Publisher's description:
48 hours
2 covert operatives
1 chance to get it right

Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes...even if it destroys her.

When Maddox crashes back into Cole Matthews' life, he wants to fight back. He wants to hate her. But the crisis is too strong to ignore, and soon the two former lovers find themselves working side-by-side in a breakneck race to stop a world-class killer with a secret that could end everything.

The clock is ticking.

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I really enjoyed “Every Last Breath” by Juno Rushdan. The interaction between the primary characters, Maddox and Cole, and the way the story built up, was exciting and kept the pages turning. The fact that the characters were under a time crunch to find and neutralize a lethal bioweapon really necessitated a fast-paced narrative, so I was pleased that the author was able to create that feeling of urgency.

Maddox was completely believable as an elite operative for a covert government agency - i.e., she's a badass. We can appreciate how hard she worked (and still works) to prove herself and that she wasn’t willing to let anyone compromise her reputation, even the man she loved 10 years ago who she assumed was dead until this threat started to unfold. All in all, this was a solid stand-alone story, but what brings it to 4 stars is that it is NOT a stand-alone story.

I have read a number of books that are pitched as part of a series. Expected when reading the first of a series is a lot of secondary characters who are introduced and referenced a couple of times throughout a story but otherwise don't have any relevant impact. We expect to get more of their stories in the rest of the series, but we know going in that we'll meet a lot of people who aren't necessarily critical to the resolution of this story. This isn't problematic for me. What I didn't like in this case was that there was a KEY plot element in this book that was not resolved at the end of the book and I assume will be resolved by the end of the series. More often than not, I do not read a series in its entirety without a break between books. Book 2 of this series is due out this summer, but the final book in the series is not due out until next year, As an avid reader, I will read a LOT of books between now and next year, and all of the hints about this plot element from the first book will be long-distant memories by the time I read the third book. I don’t want to have to spend time trying to remember what I read in the first book (or leafing through the first two books – who has time for that?) by the time I read the last book. I read books like this for enjoyment. I don’t want to have to work to remember what I read a dozen or more books ago. This isn’t like a TV series where you get a review of what happened in the previous episode.

The only other thing that struck me as a little off was that Maddox and Cole sound a little too sappy sometimes. They were both strong, tough characters, and I’m not saying that tough characters can’t have a softer side, but in this case, it just didn’t sound authentic. This was a minor detail that does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. It’s just something that gave me pause.

All in all, this is definitely worth picking up and available now. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the book. Couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Great thriller, suspense and romance. Definitely worth the read. Looking forwarding to the next one to find out what happens next. Maddox is trying to stop a bio weapon from causing harm and has to go to the one person who she has a not so good past with is Cole. Excellent read!

The action is so crazy good!! From the start you know this is going to be a push and pull between the good guys and the bad ones!! A pandemic is the worry and it must be stopped. The romance is amazing and I loved the way it played into the story. I can’t wait for more. This is a summer beach read for sure!! Really enjoyed the edge of my seat action this book delivers.

The beginning of Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan got bogged down with the introduction of all the characters, but started to become fast paced about the middle of the second chapter. Rushdan puts a lot of detail into the character development. There is a lot going on in this book. And even though the main story is wrapped up at the end of this book, there is still a thread that leads into the second book in the series, NOTHING TO FEAR. I will definitely be back for book two.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

I tried to love it, but when I was several chapters in with no idea who the hero/heroine are yet and not a single sign this is actually a romance and not a dry Russian spy novel I had to tap out.

I’ve heard amazing things about the author and truly WANTED to love it but I needed something in the first four chapters to give me hope and incentive to keep reading. Ultimately I DNF’d it by chapter 4 when I had no emotional connection to anyone in the story, didn’t know who the hero/heroine were going to be and wasn’t even emotionally invested to find out.

I was intrigued to read this debut novel because I love romantic thrillers and I definitely don’t read enough of them. And when I realized that the author used to be an Intelligence Officer herself, I was even more excited. EVERY LAST BREATH delivered on every expectation I had and then some.

Our main characters used to date years ago. His father was involved with the Russian mafia and her father with the FBI. One betrayal on her part and both their lives changed forever. She thought he was dead and then followed in her father’s footsteps. Now an Intelligence Officer, she’s assigned to stop the sale and use of a bioweapon and she needs the help of someone with ties to the Russian mob. Her contact turns out to be her ex-fiance coming back from the dead and they have to work together to save the city.

If you are looking for a romantic thriller that will be non-stop action and will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further. This was addictive. I think the author did also a great job at weaving in the second chance romance between the main characters in a way that was realistic and made sense for the past they had between them. But the chemistry and the attraction was there all along. I was rooting for them the whole time.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

Part sexy romance, part spy caper. My first try with this author and felt like it was good enjoy to look for more books and look forward to whatever comes next.

Loved it! I cannot say enough, I actually don't want to say anything as everyone needs to read this book immediately! My first read by this author and I cannot wait to read even more. Full of nonstop action and suspense, kept me on a roller coaster ride that never ended! Wow!! 5 Suspense, Stupendous, Surprising stars*****

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley*****

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I felt like the author couldn’t decide whether to write a romance novel or a spy novel so they wrote both.

It took me a while to get into this to be honest. If you’re looking for something easy to read while you’re baking in the sun, this is perfect. It’s a short read. Felt like the author didn’t know wether to focus on the romance or the mission and sadly both fell short. The ending is suppose to make you excited for the next one but it just ended up pissing me off.

Part thriller, part romance, Every Last Breath was a fast paced and satisfying read. I would definitely recommend it to lovers of both romance and suspense.

Looking forward to reading about more from this author!

This was overall really enjoyable: I love a good second chance romance, spies, and pages and pages of angsty longing (as well as Heroines who can rescue themselves)!

Criticism however: While I'm glad the villain wasn't a Muslim radicalist, as is common, I wish the villain had altogether avoided the whole Ethnic Anti-American Terrorist trope.

This is my first Juno Rushdan book and one I won't soon forget! Every Last Breath is a thrilling romantic story filled with action, suspense and lots of feels. I found the plot to be full substance and I seriously can't wait for book two!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for providing me with an Advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

I REALLY liked this book! The book covered all the bases in this thrilling story where a man seeking revenge against the United States threatens to unleash a bioweapon that could quickly kill millions. Maddox Kincade is the leader of a highly skilled and trained special ops unit who is tasked with finding this person and eliminating the threat. What starts out as a “routine” assignment Maddox feels more than capable of handling, turns her life upside-down when a man from her past resurfaces. Believing Cole to be dead, she is gobsmacked when the man she is to recruit to help her team, turns out to be Cole.....live and in person. The author slowly gives insight to the back story of these two star-crossed lovers, and keeps the reader wondering if they will be able to find their way back to each other after all the years of broken trust. But within their team, there is another trust that has been broken,..... and they have the additional worry of who can they trust? This book has intrigue, thrilling details of the efforts to catch the villain, as well as the sometimes steamy relationship between Cole and Maddox. I found myself not wanting to put it down....but wanting to read “a few more pages” ! This is the first book in a series, and I will be looking forward to the next one (or more?) and following these two throughout their dangerous assignments and personal love story. I received an ARC of this title from the author, the publishers, and NetGalley in return for an honest review, which this has been. #Everylastbreath #NetGalley

Romantic suspense books are not usually my cup of tea, so I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. With an exciting plot and an array of intriguing characters, this was a good read.

Here’s a quick rundown of the plot: Maddox Kinkade is an officer in a super secret government agency who is tasked with neutralizing the risk of a lethal bioweapon. Ten years ago, her whole life fell apart because of one mistake and she has had to live with the guilt of indirectly causing the death of her lover (Cole) since then. However, it turns out that he is still alive and is a very important asset to this operation. So now Maddox must try to a save the world while dealing with their emotional baggage.

Maddox is a badass heroine who is intelligent, determined, even ruthless when she has to be, yet also vulnerable. Her love interest respects her choices and supports her in every possible way (a nice change from the misogynistic portrayals of love that still appear too often in the media).

The main antagonist and his sorrow and revenge tale were also very interesting: “His grief gave him strength, his sorrow fortified his resolve to never stop until he got payback.”

For an almost 500 pages long book, the pace was excellent: it never felt like the story was dragging – there was nonstop action - and I was really invested in the events that were taking place.

If this was just a suspense novel, I probably would have given it 4 stars: even though I usually love second chance romances, this one let me down. Without spoiling anything, I can only say that everything felt a little too rushed in the romance department.

I’m a very picky reader when it comes to writing, and while the writing style felt exactly right for a thriller most of the time there was a point in the novel when the description of the characters emotions and feelings became irritating – too repetitive and unnecessary for my taste. Furthermore, annoying metaphors and constant clichés such as “Made her want to slap him and kiss him and crawl all over him like a cat against a scratching post” or “He was under her skin, stamped on her soul, branded on her heart” were used throughout the novel… Once again, not my cup of tea.

Overall, this was a nice read and I’m definitely interested in reading the author’s next novel!

Final rating: 3.5 stars

I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

All I can say is wow! This romantic thriller had me on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down and turning the pages as fast as I could to see what was going to happen. I felt an instant connection to Maddox Kinkade and loved her dynamic with the other characters especially Cole Matthews, her former lover. This is the first book I have read by Juno Rushdan and a great debut to her Final Hour series. "Every Last Breath" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys well-crafted, fast-paced romantic suspense.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. I also purchased a copy for my keeper library and look forward to reading more by this gifted author.

I knew that I would fall in love with this book as soon as I saw the cover. Although I wasn't familiar with the romantic thriller genre; the fleeing figures enshrouded in a hazy mist of red and blue immediately intrigued me. What could they be running from… or to? A quick read of the first chapter and I was all in. The action-filled pages engulfed me. I left every reading session reluctantly as I wanted to consume the book whole.

I'll confess to never actually reading the synopsis of the story until after reading the book. Truth be told, I didn't read it until I started writing this review. The cover art and that first sampling of words (excerpt on the author's site -https://junorushdan.com/book/every-last-breath) were so enthralling that I wanted to jump right into the tale. I am still happy with this choice.

The story is told from the shifting POVs of three characters. Right off the bat, we're thrown into the impossible lives of a badass secret agent - Maddox Kinkade, her resurrected ex-fiancé/ Russian mob prince - Nikolai Reznikov, and an intensely skilled and overall scary assassin out for revenge - Aleksander Van Helden. Instead of completely rehashing each scene we are given a continuous flow of action. At first, I quickly grew annoyed as my mind filled with unanswered questions, only to gain the knowledge I sought in a later chapter. This feeling of irritation grew into appreciation and anticipation as I plowed through the book. Each artfully delivered back story tidbit had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the next revelation.

The descriptors used by Ms. Rushdan put me right into the thick of the action and sent my imagination soaring. Her action sequences were so skillfully delivered that I found myself flinching more than once during a few nail-biting situations. The characters, both main and ancillary, are excellently introduced and developed. I can't wait to find out more about them in subsequent installations. The underlying love story is both beautiful and tortured. It is seamlessly intertwined with the action elements, making this a truly expert blend of romance, action, and suspense. By the end of the novel, I felt connected to all characters; especially the outwardly seeming vicious villain. Every Last Breath is a great read for all action fans! An incredible narrative filled with heart-pounding twists that will have you asking for more.

I look forward to reading more by Juno Rushdan.

This story is about two spies in different agencies and two people long ago in love. She thinks he’s dead. Her boss sends her out with a team to rescue someone and he “sort of” forgets to tell her it’s that same long-lost love, Nicolai, now called Cole. Years before, he left her to save her life and the lives he could save of his mob family. Did Maddox really cause this carnage? It’s quite possible it was all her fault when she told her CIA family that Nicolai’s dad was the Russian mafia. Both are drawn to one another; neither trusts one another, and yet they have a job to do.

This is an easy read, full of action. The characters are defined well enough to be believable. I spent a little time being impatient with this story, but it might not be for the reason you’d think. He kept saying “I can’t trust her” and she kept saying “I’ll be hurt” and it did seem to go on and on a bit. However, I can’t say it slowed the flow of reading down. I think quite possibly Rushdan did a good job at writing in a manner to create tension like you feel in a tv show. The kind where you wonder what’s going to happen and you cover your eyes because you can’t watch. I didn’t realize it until I reflected on the book after I finished.

So, what does all of the above really say? A good read, a little romance, definite action, and a little suspense all rolled into one book. This is Book 1 of a series titled “Final Hour”. I was going to say this is the kind of book that has characters who deserve a sequel, but in looking I realized there is already a Book 2. Check them out.

It’s a secret agent book! I am always down for a good spy thriller, and this book didn’t disappoint.Maddox Kinkade is an elite operative with a covert government organization trying to stop a bioterrorist attack. The problem is, the person they need help from is none other than the fiance she thought dead. For his part, Cole Matthews let Maddox think he was dead because she betrayed him. He doesn’t particularly care about helping the US government, but he doesn’t want to look the other way as people are murdered. Plus, he finds he’d still do anything for Maddox. They have to move beyond their past together and go all in to find and stop the terrorist threat.Maddox is my favorite kind of heroine--she’s prickly, smart, and so very capable. She can fight with the best of them, and I adored seeing Cole slowly realize he didn’t need to protect his little woman. Cole was even pricklier, however. He feels so betrayed and hurt by Maddox, and it makes him snippy and mean at first. To be honest, the whole betrayal was a bit vague in my mind--it had something to do with Maddox telling her CIA father information about Cole’s Russian organized crime family. However, to me it seemed more like the real issue was that her family was in law enforcement while his were in crime! “Betrayal” or not, it didn’t seem realistic that they could have worked out when they were so young. They both needed to grow up and get the perspective of a little time and space. The terrorist plot was great. You know who they’re chasing, and you get lots of scenes from his perspective. I love the cat-and-mouse story, where the killer seems to always be one step ahead. I also love a good “traitor in our midst” plot, and this book had that as well. In short, the plot ticked my buttons!As with most action romances, there were some things that didn’t quite make sense. I didn’t know why the agency let Cole in on the operation. I get that they don’t have to follow the “regular rules” of law enforcement, but no way would they let a civilian (and one connected to organized crime no less) in on a case like this. Plus Cole's family and their crime connection was not well explored. His dad was supposedly trying to go legit, but his brother is not, and what exactly did Cole have to do with anything? There’s also a little bit of melodrama in Maddox’s past. (Small SPOILER ALERT for a content warning: there’s talk of miscarriage in the book.) But listen, I don’t read action romance for the accuracy or relatability. None of this bothered me enough to diminish my enjoyment of the book!This was an excellent story from a new author, and I cannot WAIT to read more.Grade: 4 out of 5

48 hours
2 covert operatives
1 chance to get it right



Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes...even if it destroys her.

That description was enough for me to be interested in reading this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were complex and well thought out with a very fast moving story line.