MURDER NOTES is the first in the cloak and dagger, suspenseful Lilah Love series. It's really not a love story...more like a murder mystery with a small side of romance. But if you like the opposites attract trope (she's an FBI agent, he's a mob boss) then you'll appreciate the slow, burning intensity between Kane and Lilah!

Lisa Renee Jones...I am in AWE of the details and intricacies that went into the plot of this CHILLING and PHENOMENAL book. Absolutely everything in this story felt incredibly believable! I could see this one becoming a series, in print or television, it was that good! From start to finish, I was completely engrossed in the puzzle that Lilah Love has to piece together. Sometimes, when I read mysteries, it's pretty obvious "whodunit" but this one had me going back and forth and by the end..I still had no clue who the killer was. The story is full of twists that lead you one way and turns that abruptly send you in a different direction.

Lilah was a complete BAD ASS! She had a hard shell around her heart and there's a reason for that but she was tough, crude, a real potty mouth...and I LOVED her! And although Lilah and Kane stood on opposite sides of the law, it's completely obvious how well they fit together. Actually, the entire cast of characters was intriguing! I was left with the feeling that no one could be trusted and everyone was a suspect from her father to her ex-best friend.

My only complaint is that I have to wait for book two! (I'm SO impatient, I know!) I'm absolutely hooked on Lilah Love and can't wait for the thrilling conclusion. Plus, I found another AWESOME book to put on my READ AGAIN E-SHELF! YAY! Told entirely from Lilah's POV with a stunning cliffhanger. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

i think Murder Notes might be one of my favorite books of Lisa’s to date. It's a definite departure from her usual genre, but the book still retains LRJ's signature style.
Lilah Love is my new favorite heroine. Shes's crass, damaged and just generally gives no f*cks. She feels real and raw in a way that isn't common in a world of cookie cutter characters.
I LOVE Kane. Like love him, love him. Characters like him are the reason I read romance and I wish we saw more of him. He's dark, dangerous, and powerful. I know this isn't a romance, but the chemistry is real, so I'm hoping we see them get together more before the end of the series.
Then there is that cliffhanger alert.

4.5 Questionable Stars

I have all the questions.
I want all the answers.
Now.

Lilah Love is an FBI Agent, not a stripper, despite her name. She spends her days as a profiler and her nights fighting secrets and nightmares. The combination of these things gives her the nickname Murder Girl and it’s extremely appropriate.

The whole time I was reading I kept hearing a creepy voice in my head whisper <i> Murder Girl, Murder Girl </i>. This isn’t a love story at all. It’s a story of demons, Murder and how our past can haunt us for years to come.

Answers. I still need copious amounts of answers. Until then, I’ll make up my own and decide for myself who is good and who is evil.

Until next time Lilah Love!

Fast paced & suspensefully FANTASTIC!

Honestly, I could not put this book down! If you like your heroines strong with just a hint of vulnerability... sassy and mouthy and oh so capable of taking care of themselves, then you're gonna love this book, and you're gonna fall in love with the character that is Lilah Love!

I loved the build up of history, the interaction between the characters, the whodunit game... I loved it all and I can't wait for the next book!!

Lilah and Kane are sizzling hot and completely in sync with one another. He is a protective alpha like no other and she is a ballsy, take no crap, strong as heck woman!

I'm just gonna grab some cheetos, go into purgatory, and wait for the next book...

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones’s heart-pounding thriller of a woman’s secrets—and a past that’s about to come out of hiding…

As an FBI profiler, it’s Lilah Love’s job to think like a killer. And she is very good at her job. When a series of murders surface—the victims all stripped naked and shot in the head—Lilah’s instincts tell her it’s the work of an assassin, not a serial killer. But when the case takes her back to her hometown in the Hamptons and a mysterious but unmistakable connection to her own life, all her assumptions are shaken to the core.

Thrust into a troubled past she’s tried to shut the door on, Lilah’s back in the town where her father is mayor, her brother is police chief, and she has an intimate history with the local crime lord’s son, Kane Mendez. The two share a devastating secret, and only Kane understands Lilah’s own darkest impulses. As more corpses surface, so does a series of anonymous notes to Lilah, threatening to expose her. Is the killer someone in her own circle? And is she the next target?

Review:
First, because I know this bugs some people. The story ends in a cliffhanger and the next book comes out in the summer, so if that bothers you, you have been forewarned.

Now, for the story. I really liked this one. It is full of suspense, with a side of romance. I do have to say, one of my things is I can usually tell what or who is behind things in stories....I have not a clue in this one. I am thinking it is one big conspiracy, but I know that is not truly it. So this having to wait until Summer is gonna kill me. From the other books I have read by this Author, it is a slight departure from her norm. Not saying that is bad, it is very good. If you are looking for the sexy, it is very small in the story so far. The focus is a story that reminds me of Criminal Minds. I loved the many facets to Lilah and the name, as one characters says, does sound like a porn star. She really is a strong character and is pulling off carrying the story, pretty much on her own. Kane, is there but for me he is still in the periphery and I am not sure about him as a character or his true motivations yet.

So, now I wait for the next book, but if you are looking for an intriguing suspense I would definitely recommend this story.

4.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the Author.*

4.5 I need more now Stars!!!!

I cringe as I say this is my first Lisa Renee Jones read (I know, I know stop with the stink eye) but I am completely hooked now. I have completely ignored my family and household every chance I could get just to keep reading this book. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I finished this book yelling "No, I need more" at my kindle with laughs in the background from my hubby.

Lilah Love is a FBI profiler who is damn good at her job. She has a special sense when working her cases. Finding a way to detach herself and let the victims talk to her and tell the story. She doesn't back down easily and has a respect from most of her fellow officers even as a woman in a man's world. But Lilah get side-railed when her current case sends her to her home town. A place she left for a reason.

Suddenly Lilah finds her case threatening to bring out the secrets of her past. Secrets that she only shares with one person, Kane Mendez. When Kane begins stalking her upon her return she does everything she can to elude him. The son of a crime lord and a FBI agent make the people of the Hampton's gossip more than normal.

With each chapter you read, the web of secrets and lies gets stronger and bigger. The worry of who can be trusted gets deeper. The realization that someone else knows her secret and could ruin her gets clearer and clearer. She needs to solve this case before everyone knows....

A must read for a crime/mystery/suspense reader.... But be ready for a cliffy.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.***

Suspenseful,thrilling , exciting...
This high octane, fast paced psychological thriller was just what I needed!
The best go into this read, is by going in blindly. From the beginning you think the story is going in one direction but then a certain tattoo on a dead body takes you on a completely different connection.
Each page carried another piece of a complex puzzle, maybe giving you clues as to who's behind these murders.
I was immersed in this story, nail biting and exciting I couldn't put this book down trying to figure out the secrets and hidden clues in this read. Of course the build up was exciting and the wtf moments just kept piling up.
Lilah is the perfect heroine for this story. Beauty sexy a hooker name and a badass attitude to match her badge as FBI agent and profiler. While she's investigating a series of murders in California , similar ones are happening in her home state of New York. Digging deeper she discovers eery similarities. As a profiler she's sent to New York and what she discovers takes her down a rabbit hole she never thought she would fall into.
Secrets behind secrets take front and center seat in this high octane intriguing, and suspenseful psychological thriller.
The thrill of trying to find out what is happening and what is the meaning behind the mysterious notes that suddenly appear where Lilah least expects it. Who's responsible?
Every character become suspect.
Lilah may been in over head as she learns that she can't trust those she thought she could. There's an underlying hint of romance bubbling but the layers of mystery and suspense, keep it from happening.
Is Kane Mendez friend or foe?
Omg, I need to know and the ending cliffhanger didn't satisfy my curiosity.
My only criticism was that the story was so fast paced, at times certain scenes felt rushed and they were missing something. Additionally, there were so many characters entering and leaving the story at times it felt confusing.
4.5 stars.

I love delving into a new series by Lisa Renee Jones knowing that I'm going to be in for one hell of a ride. She doesn't disappoint. Yep this is going to be some ride - I came away with more questions than answers but that's the path I like to taken down. I don't know who can be trusted, who's good and who's bad and that's just how I want it right now.

Starting out with a series of killings that FBI Profiler Special Agent Lilah Love (btw I love this name) believes are connected, leads her home to another dead body. Going back home brings back the past she hoped she could forget, which may be linked to this latest series of killings and to Kane Mendez, her ex with links to the criminal world. Someone is playing games with her.

This was mind-bending, tense, unpredictable and left me desperate for more. - I loved it! I can't wait to see where this story goes and finding out more about Lilah's past and the characters that surround her.

I am a huge fan of murder mysteries and detective stories, but for some reason I never read them. When I had the chance to read Murder Notes, it sounded like it was going to be an intriguing, action-packed thriller and I couldn't wait to read it.

Lilah Love is trained to get into the minds of killers and track them down. That's why she's so good at being an FBI agent. But when a series of murders link back to her past and her hometown, Lilah knows she has to go back home and investigate. She is certain the person they're looking for is an assassin, not a serial killer, but she has to return to the Hamptons and dig into the people of her past to know for sure. Lilah is forced to confront the secret she holds with Kane Mendez, the son of a crime lord, while trying to figure out who she can trust now and who could be the very person she is looking for.

How is this book labeled a thriller? Because not a single page in this book was thrilling. When the book first started and Lilah was at the crime scene examining the newest dead body, I was so ready for this story. I couldn't wait for Lilah to investigate and uncover the killer. But when she arrived at the Hamptons, NOTHING HAPPENED. So much of this book was literally Lilah sitting in her office or sitting a a diner thinking. Her big, dark secret from the past was beat over our heads and I was so annoyed when we were never told what really happened or why until very late in the book. I felt like it was being used as a crutch to keep our interest and it just got annoying.

Also, when Lilah arrived in the Hamptons, there were so many characters thrown at us that Lilah was thinking about and they were so hard to keep straight. I feel like we really only got a surface level impression of them, too, because we really only got to know people based on what Lilah thought about them and how she categorized them in her investigation. And I don't know if I missed something, but I am still so clueless about the investigation and who could have even done it or anyone's connection to it. I felt no intrigue towards this story and I honestly didn't even care about who was even behind the murders by the end.

If you can't tell, this one was a huge miss for me. I had such high expectations going in and I found a story that was boring and lacked any action. While I haven't read that many thrillers, this one just didn't seem thrilling and lost my interest in the end.

What a way to start off my reading year!! ~ Misty, White Hot Reads

I feel like maybe I have been living under a rock when it comes to this author. And yes, this is my first book by her and what a way to discover her!!

Dark books are like a magnet to my soul and I found Lilah to be one of my favorite characters ever. She is strong but vulnerable. Quiet, calculated and knows that her life could easily be turned upside down when has makes her way back to the Hamptons to help solve a murder. A place she swore she would never return to. Waiting on her? A murder that looks to be meant just for her and Kane Mendez, the guy who knows just how much her darkness taints her.

The pull between Lilah and Kane is palpable from the first time we witness them together and never ever goes away. Secrets between them keep them tied to each other but will they eventually pull so tight that line breaks? I personally can't wait to find out. I'm pulling for the dark side on this one. At least after Murder Notes. I am excited yet a bit apprehensive on where this story might take us. I believe it's down a rabbit hole we may not get out of and yet I am okay with that.

Angst 4
Tears 1
Value 5
Storyline 5
Panty Scorching 1
Overall Rating 5

LISA!!!!!!! WOMAN! I love love love love love this book! To me there's nothing like a good suspense book. And this one delivers and more! I thoroughly enjoyed the story. There are so many twists and secrets. Usually, I play detective and try and spot the killer(s). Well.... With this book, I couldn't. Which is amazing. I love being on the edge of my seat and ready for the next big twist to come.

Lila Love is a super sassy and very demanding profiler. Plain and simple... If she's on your case, better watch out cause she's coming in hot with a vengeance. Her character is brilliant. She is so smart, witty, and on her A game all the time. When she is issued a challenge, she doesn't back down. She hits it hard and quick.

I am simply on edge now that I've finished reading this book. I need book two in a bad kinda way. Every scenario I thought could come out of this, I was wrong. So I am most definitely looking forward to the conclusion. Lisa knocks another book out of the park!

I just finished this book last night and let me start by saying I have read all of Lisa Renee Jones books and she is my favorite author! This book is nothing like her normal writing style and she does not disappoint, outside of the cliff hanger at the end. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a can't put down book! The suspense will keep you turning the pages only to try and figure out what happens next.

What do you do when you go home for answers but come up with more questions? What happens when the very people that you love makes you question could they have? Could they have anything to do with the case, could they be hiding something, could they be keeping answers from you?? Could they?? Who can you trust?

I literally couldn't put this down. The suspense was k.i.l.l.i.n.g. me. If I bit my nails, I would have definitely been biting them through this book.

I love a strong heroine and I definitely got one in Lilah. She didn't back down, she played the game, she's a very headstrong woman. She's not going to stop, no matter what obstacles get in her way.

Kane...I loved Kane for the most part. He may seem a little stalkerish and know everything about Lilah, even after she moved away but I think his heart is in the right place. Maybe...you'll have to decide for yourself.

A flipping CH!!! UGH!!! lol I need the next book now. I have to have the answers!!!!

I started reading Lisa Renee Jones with her Dirty Money series. That series made me a fan, and I haven't looked back since. I think Murder Notes might be one of my favorite books to date. It's a definite departure from her usual genre, but the book still retains LRJ's signature style.
Lilah Love is my new favorite heroine. Shes's crass, damaged and just generally gives no f*cks. She feels real and raw in a way that isn't common in a world of cookie cutter characters.
I LOVE Kane. Like love him, love him. Characters like him are the reason I read romance and I wish we saw more of him. He's dark, dangerous, and powerful. I know this isn't a romance, but the chemistry is real, so I'm hoping we see them get together more before the end of the series.
Then there is that cliffhanger alert.
I expect cliffhangers with LRJ. It's part of her style and I accept them happily. That being said, this is the first book of hers that I would like to recommend to my mother... who does not read cliffhangers. I will be giving her a copy of the series... once it's complete.

I received an advance reader copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

Lilah is a successful FBI Profiler, 28 year old and lives in Los Angeles.
It's a mystery thriller, not a romance! but don't worry, there are some shades of romance in here..

Lilah is a successful FBI Profiler and she works on some murders, that have clues that are leading her back to her home town and a secret she keeps with her ex lover Kane. she go's back to her home town to solve this murders but it only leads to more secrets and murders...

it ends with al little cliffhanger...and wow..You just can't put it down and wanting to find out what is going to happen next!

As Murder Notes is part of a new series, I can hardly wait for the next!

This book is amazing!

Lilah Love is one of the most compelling, damaged characters I have read in awhile and she hooks you in from the beginning. The mystery at the core of this new serious is suspenseful. The relationships between Lilah and the other characters are intriguing. I found myself loving Kane and really disliking Rich. The story draws you in and has you questioning character motives and trying to figure out how this will all come together. I can't wait to read the next book in this new series. I am a huge fan of this departure by the author!

This is the first book in this new series. This story line did not focus on the romance but focused on the mystery. Sometimes the good guys and the bad guys blurred

MURDER NOTES is the first book in the Lilah Love series. They will definitely need to be read in the order of release as this is an ongoing story.

Gah! Cliff-hangers!! Lisa Renee Jones is a queen at them, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I don’t know whether to like the “bad guys” or to dislike the “good guys.” That’s how twisted up this story is of FBI agent, Lilah Love, returning to her hometown. A town where her father is the mayor, her brother is the police chief, and her ex-boyfriend is the head of the local cartel. Ah, Kane – sexy, seductive, secretive, swoon-worthy – should she trust him or not? That seems to be the big question… who can Lilah trust?

I love Lisa Renee Jones’ books. Her romance is supreme and her mysteries are superbly written. This is a - sit on the edge of your seat – can’t put the book down – stay up all night – and scream because there is a cliff-hanger, but you’re ready to one-click the next one – amazing story.

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

I have long been a fan of Lisa Renee Jones and it is always exciting for me to pick up a new book by her. She is an amazing writer that has the ability to just reach into your soul and blow you away with her unique style and complex character development.

Her stories are an amazing testimony to her obvious deep love for what she does. I think I even lose a little bit of myself every time I read one of her books because I get so involved and attached.

I cut my teeth on reading grown up, adult stories (not those kind - lol) with authors like Joseph Wambaugh, Robert Ludlum, and other similar authors that dealt with stories in crime, police drama, black ops, espionage and more. So it is no wonder that one of my favorites genres to read today is the romantic suspense category.

With my love of romance and then the added suspense and crime aspect, the blend for me is perfect. Intriguing, never boring, and all encompassing! It is no wonder I gravitate to authors like Kim Harrison, Laura Griffin, Cindy Gerard, and not to be missed, Lisa Renee Jones, and so many others.

Jones has usually had the romance factor first in her stories with the suspense running along side or even as a secondary factor, until this book. This book focuses mainly on the suspense and the mystery of the crime.

With the main character an FBI profiler with many secrets of her own, this story takes us back to her hometown and back into the secrets she has been trying to hide and bury for years. Bring in a past love, Kane, and this story just heated up!

From murder notes and plenty of suspense to underlying passion and anticipation, this story is a fabulous introduction to this new series. I love Lilah Love! She is gorgeous, strong, snarky, smart, humorous, perceptive, fearless, and ingenious; with a quick wit and tongue to match.

Jones is known for creating the perfect man and Kane is just that! An intriguing hunk of man that is mysterious, and so flipping hot, you can feel the testosterone coming off the pages. Plus, he loves Lilah ... Her - she won't admit it because of their past history.

I could not get enough of this book. The author wrote in a roundabout manner that builds suspense and anticipation for the truth. Sometimes frustrating, but oh so worth it all! The question is, can we handle the truth?

As Murder Notes is part of a new series, I am going to have to wait months for part two as this ended in a cliffhanger. But oh, what a fabulous part two it will be!

4-4.25 STARS

Professional assassin or serial killer? That’s the question FBI Profiler, Lilah Love, is tasked with answering, when she’s brought in on a series of murders that appear to be linked to her buried past.

Drawn back to her hometown in the Hamptons, where her darkest nightmare lies, Lilah struggles to maintain control amidst her law enforcement family and her former crime-connected lover who covered up the secret she tried to leave behind.

For Special Agent Love, coming face to face with the local drug lord’s son, Kane Mendez, means stirring up many unwanted feelings. Because not only did Lilah once lose herself to Kane, but he also holds the power to destroy her. But despite Kane’s insistence that he’d always protect her at any cost, Lilah isn’t quite convinced.

Upon Lilah’s arrival, another dead body welcomes her. Seemingly connected to her case, there’s little doubt that the killer knew of her impending trip back home. Add to that the unexpected discovery of a potential third witness to the events only two should know, and Lilah finds herself scrambling to keep her secret hidden, while attempting to work her case.

Lilah Love comes across as cold, sarcastic and guarded. By design, she puts up walls to keep people at a distance. Her reasons for doing so are rooted in her past, and have just barely started to unfold. Then there’s Kane. At this point, Kane is still very much an enigma. It quickly becomes apparent that he’s withholding something vital, but his underlying feelings for Lilah appear to be sincere.

Complicating matters further, are Lilah’s feelings towards her family and her distrust for her former best friend. At this point in the series, it’s hard to discern who can be trusted and who cannot. But one thing is for certain—the cliffhanger ending will have this eager reader coming back for more!

Suspenseful, captivating and intriguing, “Murder Notes” is the first book in a brand new mystery/thriller series by author Lisa Renee Jones. With characters that are multi-faceted, complex and real, this series if off to a really great start.

I received an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed.