Tense and entertaining romantic suspense…

Betrayal, secrets and a cat and mouse game brought high-octane fuel to this anything but quiet romance. From page one, I knew this was going to be a fast-paced, no holds barred kind of read as King and Allie came together in a life or death situation. Under a hail of gunfire, they both followed their gut instincts, and found themselves on the run. They started off together and there they stayed…

Make sure your seat belt is on because this is one wild, wild ride! Harrowing doesn’t begin to cover the situations King and Allie, the entire Endgame Ops team, found themselves in. Events from years ago had the team operating under the radar, still unsure how things fell apart so spectacularly. Each character offers pieces of the puzzle that make up their complicated past. Friends, comrades, betrayers. King and his team were used to this world but that didn’t mean the punches cut any less…

Allie had deliberately stayed away from the intrigue and politics but she was now in knee deep, fighting for her life. Fighting for all of their lives even as love bloomed in the unlikeliest of places and times…

This nail-biter found closure for King and Allie but there are many more stories to tell. And more enemies to discover… This was an explosive first read of this author for me and I couldn’t be more excited for more!

This was enjoyable but I felt like I started in the middle of the story.  It also seemed a little light on plot so the internal dialogue of the characters was used as filler and became repetitive.  Not my favorite book but I liked it enough to try the next one in the series.

Could not get book to download properly; unable to read.

4.5 Stars!

I have got to stop consuming so much news because it's ruining the pleasure I find between the pages of books. With so much intrigue and suspense in real life, who has time for the fictional variety? But I digress. 

FLASH OF FURY is an action-packed, non-stop adrenaline ride of a book, filled with electrifying chemistry and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat, and I can confidently say that this series is off to a really great start.

 Kingston McNally lost some members of his black ops team when they were betrayed by a traitor and has since focused his energy on finding out who betrayed them. His search leads him to Peace Corps volunteer Allie Redding in Cameroon but King isn't the only one after Allie. After rescuing her from certain death, King is determined to unearth her connection to his investigation but Allie isn't giving up any secrets.

As the daughter of the head of an intelligence agency, Allie knows she is a valuable pawn against her father but has managed to create a successful life for herself outside her father's sphere of influence. All of which comes to an end when she is the target in a plane hijacking attempt by local terrorists. But the attempt is part of a bigger conspiracy which leads all the way back to the US and has the potential to rock the nation's government in a huge way.

King needs to get Allie back on US soil as quickly as possible, but somehow she has become entangled in his investigation and he needs to keep her safe until he can hand her off to her father. He certainly does not expect the explosive passion between them.

Okay, this was an intense and captivating read and I think this is Ms. Griffith's best writing yet. Every page will keep you in suspense and trying to guess who can be trusted and who is can't. The author successfully balances the dizzying attraction between Allie and King with the never-ending tension of their situation. The instant connection between Allie and King gave me pause but the author managed that perfectly by letting the attraction build between them for a while.

Allie is smart and brave, but even she was prone to making too-stupid-to-live decisions which luckily for her King was able to save her from. King is a brooding hulk of a man, but Allie somehow brings a smile to his face even with the gravity of his task and the danger they face, and he will do anything to keep her alive even if he can't keep her for himself.

One thing I enjoyed about this book is that it starts out with us getting to know the two lead characters and get invested in them before we get the fire-hose of information on the rest of the team and the direction of at least the next book in the series. 

I really enjoyed this book and can't rave enough about the amazing writing and the excellent plot. This is definitely one of the best books I have read so far this year.

This book reminded me a lot of the Maya Banks KGB (?) series, that I read a while ago, which was nice, because I was looking for something in that nature for a while now. I really enjoyed the action and chemistry between the two main characters, but the reason I did not give it a 5 Star rating, is because I felt that it was rushed at the end. Otherwise a pretty good book, and I will be looking for more books from Lea Griffith.

3.5 STARS

Having been a fan of Griffith's No Mercy Series, there was no way I could resist this one after seeing it on NetGalley. In the beginning, I was dreading the instant connection, but Griffith creates a masterful slow burning relationship filled with chemistry and banter. I adored Allie and her feisty attitude. I liked Kingston and all the side characters involved with the ops team. Sadly, the ending felt rushed and somewhat unrealistic, but I found most of the storyline entertaining and fast paced. Overall, it is a solid start to a new series, and I look forward to future installments.

**Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for my advanced copy.**

Non-stop action with the danger and secrets unfolding as Allie & King learn to trust in one another.  If you like military romantic suspense, you'll like this.

I have chosen to DNF this title.  The character of King was not someone I was able to relate to, and from the scene on the plane on, I was not really able to engage with the story.  I know romantic suspense requires a little bit of a suspension of disbelief, however I was not able to do so with this.  From the description of him when she first sees him on, I just didn't really buy into either character,

I appreciate the opportunity, but have decided not to finish this title.

Thank you,
Laura

Flash of Fury is the first book in Lea Griffith’s new Endgame Ops series with Sourcebooks. From the outset, this book had me hooked. Griffith clearly excels at the romance part of romantic suspense. I adored King and Allie and their HEA. King and Allie are all the things together...funny and sexy and forbidden in all the right ways. The first half or so of the book focused almost solely on King and Allie together and it was completely wonderful. 

However, once other Endgame Ops characters started to get involved this book felt overwhelming. Too many characters were introduced in too short a time and in the end, it just felt like an info dump. I wanted to feel connected and invested in Endgame Ops, but I just couldn’t get there. Even Jude and Ella (whom Griffith invested time and energy on when explaining Endgame’s backstory) didn’t really peak my interest. Sadly, the second half of this book felt a lot like a set-up for the rest of this series and it kinda fell apart for me.

I may pick up future books in this series with the hope that the suspense and series elements catch up to the wonderfulness that is Griffith’s romance. 3.5 stars for Flash of Fury.

Full of suspense, action and romance as Kingston and Allie find their way and safety. Good first book and looking forward to the rest in the series.
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

4.5 Stars 

Flash of Fury by Lea Griffith is the first title in the Endgame Ops series. 

Kingston McNally and Allie Redding have an immediate chemistry and attraction. King is a former SEAL and moves within the black ops world. His world is full of death, intrigue and secrets and he trusts very few people after being betrayed by those closest to him. King is a brooding bad-ass, and Allie is his complete opposite, sweet, caring, and fun. 

This story has all the elements of a military romance that I love action, drama, intrigue, suspense and heat. Their story is a passionate, with an abundance of secrets that keeps you thoroughly captivated with this entertaining and engaging story line. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this title and cannot wait to read more of the Endgame Ops series, and more from this author.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Attempted kidnapping

There was a lot going on in this story. I almost felt that it would have been better to be slightly longer with more explanations, but realize that this is going to be a series and hope that more is resolved throughout the series.

I really liked Allie. She was down to earth, smart, didn't take crap from anyone, and knew what she wanted. She knows that with a father who is high on the political ladder, she could always be a target, but in reality, she never really wanted to be part of his world. She would rather bring peace, love, and education to those less fortunate. While she is traveling, doing just what she always wanted, which was to follow in her mother's footsteps, she is almost nabbed by some very bad people. In steps King.

King is a no nonsense guy – he has been burned and is still putting the flames out. He lost people in the field and wants to find the responsible people in order to exact revenge. What he doesn't count on is stumbling on Allie – what he thinks is going to be an extraction of a courier turns into a rescue and return mission.

While I thought that the relationship between King and Allie was strange – more of a "thrown together in a time of necessity" rather than a real romantic relationship – so I had a difficult time coming to terms with their relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery behind the romance. I found that it kept me on my toes and guessing, but I also found that because little was revealed, I also was frustrated because the not knowing, but the hints weren't enough to make sense.

I am looking forward to see where this series goes because the ending was more than I expected and I had come to terms with Allie and King's relationship much more towards the end.

Flash of Fury is filled with fast paced action throughout the story.  King’s personal mission these days is to find and eradicate the traitor who betrayed his team during a mission.  Good men died for no good reason except for someone else’s need for power and greed.  He will track down those who are responsible if it takes until his last breath…. which it just might.  His investigation leads him to Allie Redding, a woman who one would never suspect of holding the kind of secrets she is.  Never assume though, at times being right in plain sight is the best hiding place of all.

There is definitely world building in Flash of Fury, there has to be for the type of series that seems to be on the horizon with this first story.  This is black ops, deep cover that perhaps goes on for years.  It’s hard to tell true fact from the fiction of deep cover, even for those living it after a while.  There are also plots and sub-plots, again I expected that so I wasn’t surprised to find carefully woven threads in this first story that will continue through to their reveal and conclusion.  I happen to like this depth of future details, some do not.  For me it adds to the reality of what I’m reading.

King and Allie were an interesting, even intriguing couple with secrets, man do they have secrets.  It was encouraging to see King become not only protective of Allie, but soften toward her as well.  Allie hides much behind a bubbly personality, things that would wreck a weaker person.  I liked both of them and they seemed quite believable in spite of their secrets.

If you enjoy a face paced, intriguing action filled story then this one, and the coming books in the series should be on your reading list.  It’s always fun to get in on the beginning of an intense, interesting series, and I believe Endgame Ops will be that and more.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I love a good romantic suspense book, I love action, adventure, and of course lots of the romance too.... Flash of Fury has all of that and more, a lot more. 

Okay, the more...Flash of Fury is the first book in what I will assume will be a series, that being said, the more I refer to is...more characters, more subplots, more background than is probably necessary.  Yes, I want to know the main character's teammates...but, a little goes a long way in my opinion. There was just too much going on (possibly to set up the next book/books in the series) for me, this took away from the main story of Kingston & Allie.

After dissecting the book, and focusing on Kingston & Allie's story, it was great...it was exactly what I want & need from a fabulous romantic suspense book. There were bad guys, fight scenes, action, intrigue...and yes, plenty of romance too. I just wish I didn't have to dissect it so much. This DID NOT, however, turn me off from trying again. I will indeed check out Endgame Ops #2 when it comes out.

I'm really happy I got a chance to try a book by Lea Griffith. I enjoyed Flash of Fury. Many of the characters I liked in the story. At times I had trouble getting into the story. I felt it was a little too much of everything. It's a good story, but for me not a great one.

Traitors, quests for revenge/justice and romance all collide in this wonderfully crafted book!  The characters are intense, full of life and really spark your imagination.

Kingston (King) McNally life has been upturned by a traitor, who has subverted his special ops team. But when dealing with a hijacked plane, he finds Allie Redding, a Peace Corps volunteer, but she may just have some very deep, dark secrets!!! 

King is rough, tough and a lethal operator.  Allie may be a peace loving female but she can fight for what she feels is right.  The chemistry between them is palpable and I loved that she was able to make King question what his life is like. 

I received an ARC edition from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a first book for me by this author and I LOVED every minute of it. I have been searching for a series similar to the KGI series by Maya Banks and this one is it! Different but wow for a first book in the series it grabbed onto me right away and I'm left waiting for more books...
 
I loved the flashback into why King has made it a mission to get revenge. Meeting Allie along the way and falling for her wasn't necessarily his plan, but love has a way of getting into your heart when you least expect it and holding on for all it's worth. 

I found myself immediately engaged with the characters, as if I was the one sitting there on that plane. I can't wait for more from this author and am pleased that is the first in a series, knowing there will be more.

Kingston McNally, ex-Navy SEAL, is the leader of a black ops team known as Endgame Ops. A year ago on a dangerous mission in Beirut, King’s group was betrayed by one of their own. Now it’s his mission to end Horace Dresden, the man responsible for the death of his teammates. However, someone has put Allie Redding in his path and her safety is quickly becoming his number one priority.

Allie Redding spent the past few years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa and is looking forward to a mani/pedi and McDonald’s french fries back at home. She’s instantly attracted to the hottie in the seat next to her, and she even indulges in a little “what if” daydreaming. But her fantasies are short lived when her plane is hijacked by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Now she and her new found ally, King, are on the run while trying to figure out who they can trust.

Flash of Fury is the first exciting story in Ms. Griffith’s Endgame Ops series. The story opens with a bang and never EVER slows down. As the first book in the series, the author spends a great deal of time introducing the key players and laying the groundwork for the world. Generally this is handled well in Flash of Fury, but I did get lost a few times; partially because of the volume of information, and partially because this material is just the framework for something larger to which I am not yet privy. While I liked that the author didn’t dumb down conversations for the reader, it made it difficult to follow along as there is a lot of subterfuge and layers of conspiracy in play. 

The overall plot line of the book is the rescue and return of Allie to her father in the U.S. It’s a good story, but there is entirely way too much running for my tastes. Seriously… every time King and Allie make it to a safe house, they are compromised. It got old after a while; I just wanted them to have a respite that lasted longer than a couple of hours (they actually do but injuries don’t count in my book!). The larger story involves weeding out the leaks that lead to the botched mission in Beirut and how it all ties in with Allie. There was significant movement on this front, but I have to say I was disappointed in how the book ended. Without spoilers, I will just say that Allie’s actions towards the end of the story seemed highly careless in light that King’s operations is a Black Ops — off the record — team.

As for Allie and King - I liked the pair. The author builds tremendous sexual tension between the pair, which is compounded by their constant upheaval (although as I mentioned, that did get tiresome after a while). And although I’m not a fan of insta-love, I can get behind the couple. I admire Allie’s honest and willingness to selflessly protect King and his team. She understands King and is willing to be there for him, but that doesn’t mean she’ll just sit back and let him tell her what to do. I also love that the jaded King finds solace in Allie’s positive, cheery demeanor. 

In the end, I enjoyed Flash of Fury. I wanted to love it more, especially after the explosive beginning and the amazing sexual tension between the pair. However, there was just one or two too many chase scenes. I grew tired and weary of the constant betrayal of their location and the need to be uprooted and on the run. Additionally, the layers of subterfuge were too many, and I hated not being able to see the bigger picture. Something huge is going on, and I feel that we weren’t given enough clues to try and start to see that. Also, I felt that Allie’s actions once she gets stateside were reckless. I wish she’d found a different way to let King know her feelings. But Allie and King made a fantastic romantic pairing, and I am completely engaged in discovering more about Endgame Ops and its team.

My Rating:  B- Liked It, but I had a few issues

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.5 Hearts I really enjoyed this book. King is damn hot if you ask me. His character is strong, a natural leader, dominate and yet can turn that around for the woman who grabs his heart… which is exactly what Allie does.

There are a LOT of twist and turns to this story. There is also a lot of fighting, running and sexual tension. 
And a bit of repetitive storyline. 

The story does have a bit of a feel that we have missed something. I actually wondered if I had missed the first in the series but checked and this is the first one. But even though it has that feel it does answer all the questions that the reader does have.

I really really really enjoyed this book. The only reason the number wasn’t higher is the repetitiveness. There is a lot of action and sometimes I just kind of felt like “won’t these two ever get a break?”. And some thoughts and storyline is repeated a bit too many times. But again reading this book is worth it every repeated letter. 

I can’t wait until the next one. And the funny part is I don’t even care who’s story it is because all of the guys at Endgame Ops are just the kind of guys I love reading about!!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.