ARC Review: Hit Man by Michele Mannon

This book is the third installment in the Deadliest Lies series.  I haven't read any of the other books but each book is a standalone so you can start reading this series wherever you want. I read one other book in this series and I had some of the same issues with that book that I had with this one.  In general I feel like these books have a lot of potential that they don't completely live up to.  If you read the blurbs you get the impression that you're in for a real thrill ride but then there are pieces that don't fit and some of the characters could definitely be stronger.

In this installment Diego is attempting to locate someone on behalf of the mysterious organization featured in this series, TORC. Diego sort of loses sight of the mission when he meets Aubrey.  Aubrey is "pleasantly" naive and manages to somehow stumble into the very answers that Diego is looking for.  Aubrey is in Mexico City pursuing an opportunity that actually fell through but that she is trying to salvage for the sake of her career in architecture.  As a part of her effort to salvage her Mexico City excursion Aubrey becomes the teacher to some super bratty horrible child who almost gets bombed to pieces and then almost gets Aubrey hit by a car. Somehow, because the crazy bratty kid swipes her passport after almost get her killed, Aubrey winds up hooking up with some rich guy who might be able to help her and meets Diego.

Diego, despite being instantly smitten by Aubrey still has enough sense to realize that it isn't a coincidence that Aubrey appears to be connected to the mystery he is trying to solve even though she is blissfully unaware. Diego can't resist Aubrey. Not sure why that is.  Aubrey is a disaster who turns every part of Diego's mission into a cluster fu-k the minute she gets involved.  Beyond physical attraction, it made no sense to me that Diego wanted Audrey. I honestly lost count of how many times she almost got both of them killed. I think Aubrey is supposed to be quirky and cute but you know what? It's come across as really annoying and totally idiotic.  I wasn't entertained by Aubrey, I wanted to punch her.  And Diego, I mean he was ok but in a very cliche hero sort of way.  Plus, if you get a really unlikable heroine and the hero loves her, it makes the hero seem less loveable.  Like, what is he thinking?

I didn't love this one but I still feel like this series has potential and some people might be ok with Aubrey's quirks.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Rogue by Michele Mannon

This book had so much promise based on the description but then it just didn't come together. I like romantic suspense so I knew this was going to be right in line with my book preferences. And parts of it were romantic and suspenseful but....but.... right from the beginning, I had a hard time following the story. It didn't get better. I enjoy plot twists but too many can make you feel like a crazy pretzel. I definitely got the crazy pretzel vibe in this book.

Quick rewind on the plot: Kylie is bent on revenge (not sure why at first) and also needed money for her mom and younger sister who she has to care for. Kylie is recruited by a undercover group of mercenaryish agents who hunt down criminals.... (again, not sure why this group exist or why they recruited Kylie. I never got that part). Jaxson is a TORC assassin. I like Jaxson, he's arrogant and playboyish, the type of man no woman should get involved with but we all keep falling for anyway.

Kylie did nothing for me as a character. Let me amend that, Kylie worked on my last shaky nerve. If I was on this super serious mission to save my family, I would like to think that I would not get distracted by a hot guy. I don't know, maybe I would've but damn Kylie, you can not be that easily thrown off track.

Jaxson was ok. If you go back in time to the time when he met Kylie, he made his intentions known from the beginning of the book. But Jaxson was kind of a conundrum. On the one hand, I found it difficult to take his easy going personality seriously, on the other he's a stone cold assassin. Not just any stold cold assassin, he actually trains Kylie. I had a hard time reconciling the two worlds. While all the confusing spy, double spy stuff is going on, Jaxson makes it his mission to get it in with Kylie. And he tells her that. In great detail. Ok, I can live with that, you know I loves some dirty talk.

Jaxson's talking is all good and fine but he would have to break orders to make his talk reality. I loved that he was willing to give it all up for his woman. That's what I like to see. But then fast forward to the present and it seems as if Kylie betryaed Jaxson. Only I'm not sure she did and really I found all of this very confusing!

I'm tired and irritated just trying to sum up this book. Honestly, it's kinda good but really all over the place. I don't have the patience to put together all the pieces, if you do, you might really like this.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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