coming off as a forced storyline because we have nothing to frame it around.
I liked Devlin and his son, the father/son dynamics feeling more realistic than the fact that Devlin might be any sort of brilliant scientist. No one is that naive anymore, especially about other members of their scientific community. Nice character, not realistic enough for the field.
So I was entertained. It’s not my favorite in the series. Feels like more of a filler story than a actual part. Maybe people were asking for it because of Kai from Final Lover.
Read it to finish the series, or because you’re curious about that character. It’s a fun book but not necessarily a great one.
The series should be read in the order that they were written to understand the character development and events that happened.
Exit Strategy series:
- [x] Deadly Lover: Special Edition #1
- [x] Vengeful Lover #2
- [x] Final Lover #3
- [x] Forbidden Lover #4
- [x] Accidental Lover #5
June 25, 2021
I’m very happy that Kai and Dev have their own book as I loved them in Final Lover. I’d recommend reading that one first as it has Dev’s backstory and their first meeting(s). This is very much an opposites attract story with loads of action, and a good sized mystery. I enjoyed it as much as the previous book, and loved how the tension kept up right until the end. An extra bonus was seeing Justin and Gabriel again too.
This story hits the ground running with Dev finding the body in his bathtub, and I love how he and Kai are totally attracted to each other, but keep telling themselves it won’t work. Kai’s a very efficient assassin, but totally inexperienced at doing normal. His second rule is already broken when he meets Dev for the first time. I liked how Dev adapts to being in Kai’s world, and how smart he is at figuring things out. He and Kai complement each other well, and are good for each other. Murders, and being a target aside. It was interesting learning about Kai’s background, and getting a glimpse of his family. All these guys have had horrible lives, apart from Dev—up to the events of the previous book.
I loved Justin and Gabriel’s role in this story, and seeing them from a different perspective. Mother is a cool character. I liked how her true nature was so different to what she appears to be. I liked seeing Jake a little older too, and his growing friendship with Kai.
The bad guy is a nasty piece of work and I thought he came across well as totally dangerous and delusional. I thought it said a lot of Dev’s strength of character in the scene where the situation is resolved. The following scene with the police is fun, and I liked how Kai can inhabit a role he’s playing so well.
The epilogue is very sweet, and I’d also totally recommend reading the newsletter extra scenes. They’re wonderful. I’m sad that their story has come to an end.
This story hits the ground running with Dev finding the body in his bathtub, and I love how he and Kai are totally attracted to each other, but keep telling themselves it won’t work. Kai’s a very efficient assassin, but totally inexperienced at doing normal. His second rule is already broken when he meets Dev for the first time. I liked how Dev adapts to being in Kai’s world, and how smart he is at figuring things out. He and Kai complement each other well, and are good for each other. Murders, and being a target aside. It was interesting learning about Kai’s background, and getting a glimpse of his family. All these guys have had horrible lives, apart from Dev—up to the events of the previous book.
I loved Justin and Gabriel’s role in this story, and seeing them from a different perspective. Mother is a cool character. I liked how her true nature was so different to what she appears to be. I liked seeing Jake a little older too, and his growing friendship with Kai.
The bad guy is a nasty piece of work and I thought he came across well as totally dangerous and delusional. I thought it said a lot of Dev’s strength of character in the scene where the situation is resolved. The following scene with the police is fun, and I liked how Kai can inhabit a role he’s playing so well.
The epilogue is very sweet, and I’d also totally recommend reading the newsletter extra scenes. They’re wonderful. I’m sad that their story has come to an end.
June 13, 2021
I was really hoping for Kai's and Devlin's story and the author didn't disappoint, she never does. One of the deadliest assassins in the world and a sweet geeky scientist with adopted kid. How can they ever make it work? Seems impossible, but attraction was there since the moment their eyes met. So I strongly suggest that you start with book one in Exit Strategy series. All books are amazing and they'll provide the background to this story. They briefly met at the end of the book three and although they didn't spoke a word to each other their attraction was palpable. Devlin was a target back then and the only man Kai ever spared. Now he's a target again, they both are, and they must fight side by side just to stay alive and maybe build something beautiful together as impossible it may seem. They surprise each other and themselves along the way. This book (as is the rest of the series) is steamy, sometimes sweet, action packed and laced with humor. The scene with cops by the end of the book is absolutely hilarious! I can't wait to read the next in the series. As I understand it will be the last one and I can say now that I'll miss "the boys". I'm sure I'll be rereading the whole series in the future.
June 16, 2021
I love the Exit Strategy series! Assassins, Protectors, action romance are some of my favorite tropes and I was so happy to learn that this series has a few more books lined up.
Congratulations Ms. Jocelynn Drake! Kai and Devlin are amazing. We met both of them in Final Lover and I was both intrigued by them then. There were undercurrents that early on and I hoped then that they will have their own story. And here we are.
Everybody deserves love, no matter who you are and what you are.
Devlin is one of the nicest guys ever and Kai feels that Devlin is too perfect for someone like him. Kai feels that he doesn't deserve to be happy, let alone be with someone like Devlin who is just too good for him. And then there's Jake, Devlin's son, who needs his father to be with someone who will not constantly put them in danger and to be there for them in good and bad times.
But Love has a way of working out for two people who totally deserve it. If you have enough love, faith, and courage to go on, then seize it because not everyone gets lucky in love!
I cannot wait for the next book Ms. Jocelynn, I love this series so much!
Congratulations Ms. Jocelynn Drake! Kai and Devlin are amazing. We met both of them in Final Lover and I was both intrigued by them then. There were undercurrents that early on and I hoped then that they will have their own story. And here we are.
Everybody deserves love, no matter who you are and what you are.
Devlin is one of the nicest guys ever and Kai feels that Devlin is too perfect for someone like him. Kai feels that he doesn't deserve to be happy, let alone be with someone like Devlin who is just too good for him. And then there's Jake, Devlin's son, who needs his father to be with someone who will not constantly put them in danger and to be there for them in good and bad times.
But Love has a way of working out for two people who totally deserve it. If you have enough love, faith, and courage to go on, then seize it because not everyone gets lucky in love!
I cannot wait for the next book Ms. Jocelynn, I love this series so much!
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