Lisa Renee Jones opens a new stimulating world in the Lilah Love series. Intense intrigue, steamy encounters, and unanswered questions surround Murder Notes. Around every corner there is a new tidbit superbly delivered to entice you down another path. I love Lilah and her dark bits. Kane and Lilah's relationship add a heightened potency to a suspenseful journey. Just when you think you have all the answers, Jones floors you with an amazing cliffhanger. A terrific new mystery series. I can't wait for book two, Murder Girl.

Wow!!! I have been hooked on Lisa's books for years now, but this one, this one is, just wow!! It's a little bit of a departure for her. Typically she writes romantic suspense, this barely falls into that category. It is definitely heavy on the suspense part. It literally has it all - murder, mystery, suspense, thrills, and a little sex. This book was a little darker than her usual writing and a little more complex.

The book centers on Lilah Love, her FBI and NYPD colleagues, and her powerful estranged family. Tensions run super high when she returns to her hometown. I do not do spoilers of any kind in my reviews, so I will leave it at that. But I can honestly say, I read the entire book and have no clue "whodunnit". There are so many twists and turns and suspects that just when you think you have an idea, boom, something else happens.

In short, I loved the book and can not wait for the second book.

Lilah Love ran away from her home in the Hamptons. Leaving behind a life of privilege and position after a blood soaked night on a dark beach. Kane, her hot as hell ex-boyfriend has taken over as head of his family. Problem is - it’s a crime syndicate with a very long reach.



Lilah Love sounds like a stripper name. Right?! Nope. As a matter of fact Lilah is an expert FBI Profiler with quite a successful record to her credit. Despite her protest, she is sent back home to solve a murder which may be related to a string of killings in her jurisdiction. The last thing Lilah wants to do is come back and face her ghost though it haunts her dreams every night. Or confront Kane, who let her leave but has never let her go. Or her Daddy, the mayor, who has lofty aspirations for higher office. Her brother who is dating Kane’s side piece Samantha. Nevermind her ex-best friend who is now the District Attorney.



Murder Notes is more suspense/mystery than it is hot sexy romance. If you’re looking for lots of sexy time, you won’t find it here. If you’re looking for an entertaining, funny, badass heroine - then jackpot! There were times when I was confused as to how Lilah connected points, I never lost interest. The twist, the turns, whose lying, who can I trust, you’re trying to scare me away but I’m STAYING til I catch you, no matter what you do - kept me invested. I drank in every single word until the end. Lisa Renee Jones’ Murder Notes is page turning good time. More please!

Where do I begin reviewing this book? From the very first page, Lisa Renee Jones reels you in with the story of Lilah Love and her trials, tribulations, and skeletons. At times the story moves along at a slower pace, but this just increases the anticipation of what is to come. I found myself wanting to skip to the end to speed up the process of discovering the answer to the twists and turns in the book. However, I did not and ultimately did not want to because I did not want the story to end.

Lisa Renee Jones does an excellent job of building anticipation and suspense. You will definitely not want to put this book down!

"My secrets have secrets"- Lilah

Lisa Renee Jones has written a wonderfully mind-bending, twisty-turny maze of secrets and lies with a side of sizzling forbidden attraction in Murder Notes!

Lilah Love's family is part of the Hamptons elite, but she managed to escape all of that madness after her beloved movie star mother's death. Now she is a successful FBI profiler on the west coast, but she is constantly fighting an uphill battle to earn her place in a man's world. Dead bodies seem to have a way of speaking to her though earning her the nickname Murder Girl for her ability to successfully profile killers and solve murders. No one knows that she makes solving those cases her personal atonement for the sins of the past... or do they? Secrets from her old life have followed her to LA and are threatening to surface, leading to an welcome trip down memory lane and back to the place she once called home.

From the moment she sets foot back in NY, it becomes clear the string of killings she has been assigned to investigate are tied to her past. She is being baited with assassinations being made to look like a serial killer's work, but as she searches for the common thread that ties them all together, the only factor she finds is herself. There is only one person who knows what happened that fateful night all those years ago, and there is no way he would betray her... but someone is taunting her with both a trail of bodies and creepy notes.

Questions beget more questions, and a web of secrets and lies is starting to unravel little by little. Lilah is dismayed to discover that her father and brother may just be part of a conspiracy or cover-up, and her former best friend may have been involved in setting up the events that led to Lilah's flight from the Hamptons all those years ago. Everyone's motives and intentions are being questioned, and the one person who is supposedly the "worst" one for her to associate with may just be the only person she can trust right now.

Kane Mendez swears he is not his father, but he is without question the most powerful force in the Hamptons. Nothing happens in his town without his knowledge, but he is the one who has protected her secret and still looks out for her all these years later. No matter how much she wants to deny it, the attraction between Lilah and Kane is still as potent as ever and his love has not faded despite the distance. As much as she wants to trust him entirely, Kane doesn’t share full details about anything, sharing only what he thinks she needs to know which may actually put her in more danger. Considering she isn't sharing the whole story with him either, they make quite a pair!

This story is only just getting started, and I already cannot wait to see what comes next! We get a taste of the heat that Kane and Lilah generate when they are together, and I am betting the best is yet to come. That web of secrets I mentioned has only just begun to unravel, and I have no doubt LRJ is going to blow our mind with more twists and turns before it is all said and done!

I don’t know what to say about this book. I was really interested in reading it from the blurb description but was disappointed by the time I got to the end. The book was a bit of a mess, it was all over the place.
First of all, I couldn’t deal with the Heroine’s name: Lilah Love. It sounds like a porn star or stripper name, I couldn’t take her seriously as an FBI agent with that name. I giggled every time I read it.
Secondly, her behaviour. I don’t know how she got into the NYPD let alone passed the tests to get into the FBI. I’ve read a lot of books with FBI agents/profilers and Lilah is by far the worst I have ever read. Nothing she did seemed like the behaviour of an FBI agent. I don’t know if the author did any research as to what being a law enforcement officer entails, but if she did it didn’t come through in the story. I could be a better FBI agent than her.
Thirdly, the plot. I began the book understanding that Lilah was investigating a potential assassin/serial killer but as the book went on, instead of narrowing down the focus of the storyline it just kept expanding. Police corruption, mob associations, stalkers were all added to the mix. And nearly everybody and their dog was becoming a suspect. The plot was changing so fast I was getting whiplash from all the new information that was being thrown at me.
And finally, the ending. Or lack thereof. The book ends on a cliffhanger. After struggling to finish reading this book, to get nothing resolved by the end of it was so annoying.
I’ve given this book 3 stars. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either.

There was nothing that I didn't absolutely love about this book. Starting from the first chapter I was captivated. Lilah is a GREAT character and Kane sounds oh so sexy. Loved the chemistry between the two. You didn't know along with Lilah if you could trust Kane or not. Lilah goes back to her hometown to find a serial killer or assassin who is leaving her calling cards. Who knew about that night and what is with all the sketchy characters even her own family. You don't know who is doing the killing! I loved this book. Suspense, great characters and a different story line. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. Highly recommend. I loved this book!!!

*4.5 Stars*

Holy crap this book kept me on my toes! I need the next book now!

This book is full of mystery and suspense. With multiple murders, a possible serial killer on the loose, and a bunch of other crazy twists, turns, and secrets, I couldn’t put this book down. I read as quickly as I could so I could get answers to many questions. I am very impatiently waiting for book 2, Murder Girl!

Lila Love is a demanding profiler who is sassy and stubborn. She has no qualms about working in what a lot of people see as a “man’s world.” I love her character! She is on top of everything, always. She refuses to give up and isn’t scared of anything. I can’t wait to see where she goes in the second half of this duet.

Kane Mendez, is a typical alpha bad boy with a long, unfinished, history with Lila. He also happens to be one, of many, on Lila’s list of murder suspects. He’s hiding something that is sure to be a shocking secret!

This book would play out wonderfully on TV! The plot was engaging, fast paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The groundwork is laid out very well, and I can’t wait for what is sure to be an absolutely epic finale.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

This book was utterly fantastic. While it is a departure from Ms. Jones' regular romance, this book offered every bit of stunning writing I've come to expect from her and so much more. Lilah Love is a character that had me in stitches from laughing, holding my breath in suspense, and emotional from the ups and downs she experiences upon her return home to the Hamptons. This is the beginning of what is sure to be a killer series. I am waiting with bated breath for the second book!

A real roller coaster the plot moves along nicely and the characters are well developed a stay up all night read

Murder Notes is the first in a new series from Lisa Renee Jones and is a psychological thriller about an FBI profiler, Lilah Love. Lilah is all about the job. Nicknamed "murder girl" her profiling skills allows her to get into the mind of killers shutting out everything else.

This first book is mostly the setup and backstory of Lilah and why a wealthy girl from the Hamptons in New York went to the FBI and became a profiler. It delves deep into her relationships with her family (especially her brother) and ex-lover Kane Mendez. The thriller aspect of the story, Lilah on the hunt for a killer, leads her back to the Hamptons and a past that both haunts and drives her. Ms. Jones gives tantalizing clues along the way both from the killer and Lilah that will have you turning page after page looking for answers which are just out of reach.

With a good flow and at 264 pages this is a good start to what I believe will be an exciting, nail biting ride.

I received an arc from Netgalley. Kane and Lilah are two characters you will not forget. Both seeming to come from crime families of sorts their past seems to come back to haunt them.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the roller coaster ride this book will take you on. Murder, mystery and romance will keep you on the edge of your seat.

At the end I was like “no” it can’t end on a cliffhanger! Can’t wait to read the next book.

Great first book in a new series by Lisa Renee Jones! Lilah Love is a great main character. She is not your typical female lead in a book...she is bad-ass in more ways than one. And her chemistry with Kane is sizzling. This murder mystery will keep you on your toes. It does end in a cliffie, which makes you become a drooling fool waiting for the next one!

Loved this book! Five-stars!

***I received an ebook copy from the author at no charge***

I have no idea where to even begin with this review.

Let' start with the basics: Lilah Love is an FBI profiler, whose job takes her back to her home turf in the Hamptons. Busy investigating not one, but two New York murders, Love finds herself at odds with her family, having to face old friends who have become foes, and continually crossing paths with the man who was once her world.

I'm so bummed that I finished this book as quick as I did, because it's going to be months before the next one in the series is out, and I'm sitting on some serious pins and needles over here now. The author did an insanely amazing job with this story. It's honestly my favorite book of 2018 thus far. There's action, suspense, a small taste of some forbidden romance, drama, and lots and lots of angst. The book drew me in right away and moved at a perfect pace. Jones threw all kinds of curve balls my way, and every time I'd have a hunch or think I may have figured something out, I'd get tossed out into left field and set on an entirely new path.

I immediately felt a connection to Lilah as a character. She's insanely smart, kicks butt at her job, and doesn't take crap from anybody, whether they're her superior or not. She's also super emotionally detached and private and has worked very hard to put distance between herself and her past. She comes off as kind of pissy at first, but the more I got to know about her, and the further along I got in the book, I started to understand why she has a wall up and why she keeps it impenetrable. I liked that Jones let us see her get a bit more vulnerable as the story went on, and I hope that continues in the next book in the series.

I loved Kane too. He's got money, power, good looks, everything that a man could wish for, and he's definitely let all that go to his head. He loves being in control and hates when people push back against him. But man, he loves Lilah, and although he doesn't say the words out loud, it shows through his attitude towards her and his actions whenever she's around.

There was so much UST between Lilah and Kane. Every time the two were in a room together, sparks started flying, and it felt like two magnets circling one another, resisting the attraction like it might kill them if they succumb to it. I wanted nothing more than to see these two come together, for good this time. I get chills just thinking about their relationship.

This book was written in such a vivid fashion that I felt like I was literally there with the characters. I loved that Jones kept me guessing and crafted a plot that was unique and suspenseful. Also, for those who are curious, this book ends with a huge cliffhanger. Hence my reason for being on pins and needles.

I want more. I'm craving more, and it hasn't even been a full 24 hours since I finished reading.

Five suspense-filled stars to this story!

Murder Notes is completely different from Lisa Renee Jones' other books. This mystery thriller has secrets, suspense, murder, twists and turns, a whole lot of questions but very few answers, intense chemistry, passion, and so much more. It does end in a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.

Loved this book! What a way to start off 2018. I unfortunately had life get in the way of reading or would have had this devoured the day after I got it. The length of time to read wasn't due to a bad book just life.

I have always enjoyed a Lisa Renee Jones book. This one did not disappoint me, I loved the story. The suspense of a good mystery. The sexy alpha man and a badass women. The book was very well written as one always gets with Lisa's books.

I would like the next book please ;) I need to know how the story ends. I couldn't possibly answer the long time question Who dunit? I'm certainly hanging on the last words in the book. Until we meet book #2. Ill be waiting for you.... don't make me wait too long.

5 star review of Murder Notes (Lilah Love #1) by Lisa Renee Jones
Lisa Renee Jones is a new author to me and I will certainly be looking into her other books as soon as time allows. There is a cliff hanger at the end, so be warned.
Two of my favourite types of reads together romance (although there is not a lot of this in Murder Notes) and murder mystery, what more could I ask for? I’m not to sure where to start with this review as I do not want to give any spoilers away.  
Lilah Love is an FBI profiler and is used to dealing with the seedier side of life. When a string of murders takes Lilah back to her home town, her past rises up to smack her right in the face. Is this the work of a serial killer or an assassin? Will her haunted and dark past be brought to light?
Danger lurks at every corner and when Lilah anonymous notes start arriving, Lilah is concerned that the killer may be closer to her than she thinks. Will she become the next victim?
There were so many plots twists that I was kept guessing and I needed to concentrate to ensure I didn’t loose track and to me that is the sign of a great book that has drawn you right in to the storyline.
The intrigue, suspense, danger and secrets had me riveted from the first chapter until the last, I was absolutely hooked and feel that this is one of the best examples of romantic suspense I have read in a long time.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley from the publisher.

A new series that revolves around FBI profile Lilah Love, a tough, foul mouthed woman who great at her job. She also has commitment issues and one heck of a secret from her past that could jeopardize her job if ever revealed.

When dead bodies start piling up all with the same M.O. Lilah is sent back to the place she never wanted to go again – home. This is where her secret lies and only Kane Mendez – the son of Miguel who ran the cartel and who is now heading after his father's murder – knows what really happened 2 years ago.

There is a gigantic cast of characters in this book. Along with the FBI, her father is the mayor, her brother is the Chief of Police, the man she has been sleeping with (but wants to dump) is a cop, her old mentor and supervisor from her days on the police force, the cartel and last but not least – the killer who taunts Lilah with every kill claiming to know her secret.

Nothing is resolved by the end of the book. I really wish publishers were made to label when the book is a serial (meaning story told in several installments). Ending in the middle of scene is just annoying BUT I liked Lilah, a alpha female with vulnerabilities and Kane, whoa boy does that man drip with mystery, a side a badass and sex appeal and then the hunt for the assassin/killer who may or may not be connected to one or both of them.

Murder notes introduces us to Lilah Love a FBI profiler, there have been a number of murders all with the same gunshot wound to the forehead, Lilah is convinced they are not looking for a serial killer but an assassin either killing these people to order or for his/her own reasons.
Her investigation takes her back to her home town in the Hamptons, where her father is Mayor and her brother chief of police, she left over two years ago due to an event that involved the local crime lords son Kane Mendez with whom she had a passionate relationship. The secret is gradually revealed and it is this that has shaped Lilah's life and prevented her from returning home.
As her investigations continue there are lots of suspects and many twists and turns, a lot of them too close to home for Lilah's comfort.
I found the style of this book different to a lot of this authors work, but if anything it added to the way the story unfolds. There is a lot more to be revealed nothing is really wrapped up at all in this book so I await eagerly for the next.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

4.5 stars!

Ooooh, I forgot how much I love a good murder mystery and this one is good. No, it’s great. Lisa Renee Jones has weaved a web of secrets and lies that is complex and completely captivating. I loved it!

Lilah Love is one of the top FBI profilers in the US. She’s good at her job but there is a reason she’s consumed with it. A tragic event in her past pushed her to become to the detective she is today seeking justice to right the wrongs of the world.

When dead people start piling up around her with a link to the past, she realizes there may be a personal connection between her and the murders. The case sends her home, back to the Hamptons where her nightmares began, and back to the drug lord she has a history with and secrets only he knows. Lilah escaped the horror once, can she escape it again?

Murder Notes was entertaining, mysterious, and engrossing, and an awesome start to a new series. I couldn’t put the book down as I read into the wee hours of the morning. The introduction to the characters and the development of the story were well thought out. The intensity and suspense were on point. I loved the mystery and the way the story unfolded, leaving us questioning everything. I don’t know who is good and who is bad, and it is driving me crazy. Each new piece of information opened up more possibilities and every page I turned, the case and Lilah’s life became more complicated.

I really enjoyed Lilah. She is a girlie-girl who loves her job and is great at it. The two don’t usually mix but it works for her. She is smart, fresh, feisty, and a total badass. She’s straightforward and blunt, but also funny with a great personality. She doesn’t play games and she is driven to succeed. When she goes all in on a case, she lives and breathes it.

"I call it “Otherland,” and when I mentally step into that world, I don’t feel anything. I just process. I just profile. It’s sanity. It’s peace. It’s survival."

It was fascinating watching Lilah work the case. Combing through the evidence and trying to link the clues were exciting and I was trying to figure out who the killer is right alongside her. Everything gets more complicated the more she uncovers and the link between her and the case become more apparent. There’s a lot going on in her head and she has so many mixed emotions when it comes to being home and facing the things she's tucked away in the depths of her mind.
What I need is to do my job, find my note writer, find my murderer, and get the hell out of the entire state of New York.

She isn’t perfect and has a past that is marked with terror, pain, and guilt. She has a darkness in her that she faces each day, especially now being back home. Lilah’s secrets are well concealed but the skeletons in her closet haunt her. Now, she is faced with the possibility that what was once hidden may be exposed and as we get pieces of her past, the intensity of the revelation was overwhelming.

With every clue Lilah finds, more questions fill her head and ours. We quickly learn there is so much more to the case than we could have imagined. There are twist and turns that make you question everyone and everything. Add in Lilah’s ex-boyfriend and you’ll want to know exactly what when down between them and who is behind the murders.

"I should have fought to stay in Los Angeles and even welcome Rivera pushing me aside. But there are too many links between me, a secret I need to ensure stays buried, and these murders for me to ignore. And one of those links is Kane Mendez."

Kane is super intriguing. He’s hot, smart, and a business man whose late father was head of the Mendez Cartel. I can feel his connection to Lilah and I know he cares about her. But he isn't entirely good and there is just so much to his story that he is still a total mystery.

"Kane Mendez.
The devil—or prince—of the Hamptons depending on who you’re talking to. And since it’s me, he’s the devil."

Lilah and Kane have a past and I want to dig into all the dark grit and grime they experienced together. I know they were hot and heavy and I know hearts were broken, but I want to know it all!!
He is the devil, but then, I am no angel. He made sure of that. He touched my life forever, and I can never undo the way he changed me. And in some of those nightmares he talks about, I imagine what I would become if I ever tasted his version of temptation again. They were—are—the bloodiest of them all.

Though this book is focused mainly on the mystery, the romantic element is there, waiting to explode. There isn’t much sexy time but what is there is hot. The sexual tension is off the charts and I enjoyed the push and pull between Lilah and Kane.

"I turn and head for the door, but the moment I reach for the knob, his hand is on the door above my head, his big body so damn close he’s damn near touching me. So close I can smell him. And he smells like a life I once found addictive, a life I loved and now hate."

With all of the mystery, suspense, action, and romance, I am already hooked on this series. Overall, Murder Notes is an entertaining and gripping murder mystery that leaves you desperate for more and I cannot wait for Murder Girl!

“You might be surprised how solving one crime makes everything else collide in a brilliant way.”