Not my usual genre of read, but I enjoyed this debut novel about the future. I like movies like this, but have never read a book. I would definately be interested in reading more in the series!

This was a good start to a new series.Jake and Kendra were both great characters and you cannot help but like them with plenty of chemistry this book had plenty of steam in it.With plenty of action and a really good storyline, I really liked this book and look forward to the rest of the series

2.5 Stars

The premise of Adrenaline Secrets is intriguing: genetically engineered soldiers programmed to not to follow orders revolt because they're still able to think for themselves, and a human girl looking for the truth about GovCorp, the creator of said soldiers.

The story begins years after the successful rebellion and follows Jake, an ex-soldier turned mercenary for hire, and Kendra, a civilian human spying on GovCorp. While I enjoyed the sci-fi and action of the story, I had a hard time with the characters.They all seemed very...flat. A major plot point is the romance between Jake and Kendra. I didn't feel chemistry between them and would have preferred not to have it at all except the crux of Jake's emotional strength comes from loving Kendra.

For me, the story started out unpolished, but as it progressed I felt the writing got stronger. I was truly invested in finding out the dark secrets of GovCorp and learning more about the genetically engineered (GV) men and women. Even though I didn't love this one, I wouldn't be opposed to reading the next in the series.

DNF 11%

I actually had to go back and check because I would have sworn that this book was a later one in a series. A series where they had already explained what in the world was going on....but to my surprise that was not the case. There was so much in the beginning of this book that was left unexplained.

How did GovCorp start? How long have they been creating super beings? How did this just become common knowledge? The whole rogue wars I didn't understand. Who were these people? This little town makes no sense either. I needed more info for me to really get into the story.

I actually really really liked this book. It was different and original with enough danger and lust thrown in to make it sizzling. I loved seeing Kendra turn Jake into the man that he never thought he could be. There is a nice surprise in the book as well that made me happy. Kendra has lost a lot so she fights tooth and nail to keep Jake by her side. A very good read.

First I love romantic suspense and Jake and Kendra have a lot of that in store. Jake was a super type soldier genetically engineered to be a killer. He wants nothing to do with Kendra because she is natural born and she is also associated with the group that made him. Even though Jake is not a natural born, he is sweet and he shows a vulnerability that melts my heart. This is very well written story. I'm ready for more.

This is an ambitious world setting where there are Naturals, Rogues, and GVs (Genetic Invtro). The GVs are enhanced but also fall prey to prejudice against them.

The book starts a series, which does show promise. I like a book with a solid ending, which I didn't get with this one. The characters didn't quite seem real, but the book has excitement . In essence this is thrilling book despite its flaws. Here's hoping book learns from the flaws and produces something even better.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. I am sure this is an awesome book and author but after starting to read this book it seemed futuristic or different than your average romance. Just not my thing but I am sure for others it is a great read.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

After reading Carolyn Reilly's biography I am more than a little intrigued about this book. I'm not sure what to call this book, paranormal, fantasy, science-fiction or just plain old romantic-suspense. What it is, is out of the norm for what I usually read. Thought provoking, entertaining and in parts, edge of your seat suspenseful. A very good first book by a new author.

Jake Hanson is the product of a program to create a super solider by the genetics and pharmaceutical mega company, GovCorp. The program was a bust and left in it's wake many whom society has no place for. Jake is a Genitic Invitro created human, or GV as they are referred to in the story. He was birthed fully formed at 16 years old and trained to kill. Now he wants to track down the scientist who created him and others in his batch to get to the bottom of some issues he has. In order to do that he needs access and has signed on with the Committee to try and gain that. His current assignment is to protect Kendra Reed, a linguist, and recover documents from a plane that went down in Nigeria.

Kendra Reed is a natural born and as such, Jake wants nothing to do with her, but the attraction is real and palpable for both of them. Jake's job to guard her is not making things easy at all. Kendra has her own problems with GovCorp and although she works for them, she is actually working against them with the Committee. Kendra's family was killed and she believes that GovCorp is responsible.

It takes lot for Jake and Kendra to see that they want the same thing. That old sexual attraction keeps getting in the way. 31/2-Stars

Unique!

An intriguing and fascinating page turner that is also a magnificent love story.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy,

Jake Hanson is a genetically engineered ex-soldier. He was part of the GovCorp program that tried and failed to create the ultimate soldier in by way of Genetic Invitro borns. These GV's, as they are called, started a rebellion 4 years ago and now live openly with natural borns.

Jake is now a freelance soldier. When he gets recruited to go to Nigeria as part of a protection detail, he meets Kendra once again. Their first meeting didn't go very well. Jake doesn't want to get involved with a natural born, but he will soon learn that he can't stay detached with Kendra even though he doesn't understand what he is feeling.

I'm impressed that this is a debut book for this author. This had all the elements I like in my romantic suspense books. An interesting plot, mature writing, likeable characters and it left me wanting more books from the side characters. This ends on a HFN but leaves us wanting to know what will happen with Oliver and Luna. Great start to a new series! ARC provided by NetGalley.

The start of ‘Adrenaline Secrets’ plunges us straight into Carolyn Reilly’s intriguing world of the genetically-modified and the ‘natural’ borns, the schism deepened only by the physicality of the former, the ‘weakness’ of the latter and the prejudices that grew out of that widening divide. There is a fair bit to take in as well with a huge number of characters gracing the pages while Reilly sets up opposing factions: GovCorp vs. the Committee, GVs vs. naturals, Kendra vs. Jake, the rogues vs. everyone else (so it seems) as it slowly becomes clear that this is an alternate universe, or at least a futuristic earth not so distant that we can’t imagine ourselves in it.

It did take me a while to get my head around this reality that Reilly has created, though it’s definitely an action-packed but chilling ride that combines political tussle, whistle-blowers, double agents and paramilitary activities showing just how deep divides have become. Kendra and Jake were relatively believable protagonists though their fast-and-furious growing relationship amid the instability of the socio-political climate did at times however, feel more like lust than love. There were also, some abrupt and awkward breaks signalling POV changes that made me blink each time it happened, and the somewhat uneven characterisation/narration that threw me off.

In many ways, ‘Adrenaline Secrets’ reads like an establishing novel—it is in any case—as Reilly’s world-building gets off its feet. But it’s a world I’d be willing to revisit again and I’m already looking forward to see what Reilly has in store for this insane world that somehow, doesn’t feel too far from the nightmare our present reality can become.

A really enjoyable and well-written story from a very talented debut author.

I love a good romantic suspense, especially where there is a strong female lead and this book gave me exactly that. Set in a time where cold-blooded killers are genetically engineered, readers are treated to a tense battle between the organisation who created them, GovCorp, and the congressional committee set about stopping them.

Kendra Reed is currently working undercover at GovCorp on behalf of the Committee and is determined to find out what secrets they have to hide. After losing her parents and her brother in a car crash years before, Kendra has always had her suspicions that GovCorp were behind their demise but as yet has not been able to find the proof that she needs. Supported in her pursuits by Derek, a senior member of the Committee and a close family friend, Kendra is assigned to a mission which will take her into the depths of Africa in order to find out what happened to one of the Committee's planes, and its precious cargo.

Kendra is joined on this mission by a freelance Genetic InVitro soldier, Jake Hanson. Kendra and Jake’s paths have crossed before and it is clear that Jake’s opinions of “naturals” isn’t one that’s overly friendly. Referred to as “giffs”, the GVs are tormented by naturals especially since their kind have been going rogue and killing innocent naturals. What Jake doesn’t know, is that Kendra is a loyal supporter of GVs for reasons which become clear later into the story.

Jake’s character, despite being engineered, comes across as remarkably sweet and vulnerable, despite his killer training. When it becomes clear just how he, and other GVs, are birthed you can’t help but shed a tear for him and his kind. Despite his brusqueness towards Kendra initially, it soon becomes clear that they respect each other and soon that respect turns to feelings of love, which comes as a surprise to Jake. After arriving at their mission destination, Jake soon realises that Kendra isn’t the meek and fragile natural that he suspects and it’s not long before they are saving each other from imminent danger.

The story continues along with yet more mystery as Jake and Kendra find their paths inexplicably intertwined. As Kendra reveals what happened to her family, Jake also becomes aware of the part he too has played in Kendra’s past as his ghost suddenly becomes real.

All of the characters in this book are equally as fascinating and captivating in their own way. We meet Jake’s GV friend, Max, and also a fellow batch sibling, Oliver, who is also in a relationship with another undercover spy, Luna, and Cruz and Sela, colleagues of Kendra’s who readers can receive a short story about at the end of the book by signing up to the author’s newsletter. For a debut novel, this story is scarily complex and I commend the author for being brave enough to take it on, without error, I might add.