Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Rusty Kelly’s friend is in trouble.  Zoe found out that her boyfriend was using her to get to her crime boss father.  Sebastian thought that her dad would meet his demands when the life of his only child hung in the balance.  Unfortunately, he didn’t know how little he cared for her.  Zoe overheard Sebastian saying he was going to kill her now that his plan backfired, so she had no choice, but to flee.  She went to her only friend, Rusty, for help.  Rusty helped Zoe create a new identity and took her home to the Kelly compound to keep her safe.  She hates lying to her family, but she won’t betray her friend either.

Joe Kelly is the “last man standing”, the only brother that hasn’t tied himself to a woman.  He enjoys his bachelor status and has no plans to change it.  But even he recognizes there is something about Zoe that draws him to her.  She’s beautiful and sweet, but the fear he sees in her eyes gets his blood boiling.  He would love nothing more than to painfully take out the person that put it there.  But first he must gain her trust so he can find out who she’s running from.  However, he just may run out of time before her past catches up to her.

I’ve really enjoyed the twins and was excited to read Joe’s book.  It didn’t disappoint.  It was a bit dull in the beginning when Zoe was first being indoctrinated into the Kelly clan.  The book picked up once Joe started to make his interest clear!  Unfortunately, she is one of the weaker women from this series.  She has no value of self-worth and no self-esteem.  I can understand why, but for a group that prides themselves on strong women, she just doesn’t fit the bill.  Although most of the women, were pretty weak when you look back on how they were when they were rescued. So, I guess it doesn’t really matter.

I did have issues with this book, mainly just things I found unrealistic.  For instance, Zoe is running from her ex and is always looking over her shoulder and has no interest in men.   Why then, does she agree to go out alone with Joe for him to show her around?  I’d think she’d at least take Rusty along with her.  And, she completely freaked out when Joe kissed her and the very next day they’re having sex!?!  It just doesn’t jibe for me.

However, this book had a sweet ending … well for Zoe and Joe anyway.  It also built up to Rusty’s book, which I have to assume is coming soon! At least, I hope so! Part of me wants her to find someone else to be with to make Sean have to work that much harder to fix what he’s done.

Anyway, I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next installment!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

A new beginning…

I’m a die-hard Maya Banks fan so any new book is immediately pounced on! Joe and Zoe’s story is the eleventh in this series so I got more of the Kelly clan (who are dynamite!) plus another romantic suspense to sink my reading teeth into!

Zoe is on the run and Joe senses it immediately. How she got here and why is a mystery he is determined to figure out, even as Zoe does everything to hide it. They click right away but with all the murkiness between them, and family hovering, their tentative steps in romance are shadowed by all that is unsaid…

Zoe and Joe had sparks galore right from the start. While I may have struggled with the slam-dunk devotion, and the almost too flowery prose that accompanied it, their courtship was really beautiful. Joe was clear that his support was absolute and didn’t hinge on anything in return. Zoe struggled with self-esteem and self-worth throughout which was understandable given her past but was so repetitive that it took away from an otherwise stellar storyline.

Another solid read from a fave author who has tantalized with Rusty’s story – which I hope is next! ~3.5 stars

I enjoyed watching Joe fall. The last brother has seen his each and every of his brothers succumb to love but he has resisted. When Rusty brings home her friend Zoe, a skittish woman with secrets in her eyes, Joe can't help but fall. Admittedly things move fast, the Kelly men fall fast, but Joe's a sweetheart to Zoe. He wants to show her his favorite places, a fun time and that's she safe with him. Zoe is a sweet girl who had been taken in, her trust betrayed, and fearing for her life, she turns to the only person she can, her friend Rusty. The Kelly family is a revelation to Zoe, to think that there are so many people who love and look after each other.

While I liked Joe and Zoe's search for their happily ever after I thought the most intriguing element of the story was The Rusty and Sean Situation. A background character in the other books in the series Rusty has really grown into an interesting character. She's super smart - something she either keeps from her brothers or her brothers haven't bothered to learn about her - fiercely loyal and protective and in love with Sean. I admired her bravery, in going after what she wanted, but timing and harsh words demolish her heart, confidence, and causes her to take her life in a drastically different direction. I'm eager to learn what happens next.

For the most part, I've enjoyed the KGI series, but by this installment I find Banks is beginning to repeat elements of previous stories. A new identity is always an interesting springboard, but it's most compelling to me when there's a really good secret to warrant it. Zoe and Joe were interesting, but I wish Rusty wasn't so integral to the plot. Sometimes you just need your friend to make an introduction and then just get out of the way.

I've loved the KGI series but this was probably my least favorite. It was still a good book, but I really felt it was more of a vehicle to move along Rusty's story than anything else. That being said, I still enjoyed time spent with the Kelly clan and I can't wait for Rusty's book!

Another solid entry into Maya Banks KGI series.  I really enjoyed the characters in this book and found their love story to be very believable.  Plus the chemistry they have is super hot.

Maya Banks’ BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN, is Zoe and Joe’s story.  The KGI series centers on the Kelly family and the company they started doing the jobs that the government prefers to stay away from including intelligence gathering and victim/hostage rescues.  So the stories in this series have been fast paced adventure/romances that occur in the midst of one job or another.  The romances are hot and heavy and the action is generally non-stop.  BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN however, fails to produce the heat level or the strong KGI storyline that made some of the other KGI stories so riveting.

In an unusual twist, though the story is primarily about Zoe and Joe, the best parts of this story come from the lesser story of Rusty and Sean and the journey they are on towards their own happily ever after.  Perhaps it is because Rusty and Sean have been around for several books and are very well developed and multifaceted characters and Zoe and Joe simply are not.  Zoe is extremely cagey and Joe, for such an alpha male, is extremely into his feelings.  Or perhaps it is the lack of any real action in the storyline.  When her family finally catches up to Zoe, well…

In any case, readers who enjoy military romances will still enjoy BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN.  This reader had simply hoped for less over the top gushing and more push back from the bad guys.

This book was a DNF. I couldn't get into it and had a hard time figuring out who was who.

Brighter Than the Sun is the latest installment in the KGI series by Maya Banks, and fans of the series have been waiting for the last Kelly brother to meet his match.  While I loved the book and the main couple Joe and Zoe, it was the scenes with Sean and Rusty that got me the most.  Rusty broke my heart in this book and if possible, I’m dying for them to get their HEA even more now!!!  Okay, back to Joe and Zoe – there was such a sweetness between these two and it wasn’t hard to root for them.  When the end of the book came around I was surprised it was already over because I was enjoying the whole book that much.

Zoe Kildare has had a shitty life thus far.  Her mother left when she was only five, and being the only daughter of a drug kingpin who doesn’t give a crap about her, left her vulnerable to being used by the wrong guy.  She overhears a phone call where the man she thought she loved was talking about how he had been forced to sleep with her to get to her dad, and then casually mentions that he’s going to kill her since its clear the old man doesn’t care about her.  Scared and having nowhere to turn, she calls her one and only friend from college Rusty.  As it turns out, Rusty is a badass who can outdo even Donovan in the technology department.  Rusty creates a new identity complete with full background and then takes Zoe home with her to hide out and regroup.

Joe Kelly is the last of the brothers to fall in love and he is in absolutely no rush to do so.  He enjoys hanging around his brothers and their wives, and loves all of their kids of course, but he convinces himself he’s happy with his bachelor pad and single life.  When he meets Zoe at a family bbq, something about her has his alarm bells ringing.  He can’t put his finger on it, but he’s not buying the story that Rusty spun about why her friend is in town.  While he’s also attracted to the beautiful woman, he decides to spend some time with her to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

So much to love about this book.  One of the cuter moments was at the beginning of the book when Steele finds out that Maren is pregnant again.  After the hell she went through while pregnant with their daughter, he is understandably terrified.  The team members try to reassure him but he’s still freaking out.  During this meeting however, the new team member Allie manages to get on everyone’s nerves and offend the other women on the team when she berates them all for not being serious enough.  She clearly has a chip on her shoulder and it seems like it will be a toss-up whether PJ or Skylar kicks her ass first.  She redeems herself later in the book and I was able to get past what an asshole she was at the beginning.

This one was a bit different than previous books. We don’t start off with the drama and then the couple falls in love while dealing with it.  In this one the couple is well on their way to falling in love when the shit hits the fan.  Its still warp speed that they go from meeting to being in love, but somehow Maya makes you forget these people just met.

Rusty and Sean – I think these two are going to be my favorite when they finally get their book.  Sean has been running scared since that kiss between the two and Rusty decides to confront him.  I don’t want to spoil everything that happens between these two because you really need to read it to appreciate it, but I will say that Rusty had me crying more than once.  Her overall arc in the story was probably my favorite part.

Aside from loving the Rusty/Sean stuff, I really like seeing what’s going on with the other Kelly wives.  In this case there is something in the water where they all live because everyone is knocked up.  Some for the first time and some for the second time.  It was great seeing them all and catching up.  Joe is a big softie and unlike some of the brothers, he doesn’t need his ass kicked for him to see the light about being in love.  He accepts it pretty easily.  Zoe’s self-esteem needed a major boost and I would have liked to have seen some type of a blow-out or interaction with her dad, but it wasn’t enough of an issue that it affected my enjoyment of the book.

While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, it was still a great read and I really hope that Rusty and Sean are next up!

Rating: B+

I have no idea what I just read.... or why.

While I enjoyed getting a visit with the previous cast (because I'm a van of reunions and cameos etc) this was just ridiculous.

The story was ridiculous, the h&h were ridiculous... this whole thing was filler, filled by more filler, followed by filler and flowery powder on a level I can't begin to describe.

Obviously Banks is bored with the series, now readers are bored with it, now its time to end it. Its gotten too long and it no longer excites. This sucks. I am so bummed

Brighter than the Sun by Maya Banks features the last Kelly bachelor, Joe, on his quest to find true love. He’s fine with being on his own, even though his family is all coupled up a living it up with their children. The last person he thinks he’d be able to find this with is Zoe, the woman who’s currently on the run for her life but he falls fast for her despite the danger she has around her.


If you’ve followed the series you will enjoy the book, but it wasn’t the best I’ve read. There was a lot of information about the family, so it didn’t seem like the main couple was front and center the entire time. These two were a classic case of instalove, so there wasn’t the typical buildup that you get, especially since Joe is certain after a couple of meetings he wants to be with her forever. Despite that, they seemed to work, and I liked watching them together. The suspense was there, though a bit light, but overall it was a good addition to the series.

This is a great romantic suspense, the plot is brilliant, the tempo is fast and the characterisations superb. Great job by a great author.

i think im done with the KGI series. It has slowly devolved over the books to a bunch of cavemen. there was literally a few pages of action and the rest was just the main character mooning over how to make a woman his. i hated how it kept referring to "the wives". i just dont get how every character just now sees someone and decides that he is in love with them with no relationship.

Review: 2 out of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Maya Banks for as long as I can remember and the KGI series has always been one of my favourite romantic suspense series but this read nothing at all like the other books and unfortunately I was left quite disappointed.

With a new identity Zoe Kildare is on the run from her father and boyfriend for reasons I won’t mention to avoid spoilers, she is ready for a fresh start with the help of the Kelly family’s adopted daughter and sister, Rusty. Rusty has skills no one seems aware of and sets Zoe up with a new life and takes her back to the Kelly compound for refuge

Joe is the last single Kelly and is quite eager to stay that way until he sets eyes on Zoe, he sees that she is scared and needs protecting so takes it upon himself to be her saviour and asks her out on a date.

The relationship between Joe and Zoe progressed rapidly, I found that it was too much too soon and I didn’t quite get the connection. Zoe was broken and very down on herself and Joe was her knight in shining armour but he turned into an emotional mess.

What I did like about this book was the military aspects and interactions between the KGI teams, it’s nice to revisit past characters and their wives. This book had a more serious tone and the teasing between the brothers was noticeably absent.

I have never been a Rusty fan, I found her to be a bit of a pain in the past books but she was a real stand out in this book and I loved her page time; I couldn’t help but hope for more for her.

Everything was emphasized in this book, the emotion, the drama, suspense and angst and I found it all very frustrating! We don’t even get a glimpse of the bad guys, it was all very rushed and didn’t make sense at all. You have to suspend belief when reading this title because it was extremely far-fetched.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first few books in this series but the past few I didn’t enjoy at all; I think this might be a series that has run its course for me unfortunately.

Thank you to Berkley Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

It was a long time since I read a new book by Maya Banks.This one wasn't bad but it wasn't my favorite too.I find the story too simple for my taster, I would prefer if there was a little bit more suspense.Or generally something else,there were some parts I felt a little bit bored.

Maya Banks has finally given us Joe’s HEA in Brighter Than the Sun and I couldn’t be happier for him! Joe has been resisting the match making of his family and his team members for a while now and when he falls, he falls hard and FAST. He’s the strong, solid type. Dedicated to his extended family and KGI’s mission, watching him find something of his very own (outside of his twin, Nathan) was very entertaining. He finally begins to see what his brothers (and some teammates) have and how much he wants that for himself.

Zoe is running. Running from her former life, running from a self she never wanted to be, and running right into the love and support of the extended Kelly family. Zoe knew Rusty in college, and when the crap hits the fan Rusty is the only person she feels she can trust. Zoe’s journey to happily ever after starts with finding out who Zoe really is as a person without being told how to dress, how to act, and what to say. That doesn’t mean she’s weak, as with all the heroines in this series she gets put through the wringer.

The main theme in Brighter Than the Sun (at least for me) is relationships. Almost the whole book takes place on the KGI compound or the surrounding area, so we see plenty of the Kelly family and the entire KGI team. The family dynamic is fabulous throughout the entire series, and seeing Ma & Pa Kelly take to Zoe and bring her into their nest right off the bat just highlights what makes this group of people so special. Zoe and Rusty’s friendship is exactly what a lasting friendship looks like. They bicker, they banter, and they have each other’s backs no matter what. The reader is treated to a nice peek into what the other members of KGI and their significant others have been doing as well as meeting new team members. Joe’s relationship with his twin Nathan and his wife Shea was also an integral part of the story. (For those that didn’t like the paranormal aspects of some of the books in this series, it is briefly touched upon here but not in the way of Shea or Grace’s books). We also get to see more of Rusty and Sean’s constant tension.

The pacing of Joe and Zoe’s relationship worked well for me in the cannon of this series. When the Kellys fall, they really fall and no amount of fighting it will change the fact. The suspense element was not as prominent in this installment (as I said, relationships are the main theme here), and I did feel it wrapped up too quickly for my tastes. It almost feels like a dangling thread for a later book? We shall see.

What kept me reading (even through messy tears) was the family. It was Joe and Zoe, it was Ma & Pa Kelly, it was the new KGI members, it was the rash of —oops, no spoilers 😉
I did cry, Maya Banks pulled zero emotional punches. For fans of this series, there are some major shake-ups. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Brighter Than the Sun brings the reader a sweet romance, a wonderful family, a batch of protective alpha men and the women they cherish, and a dose of danger.

3.5 out of 5 Stars!

We finally got Joe Kelly's book with Brighter Than the Sun. While I'm a bit behind on the KGI series, I was so excited to finally get Joe's book. There has just always been something about him for me and I have to say I absolutely adored his heroine in Zoe.

I have to say when Rusty brought Zoe home to the Kelly compound to protect her; I was surprised at how quickly Joe started to fall for Zoe. I guess I shouldn't have been as it seems once a Kelly man meets his mate, it always seems to happen pretty fast. I loved how slow Joe worked to romance Zoe. Since Rusty couldn't really tell anyone much about Zoe without letting them know her real identity, she shared very little with Joe, but enough for him to know to take things slowly. I think I fell a little bit in love with Joe right along with Zoe. 

Joe and Zoe had amazing chemistry and I absolutely loved seeing them spend time together. Their dates were super sweet, yet I could feel the chemistry between them even before Zoe was ready to admit her attraction. I loved that Joe really got Zoe and did everything in his power to show how much he cared and loved her.

Of course Zoe's past came back to bite both her and Rusty in the ass. I won't lie when I say I wanted to kick some of the Kelly brothers' asses for the way the treated Rusty as she revealed all about Zoe's past and all the steps she took to keep her safe as she created a new identity. Rusty has a skill set that would be such an asset to KGI and I was glad her brothers finally saw her for her talents. I'm from Tennessee and so I recognize most of the towns mentioned in the KGI books, but have to say the one bit of levity I found while dealing with Zoe's horrific kidnapping was the fact they took her to Bucksnort, TN. Yes folks, Bucksnort is a real town and it makes me giggle each time I drive past the exit. The KGI teams never fail to amaze me with how well they work together and have so many amazing talents. I fall more in love with this series with each new book.

Honestly, Brighter Than the Sun is absolutely one of my favorite books in the KGI series. Yes I went outside my comfort zone and read the books out of order, but I couldn't wait to read Joe's book, and will go back to read the ones I've missed. I now want Rusty's book more than ever, but it looks like we will be waiting a bit for it, as her book is not next in line.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (B+)

Zoe has one true friend and she needs her now more than ever. But seeing how life and family is supposed to be is harder for Zoe to accept than the death she narrowly avoids. Joe is happy being the last Kelly bachelor, until he sees the terror in Zoe’s eyes. Can he convince Zoe to trust in him and his family?
Brighter Than the Sun by Maya Banks is the latest installment in her KGI series. I loved this world and was happy to see Joe take a fall. Ms. Banks gave us an alpha male in Joe and paired him with a woman who needed him more than even he knows. Zoe feels tainted. She has done nothing wrong but those around her are not so innocent. I love the joy she took in doing the simplest things. She was innocent in ways that made you smile and laugh with her. I loved the patience Joe showed with Zoe, even as he knew he was not getting the whole story. Ms. Banks gave us a story that was action packed but also full of emotional depth. Joe and Zoe’s courtship was slow and fit their characters. Zoe wasn’t ready and Joe respected that even as he made sure she knew he was there for her. I loved seeing him woo and build Zoe up. This story is full of pain, laughter, joy and love. I so loved returning to this world and can’t wait to see where Ms. Banks will take us next.

It is FINALLY here! Joe Kelly’s story has arrived!  If you are a KGI fan, you know that Joe is the last of the Kelly brothers who has yet to find true love (books 1 - 4 and 8 are the others).  Along with his twin, Nathan, Joe is one of the youngest sons.  It is so nice to have Maya Banks turn her eyes to Joe for book 11 in the KGI series.  
 
The beauty of a long running series is that it is easy to form attachments to characters, and ones that feature families are the best.  I will be honest, I am giving this book a higher rating due to my affection for Joe Kelly.  Because I am familiar with his background and enjoy his past interactions with his family, I am predisposed to like this book.  As a bonus, we also get a delicious little nugget in the long-running romance between Rusty and Sean. This part makes me happy. However, I will also say that this book makes me restless because I really want more.   After finishing, I struggled to figure out what was missing. It bothered me so much that I went back to the beginning and again read the first three books in the series (<i>Darkest Hour, No Place to Run and Hidden Away</i>).  After these re-reads, I know I am not wrong.  The earlier books have more depth, more intrigue, more suspense.  They are laid out so beautifully with the right balance of agony and tenderness.  Maya Banks takes the time to build relationships and we are captured hook, line, and sinker. I really miss that aspect in this book.  
 
Joe is feeling a little alienated.  All his brothers and KGI team members are falling in love and are in committed relationships.  He does not feel like he fully fits in.  At a time when everyone is talking babies, diapers, anniversaries, and such, Joe is still the single guy and reveling in his bachelorhood.  Oh, how the mighty fall.
 
Zoe is Rusty’s best friend from college.  Zoe is not her real name.  She is on the run from her former life as the daughter of one of the most powerful criminals in the country.  She is racked with insecurity and feelings of unworthiness.  Unfortunately, she has a lot to overcome and these feelings are relentless.  For me, it overshadows whatever strengths she displays.  It makes it difficult for me to see Joe and Zoe together.  Their relationship comes across as one note. Joe is constantly acting in an over-the-top protective manner. This is not new for the KGI crew. Most of the other alphas exhibit an overwhelming instinct to shield and protect those they love, but this relationship lacks substance.  Joe himself admits that he falls in love with Zoe within three days of meeting her.  Time and time again he defends his insta-love for Zoe, but she does not display anything so remarkable to justify his deep and abiding affection except that she is a broken bird.  Still, there are some tender moments: “[A]t the end of the day, no amount of superficial beauty could make up for a lack of beautiful soul.  And beneath Zoe’s soulful eyes was a woman, though cloaked in sadness and fear, who was absolutely beautiful.” I see the initial attraction, but I am just not sure I buy-in to why he loves her so deeply and so quickly.
 
I was also hoping for more suspense.  The story is simple, maybe too simple, and the pace seems off.  The action stops before it really gets started and the bad guys are never fully established.  Zoe’s father is Garth Cambridge, the head of the largest criminal empires in North America.  He is purported to be very controlling and Zoe escapes from under his thumb. Unfortunately, nothing happens between Zoe and her father.  He could have been a really standout villain.  Zoe’s ex-boyfriend is also a manipulator and his character is also almost an afterthought.  He could have been a much more menacing factor.  It feels like a missed opportunity.  
 
Nonetheless, one of the best parts of this book is a spotlight on Rusty and Sean.  We get another layer to their highly-anticipated relationship.  What the author gives us is heartbreaking.  It brings me back to the feelings I have for Rusty in book one when she first accepts the Kelly clan.  This alone is worth the investment of time and money.

A mixed bag, if you are a fan of KGI, you will want to read this book.  As a standalone, it is good-enough romantic suspense, but does not fully live up to the standards established by Maya Banks.