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.

ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from Social Butterfly 4.5 stars Killer Instincts is book 1 in Assassins in Love series by Tawna Fenske. After reading the prequel Killer Looks couldn’t wait to start this series! First up is Dante and Jen (Matteo’s sister). With Matteo in prison, he asks Dante to watch out and protect Jen from her ex fiancé who is putting pressure on her to sell the family vineyards. What happens next will keep you turning the pages to see what Dante will do to protect Jen, finding a relationship neither expected, and where it all ends…can’t wait for the next book in this series!