Sidney Halston delivers: sass, spice, heat and yet all the feels. A rollercoaster of a ride and one heck of an enjoyable time. This book has it all.

Kiss Kiss Bang started off as what I thought was going to be a RomCom then the story took a turn and the Romantic Suspense really came through. And, Romantic Suspense may have won out, but it definitely had its lighter moments.

Alpha-male Joey Clad was undeniably one sexy man. On top of it, he knows how to hold a gun, hack a computer and love a woman.

Livie was a woman who ran away from an abusive house, learned how to stand on her own two feet and fight for what she believes in.

Alone, they are two strong people. Together, they could take on the world, figure out who is stalking and threatening her and protect the joy of Livie’s life … the precocious, lizard loving Sophie.

As Kiss Kiss Bang progressed, I really enjoyed reading about Evie and Joey. They both had pasts that they weren’t proud of but found a way to turn things around. Joey was entertaining at times, serious when had to be, super sexy – especially when he was helping Sophie. Sorry, but there is nothing sexier than a man crawling around looking for lizards, playing around in the pool and just enjoying the wonderment of a child.

Surrounded by strong secondary characters, Joey and Olivia were able to shine through. Sidney Halston really did a wonderful job of bringing these two characters together and giving them a love worth fighting for. I was intrigued with the storyline and enjoyed reading about Sophie. Yea, she kind of made the story. She was just adorable. And, the story flowed … there was no time that you weren’t wondering what was going to happen next or who may have been threatening them, where the Governor fit in or just when Harry’s Hacker would strike again. There were some things that were predictable but, that’s expected. There’s only so much that can be said without being a little predictable. That’s a true testament of a good romantic suspense author.

ARC received for review

Hot and sexy computer geek Joey falls fast for Olivia, candidate for Governor. He helps her with her computer problems, and then with her stalker. Her daughter is adorable. It was great up until the end. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am and end. It won't be so bad if Ms. Halston has plans for Joey and Annie's other brother come on board at ICS and get HEAs.

Holy smokes!! I fell in love with Joey from the beginning! He's the total package!!

Olivia and Conner were neighbors and best friends growing up. Neither of them had role models in their life, so they grew very close and depended on each other to vent. Conner always said it was him and Olivia taking on the world together. Great plans, but Conner, unfortunately started using drugs like his brother. While him and Olivia were at a party, the cops came and they both got arrested. Olivia left town and never looked back. She's now making something of herself as an adult...she's running for Governor! The night before her big speech her laptop has issues and she takes it to a shop to be fixed. Of course, everything goes wrong and she has a meltdown.

Joey (Josef) Clad is part owner of Iron-Clad security. He's hot, he's rich, he's super techy smart! He's at a shop working when he sees, while looking at surveillance cameras, a woman having a melt down in the shop. Not just any woman but one that's running for Governor! He rescues her, in more ways than one!

This story has romance, suspense, sweetness, suspense, humor and a great ending!! The characters were great and the chemistry between Olivia and Joey was amazing! Of course, I also loved Sophie! Loved this whole series!!

What happen to her best friend, Conner and his brother? Did they get out of the slums like she did? You gotta read this one and find out!!

Six-foot-two and ripped...with superior computer skills, Josef "Joey" Clad is not your typical ex-Marine. The co-owner of Iron-Clad securities is 100% Alpha male, but under his muscular physique, he's the best hacker in Miami who specializes in running Iron-Clad's cyber ops. The perfect skill set for their new client who is getting threatening emails, a client who he definitely wants to get to know better. Much better. Single mom, widow, Olivia Monroe has exceptional dreams that she refuses to let go of. Fifteen years ago, she left her broken home in New York City and never looked back. Now a dark horse candidate for Florida governor, she's not looking for a relationship. Even with the hot guy who sweeps in and saves her computer the night before a big speech. Her hero has trouble written all over him. Joey is too handsome, too funny, too confident, and way too hard to resist. Too bad he's now her bodyguard.
The book was really good. I loved both main characters as they went through the story. Both characters were well written. I really enjoyed the plot. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Oh Joey......be still my heart! Another hot and sexy installment in the series that I have come to adore!!

Brilliant read with all the things I enjoy in a book with a brilliant storyline and characters and I will look forward to reading more from you from this author thank you for my arc

Josef "Joey" Clad is the "Clad" in Iron-Clad Security, the private security firm he and his best friend, Jax Irons, own and operate. Joey's more the brains in the outfit, but even so, he's still got the physical protection skills he learned from his stint in the military. When he meets gorgeous, but frazzled, Olivia Russo, falling apart in the computer store where he's on a job, his protective instincts come to the fore and he falls, HARD, for the beautiful single mom. And when it becomes clear that Olivia and her daughter are in need of some protection, Joey's just the man for the job.

Olivia is a hard-working, widowed single mom who's running for governor of Florida when she picks up a stalker. She's got no one in this world but a friend of her late husband's, to look out for her, but even the security agent her friend hired for her is no match for the person stalking her. Thank God for the gorgeous, sweet man she meets at the store she's brought in her overworked laptop for repair. Little does she know that he's more than just a computer guy, he's an expert private security agent, AND a hacker with some crazy skills that have not only earned him millions, but underground recognition too. He's just the man to help her when not only is her stalker picking up in intensity, but her gubernatorial opponent's verbal attacks are picking up in malice, too.

Like the other story in this series that I've read, Kiss Marry Kill, Kiss Kiss Bang is hot, fast paced and well drawn with two likable leads who share some serious chemistry. Add in an adorable, lizard-loving little girl, and Sidney Halston came up with the perfect combination of sweet, romantic and suspenseful. I wish there were more coming in this series, but I have a feeling this is it, considering that Jax, Joey and Anna's stories have all been told now.

I was a little hesitant to dive into Kiss Kiss Bang (I’ll get to the reason in a bit) but I needn’t have worried because I loved this book. This may just be my favorite of the series. It was a fun, quick read that was low on angst, but had just the right amount of suspense to keep things interesting and characters I enjoyed getting to know and ended up loving when everything was said and done.

The reason I was hesitant about this one falls entirely on Joey/Josef’s shoulders. I wanted to gut the man with a spoon in Last First Kiss. Badly. But, I reminded myself to keep an open mind because he did have some good points, and whadda you know? I ended up really liking him. He was still all kinds of dominant and steamroller should be his nickname, but in this case it just worked. He was compassionate, upfront and funny, which ended up being quite a lethal combination.

Olivia I loved right away. She’s vivacious, determined and compassionate. Her past isn’t all wine and roses, but she’s created a solid life for herself and her daughter and is looking to do more for those around her. Olivia was a lot of fun. Sassy and a little snarky, and could hold her own in room full of sharks.

Olivia and Joey’s journey was a lot of fun. Joey does steamroll his way into her life, but I never felt as if it was oppressive. Part of it, of course, had to do with the security issue and that he is in the protection business. The other part is that he did it in a sneaky and yet fun way that still allowed for caveman tendencies, but showed how much he respected Olivia. I loved their bantering and the chemistry between them was hot and it really was a lot of fun to watch their relationship grow, and then you throw Sophie into the mix and all bets are off.

I loved the previous books, but this one just felt...lighter than the others when it came to the romance and I really liked that because there was enough drama going on around them that it would have bogged the story down too much. As for the suspense aspect, it was very well done. It kept me on my toes (I actually attempted to figure out who was behind it all and only got part of it right) and when everything was said and done, it all made perfect sense to me. I enjoyed hanging out Jax, Megan, Annie and Rocco, but Sophie was the one who definitely stole my heart and the show.

Well written and an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

This book was absolutely amazing! I started it and finished it within one day. Joey and Olivia are so awesome together! Sophia makes this book so much more fun! Definitely recommend this book and series to anyone. I received this ARC in return for a honest review from Netgalley.

A very enjoyable story with great characters and an exciting plot.
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher*

Six-foot-two and ripped...with superior computer skills, Josef “Joey” Clad is not your typical ex-Marine. The co-owner of Iron-Clad securities is 100% Alpha male, but under his muscular physique, he's the best hacker in Miami who specializes in running Iron-Clad's cyber ops. The perfect skill set for their new client who is getting threatening emails, a client who he definitely wants to get to know better. Much better.

Single mom, widow, Olivia Monroe has exceptional dreams that she refuses to let go of. Fifteen years ago, she left her broken home in New York City and never looked back. Now a dark horse candidate for Florida governor, she's not looking for a relationship. Even with the hot guy who sweeps in and saves her computer the night before a big speech. Her hero has trouble written all over him. Joey is too handsome, too funny, too confident, and way too hard to resist.

Too bad he's now her bodyguard.



* * * * *



The men of Iron-Clad Security are definitely eye candy and it sure doesn't hurt that they are all extremely intelligent. Joey is no exception. He is pretty laid back unless someone threatens someone that he is hired to protect or someone that he cares about.



Olivia is trying to run a clean race against the current governor who doesn't appear to care about anything but padding his pockets. When she starts getting threatening emails and damage to her property, she is rather glad that her computer had broken down in the first place.


KISS KISS BANG is the third book this series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It stands quite nicely on its own merits though I do recommend the whole series. The plot is tight with the tension ratcheting up slowly until you are sitting on the edge of your seat. The dialogue is witting and some of the scenes are flat out amusing. Another thing that I appreciated with this book is how the sexual tension is allowed to build quite nicely before there is any relief.


I do recommend this book to any of my readers who like a good romantic suspense especially one that delves into the dirty world of politics. Joey is worth drooling over and Olivia is a good example of a single mother trying to juggle her daughter, her job, and finding time for Joey.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

I was only able to read a few chapters of this book before deciding it wasn't for me. I was hoping the focus would be more on the thriller aspect of this rather than the romance. Unfortunately the opposite was true and the romance couldn't keep me engaged enough to want to continue. When I read a mystery or thriller, I want the focus to be on that rather than the romance. If I wanted a lot of romance and steamy scenes, I would read a romance novel. This just wasn't my cup of tea!

An entertaining read from Sidney Halston and this is a great addition to the Iron Clad Security series.
I appreciate that all 3 books in this series are unique and each have a different story to tell. This is romantic suspense that is more light and funny than angsty and dark. When most of this genre tends toward angst, this is a nice alternative.

The third book in the Iron Clad Security series, and Sidney Halston has delivered another solid bodyguard-client romance that is fun, flirty, sexy and romantic with a functional, low-angst relationship and a touch of mystery/suspense that makes this a really exciting read that can easily standalone. With an alpha hero you can’t help but love, a strong and feisty single mother heroine and an adorable little girl, this is a great read and I really enjoyed it.

Shortly into the book I was skeptical that I'd like it in the end. It was hard for me to stay interested. It seemed unrealistic in its story line and that fact turned me off. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it did get better. It got more suspenseful and started to seem more realistic. After I finished the book I realized it was part of a series, maybe it wouldn't have been as slow to get into if I had read the first two books in the series first. My advice is to give this book a try!

Ummm, at this point Sidney Halston is becoming one of my must stalk authors. I love her books - the characters and their dramas just freaking rock. I especially loved the latest release, Kiss Kiss Bang. This book was AMAZING.

From their first interactions, I was completely smitten with Joey and Olivia. They shared fun banter and crazy intense sexual chemistry. It made my heart pound and left me feeling giddy. I loved every stolen and romantic moment between these two. I was consumed by their relationship.

Beyond that, the suspenseful sub-plot of the book was awesome as well. Sidney is an excellent storyteller. The plot moves at a great pace and it’s entertaining as hell.

So if you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you’re missing out and I highly recommend you fix that error as soon as possible. If you’ve read the other books, you’ll be pleased to find out that Kiss Kiss Bang is the perfect addition to the series. So I suggest you get your copy today!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

This is Josef, Olivia, and Sophia's story. Olivia is a widow who wants the people around her to have the best of anything and everything she can give them. She is a politician through and through, but she is also an amazing mom.

Sophia is a ball buster and I really thought she was a sweetheart in this story with Josef.

Josef is overprotective, strong, and amazing with both Sophia and Olivia.

This was a story about corruption, love, determination, and overcoming circumstances. Olivia's past and present collide in parts of this story and you can't help but guess what else is going to happen.

Olivia and Josef are a great couple. They balance each other well and they have a good relationship.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Alternately exciting, funny, and surprisingly sexy, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It starts with Olivia having a very relatable emotional meltdown over a computer malfunction. It is a humanising glimpse beyond Olivia’s polished political facade that actually made me care about her.

It’s kinda sad that the most unbelievable part of this story is an incorruptible politician from an impoverished background with exacting moral standards. It’s almost an adult fairytale. Joey’s super high-tech security firm is probably more realistic. I loved the chemistry and interplay between Olivia and Joey and I enjoyed their sleuthing as Olivia finds herself and her family at risk.

This is the first book I’ve read in the series and I don’t feel like I missed anything by joining the series at book three. We do see some intriguing characters that I’m curious about and I think I’ll go back to the earlier books at some point. Olivia’s daughter is cute. Her presence possibly limits the heat factor at times, but Olivia makes sense as a single mum and I appreciated her struggle to make room for Joey in her very busy life.

This is a fun and sweet read and I would really like to believe that politicians like Olivia actually exist.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of sexy and caring romance

This is the third book in the series, and I loved it. You could definitely read it as a standalone, but really, don't deprive yourself of a series of very enjoyable reads. Fast paced, super sexy, and lots of warm and cuddly feelings.

In this installment, IT hacker and security genius Joey meets Olivia Russo when she has a meltdown in an IT store. He solves her IT problem and then infiltrates her life as he just knows she is worth his time. She is also totally smitten, but with a political campaign to win and a 5-year-old daughter to protect, she is more cautious. It was great fun watching Joey break down her barriers, and them both fall in love with each other – and Joey grow close to her daughter, Sophie. She gave them plenty of opportunity for fun moments too.

This has a really good underlying plot, a message about strong women, and a man who knows what he wants and yet manages to avoid being domineering. Made for a super-hot romance and a very enjoyable read.

I cannot wait to see what series Ms. Halston comes up with next, as so far they have all been winners for me.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆☆
I am seriously loving this series, it’s rare that I find a series that has me loving the new books as much as the previous, but this one does it! I would say this can be read as a standalone, but to really have the background of Iron Clad Security (ICS), I’d say read the previous books first!

Joey Clad is an ex-Marine and computer nerd who happens to be one of the best hackers ever. While updating security at a computer shop, he notices a woman on the security feed having a breakdown in the store, and once he sets his sights on her, he’ll do everything in his power to make her his. Olivia Russo is running for governor while also balancing being a single mom. When her laptop crashes right before a huge presentation, Oliva holds it together just long enough to make it to the crazy long line at the repair shop where she completely loses it. Joey steps in as her knight in shining armor, and though it takes a lot of convincing on Joey’s part, he convinces her to come back to ICS and let him get her set up with a new laptop. Joey is relentless with getting Olivia to date him, and eventually things really heat up between the two.

I absolutely love Joey’s character, he’s the sweetest and I think he really needed that redemption after the previous book when he was a dick to his sister. My favorite part of this book, of this series really, is the humor, intrigue, romance, and did I mention humor, that the author manages to fit into each book. This book is one you won’t be able to put down and I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for book four!

A good, action packed book. Fast paced and emotional.