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Never Miss
Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.
With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.
Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.
With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.
Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.
11 pages, Audio CD
First published May 1, 2021
33 people are currently reading
2510 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Koslin
5 books409 followersMelissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Jacksonville, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
January 5, 2025
love it like I love Dangerous Beauty!
Deep character work, breathtaking romance, and heart-pumping action!
Love Melissa Koslin's writing. We get in the heads of her characters. Their personalities are so unique and fascinating. I love it.
Trigger warning for child abuse.
Reread: January 2025. STILL OBSESSED.
Deep character work, breathtaking romance, and heart-pumping action!
Love Melissa Koslin's writing. We get in the heads of her characters. Their personalities are so unique and fascinating. I love it.
Trigger warning for child abuse.
Reread: January 2025. STILL OBSESSED.
Read
February 3, 2023Characters: Kadance (the main lady) and Lyndon (the main guy) were good characters with unique, well-defined personalities. They actually seemed like characters that would be found in an action movie. You know, they're kind of experts at everything. Normally, this would get on my nerves, but in the end, it worked for me in this book. And I liked Kadance's pet cat, Mac. :)
Language: Clean.
Moral: About midway through this book, Lyndon (a supposed Christian) talks to Kadance (an unbeliever) about God. Normally, I'd love a conversation like this. However ... during this conversation, Lyndon basically says that it's highly probable God used the big bang to create the world (theistic evolution). Then he goes on to talk about how Jesus taught people how to be nice to each other and made the world a better place. WHAT?
God created the world as He said He did (six literal twenty-four-hour days a little more than 6,000 years ago). And Jesus is the only Savior ... not just some good example to teach people to be nice (of course He's the best of examples, but He's much, much more than that).
This is supposed to be a Christian novel ...
Plot: I found this was a fast book to read ... mainly due to the quick pace of the plot. It had high stakes, action, suspense, and lots of character revelations. Unlike in some suspense books, the plot in Never Miss never became so confusing I couldn't follow it.
Romance: Clean. But kind of awkward ... if that makes any sense. Lyndon and Kadance put themselves in some dumb situations (like trying to share a hotel bed). Nothing happened ... except for Lyndon about crawling out of his skin. Most of their attraction to each other seemed based on physical characteristics.
Writing: Sometimes, Melissa's style leaned more toward spelling out how the characters were feeling rather than showing their emotions, but this didn't end up bothering me much. For the most part, the writing style worked well for this book. I enjoyed the fast pace.
Overall: I don't recommend this book.
Language: Clean.
Moral: About midway through this book, Lyndon (a supposed Christian) talks to Kadance (an unbeliever) about God. Normally, I'd love a conversation like this. However ... during this conversation, Lyndon basically says that it's highly probable God used the big bang to create the world (theistic evolution). Then he goes on to talk about how Jesus taught people how to be nice to each other and made the world a better place. WHAT?
God created the world as He said He did (six literal twenty-four-hour days a little more than 6,000 years ago). And Jesus is the only Savior ... not just some good example to teach people to be nice (of course He's the best of examples, but He's much, much more than that).
This is supposed to be a Christian novel ...
Plot: I found this was a fast book to read ... mainly due to the quick pace of the plot. It had high stakes, action, suspense, and lots of character revelations. Unlike in some suspense books, the plot in Never Miss never became so confusing I couldn't follow it.
Romance: Clean. But kind of awkward ... if that makes any sense. Lyndon and Kadance put themselves in some dumb situations (like trying to share a hotel bed). Nothing happened ... except for Lyndon about crawling out of his skin. Most of their attraction to each other seemed based on physical characteristics.
Writing: Sometimes, Melissa's style leaned more toward spelling out how the characters were feeling rather than showing their emotions, but this didn't end up bothering me much. For the most part, the writing style worked well for this book. I enjoyed the fast pace.
Overall: I don't recommend this book.
May 9, 2021
*Warnings*
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.
Stars: 3
Synopsis: When Kadance Tolle, an ex-CIA sniper, saves Dr. Lyndon Vaile’s life, she gets pulled into a plot to wipe out billions of people—and back into her old life. Will they make it out alive?
Favorite Quote: “‘If you do something like that again, I will find out.’ She paused. ‘And I will come back and kill you.’” (And, yes, I chose that one as my favorite because I cracked up when I read it. I know—I have a morbid sense of humor.)
I have a confession to make.
I decided to read Never Miss because of that amazing cover—even though I’ve just recovered from a hit-and-miss with romantic suspense last month. The concept of this novel sounded very intriguing and more up my alley, also.
From Page 1, I was intrigued. Never quite captivated, but intrigued. The story started off with a bang—don’t all suspense novels?—but the characters were presented and developed well earlier on. I was able to understand them and see them vividly throughout the story. Granted, Kadance was more vibrant than Lyndon, and, believe it or not, I actually liked her better. (Which isn’t always a good sign.)
I liked how Koslin dumbed things down for laymen like myself. (Laywomen? Laygirls? Layteens? Laypeople?) Kadance and Lyndon had their unique talents (I mean, the dude had three doctorates by thirty) and skill sets, but it was always easy to comprehend and envision what they were doing and how they operated. She didn’t over-hype anything to the point where things were confusing and chock-full of unnecessary information. Instead, all of the facts and information were carefully interwoven into the story and dialogue, which made everything seem so much more realistic.
Make sense?
The concept has probably been done before, but in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of a corrupt power attempting to unleash a virus to wipe out the greater portion of the world is seen in a new light. Also gave me a lot of Infinity War and Hitler vibes. You know, balance and purity and all.
So, yes, I enjoyed the plot, even though it got to be a little disconcerting at times. (Don’t know if y’all listen to any conspiracy theories out there, but, uh, there’s more to them than just fodder for good suspense novels.)
The pacing was spectacular, in my opinion. It ended way too abruptly (I gotta have some hope for the future, man!), but the rest of the novel flowed so smoothly. There were lulls when there needed to be lulls and fast-paced excited when that was needed too. Inconsistent pacing is only ever a good thing with romantic suspense, because it allows for great character and plot development in the midst of all the turmoil.
Inconsistent writing, however, is never a good thing.
In the first few chapters, the overall quality of the writing wasn’t very high. Now, there were no typos, cosmetic issues, or technical errors at all—but you know how some writing just feels good, while others don’t? Some writers just have that smooth voice, that gentle cadence, that unique slant to their prose that makes the story a million times more enthralling. That was missing from Never Miss.
Maybe that’s a good thing, since it allowed me to focus more on just what was happening in the book than savoring the words. But I still think there was something missing—some punch or pizzazz—that would’ve taken the story over the top.
In the end, my reasons for knocking off two stars are purely personal.
#1 I didn’t really like Lyndon, as a hero. He was unique, and real, and human—and I liked that—but he just didn’t appeal to me.
#2 The faith elements were nonexistent. Now, there was logical spirituality (can that even be a thing?), almost what I would call Christian science, apart from the Scientology connotations, of course. Lyndon’s views of God are great if you’re just transitioning from being an atheist to a Christian—helps put things into perspective. But faith? The substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen? Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
I honestly think the religious elements should have been omitted entirely, since it had no impact whatsoever. Even Kadance never came to any firm conclusion about God. This is a travesty to me, that we would dilute the Creator of the universe to fit the small box on our checklist of story elements. He is so much more than that, and you can either have all of Him or none of Him—not just “enough to suit.”
#3 Lyndon, a “Christian,” (I use quotes because of my point above), kept casually cussing. Now, the words weren’t written out, but the occasional mention of “he cursed” upset me. Not because I don’t condone the use of such euphemisms or because I don’t think including them helps accurately portray the human nature—I do the same thing all the time. But simply because our goody-two-shoes hero would just throw the d-word around in a casual conversation. Like, who does that? My mom could make a sailor’s ears turn red when she’s in a temper, but she doesn’t just walk around cussing for no reason.
#4 The romance was kind of just...physical. Now, y’all know if I say it, it must be bad, because I rarely ever have qualms about sexual tension and all. But when that’s all you’ve got? You can kiss that relationship goodbye. Lyndon and Kadance had a friendship with the benefits of a few lusty looks and a couple kisses—where was the emotion? Where was the soul-deep connection? Where was the dancing in the moonlight and the lovesick moping and the botched-up proposals and the nervous blushing and the beautiful poetry of a romance?
Ach, lost in the sea of suspense, it was. One day, I’d like to see someone write a romance worthy of a mood board and a fandom and seamlessly combine it with a suspense worthy of a movie and a James Patterson endorsement. (And, yes, I know I could do that myself, but that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?)
Anyway, I said these were personal pet peeves. I think what romance there was was well-done, since I could see it all unfold and not just have a sudden romantic relationship dumped on top of me out of nowhere. I was just missing a lot of emotional and spiritual connection, in multiple respects.
Long story short, there are a lot of good things to Never Miss. It was better developed than most romantic suspense (although I still think the ending was a little rushed and abrupt). It was a quick, fast-paced read. It was interesting—I mean, I finished it! That’s gotta count for something, right?
But there were also areas in which Never Miss was lacking—mostly the subplots. I understand entwining so many different elements into one story is difficult, but I do expect more out of traditionally published authors. I don’t know, I guess it seems to me than trad publishers are lowering their standards—to combat self- and indie-publishing? To expand their horizons? To make more money? I don’t know, but I do know that more and more I see self-published authors with stories of higher quality than traditionally published authors—and I’m not speaking about myself this time.
Pardon the rant. Never Miss was exciting and enjoyable. Yeah, it wasn’t perfect, but it may suit you just fine!
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.
Stars: 3
Synopsis: When Kadance Tolle, an ex-CIA sniper, saves Dr. Lyndon Vaile’s life, she gets pulled into a plot to wipe out billions of people—and back into her old life. Will they make it out alive?
Favorite Quote: “‘If you do something like that again, I will find out.’ She paused. ‘And I will come back and kill you.’” (And, yes, I chose that one as my favorite because I cracked up when I read it. I know—I have a morbid sense of humor.)
I have a confession to make.
I decided to read Never Miss because of that amazing cover—even though I’ve just recovered from a hit-and-miss with romantic suspense last month. The concept of this novel sounded very intriguing and more up my alley, also.
From Page 1, I was intrigued. Never quite captivated, but intrigued. The story started off with a bang—don’t all suspense novels?—but the characters were presented and developed well earlier on. I was able to understand them and see them vividly throughout the story. Granted, Kadance was more vibrant than Lyndon, and, believe it or not, I actually liked her better. (Which isn’t always a good sign.)
I liked how Koslin dumbed things down for laymen like myself. (Laywomen? Laygirls? Layteens? Laypeople?) Kadance and Lyndon had their unique talents (I mean, the dude had three doctorates by thirty) and skill sets, but it was always easy to comprehend and envision what they were doing and how they operated. She didn’t over-hype anything to the point where things were confusing and chock-full of unnecessary information. Instead, all of the facts and information were carefully interwoven into the story and dialogue, which made everything seem so much more realistic.
Make sense?
The concept has probably been done before, but in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of a corrupt power attempting to unleash a virus to wipe out the greater portion of the world is seen in a new light. Also gave me a lot of Infinity War and Hitler vibes. You know, balance and purity and all.
So, yes, I enjoyed the plot, even though it got to be a little disconcerting at times. (Don’t know if y’all listen to any conspiracy theories out there, but, uh, there’s more to them than just fodder for good suspense novels.)
The pacing was spectacular, in my opinion. It ended way too abruptly (I gotta have some hope for the future, man!), but the rest of the novel flowed so smoothly. There were lulls when there needed to be lulls and fast-paced excited when that was needed too. Inconsistent pacing is only ever a good thing with romantic suspense, because it allows for great character and plot development in the midst of all the turmoil.
Inconsistent writing, however, is never a good thing.
In the first few chapters, the overall quality of the writing wasn’t very high. Now, there were no typos, cosmetic issues, or technical errors at all—but you know how some writing just feels good, while others don’t? Some writers just have that smooth voice, that gentle cadence, that unique slant to their prose that makes the story a million times more enthralling. That was missing from Never Miss.
Maybe that’s a good thing, since it allowed me to focus more on just what was happening in the book than savoring the words. But I still think there was something missing—some punch or pizzazz—that would’ve taken the story over the top.
In the end, my reasons for knocking off two stars are purely personal.
#1 I didn’t really like Lyndon, as a hero. He was unique, and real, and human—and I liked that—but he just didn’t appeal to me.
#2 The faith elements were nonexistent. Now, there was logical spirituality (can that even be a thing?), almost what I would call Christian science, apart from the Scientology connotations, of course. Lyndon’s views of God are great if you’re just transitioning from being an atheist to a Christian—helps put things into perspective. But faith? The substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen? Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
I honestly think the religious elements should have been omitted entirely, since it had no impact whatsoever. Even Kadance never came to any firm conclusion about God. This is a travesty to me, that we would dilute the Creator of the universe to fit the small box on our checklist of story elements. He is so much more than that, and you can either have all of Him or none of Him—not just “enough to suit.”
#3 Lyndon, a “Christian,” (I use quotes because of my point above), kept casually cussing. Now, the words weren’t written out, but the occasional mention of “he cursed” upset me. Not because I don’t condone the use of such euphemisms or because I don’t think including them helps accurately portray the human nature—I do the same thing all the time. But simply because our goody-two-shoes hero would just throw the d-word around in a casual conversation. Like, who does that? My mom could make a sailor’s ears turn red when she’s in a temper, but she doesn’t just walk around cussing for no reason.
#4 The romance was kind of just...physical. Now, y’all know if I say it, it must be bad, because I rarely ever have qualms about sexual tension and all. But when that’s all you’ve got? You can kiss that relationship goodbye. Lyndon and Kadance had a friendship with the benefits of a few lusty looks and a couple kisses—where was the emotion? Where was the soul-deep connection? Where was the dancing in the moonlight and the lovesick moping and the botched-up proposals and the nervous blushing and the beautiful poetry of a romance?
Ach, lost in the sea of suspense, it was. One day, I’d like to see someone write a romance worthy of a mood board and a fandom and seamlessly combine it with a suspense worthy of a movie and a James Patterson endorsement. (And, yes, I know I could do that myself, but that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?)
Anyway, I said these were personal pet peeves. I think what romance there was was well-done, since I could see it all unfold and not just have a sudden romantic relationship dumped on top of me out of nowhere. I was just missing a lot of emotional and spiritual connection, in multiple respects.
Long story short, there are a lot of good things to Never Miss. It was better developed than most romantic suspense (although I still think the ending was a little rushed and abrupt). It was a quick, fast-paced read. It was interesting—I mean, I finished it! That’s gotta count for something, right?
But there were also areas in which Never Miss was lacking—mostly the subplots. I understand entwining so many different elements into one story is difficult, but I do expect more out of traditionally published authors. I don’t know, I guess it seems to me than trad publishers are lowering their standards—to combat self- and indie-publishing? To expand their horizons? To make more money? I don’t know, but I do know that more and more I see self-published authors with stories of higher quality than traditionally published authors—and I’m not speaking about myself this time.
Pardon the rant. Never Miss was exciting and enjoyable. Yeah, it wasn’t perfect, but it may suit you just fine!
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 12, 2025
Never Miss by Melissa Koslin
4 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Melissa Koslin 'never misses' (see what I did there, haha) with her Christian Romantic Suspense books! I really enjoyed this one. We have a very intense, high-stakes book that keeps you hooked. We follow Former CIA sniper Kadance and scientist Lyndon. They make a great duo. She has the skills and tragic traumatic past to handle business when trouble comes along and Lyndon has the intellect and faith driven determination to keep going. The romance in this was awesome. FORCED PROXIMITY, and the CHEMISTRY between them was chef's kiss!
The plot itself delivers on action and suspense. We have a virus-centered storyline - someone wanting weaponize the Ebola virus. I am not always a big fan of virus-centered stories but this worked here for the high-intensity setup.
I do wish some of the faith elements had been a little clearer or more developed. Kadance is not a believer and does start to be open to faith in this book but some of the discussions with Lyndon and her could have been a smidge clearer. They are not primary issues though, more secondary, and even still, I appreciated that faith was woven in naturally in a realistic way for someone who is not a believer.
The backstory involving Kadance’s family was heartbreaking and gave her character so much depth. You can’t help but root for her.
Overall, this is an action-packed romantic suspense with a great romance I think a lot of y'all will enjoy.
4 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Melissa Koslin 'never misses' (see what I did there, haha) with her Christian Romantic Suspense books! I really enjoyed this one. We have a very intense, high-stakes book that keeps you hooked. We follow Former CIA sniper Kadance and scientist Lyndon. They make a great duo. She has the skills and tragic traumatic past to handle business when trouble comes along and Lyndon has the intellect and faith driven determination to keep going. The romance in this was awesome. FORCED PROXIMITY, and the CHEMISTRY between them was chef's kiss!
The plot itself delivers on action and suspense. We have a virus-centered storyline - someone wanting weaponize the Ebola virus. I am not always a big fan of virus-centered stories but this worked here for the high-intensity setup.
I do wish some of the faith elements had been a little clearer or more developed. Kadance is not a believer and does start to be open to faith in this book but some of the discussions with Lyndon and her could have been a smidge clearer. They are not primary issues though, more secondary, and even still, I appreciated that faith was woven in naturally in a realistic way for someone who is not a believer.
The backstory involving Kadance’s family was heartbreaking and gave her character so much depth. You can’t help but root for her.
Overall, this is an action-packed romantic suspense with a great romance I think a lot of y'all will enjoy.
May 14, 2021
This cover drew me and I'm always excited to discover new authors, especially in my favourite genre: Christian suspense/thriller. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the expectations. The summary of the book gave the impression of a thrilling/suspenseful ride, but it was okay.
The majority of the story played off through dialogue between the two main characters and I don't think this style of writing is for me. Though some was interesting, I did find myself bored a time or two. The plot of the mastermind was interesting and to find out who was behind it, had me finishing this story.
A major other problem for me, and I'm never one to complain about scenes with attraction, is the two detailed scene between the two when Lyndon explained his attraction to Kadance. Less detail would still give the message across and not have left this reader uncomfortable.
Also, at one point I had the thought if this book was for the secular market. And the small part where God was discussed was too light with no decent follow up.
There was also discussions of child abuse to groom as an assassin.
There is a lot of 4 and 5 stars for this book, and I think if you like a book more focused on characters and working through their problems, but as a Christian suspense, this was too light for me.
Will I read another book by this author? Yes, since this was her first novel and she does show potential as a writer.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all opinions expressed are my own.*
The majority of the story played off through dialogue between the two main characters and I don't think this style of writing is for me. Though some was interesting, I did find myself bored a time or two. The plot of the mastermind was interesting and to find out who was behind it, had me finishing this story.
A major other problem for me, and I'm never one to complain about scenes with attraction, is the two detailed scene between the two when Lyndon explained his attraction to Kadance. Less detail would still give the message across and not have left this reader uncomfortable.
Also, at one point I had the thought if this book was for the secular market. And the small part where God was discussed was too light with no decent follow up.
There was also discussions of child abuse to groom as an assassin.
There is a lot of 4 and 5 stars for this book, and I think if you like a book more focused on characters and working through their problems, but as a Christian suspense, this was too light for me.
Will I read another book by this author? Yes, since this was her first novel and she does show potential as a writer.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all opinions expressed are my own.*
May 7, 2021
Kadance, a former CIA sniper, risks her life to save Lyndon, a scientist whose medical research puts him in jeopardy. Kadance and Lyndon must race to stop a bioattack set to begin at the State of the Union address before spreading around the globe in Never Miss by author Melissa Koslin.
After it pulled me in with its multicolored but ominous cover with typography both atmospheric and sharp (yes, I'm a book cover geek), this ChristFic romantic suspense novel held my attention from beginning to end.
The pacing and fairly short chapters with cliffhangers are effective. And I was thrilled to find out the main characters have a couple of abilities I hadn't seen in romantic suspense leads before.
Granted, I think the author could have refrained from using the words "perfect" and "perfectly" to describe this and that about the hero and heroine, as their perfect points begin to feel overdone. There's some repetitive word choice and phrasing (and "purposefully" often appearing where it seems to mean "purposely," which isn't the same thing). It also appears the author forgets now and then when something minor has already happened, including a scene where Kadance correctly "guesses" a detail after someone told her that detail a few lines ago, and a scene where Lyndon is deeply affected to hear Kadance "really laugh" around him for the first time, though he already heard a "first real full laugh" from her in an earlier chapter.
It doesn't at all sit well with me that as Lyndon wrestles with his thoughts and asks Kadance to be mindful of the effects of her physical womanliness when she's wearing a tank top, he keeps walking into rooms shirtless while she's there. And an additional note as a longtime fan of ChristFic: I like edge and grit, especially in suspense and thrillers, and I expect serious violence. But in this book, I think a certain violent and graphic joke concerning male privates is out of line for Christian Fiction. It would be in equally poor taste if the graphic joke had been about inflicting violence on a woman's privates.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the suspenseful aspects of the novel overall. I'll be keeping an eye out for this author's next book.
________
Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
After it pulled me in with its multicolored but ominous cover with typography both atmospheric and sharp (yes, I'm a book cover geek), this ChristFic romantic suspense novel held my attention from beginning to end.
The pacing and fairly short chapters with cliffhangers are effective. And I was thrilled to find out the main characters have a couple of abilities I hadn't seen in romantic suspense leads before.
Granted, I think the author could have refrained from using the words "perfect" and "perfectly" to describe this and that about the hero and heroine, as their perfect points begin to feel overdone. There's some repetitive word choice and phrasing (and "purposefully" often appearing where it seems to mean "purposely," which isn't the same thing). It also appears the author forgets now and then when something minor has already happened, including a scene where Kadance correctly "guesses" a detail after someone told her that detail a few lines ago, and a scene where Lyndon is deeply affected to hear Kadance "really laugh" around him for the first time, though he already heard a "first real full laugh" from her in an earlier chapter.
It doesn't at all sit well with me that as Lyndon wrestles with his thoughts and asks Kadance to be mindful of the effects of her physical womanliness when she's wearing a tank top, he keeps walking into rooms shirtless while she's there. And an additional note as a longtime fan of ChristFic: I like edge and grit, especially in suspense and thrillers, and I expect serious violence. But in this book, I think a certain violent and graphic joke concerning male privates is out of line for Christian Fiction. It would be in equally poor taste if the graphic joke had been about inflicting violence on a woman's privates.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the suspenseful aspects of the novel overall. I'll be keeping an eye out for this author's next book.
________
Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
April 4, 2021
This was a page-turner of a novel with incredibly high stakes. Ebola seems to be the virus of the year for novels, but this one adds quite a twist to the race to save the world. The heroine is an impossibly good sniper who uses her skills to save a man's life. Or did she? Quickly they are thrust together in a race to stop the release of Ebola. The hero and heroine are perfectly complicated and yet great for each other. This is romantic suspense at a nice balance. I recommend this book to readers who love suspense with huge stakes.
May 19, 2021
2.5 Stars!
Hmmm, how do I formulate ALL my thoughts on this book in one review...? Lets start with the basics! First off, what caught my eye about this book was not the back blurb but rather the cover design. Okay, there, I said it. I have a soft spot for quality covers! I absolutely love the cover. It's just plain stunning! And can we just take a moment to appreciate how well the cover matches the story inside? Don't ya just love it when that happens?!
Never Miss was a fast-paced read with an intriguing plot. It speaks volumes for me to finish a book in under a week. According to Goodreads, this book took me four days. By the first few chapters, I was invested enough in the story to keep reading as I just HAD to see how it all ended. The characters made for a interesting and wild ride. The plot was complicated and very intricate, and tbh, very twisted-thinking. (However, that usually goes hand in hand with the suspense genre.) I found many aspects to be quite unbelievable almost as if this was a fantasy about two superheroes set out to save the world. I mean, it basically was just the two of them out against all odds.
Characters:
Wanna know my favorite character? Mac! I know, I know, for those who've not read the book yet, Mac is the much lovable, ultra smart, and intuitive cat! Kandances' cat who acts like a dog and let me just say the meaning behind the name is brilliant. Also, I'm dead serious. Mac is my favorite and this may be because I'm a animal person, but Mac is the star of the show. :)
Kandace. First off, cool name, but--WOW, she has been through a lot. Her backstory was extreme. Like, she'd need some serious counseling... But despite this dramatic family past, her traumatic time as a CIA sniper, and her fear of betrayal, we see a young woman who desperately wants to do the right thing. We see her struggle with putting up a wall and doing what she does best--her job, no matter how cold and hard it is to do. Yet, we see other sides of Kandace as well. She's considerate, she's calm in stressful situations, always trying to ease the pain of others, and diligently caring for her pet (Mac!!) I would have liked to see more character development as the Christian worldview was kinda thrown upon her and no one really followed through with that. At the end of the book, she was still trying to adjust to a Christian mindset and way of life that we don't see her really have time to grow into a new understanding.
Lyndon. (Another cool name, btw!) As awesome as he was, something about him didn't click for me. We see this dude who's mega smart. So smart that he got headaches from his brilliance. We're talking, three doctorate degrees before age 30. Not only is he this crazy intelligent scientist, he also has a photographic memory. Oh, and he can fist fight like Rocky. This guy is basically superman. Supposedly he's geeky, but good looking and all that too. The only thing this guy can't do is tell a lie! So despite these overwhelming standards for his personality, I will say that I liked how loyal he was to Kandace and he didn't push her at all when it came to her opening up to him about her past. That was good. However, he claimed to be a Christian but readers are given contradictions through some of his actions.
A couple things made me take off stars for this review. One thing I found to be super annoying was their romance. It was all attraction. And that just made it awkward. Secondly, are we to assume this whole book takes place in a little over a week? That was just a lot of information, plot twists, etc. for that short amount of time. Many things about this book were unrealistic and far fetched, yet with all the virus talk, it almost seemed dystopian. (Or on the other hand, too realistic for the conspiracy theories out there...)
I expected a much different climax. The whole story built up the image of this "mastermind." I can't give much details without spoilers, but this person behind all the creepy messages and warnings was so messed up. The author did really good building the backstory of the plot yet when it came down to tying up loose ends, it was almost lacking somehow. However, it made for a good mystery with a very intriguing storyline!
Concluding thoughts:
I'm really glad I got the opportunity to read this suspense novel! There was some things that affected the star rating, and because of those reasons, this book wasn't my cup of tea. If you are looking for a exciting read with some crazy intelligent characters and an awesome cat sidekick, then this book might be for you!
*Thank you Revell Reads Blogger Program for a complementary copy of this new release! These thoughts are my own.
Hmmm, how do I formulate ALL my thoughts on this book in one review...? Lets start with the basics! First off, what caught my eye about this book was not the back blurb but rather the cover design. Okay, there, I said it. I have a soft spot for quality covers! I absolutely love the cover. It's just plain stunning! And can we just take a moment to appreciate how well the cover matches the story inside? Don't ya just love it when that happens?!
Never Miss was a fast-paced read with an intriguing plot. It speaks volumes for me to finish a book in under a week. According to Goodreads, this book took me four days. By the first few chapters, I was invested enough in the story to keep reading as I just HAD to see how it all ended. The characters made for a interesting and wild ride. The plot was complicated and very intricate, and tbh, very twisted-thinking. (However, that usually goes hand in hand with the suspense genre.) I found many aspects to be quite unbelievable almost as if this was a fantasy about two superheroes set out to save the world. I mean, it basically was just the two of them out against all odds.
Characters:
Wanna know my favorite character? Mac! I know, I know, for those who've not read the book yet, Mac is the much lovable, ultra smart, and intuitive cat! Kandances' cat who acts like a dog and let me just say the meaning behind the name is brilliant. Also, I'm dead serious. Mac is my favorite and this may be because I'm a animal person, but Mac is the star of the show. :)
Kandace. First off, cool name, but--WOW, she has been through a lot. Her backstory was extreme. Like, she'd need some serious counseling... But despite this dramatic family past, her traumatic time as a CIA sniper, and her fear of betrayal, we see a young woman who desperately wants to do the right thing. We see her struggle with putting up a wall and doing what she does best--her job, no matter how cold and hard it is to do. Yet, we see other sides of Kandace as well. She's considerate, she's calm in stressful situations, always trying to ease the pain of others, and diligently caring for her pet (Mac!!) I would have liked to see more character development as the Christian worldview was kinda thrown upon her and no one really followed through with that. At the end of the book, she was still trying to adjust to a Christian mindset and way of life that we don't see her really have time to grow into a new understanding.
Lyndon. (Another cool name, btw!) As awesome as he was, something about him didn't click for me. We see this dude who's mega smart. So smart that he got headaches from his brilliance. We're talking, three doctorate degrees before age 30. Not only is he this crazy intelligent scientist, he also has a photographic memory. Oh, and he can fist fight like Rocky. This guy is basically superman. Supposedly he's geeky, but good looking and all that too. The only thing this guy can't do is tell a lie! So despite these overwhelming standards for his personality, I will say that I liked how loyal he was to Kandace and he didn't push her at all when it came to her opening up to him about her past. That was good. However, he claimed to be a Christian but readers are given contradictions through some of his actions.
A couple things made me take off stars for this review. One thing I found to be super annoying was their romance. It was all attraction. And that just made it awkward. Secondly, are we to assume this whole book takes place in a little over a week? That was just a lot of information, plot twists, etc. for that short amount of time. Many things about this book were unrealistic and far fetched, yet with all the virus talk, it almost seemed dystopian. (Or on the other hand, too realistic for the conspiracy theories out there...)
I expected a much different climax. The whole story built up the image of this "mastermind." I can't give much details without spoilers, but this person behind all the creepy messages and warnings was so messed up. The author did really good building the backstory of the plot yet when it came down to tying up loose ends, it was almost lacking somehow. However, it made for a good mystery with a very intriguing storyline!
Concluding thoughts:
I'm really glad I got the opportunity to read this suspense novel! There was some things that affected the star rating, and because of those reasons, this book wasn't my cup of tea. If you are looking for a exciting read with some crazy intelligent characters and an awesome cat sidekick, then this book might be for you!
*Thank you Revell Reads Blogger Program for a complementary copy of this new release! These thoughts are my own.
May 17, 2021
What a stunning a debut from Ms. Koslin! Never Miss kept me on my toes from page one. I became so invested in both of the main characters and fell in love with both of them! I love how Koslin managed to make Kadance to human despite her background, and I loved how genuine and kind Lyndon. The way their relationship slowly unfolded as they both infiltrated each other's hearts was beautiful! The plot was so unique and incredibly well done! I had a few issues with the believability of a few things. For example, as well as a few other minor things. However these small issues didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story! Overall, well done! I can't wait to read more by this talented author!
May 17, 2021
I loved everything about this book. The uniqueness of the characters, the plot, the twists and turns! All of it. Adding Melissa Koslin to my must-read author lists!
May 11, 2021
Wait! This is a debut novel? This book blew me away. I totally loved each page and couldn't wait to get to the end. When I did...I wanted more! When a disavowed CIA sniper, who is on the run meets a research scientist the action never ends. This is a refreshingly different type of story where the hero, who is a genius is blunt and tells how he feels. I'm kind of in love with him. I loved his sensitivity to the protagonist and the romance between the two. The heroine is a tough and yet feminine character who has a mane coon cat for a sidekick. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
*I received a copy of this book by Revell Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
*I received a copy of this book by Revell Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
May 3, 2021
Unexpectedly powerful!
Okay, wow, wow, wow! I did not expect to find a nerdy guy who is very much not only a nerd and is actually a perfect hero. I didn't expect to find such a beautifully broken heroine with an extremely hard past.
This is the first book I've read of Koslin's and I'm glad I did! The plot was not anything like I expected though I wasn't sure WHAT to expect.
Kadance's and Lyndon's thrilling ride to outrun killers while trying to stop a horrific attack is one that you won't want to miss.
Warnings: Mature content that is shown in a good way however I recommend this book for 18 and older.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Okay, wow, wow, wow! I did not expect to find a nerdy guy who is very much not only a nerd and is actually a perfect hero. I didn't expect to find such a beautifully broken heroine with an extremely hard past.
This is the first book I've read of Koslin's and I'm glad I did! The plot was not anything like I expected though I wasn't sure WHAT to expect.
Kadance's and Lyndon's thrilling ride to outrun killers while trying to stop a horrific attack is one that you won't want to miss.
Warnings: Mature content that is shown in a good way however I recommend this book for 18 and older.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
May 18, 2021
I’m so glad that I found this book! I really enjoyed it and didn’t want to put it down! I read most of it in one sitting! Melissa Koslin is an author we should keep our eyes on! Her story kept me hooked the whole time! I loved Kadance and Lyndon. I also loved Mac. I think this book had the right amount of suspense and romance. The characters were unique too. I would definitely recommend this book for my suspense loving friends!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
May 31, 2021
Well this book . . . sure was something. If you like suspense stories with a LOT of suspension of disbelief, this one is for you. The book follows Kandace and Lyndon as they drive around the county, trying to prevent an outbreak of a highly dangerous Ebola strain from happening.
Both of the main characters (as well as many side characters) had really impressive backgrounds, which was fine except they didn't seem believable. Lyndon had three Ph. D's, which might have been believable, except Ph. D.'s take 6-8 years to complete? and he was definitely not almost 50 (at least, he was not portrayed as being almost 50), AND on top of that he had a photographic memory AND was hot? There's NO way. Similarly, Kandace came from a very cultish household and was just . . . . fine? Her family disapproved of her choices, and she had to keep changing her identity to evade them, but when she needed them to carry out a task, she just . . . called and they showed up? Like I get that people in the CIA/intelligence are very smart but . . . they're just not /that/ smart, and at some point it just becomes unbelievable. Did I fail to mention that Kandace has a cat that she talks to and that came to her rescue several times while she was tied up in the book? like what the HECK bro at least TRY to make it seem probable?
I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing style: it seemed slow and stilted, and did not really convey much of the story: in fact, I think it impeded the storytelling a little. It seemed to take FOREVER to read this book, and that was just because the writing style made the book so tiring to read.
The romance between the two main characters was also really strange: not only was it based almost excluseively on attraction only, the two main characters did not really seem to have any basis for their attraction?It was established that Kandace did something out of her usual motivations to even encounter Lyndon in the first place, and they basically had an instant connection, but with no real reason behind it.
The storyline was fine: it was reminiscent of a superhero tale, just two people against the whole world, and with sufficient suspension of disbelief, it was palatable. I wasn't really a huge fan of it, but some people might enjoy it? It was definitely not realistic whatsoever though. The setting (plus everything else) gave a mildly dystopian feel, except it was worse than dystopia because the characters aren't relatable at all.
The resolution of the story was really underwhelming: with the buildup of the "supervilllan" that has been hyped over the whole book, the end result was just . . . some guy? Like literally the background of the whole world ending scheme was just one person, and they basically just told them to stop. And that was that? The climax was super unsatisfying and honestly was the most realistic part of the book.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. It would be fine for fans of suspenseful novels with a lot of action. It was too unrealistic for my liking, and I spent too much brain power debunking ideas in my head while I read to enjoy it.
My Rating-
2/5
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
This review first appeared on: https://losingthebusyness.wordpress.c...
Both of the main characters (as well as many side characters) had really impressive backgrounds, which was fine except they didn't seem believable. Lyndon had three Ph. D's, which might have been believable, except Ph. D.'s take 6-8 years to complete? and he was definitely not almost 50 (at least, he was not portrayed as being almost 50), AND on top of that he had a photographic memory AND was hot? There's NO way. Similarly, Kandace came from a very cultish household and was just . . . . fine? Her family disapproved of her choices, and she had to keep changing her identity to evade them, but when she needed them to carry out a task, she just . . . called and they showed up? Like I get that people in the CIA/intelligence are very smart but . . . they're just not /that/ smart, and at some point it just becomes unbelievable. Did I fail to mention that Kandace has a cat that she talks to and that came to her rescue several times while she was tied up in the book? like what the HECK bro at least TRY to make it seem probable?
I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing style: it seemed slow and stilted, and did not really convey much of the story: in fact, I think it impeded the storytelling a little. It seemed to take FOREVER to read this book, and that was just because the writing style made the book so tiring to read.
The romance between the two main characters was also really strange: not only was it based almost excluseively on attraction only, the two main characters did not really seem to have any basis for their attraction?It was established that Kandace did something out of her usual motivations to even encounter Lyndon in the first place, and they basically had an instant connection, but with no real reason behind it.
The storyline was fine: it was reminiscent of a superhero tale, just two people against the whole world, and with sufficient suspension of disbelief, it was palatable. I wasn't really a huge fan of it, but some people might enjoy it? It was definitely not realistic whatsoever though. The setting (plus everything else) gave a mildly dystopian feel, except it was worse than dystopia because the characters aren't relatable at all.
The resolution of the story was really underwhelming: with the buildup of the "supervilllan" that has been hyped over the whole book, the end result was just . . . some guy? Like literally the background of the whole world ending scheme was just one person, and they basically just told them to stop. And that was that? The climax was super unsatisfying and honestly was the most realistic part of the book.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. It would be fine for fans of suspenseful novels with a lot of action. It was too unrealistic for my liking, and I spent too much brain power debunking ideas in my head while I read to enjoy it.
My Rating-
2/5
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
This review first appeared on: https://losingthebusyness.wordpress.c...
May 11, 2021
"I was in the CIA, Special Activities Center."
Kadance Tolle had been trained to hit targets from long distances since she was old enough to position a rifle. Following years of covert operations as a highly trained black ops sniper, her return to normal life had been plagued by a family who stubbornly refused to give her a choice about anything but following orders. No more. Kadance had finally broken free, only to find herself in the line of fire after she instinctively befriends a total stranger in order to save his life.
Dr. Lyndon Vaile is so brilliant that he can hardly carry on a normal conversation, but when a gorgeous avenging angel literally knocks him out of harm's way, he forms an odd alliance in order to survive. Whoever is seeking Lyndon's knowledge about the Ebola virus is deadly serious, and while neither Kadance or Lyndon consider personal attraction a good idea, it seeps into their psyche without their permission. The larger question being, can it survive; can they survive. Hundreds of lives are depending on their combination of instinct and intelligence to do just that. Never miss.
Reading this book could be likened to drinking several cups of black coffee on an empty stomach, the adrenaline factor is high octane from the very first page until the last. What a unique story line, matched by characters who are as individual as their talents, thus offering readers far more questions than answers until the very end. While a bit foggy on spiritual detail, the power of God's presence in a life is certainly lauded, and encouraged . . making Lyndon and Kadance's cautious steps toward romance all the sweeter. This is an outstanding debut, leaving suspense fans clamoring for more!
Note: The thought patterns surrounding physical attraction between these two characters are just that; thought patterns, and while their blunt interruptions might raise an eyebrow, they fit the metamorphosis of their characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Kadance Tolle had been trained to hit targets from long distances since she was old enough to position a rifle. Following years of covert operations as a highly trained black ops sniper, her return to normal life had been plagued by a family who stubbornly refused to give her a choice about anything but following orders. No more. Kadance had finally broken free, only to find herself in the line of fire after she instinctively befriends a total stranger in order to save his life.
Dr. Lyndon Vaile is so brilliant that he can hardly carry on a normal conversation, but when a gorgeous avenging angel literally knocks him out of harm's way, he forms an odd alliance in order to survive. Whoever is seeking Lyndon's knowledge about the Ebola virus is deadly serious, and while neither Kadance or Lyndon consider personal attraction a good idea, it seeps into their psyche without their permission. The larger question being, can it survive; can they survive. Hundreds of lives are depending on their combination of instinct and intelligence to do just that. Never miss.
Reading this book could be likened to drinking several cups of black coffee on an empty stomach, the adrenaline factor is high octane from the very first page until the last. What a unique story line, matched by characters who are as individual as their talents, thus offering readers far more questions than answers until the very end. While a bit foggy on spiritual detail, the power of God's presence in a life is certainly lauded, and encouraged . . making Lyndon and Kadance's cautious steps toward romance all the sweeter. This is an outstanding debut, leaving suspense fans clamoring for more!
Note: The thought patterns surrounding physical attraction between these two characters are just that; thought patterns, and while their blunt interruptions might raise an eyebrow, they fit the metamorphosis of their characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
April 22, 2021
This story has quite a bit of action, right from the beginning, bullets fly, along with sharp knives, and yes, there is murder.
Two unlikely people unite to stop a horrific action, by misguided individuals, but how do these two that really don't know each other fit together?
I was amazed as the author described Lyndon Vaile's mind, lets just say I can't read and carry on a conversation at the same time, never mind up load pages in my mind!
I loved the cat Max, and he does play a part here, along with being a good judge of character.
This read also reminds me that a sin is a sin, even if we want to put our man leverage on them. Then there is forgiveness!
Will these two brilliant, but broken individuals be able to thwart the evil plans here? You will need to get page turning for answers and surprises.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
Two unlikely people unite to stop a horrific action, by misguided individuals, but how do these two that really don't know each other fit together?
I was amazed as the author described Lyndon Vaile's mind, lets just say I can't read and carry on a conversation at the same time, never mind up load pages in my mind!
I loved the cat Max, and he does play a part here, along with being a good judge of character.
This read also reminds me that a sin is a sin, even if we want to put our man leverage on them. Then there is forgiveness!
Will these two brilliant, but broken individuals be able to thwart the evil plans here? You will need to get page turning for answers and surprises.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
May 18, 2021
Never Miss by Melissa Koslin is a stand-alone suspense novel. Kadance Tolle is a former CIA sniper with exceptional skills. She comes from a family of paid assassins and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks the threat of them finding her. Someone wants Lyndon dead and his research into the Ebola virus destroyed. Thrust together Kadance and Lyndon race to stop the impending bio-attack at the State of the Union address. This story was very fast-paced with twists and turns everywhere. The only draw-back was all the innuendo between the characters. For a Christian novel there wasn’t a lot of mention of religion or faith. Kadance had a lot of past history to work through and with Lyndon’s help she began that journey. I’d give this story a three-star rating.
I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.
I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.
May 31, 2021
Former CIA Sniper Kadance Tolle happens to be in the right place at the right time to save Lyndon Vaile's life. She also comes from a family of assassins and is on the run from them. After saving Lyndon's life, she risks being found by her family. She wants to help Lyndon in spite of the costs and the two take off on a hunt to find out who is after him and what they plan to do with the research they stole from him.
Never Miss by Melissa Koslin is her romantic suspense debut novel. I found this to be an interesting book and I thought it was a good debut novel. At the same time, the plot in this novel partly revolves around a virus that could be unleashed on the world. This is about my third novel on a virus of some sort being unleashed in the world and I think I am ready for a break from that topic. I don't fault the author for that. At the same time, there were a few places in the book that felt a little slow to me. I also thought the ending felt a bit rushed. Kadance and Lyndon were interesting characters but I struggled to really connect with them at times. I liked Mac, the cat that Kadance found. I liked that the spiritual parts of the book were well woven in. I thought Koslin did a great job with her descriptions as I could easily visualize the people and the places as well as the plot of this novel as I was reading it. I think Revell did a great job with the Never Miss cover to reflect the characters and the book too. There are a few pages in the back of the book that give a glimpse in to Koslin's next novel, which I would certainly give a try as I think this author has great potential.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
Never Miss by Melissa Koslin is her romantic suspense debut novel. I found this to be an interesting book and I thought it was a good debut novel. At the same time, the plot in this novel partly revolves around a virus that could be unleashed on the world. This is about my third novel on a virus of some sort being unleashed in the world and I think I am ready for a break from that topic. I don't fault the author for that. At the same time, there were a few places in the book that felt a little slow to me. I also thought the ending felt a bit rushed. Kadance and Lyndon were interesting characters but I struggled to really connect with them at times. I liked Mac, the cat that Kadance found. I liked that the spiritual parts of the book were well woven in. I thought Koslin did a great job with her descriptions as I could easily visualize the people and the places as well as the plot of this novel as I was reading it. I think Revell did a great job with the Never Miss cover to reflect the characters and the book too. There are a few pages in the back of the book that give a glimpse in to Koslin's next novel, which I would certainly give a try as I think this author has great potential.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
April 13, 2021
"Never Miss" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Kadance and Lyndon respected each other's unique skills and trusted one another's judgment, so they worked very well together as an awesome team. While Lyndon was a genius scientist, he also knew how to fight well enough to back Kadance up. Each let the one best suited lead when their skill was needed and supported their actions. Because of their unique backgrounds and abilities, they both understood what it's like to not quite fit in and felt comfortable opening up to each other. Still, they had to work through some misunderstandings as they learned more about each other.
The suspense remained high due to several attempts to kill them and the pressure to uncover who's going to release the super Ebola virus at the State of the Union speech. The main characters were likable, honorable people who reacted realistically to the situations. I cared about what happened to them. I loved that Kadance really was intelligent and skilled and didn't suddenly, at the end, throw away her gun or something just so that the hero had a chance to rescue her.
The Christian element was a few references to prayer and Kadance asking Lyndon how an intelligent scientist could believe in the existence of God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would recommend this enjoyable, exciting suspense novel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The suspense remained high due to several attempts to kill them and the pressure to uncover who's going to release the super Ebola virus at the State of the Union speech. The main characters were likable, honorable people who reacted realistically to the situations. I cared about what happened to them. I loved that Kadance really was intelligent and skilled and didn't suddenly, at the end, throw away her gun or something just so that the hero had a chance to rescue her.
The Christian element was a few references to prayer and Kadance asking Lyndon how an intelligent scientist could believe in the existence of God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would recommend this enjoyable, exciting suspense novel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
April 14, 2021
DNF. I did not finish this book which is saying something because at 60% of the way through, it was practically almost done. I had a hard time getting on board with these characters and the cat that was featured to have human and also dog like characteristics was completely unrealistic and distracting. The thing that made me DNF this book was the fact that it was stated by a main character that God could have been responsible for the Big Bang. Basically science supports the Big Bang as how the universe likely began, but this doesn’t refute the existence of God because he could have caused the Big Bang. This is not what it says in Scripture and I had major issues with this being in a CF novel. I am perfectly fine with a book not having a faith element at all but, if it’s there it needs to support scripture. Not OK! Also there was a quite vulgar in my opinion and highly unnecessary reference to the main character “ripping off a mans testicles” and I felt as though that was inappropriate and should not have gotten past editing. Another phrase could have been used. This book overall was a miss. I am not sure based on the writing style and obvious spiritual misstep that I would read this author again.
May 8, 2021
The premise for Melissa Koslin’s debut novel is intriguing, and as a fan of romantic suspense, I looked forward to reading Never Miss. However, this book does just that.
The overuse of the word perfect to describe the characters grated on me and there were some timeline issues that were glaring and sometimes repetitive. The lead up to big moments too often fizzled instead of sizzled, and some elements of the plot were just too unbelievable to get on board with.
However, for those who enjoy a fast-paced read with a strong and intelligent female lead and a hero who matches her in the brains department, Never Miss is entertaining (consider it akin to a spy movie where impossible situations are easily escaped). And I did love Kadence’s cat throughout this book. Mack definitely left the biggest impression with me in the end.
With this being Koslin’s first book, I’m not giving up on her. I’ll see what the next book brings as authors improve their craft with time and practice.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
The overuse of the word perfect to describe the characters grated on me and there were some timeline issues that were glaring and sometimes repetitive. The lead up to big moments too often fizzled instead of sizzled, and some elements of the plot were just too unbelievable to get on board with.
However, for those who enjoy a fast-paced read with a strong and intelligent female lead and a hero who matches her in the brains department, Never Miss is entertaining (consider it akin to a spy movie where impossible situations are easily escaped). And I did love Kadence’s cat throughout this book. Mack definitely left the biggest impression with me in the end.
With this being Koslin’s first book, I’m not giving up on her. I’ll see what the next book brings as authors improve their craft with time and practice.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
April 30, 2021
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love this story, and so will you if you are like riveting action weaved into a plot full of suspense. It's a clean read, too, something difficult to find these days.
Both main characters are as unique as the plot itself. At the top of their game, these two must sort out romantic feelings from the past and the present while trying to thwart the dangerous plan of a madwoman. That's right. You'll find plenty of strong women in "Never Miss" as well as a timely theme.
It captured me on the first page and didn't let me go until the last word. It's not often I read a book that my husband wants to read, too.
This was the second book in a series, and I had not read the first. If you are wondering if that is a prerequisite, it's not. I'm ready for more from this author.
Both main characters are as unique as the plot itself. At the top of their game, these two must sort out romantic feelings from the past and the present while trying to thwart the dangerous plan of a madwoman. That's right. You'll find plenty of strong women in "Never Miss" as well as a timely theme.
It captured me on the first page and didn't let me go until the last word. It's not often I read a book that my husband wants to read, too.
This was the second book in a series, and I had not read the first. If you are wondering if that is a prerequisite, it's not. I'm ready for more from this author.
May 30, 2025
3.75⭐️
May 13, 2021
This book was good romantic suspense, with the emphasis on suspense at the beginning. The story is about Kadance Tolle, a former CIA sniper who is being pursued by assassins herself and ends up saving the life of geeky Lyndon Vaile, a researcher with three doctorates. Lyndon’s life is in danger from someone called the Mastermind who is pursuing him for his knowledge of Ebola. Once she saves his life, Kadance seems to become his new rear guard, whether he wants one or not and follows him from place to place as he tries to find out more about a plot to use a bio-weapon in the U.S. capital. The entire plot was other-worldly to me because many parts of it were far-fetched. The fact that a scientist is being targeted by criminals was believable, but there were many unbelievable elements that made it hard for me to really like the storyline. That being said, the book was a good one, fast-paced with short chapters. I was definitely disappointed with the lack of a faith element. Neither Lyndon nor Kadance state their beliefs in God, nor do they seem to depend on Him much for protection. I am accustomed to prayers or appeals to God in the Christian fiction that I read and this just was not there. There are even some aspects that seemed non-Christian, like Lyndon cursing for no apparent reason when he is in a thinking trance. The words are not there, but the book says he cursed, so it is left up to the reader’s imagination. I just didn’t like that in Christian fiction. Also, the simmering attraction between the two was a little heated at times, more than what I am accustomed to in Christian fiction. Since there was no real detail about the faith of the two main characters, I could have read this book from a different publisher and not known that it is supposed to be Christian fiction. The good news is that most of it is a clean read, intense at times, sometimes intriguing. At times, it was terrifying, like I was on a roller coaster hurtling down the slope and then I was going uphill again and all was relatively calm for a few pages. The ending was not at all satisfying since the book just seemed to rush to a conclusion after building up the suspense. If I had to rate this book in the Christian category, I would give it a D or even an F. For romance, a C and for suspense a B. So, although this book did not touch me in all of the right places for me to want to pick it up and read it again, it was basically good entertainment, but not a book that I can highly recommend.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
May 4, 2021
I was blown away by this captivating, fast-paced novel that kind of reminded me of the movie Eagle Eye where two strangers are thrown together, being forced to places they do not want to go, do things they would rather not and If they fail their mission millions will die. This story is similar as former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle finds herself in the wrong place at the right time and runs into Lyndon Vaile literally. She is compelled to help him find out why someone was trying to kill him. Who would be after a Dr. researching Ebola virus? That is the question Kadance and Lyndon try to answer as a Mastermind stalker knows more about the both of them then they suspected.
I was choked up by the tender way this author sent a powerful spiritual thread throughout the novel, showing not telling readers about redeeming love. It is a theme naturally woven into the fiber of this rich layered story with flawed characters you instantly care about and root for them to find the truth that will set them and the world free.
I also liked how the author showed two broken people finding an intense love they’d never known before. It is organic, intense, and beautiful without graphic scenes. I loved it. I also adore Mac, Kadance’s cat. Likewise, I loved the part he played in this story. It is sweet and adds humor to intense situations. This is a great story, fabulous fun read and one that would be wonderful for your next book club pick. I’m excited to discover an author to add to my favorites list. This is an author to watch, and the book is a keeper.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
I was choked up by the tender way this author sent a powerful spiritual thread throughout the novel, showing not telling readers about redeeming love. It is a theme naturally woven into the fiber of this rich layered story with flawed characters you instantly care about and root for them to find the truth that will set them and the world free.
I also liked how the author showed two broken people finding an intense love they’d never known before. It is organic, intense, and beautiful without graphic scenes. I loved it. I also adore Mac, Kadance’s cat. Likewise, I loved the part he played in this story. It is sweet and adds humor to intense situations. This is a great story, fabulous fun read and one that would be wonderful for your next book club pick. I’m excited to discover an author to add to my favorites list. This is an author to watch, and the book is a keeper.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
April 17, 2021
Never Miss is the debut novel of Melissa Koslin. I will admit I picked the book based on the cover and that it was a Christian novel. The spiritual theme is subtle in the book.
The author created unique characters that I found fascinating. Kadace was a former sniper and extremely good at her job. She has been on the run from her family. While on the run from them she sees an opportunity to save a life. In saving Lyndon’s life and trying to understand why someone would want to kill him, they become aware of an attack on the US with a virus.
My favorite scenes were the two of them talking. The book is full of action also.
I am excited to see what Melissa will write next. I will definitely be following her.
Sexual content - I rated this a one although there is not physical scenes, there are some undertones of sexual thoughts/tone
Violence - there is some violence, none of it is graphically describe. How she was raised seemed more disturbing to me than the assassination parts.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
The author created unique characters that I found fascinating. Kadace was a former sniper and extremely good at her job. She has been on the run from her family. While on the run from them she sees an opportunity to save a life. In saving Lyndon’s life and trying to understand why someone would want to kill him, they become aware of an attack on the US with a virus.
My favorite scenes were the two of them talking. The book is full of action also.
I am excited to see what Melissa will write next. I will definitely be following her.
Sexual content - I rated this a one although there is not physical scenes, there are some undertones of sexual thoughts/tone
Violence - there is some violence, none of it is graphically describe. How she was raised seemed more disturbing to me than the assassination parts.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
July 5, 2021
3.5 stars.
This debut novel by Melissa Koslin is definitely memorable with a great plot and unique characters. The storyline has plenty of twists and turns that are completely unexpected and makes for an excellent suspenseful atmosphere. Lyndon, a gifted researcher, and Kadance, a gifted sniper, are unusual main characters with unusual talents who make a fantastic team as they struggle to figure out who is targeting them and who is trying to unleash a deadly virus. Their friendship is fun but the emphasis on physical attraction felt a bit excessive, particularly on Lyndon’s part. Dialogue felt stilted (but perhaps that was a reflection of the characters’ personalities?) and writing was somewhat choppy at parts but the plot still moved at a good pace. I loved Mac, Kadance’s cat, who was like another main character.
If you enjoy romantic suspense, you will enjoy this book. I received the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group via Interview & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
This debut novel by Melissa Koslin is definitely memorable with a great plot and unique characters. The storyline has plenty of twists and turns that are completely unexpected and makes for an excellent suspenseful atmosphere. Lyndon, a gifted researcher, and Kadance, a gifted sniper, are unusual main characters with unusual talents who make a fantastic team as they struggle to figure out who is targeting them and who is trying to unleash a deadly virus. Their friendship is fun but the emphasis on physical attraction felt a bit excessive, particularly on Lyndon’s part. Dialogue felt stilted (but perhaps that was a reflection of the characters’ personalities?) and writing was somewhat choppy at parts but the plot still moved at a good pace. I loved Mac, Kadance’s cat, who was like another main character.
If you enjoy romantic suspense, you will enjoy this book. I received the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group via Interview & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
June 7, 2021
“And if her training had taught her anything other than how to kill, it was how to survive.”
“I already saved you once—I won’t let you get killed now.”
“If you do something like that again, I will find out...And I will come back and kill you.”
Unfortunately for me, Never Miss by Melissa Koslin was an absolute miss. I thought this one had great potential and based on such positive reviews, I was ready for a page turning, action packed ride. Sorry to say that wasn’t the case. I thought that Kadence and Lyndon made a nice pairing. But it was too much talking and not enough action for me. And after reading Andrew Huff’s John Cross series, this one was a big letdown for me.
*I received this book free from Netgalley and publisher Revell in exchange for an honest review.
Please check out my other reviews at: https://wadeurspider01.wixsite.com/we...
“I already saved you once—I won’t let you get killed now.”
“If you do something like that again, I will find out...And I will come back and kill you.”
Unfortunately for me, Never Miss by Melissa Koslin was an absolute miss. I thought this one had great potential and based on such positive reviews, I was ready for a page turning, action packed ride. Sorry to say that wasn’t the case. I thought that Kadence and Lyndon made a nice pairing. But it was too much talking and not enough action for me. And after reading Andrew Huff’s John Cross series, this one was a big letdown for me.
*I received this book free from Netgalley and publisher Revell in exchange for an honest review.
Please check out my other reviews at: https://wadeurspider01.wixsite.com/we...
May 16, 2021
As a "first novel" this author has certainly hit it outta the park! A fast paced, suspenseful story complete with superb character development.
A plot that is convoluted and involved on several layers. I totally enjoyed reading the probability of a highly contagious virus being weaponized and released and the race to prevent it's happening.
The involvement of each of the main characters with the background plots, with each other, and their moment-by-moment fast paced race to prevent tragedy is intriguing.
I totally enjoy Melissa Koslin's debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given,.
A plot that is convoluted and involved on several layers. I totally enjoyed reading the probability of a highly contagious virus being weaponized and released and the race to prevent it's happening.
The involvement of each of the main characters with the background plots, with each other, and their moment-by-moment fast paced race to prevent tragedy is intriguing.
I totally enjoy Melissa Koslin's debut novel.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given,.
July 2, 2024
Well, as Christian fiction this rates 2 stars. If it were general fiction, maybe 3. The writing style (but not the content) reminded me of Lori Wick's - characters that are too perfect (yes, they have weaknesses, but still), conversation that's unnatural at times, and just the overall feel of the writing. As to the Christian nature of the writing, it was too sensual for my taste in places, did not present the gospel at all, and misrepresented Jesus. The main male character also had a fuzzy relationship or understanding of God and presented theistic evolution as the rational conclusion (perhaps a reading of Genesis is in order). There was also author-justified lying to get out of trouble. Well, a lot of unethical/illegal activity was justified, now that I think of it. While the story was intriguing, I was not a big fan. Actually, I didn't care for her next book, which I read first, and now I know this author is just not up my alley.
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