Reviews

Killer Instincts by Tawna Fenske

seyaghi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jltaggart's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

skyeb's review

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lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mcapuco's review

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4.0

I enjoyed reading Tawna Fenske's Killer Instincts, I loved the characters, thought the plot was great, but for some reason I felt that it was just a slow read. Like it took me a lot longer to finish than most books, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. And it's entirely possible it only took me so long because of my headspace while reading and I was distracted. That aside I liked Killer Instincts, in particular I liked Jen because she was an independent woman who while she was wronged by her ex fiancé she didn't dwell on it she moved on with her life. Now that I've read both the prequel, Killer Looks, and Killer Instincts I am very excited to read the next two books about Matteo and Sebastian. I want to know what Matteo gets up to when he gets out of jail, especially cause it's been hinted his romance is with another assassin that was mentioned in the prequel. I also what to know what Sebastian got up to in-between the end of Killer Looks and when he shows up in Killer Instincts. Last we knew he had to go home cause his dad got himself in deep with some bookies.
Ever since Jen's brother, Matteo, went to jail for a crime that he didn't commit and her rock of a grandmother died shortly after things haven't been going her way. Her then fiancé and business partner cheated on her, and is about to marry someone else, not that she cares about that she just cares that she has to scrape together the money to buy him out of the business they owned together. And unfortunately weird things keep happening at the vineyard leading to more and more set backs. Knowing that she can't do this alone she goes online to hire a farm hand. So when the handsome Dan shows up for the interview she can't help but worry he's over qualified to help her out. But she feels safe with the man, so she goes with her gut and hires him, and that's when the trouble really starts...
Ever since a job went bad and assassin Dante's friend and partner, Matteo was set up for a crime by a dirty cop he has felt guilty over Matteo taking the fall. So when Matteo gives him a call to ask him to check out what is happening at his sister's vineyard and try and help he ends up becoming farm hand "Dan". The more he's at the vineyard more weird "accidents" keep happening, making Dante think that these "accidents" are actually someone trying to hurt Jen. In order to feel better about what happened with Matteo, Dante is determined to be there for Jen when Matteo can't. But the more time the two spend together the messier things become because they both have feelings for one another, but the lies and secrets that "Dan" is keeping threaten to tear them apart...

theeclecticreview's review

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5.0

After reading the prequel [b:Killer Looks|60572861|Killer Looks (Assassins in Love, #0.5)|Tawna Fenske|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646719235l/60572861._SY75_.jpg|95472110] about three lethal assassins with very different backgrounds, I couldn't wait to find out what made these hot alpha men tick.

Dante is up first. He's all broody, serious, and old school. He likes guns, Cheezits, treating pets as family, printed maps, and his dream girl, Jen. Oh, wait. That can't happen. Jen is his buddy's sister and there's a bro code about that. His mission was to make sure Jen was safe and find proof to get her brother out of prison. But the woman he's falling for is being threatened and he must keep focused on the job. Can Dante free his friend and save the woman he loves before it's too late? Will she forgive him for his lies?

Jen is strong, self-sufficient, and has poor judgment in men. Her ex ran off with the Disney princess winemaker and now she's falling for the big, bald, badass farmhand she hired. She's struggling to keep her vineyard going, but everything is being sabotaged. Dante is her godsend as he doesn't hesitate to help Jen find ways to raise money for her vineyard and find the culprit who is endangering her livelihood. Will she be able to keep the land and the man she loves, or is it too good to be true?

The unveiling of Dante and Jen's attraction is a treat to watch. Dante is not good with words, but he gets high marks for protective instincts. His answers are short and to the point and his actions are oh, so swoon-worthy.  For example, his adorable interactions with the princess tea party and with Zsa Zsa the pig is nothing less than hysterical and book boyfriend worthy. Not to mention, his kind and gentle acceptance of an old woman in the throes of dementia and the joy he brings her made me fall in love with him. Dante's persona as a hardened killer is wiped away by his unabashed pragmatism in doing the right thing at the right moment. He falls fast and hard for Jen who is so brave, but she sells herself short. She loves her family, but they worry about her because she is the baby of the family. She shows her moxy and her strength by facing her problems head-on and not letting the setbacks get her down. There was no doubt Jen would forgive Dante for his betrayal because, well, he's a keeper and he proved his love and goodness many times over.  Also, with a little help from Dante's friend Sebastian, they were able to clear Matteo's name (Jen's brother) and find the evil person who was preying on Jen (that was a big surprise). To wrap it up, there is a lovely "fresh start" happily ever after which will have me picking up the next book in the series as quickly as I can.

Jen's controlling and overprotective brother Matteo is a savvy prisoner who is able to find out things before Dante does. Sebastian, The Dentist, (yes, he's a real dentist) is hilarious and menacing at the same time. And, Jen's sister Nic is a force to be reckoned with. Can't wait to read Nic and Sebastian's story. It's gonna be amazing!

I highly recommend this quirky romantic suspense that will tickle your funny bone and surprise you. The characters are captivating, the animals are precious, and the plot had me guessing to the very end.

Thank you to Ms. Fenske for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

rlisaacs's review

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3.0

This was a good quick read. I liked how the characters came together throughout the book. Definitely instant attraction, that grows rather quickly into love between these two, though neither is willing to admit it that fast. All in all, I'm pleased with my time here.

I'm not going to continue reading into the rest of the series, but that's just a personal preference on my part. My TBR is too long already, and I did have some things that I would've liked to have happened differently in this book than what actually took place. (Really just one thing, but anyways...) And for notes on that, please see the spoilers below.

But definitely, if you're in the mood for a quick little romance between an ex-assassin and a vineyard owning animal lover, give this a try. It's quick, it's cute, it's got some steam (I could've done with a bit more, but what was here was still great). And while I had my suspicions about who exactly was the person trying to harm Jen, I honestly wasn't positive about who the culprit was until Dante finally figures it out for himself. There were just too many options to pick from for me to really settle on who exactly might be the bad guy. So that was nice too!

SpoilerMy singular issue with this book, and it really is only one thing... is how quickly they came back together after Jen realized Dante had been lying to her this whole time. Granted, he sprinkled bits and pieces of the truth in there when they were having conversations. But the fact of the matter is that, from day one when he showed up, he was lying. He lied about what his name was. He lied about being a farmhand in search for a job. He omitted (which is still lying in my book) that he knew her brother and that her brother was who sent him. He didn't tell her who he used to be. And if I had been Jen, who only figured this out after they'd finally had sex, I would've figured out he was lying and then assumed that he'd never intended to tell me. Ever.

Like... I would've been so mad. SO MAD! And Jen is at first, don't get me wrong. Her initial reaction I am on board with. It's the aftermath that I don't agree with. Jen didn't need Dante to come and save her. She saved herself. Would've been fine. He showed up at the last minute and basically helped clean up once he realized she was alright. But even if he had shown up and had to save her, that doesn't negate all the time he spent lying to her about who he was and why he was there. I get Jen being grateful. And I get that she loves him and he loves her. But I would still be so mad!

Dante should've had to grovel more, is basically my only problem here. Yes, forgive him eventually, but after all the time he spent lying and deceiving... I mean, make him prove that he really wants that forgiveness. That he does love her.

The fact that when Matteo called and Dante put it on speaker phone so Jen wasn't excluded anymore was nice, I give him that. It was a sign that he was making a turn around. A sign that he wouldn't be deceiving or lying to her again. But still... I wanted more.

eg_m's review

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4.0

A trained assassin with a soft spot for animals meets a vineyard owner with more trouble than vines. There's a backstory (I haven't read it) featuring the assassin and the grape grower's brother that bring the two together, but the references were clear enough that it moved the story forward rather than dragging it down. Dante and Jen are interesting, quirky, and have fabulous on-page chemistry. Throw in a series of accidents that suggest someone is gunning for Jen and it's a page turner.

*I read the eb00k version but it's not listed on goodreads.

mistysreads's review

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5.0

After reading Killer Looks (prequel) I was looking forward to getting to know Matteo, Dante, and Sebastian better. These three guys seem close as brothers and willing to do what it takes for one another. When Matteo goes to prison, who was setup by a dirty cop, he asks Dante to look after is baby sister. Only when Dante gets there, someone is after her and will do what it takes to get what they want.

Dante at first lies to Jen in order to get the farmhand job. Yes, he worked on a farm as a child but those are skills he has not used in a long time. And he actually has fun getting back to his roots. As they work together to keep Jen alive, more secrets come out than Dante is ready for, like his relationship with Matteo.

Dante is a sweet, protective, loyal guy and has many layers. He and Jen together was fun and chemistry filled. In the moments he is trying to save/protect Jen you can see why he and the other two guys are friends/partners. I loved the names for the animals they came up with, Goat named Scape, Horse named Maple, and Zsa Zsa for a pig. This pig, is hilarious, she acts like a dog and I loved the addition of her. Killer Instincts is full of chemistry, suspense, and regular ole farm work while Dante is trying to help Matteo. I loved this story and cannot wait to see more of Matteo in the next one and oh my the surprise he gets.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review

soonerlit22's review

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

mathchic84's review

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5