Reviewed
by: BigAl
Genre: Action-Adventure/Thriller
Approximate
word count: 15-20,000
words
Availability
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go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store
Author:
K.S. Brooks
has written numerous books in multiple genres including romantic suspense,
satire, and educationally oriented children’s books. She is co-administrator of
Indies Unlimited (a multi-author blog “celebrating independent authors”), where
you can often catch her pontificating on matters of interest to both readers
and authors.
For more,
visit Brooks’ website.
Description:
“The
world's top anti-terrorist agent has a new mission: dealing with being forced
into early retirement by a debilitating injury. Former Special Agent Kathrin
Night fights the demons of her past, present and future while dealing with her
new mysterious Russian bodyguard, Agent Aleksey Khovechkin. Sent compliments of
the Russian Minister of Defense, refusing his services is not an option. But is
Aleksey's true mission to protect her, or does he have another agenda?”
Appraisal:
Kiss of
Night is a different
kind of book. It is a little bit action-adventure, primarily because of
flashbacks the protagonist, Kathrin Night, has about her time as a special
agent working for and with multiple intelligence agencies. It also has many
aspects of the thriller or suspense novel, primarily due to Night’s concern
that she has enemies who are trying to track her down and possibly kill her.
However, the real story here isn’t whatever action happens or intrigue Night
experiences, but the struggles she’s going through as a person. This novelette
is transitional as Night tries to figure out the answers she has to questions
regarding her future. Will the injuries she sustained on her last case which
forced her into retirement prevent her from ever returning to the kind of work
she knows and loves? Is she capable of living (more or less) like a normal
person? Does she even understand how a normal person lives?
So unlike a
typical story in this genre neighborhood, Kiss
of Night is much more
driven by, and focused on, the characters than the plot and action. This is
different in a way I enjoyed and sets the series up nicely for the next
installment, Night
Undone, where the
action and intrigue intensify, but Kathrin’s personal struggles continue.
FYI:
Some adult language
and situations.)
There is a
prior book featuring Kathrin Night (Lust
For Danger). However,
enough of Agent Night’s history and backstory is included in this book that it
can reasonably be read as a standalone.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No
significant issues.
Rating:
**** Four stars
3 comments:
Thank you, Al! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the great review.
I also really enjoyed this novel. Brooks has a unique way of sprinkling some beautiful poetic turns of phrase into her work.
The great thing about this story was the very real and palpable agony the MC goes through in coming to the realization that her identity has been wrapped up in her work to the exclusion of developing or even recognizing other aspects of her humanity. It is almost allegorical.
Great review, Al, and congrats, Ms. Brooks. :)
Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Hise!
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