Killer Instincts: A best friend's little sister small-town romantic comedy

First time reader and it won't be my last. When I say that this story had me from the beginning, I mean that literally. The MC's are great together and while there were only a few heated scenes, (and they were good as well) the story didn't feel like it was lacking in any way. Lies, suspense, espionage and a promise to keep, made me gladly keep reading till the end.

KILLER INSTINCTS is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE erotic, romantic suspense series. This is assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello’s story line. NOTE: For fans of Tawna Fenske, there is a slight cross over with the author’s PONDEROSA RESORT series. This is NOT a rom-com...there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have marked the story as a romantic comedy. Told from dual third person perspectives (Dante and Jen) KILLER INSTINCTS follows the building romance and relationship between assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello. Jennifer Bello needs to hire a handyman, a farmhand to help with the upkeep at the family owned winery but her ex-fiance is demanding his share of the profits and the business. Enter Dante Goodman, a mysterious stranger whom our heroine believes is her new employee but the man with whom Jennifer will fall in love. Unaware of Dante’s real reasons for working on the farm, Jennifer finds herself on the defensive when she is targeted by three potential enemies including a hotel chain hoping Jennifer sells. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jennifer and Dante, and the potential fall-out as the threats against our heroine become personal, and the truth about Dante’s identity is revealed. Dante Goodman is an assassin for hire but our hero also works security and safety. As a favor to Matteo Bello, currently in prison for a crime he did not commit, Dante agrees to ‘keep an eye’ on Matteo’s sister, knowing that to cross the invisible line could be the end of a possible friendship. Jennifer Bello is struggling to make ends meet, and the threats from her former fiance are only adding fuel to the fire. With the help of Dante Goodman, Jennifer puts a plan into place to help save the winery never realizing the real enemy is but a smile away. The relationship between Dante and Jen is one of immediate attraction; a forced proximity/forbidden relationship in which Dante wants what he cannot have, and Jennifer struggles in the face of secrets and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced, via phone, to Jennifer’s brother and Dante’s friend Matteo, their sister Nicole, as well as Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur-Dante and Matteo’s comrade in arms; and Jennifer’s ex Johnny and his fiance Penelope. KILLER INSTINCTS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, money and power, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, charismatic and strong.

Killer Instincts by Tawna Fenske, book one in the Assassins in Love series is a best friend’s little sister story that was difficult to put down. It is a love story packed with action and suspense, along with a few laugh out loud scenes, as Jen and Dante try to figure out the source of all the sabotage happening to the farm/winery. Dante, Matteo and Sebastian are best friends who work righting wrongs for a secret group. Matteo asks Dante to watch over his youngest sister Jen while he is in prison. Due to a misunderstanding that works out well for Dante, he ends up working for Jen on her farm/winery. Dante knew he was in trouble being that he was attracted to Jen; plus Matteo told him no funny business with his sister. Her ex fiancée and his new fiancée keeps coming over to her property to get what he feels he is owed. The one thing that was true was that he made the best wine. The property and the business were her grandmother’s before she died and left it to Jen; she is so special trying to hold onto her family's land. Scary things start happening to Jen, and I was glad Dante was around to help and protect her. These two are drawn to one another, despite their best efforts to keep their distance; there was just no denying their feelings. They were passionate, compassionate, loyal, and protective, either about her animals, her land, or each other. There is a strong magnetic attraction between Jen and Dante as well as sizzling chemistry that could power the farm and wine making facility. Jen is such a caring person as seen by her misfit group of animals and how she is with her siblings Dante might be amazingly tough but when it comes protecting Jen he is at the top of his game. I loved watching these two fall in love despite Dante believing he doesn’t deserve Jen. I highly recommend Killer Instincts to other readers and can’t wait for the next book. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.