Amber Kelly and her sister entered the witness protect program after Amber agreed to help the FBI bring down Owen Fixx, the ruthless weapons and drug dealer her sister was married to. But when her sister, Rachel, leaves the safety of the witness protect program, Amber finds herself with a target on her head. Luckily, Gage Morgan comes to her rescue before anything too sinister can happen to her. Yet, with the danger closing in and Amber not knowing what's happening with her sister, will Gage be able to keep her safe or will Amber find herself in the hands of those wanting to end her life and lose her chance at happy ever after with Gage?

What a wild and thrilling ride Ms. Ryan takes readers on in this first book of her Dark Justice series where the main characters need to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, if they're to get their happy ever after. The way this story started with prologue sets the fast pace of this story with Amber having to deal with her sister in hopes of keeping the two of them safe. Will Amber be capable of getting them out of the trouble they find themselves in? However, it was from the moment that Morgan and Amber come face-to-face for the first time in this story that had me amused by Amber's courage and her determination to stand up for herself in case Gage turns out to be a bad guy. Will Gage be able to win the heroine over and prove that he's one of the good guys?

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and the actions and ruthlessness of the bad guys to get to Amber. Truly, there were a few spine-tingling moments and a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments that made this story a total page turner and had me hooked, as there are some close calls with the bad guys. Will Gage be able to keep Amber safe? How are the bad guys continually finding them? Moreover, I loved whenever the hero and heroine conversed, as the heroine challenges him, especially when it comes to his past and why he does what he does and is no longer a cop. What is so bad in his past that he doesn't like to talk about?

Both the main characters were charismatic and well-developed, and so were the secondary characters, even though I thought Amber's sister was selfish, naïve and flighty. At times, I couldn't understand why Amber cared so much about Rachel when there was no way her sister would go to the lengths the heroine was going for her. Furthermore, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how determined she was to get her sister back, even knowing her sister was probably being used as bait. I also liked how much of a challenge the heroine provided the hero when it came to protecting her and that she was just as protective of Gage. No way could she walk away if there was trouble. While the hero, he finds it hard to trust after being betrayed in the past, yet he's good at what he does, and I liked how far he was willing to go to keep the heroine safe. I also liked how confident he was in his skills and that he handled everything thrown his way including the betrayal of those he thought he could trust.

Overall, Ms. Ryan has delivered an enthralling and action-packed read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was intense and the ending had me concerned for the main characters as they face off against the bad guys. Will they come out on top? Will Owen Fixx finally get taken down? However, what I liked most of all about the ending is how things worked out for Gage and Amber. Finally, he's found a woman he can trust completely. Yet, it was the epilogue that left me looking forward to more of this series. What will happen next for Morgan, Amber and Rachel? I would recommend Dark Justice: Morgan by Jenna Ryan, if you enjoy romantic suspense; the sexy protector trope; or books by authors Kimberly Kincaid, Scarlett Cole, Kaylea Cross and Rebecca Yarros.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, but felt like the plot of a 1980's horror film, you know the ones where anything that could go wrong would. Once they think they are safe Bam! creepy monster is in the next room. That was most of the plot, which is what made it a great book, one never knew what they would find around the next corner, at the next hotel etc. Unfortunately it was usually bad guy(s) and multiple bullets flying. Amber Kelly, who started this book as Alexa, turned evidence over to the FBI on her boss Owen Fixx, who happened to be married to her sister Rachel FKA Georgia. When Fixx attempts to kill them, which is his common way of ending his marriage, they are relocated through the witness protection program. Somehow, (which you will find out if you read the book) they become compromised and Rachel is kidnapped. Amber is determined to get her sister back, and through her WPP contact is sent Gage Morgan. He's a slightly burned out former police officer, with a love for Elvis, and maybe a bit of alcohol. But he is well known for being able to protect an asset. Together they venture off on a journey of twists and turns trying to out run the bad guys, which keep multiplying due to the bounty on Amber's head. Gage has a motley crew of friends that help them out along the way, a former mentor, his "mother" from the commune he was dropped at as a kid, Bear, a compatriot from the military who reminds me of Malcom Boggs, John Malcovich's character from the Movie RED, a slight conspiracy theorist who has a million tech gadgets up his sleeve. All in All I really enjoyed this book, would've preferred a bit more heat between our hero and heroine, but this author got her start with harlequin, and this is consistent with their formula. (I've grown up a bit from when those were the only romances which I read, as they were easy to purchase, EBooks have really broadened my horizons.) Looking at the cover this book appears to be the first in the series and I will be watching for the next one.

Dark Justice: Morgan by Jenna Ryan
Dark Justice #1

Suspense, thrills, action, betrayal, romance and more abound in this the first book of the Dark Justice Series. I was hooked from the beginning and could not put the book down till I finished the last page.

Amber (once Alexa) was asked by the FBI to find information on Owen Fixx, her criminal boss, and fearing for her sister’s life she does so. At the point when both sisters lives are in danger they end up in the Witness Protection Program – even though Rachel (once Georgia) does not want to leave her cushy life and does not believe she is in danger. For a short period of time they are safe in a small town but…suddenly Amber’s sister disappears, Amber is contacted by the bad guys and told to come in or she will be brought in and…she runs.

Gage, contacted by mysterious McCabe, agrees to meet up with Amber and provide for her safety. From the moment Gage and Amber meet their lives are in danger and if caught their deaths will not be easy. With two bad guys and the thugs they send after them out for blood it is a chase fraught with suspense as they thwart the bad guys…for the most part. Gage does call upon some intriguing friends during the chase and they end up visiting some interesting places. Through it all both Amber and Gage are tough, tenacious and willing to do what it takes to stay free and eventually try to free Rachel. I am hoping Gage’s friend Bear will have a story of his own and that McCabe will, too. This series could be finished in a trilogy or…if other characters show up then perhaps more than three books will be required.

The book ends with some revelations that are good and some not so good. There is no real cliffhanger BUT the story is not quite finished because the truly evil wicked top dog of a bad guy, James Mockerie, still is alive and needs to be brought down.

I did have to suspend belief after one of Gage’s injuries and move from the book being truly believable to fantasy or believe that the hero had supernatural healing abilities and the heroine had a medical skill set most laypeople do not but with that thought dealt with and then tucked away in the corner of my RN mind I kept reading and thoroughly enjoyed the book. AND am eager to read what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

DNFed at 36%. Lots of action, some heat and lust but moving slow in the romance or relationship aspects. Story is not believable and I don't care about any of the characters.

I really wasn't a fan of this one. I thought the story had real potential but it never seemed to come together. The writing was a bit scattered and lacked a cohesive thread. On top of that I just couldn't seem to connect with these characters.

This is the story of Amber Kelly, who helped the FBI by collecting evidence to show her boss and brother-in-law, Owen Fixx, is really an arms and drugs dealer. She was so successful that she’s now in the Witness Protection Program (WPP). However, her sister was married to the man Amber investigated and he is now out to make both Amber and his now ex-wife, Rachel, pay for this with their lives.

Rachel was reluctant to believe Owen had already murdered his previous three wives or is a mobster. She definitely doesn’t like small town life or being in the WPP. When she runs off with a local man, this triggers Amber having an ever escalating price on her head and having an ex-police officer to help her survive. As the mobster, his men and his boss all search for Amber, the heat is certainly on. Get ready to meet some well developed characters - including my favourite, Bear! There are some strange allies, fierce gun fights, murder, betrayal and a side serving of romance in this action packed suspense. I found it to be a genuine page-turner that I didn’t want to put down. I look forward to reading more from in this series in future!

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Adrenaline rush like never before! The story starts off quick and never stops. Crime lords, ex cops, ex feds, witness protection, who can you trust? If you think this is the typical military guy saves the girl and while on the run they have hot sex all the time, you'd be wrong. There are moments of intimacy, though short and sweet, but the suspense of the chase is far more thrilling. I'm really hoping this is the beginning to a new series, a couple of characters are definitely contenders and the author left an open ending. I was pleased to get an early copy and voluntarily wrote my unbiased review.

Gage Morgan is an ex cop who has got the job of protecting a woman who was in the witness protection program, until her sister blew it for them. Now they have to rescue the sister without getting killed.
Alexa Chase found information on her boss for the FBI. It seems that has gone missing and she is the only one who can put him away. She never realized just how far the corruption reached. With a huge price now on her head is it possible they can survive and rescue her troublesome sister.
The bullets fly and the body count is high in this very fast paced romantic suspense. Our hero has a strange set of friends to call on for help. Some are not as helpful as he hoped they would be.
A very exciting story with a strange ending that leaves us wanting more.

While this book was a romance, it leaned heavily on the intrigue side and it was way too hard to put down as it is filled with non-stop action! Amber (previously Alexa) is in Witness protection when her sister runs off, leaving Amber’s location known. Fortunately, there is one decent person left that sends Amber help – Gage Morgan.

Throughout the book, you see that Owen Fixx and his boss, James Mockerie, have used their drug money to buy off a few individuals at the FBI, Witness Protection, and local police stations. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but Amber knows that she really can only trust herself – even her sister is not immune to the lure of money.

Fortunately, you know this is a romance and while Gage does a few things that Amber gets upset about, he is the only one that she really should trust. They are constantly on the run and cannot figure out how the criminals are tracking them. Amber even went so far as to strip so that Gage could go over all her clothing and her bag, but there was one little item that they overlooked that contained a tracker!

The places that Gage brought them to hide gives the reader insight into the people that shaped Gage into the man that he became. You also learn that both Gage and Amber had problems in their past, and how they dealt with those issues.

Parts of the book were sad when you realize who was willing to betray them for 3 million dollars. Parts were full of violence with all the shooting and deaths throughout the chase, but through it all, you just kept rooting for Amber and Gage to make it to safety! Not a nice thought but I really didn’t care if Amber’s sister, Rachel, made it – she was just too annoying and was really her fault that they were found out in their witness protection location, but she also kept you wondering if she was helping the criminals or not.

Most of the criminals are dealt with but James Mockerie was not caught and the epilogue makes you wonder if the next book will be the next step in bringing him to justice. I was so glad that a few issues that happened were later explained, it really is important to me that I understand the process and motivations and the “why” of things!

I would rate this one at 2.5-3 stars. It was a bit of a weird read for me. I certainly didn’t dislike it, and I read until the end because I needed to know how it all works out, but it didn’t grab me, I didn’t find myself unconsciously reaching for it in quiet moments. It wasn’t one thing, but a few minor issues that just added up.

The summary of this book grabbed me straight away. Sisters in witness protection, one is kidnapped, and the other is desperate to save her and assisted by a gorgeous ex-cop guardian. Promises of suspense, thrills, and romance... What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, the excitement built in the summary didn’t quite live up to expectations. There is a lot of action in this book that follows a similar sequence throughout: running from bad guys, bad guys ambush our leads, leads get away, chase down sister, and repeat. The book felt like one long chase with not much happening in between.

Plot development seemed to stall. Amber/Alexa is running from Fixx/Mockerie but apart from revenging an assault on Mockerie’s ego there is no real reason. We find out that the FBI no longer has the evidence Amber/Alexa provided, and she can’t remember any more details. The entire pursuit comes across as simply a remedy to a man’s ego. Nothing else of any real worth is really revealed.

World building is good. It’s modern day, real world. My only criticism is that the Witness Protection Program is run by the US Marshalls and my understanding is once someone is in the program no one, including the FBI, know where they are. So why does Amber still have an FBI contact that she communicates with regularly? Where are the Marshalls in the fallout of Rachel's kidnapping?
This is only a minor thing though and really didn’t bother me at all. Just something I noted.

Character development stalled after the first few chapters. We learn that Amber is an exotic beauty (more on that later), intelligent, loyal to a sister who doesn’t really deserve it, and a fighter/survivor. We learn that Gage is a tough as nails ex-cop with a strong protective instinct, and a bad history with a woman. In a nutshell, that’s about it. A few more titbits come along as the book progresses but it’s all along the same theme.

Now for Amber’s beauty. Ok, we get it, she’s gorgeous! Stop telling us already! Amber is the lucky winner of many different ethnicities merging together to form an aesthetic whole. Initially, it’s great to know that as it helps describe the character so you get a picture in your mind. A couple of mentions by Gage and friends, ok, boys will be boys. But I lost count how many times Amber is described as beautiful either to her face, or by someone around her. Even Gage mentions it quite a few times to her, advising her that she is so much better looking than her sister (a paraphrase, of course).

All this does is make the entire book a superficial undertaking. Especially in regards to her relationship with Gage. It is already falling into the ‘heat of the moment’, ‘I could die any second’ category, but add in Gage’s seeming obsession with Amber’s looks and it goes to a purely physical attraction and doesn’t really add to the romance at all. Physical attraction between the two is very easy to believe. That it could possibly move into more with time is also believable. That they are ‘in love’ right now, not so much. Both of them (Amber included) are deeply ‘in like’ with each other’s appearance. Along the same theme Amber states quite a few times that she doesn’t know if she can trust Gage, but he’s so good looking.....

All in all, Dark Justice is not a book I would throw away in disgust. The writing style and use of language was quite good. The author obviously has talent, but it just didn’t come through in this story. I enjoyed this book enough that I’d read another book by this author.

My advice is that if the summary appeals to you, give it a go. You never know it may just turn out to be your favourite book! When reading it though it’s important to just go with the flow. Accept it for what it is, a nice light read, and enjoy!

Sorry for not finishing the book, the writing style just don’t agree with me. I don’t have problem with multiple POVs, but the scenes just hopping every which way and some convos got me flabbergasted. It’s like this book’s trying too hard to be an action-packed story.

Amber Kelly is in a world of hurt and it just keeps getting worse. In all of this she does not fall apart but keeps trying to get things right. Gage Morgan is assigned to keep her safe. The fly in the ointment; Rachel, Amber's sister. Both have been in witness protection and Rachel has just given away their location. This is a fast paced action filled story that was a tension filled fun read. The four stars instead of five - that was because one of the bad guys was not taken down and Amber, Gage, and Rachel were not completely safe at the end.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

This book keeps you on your toes, their are a lot of things going on, and yes there are stuff that are really out there and you know that there is just no way in hell, however you really do not care, because you are still into the story. We meet Alexa who had just uncovered information on her brother in-laws criminal doings, and hands it to FBI, however things do not go as planned, and now she is running for her life, and trying to save her sisters life. Now let me tell you, you will hate her sister, she is a spoiled, selfish brat, who is constantly getting them in further trouble. Then we meet Gabe, who is an ex-cope living with demons, he is hired to protect Alexa, and even though he does not want to, he is intrigued by her, and he hates that, but their attraction can not be fought.And that is all I am going to tell you folks, you need to read, however know this, the story continues.

This is a new author to me. The blurb for it sounded really good and I thought it wasn't going to be really good. The premise for it sounded really good. I had a really hard time getting into this book. I really liked Gage, he does anything he can to protect Amber, even from herself and her sister. Amber, she had potential for so much more but I really didn't like her that much. There was just something about her that struck me the wrong way with her. The potential is this book is there, it just didn't do it for me unfortunately. The heroine could have been so much more kick butt and she wasn't as much as I was expecting. I kept waiting for them to have an actual relationship but it seemed like they just had sex and then BAM they are in love at the end. There really wasn't much more to it. And the book ends with no true resolution. It's not a cliff hanger but it's not a true ending by any means. I think the author was trying to set up for a book with Bear and Rachel but it fell short. On a whole it wasn't a horrible book. It had lots of action, the plot was there, and the writing was good. I just couldn't get into it like I had hoped. I will probably still read the next one though just so I know where the rest of the story goes and hopefully I will get into it more.

Great characters, enthralling storyline, steamy hotness, intense romance and have you turning the pages as quick as you can. I can’t wait for more of her work to be released and I would highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book and enjoyed the fast paced action packed suspense this book offered. So many twists and turns throughout this story kept me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

I'm rating this one with a wishy-washy 3.5 to 4 stars because I'm sitting on a fence that I can't seem to get down from. I'll start by saying that this is one of the most action-filled, fast-paced books I've read in a long time, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. The hero, Gage, and heroine, Amber, are both very strong individuals, and I enjoyed their never-a-dull-moment story as they raced to stay one step ahead of the people after Amber. So why am I on the fence? Because of the character connections, or more accurately, the lack thereof. This book was so focused on the action that it failed to create real connections between the reader and the characters, or even between the characters themselves, in my opinion. I came away feeling empty in that sense, which was made more disappointing by the fact that I really liked the characters themselves and wanted to know much more about what they were feeling and thinking. Normally, I'm all about characterization, so that deficiency here would cause me to lean more toward the 3.5 stars, BUT I'm stuck on that fence because right after I read this book, I immediately started on another romantic suspense that went the opposite route; it got so hung up in the characters' heads that the action waned, and I grew incredibly tired of the woe-is-me track stuck in the heroine's mind in that one. And that made me rethink my stance on this book, knocking it up a notch. So, bottom line is that although I would have liked to connect more with the characters and see their romance build a little more, I would recommend this book on the story alone, which again, was quite engaging. So much so that I look forward to more books in this series.

Like a few of the others reviewers commented I struggled with the main characters in this book. While the scenes were HOT, it seemed they only connected on a physical level. I struggled to feel a connection beyond that especially because of how closed off Gage was about his own life. Don't get me wrong...I liked Gage, a lot. He was completely selfless in his effort to protect Amber and find out who was really after her and how deep it went. Amber was...tough. She protected herself when others would have deferred to Gage. She loves her sister and will do anything for her even risk her own life.

The characters themselves were well developed as was the plot. The disconnect I felt was between the two characters. It was a relationship built on sex but out of no where they're professing their love for one another.

The ending...okay this just pissed me off. It's not necessarily a cliff hanger but there's really no closure. Nothing in the description of this book or on the author's page indicates that this is the first book in a series (although I think we need one about Bear), yet key parts of this book are left unfinished.

Overall, this book is just okay. It had so much potential but ultimately fell short.

3.5 Stars Dark Justice is the first book in the series by the same name and my first read by author Jenna Ryan. I liked this story but did find some lapses in judgement questionable. Amber was a strong female which was great and Gage was a solid character as well. I look forward to seeing what comes next and would recommend this to readers.

3 1/2 Star Review.....

This was my first read by Jenna Ryan, and while the story had some really good aspects, it didn’t wow me like I hoped.

A strong, intelligent heroine is always a winner for me, and there was action to the wazoo! But while unusual circumstances can make for an instant attraction, I would have liked to see more develop between Amber and Gage than insta-love. Lust is one thing; love is an entirely different concept.

Overall, Dark Justice was a good read; but the villains were predictable, the road trip and lack of security a little far-fetched, and why would someone like Gage (did I mention I love that name) put his trust in people when he couldn’t be sure they were reliable?

I will read Ms Ryan’s next story as I do believe she can build a story.