| Title | : | Wanted (Most Wanted, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0804176663 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780804176668 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published January 7, 2014 |
| Awards | : | RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Erotic Romance (2015) |
For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Bared to You, and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.
He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.
Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.
My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.
And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same.
Wanted is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.
Wanted (Most Wanted, #1) Reviews
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★★ 2.5 stars!
When I first read the blurb of Wanted, I was immediately intrigued and excited to read another book by J. Kenner. Since I read and really liked the author's Stark trilogy, I was expecting this to be an other winner with a Damien Stark-like hero and a strong, feisty heroine. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Neither the storyline nor the characters and their lack of development throughout the story, really managed to keep me hooked while I was reading it.
♦ Short summary
Angelina Raine has always had a secret crush on the handsome, mysterious Evan Black. Her uncle Jahn, who was Evan's mentor, however never wanted them together so they complied by his wishes. But now that her uncle has passed away, her attraction for him seems almost impossible to ignore, especially when he admits feeling the same way about her. Should she give into her long pent-up desires or should she run far away from this dangerous man who could end up leaving her hurt and heartbroken in the end?
♦ My thoughts
To be perfectly honest, this was me during most of the book:
For some reason, I never really got sucked into the story. The first half I felt like not much was happening. There were lots of "unsolved" questions and the author tried to make it into a thriller-like plot with some erotic scenes in between. As for Angie and Evan, all we know for most of the book is that Evan promised Angie's uncle to stay away from her because he's "bad news" and that she tries to make him change her mind because she doesn't care about his dark past.
Angelina/Angie was a very insecure, weak heroine throughout most of the book. Her indecisiveness and lack of confidence started to irritate me after a while and even during the times when she decided to "stand her ground" and not give in easily, it never took Evan more than two minutes to make her comply again.
Evan was supposed to be this dangerous, bad-ass hero with irresistible charm and a controlling, passionate attitude. And while they did have their moments, I never really felt the connection between him and Angie. Even the sex scenes felt a bit awkward and forced and , they never felt that passionate or sexy. What made me finally interested in him was in fact his "dark past" and the secrets he revealed about his family.
All in all, this book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I hate not finishing books which is why I made myself read the entire book and I'm still glad that I did, because it did have some original plot twists and some fun scenes to read.
By all means, do not let my review prevent you from giving this story a try. You might end up loving it! And good to know is that there was no cliffhanger and .
**ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell in exchange for an honest review** -
3.5 Stars
“It’s not a weakness to want to let go. To want the thrill of taking a risk. The pleasure of feeling the rush.”
Angelina has lost the only person left in the world who knew her, who got her, her Uncle Jahn. After losing her sister as a teen, Angie spent a lot of time with her Uncle. Jahn’s three boys, three guys he mentored (Evan, Tyler and Cole) are feeling the loss as well. Angelina has had feelings for Evan Black for a long time. Feelings that have never been reciprocated. Since she first laid eyes on him, something was there. But they’ve never acted on it. She’s never taken that leap.
Angelina has secrets. Things she’s done she wishes she could take back. Now, the only person who’s ever known her secrets is gone. Evan has secrets of his own. Secrets that have made him keep his distance from Angie for all these years. That, and the loyalty he’s had for her uncle, Jahn. Now Jahn is gone. Evan is free to make his own choices. They both have the opportunity to pursue one another, something they both have wanted for a very long time.
What happens when Angie decides to take a chance, take the fall, fly with Evan?
What did I have to lose? That was easy- nothing. Nothing except my heart.
There sexual chemistry is off the charts, they sizzle together. But thats all that can ever be between them. Too many secrets, too many feelings. It can't go beyond sex for them. It's just too much. Angie has a few weeks before she is moving. A few weeks they could spend together. A few weeks before Angie begins her life fresh. Thats what she proposes. Three weeks of hot sex, no strings.
“This excites you, doesn’t it? Not knowing where we’re going next. What’s going to happen. Who might turn that corner. Not knowing if I’m going to kiss you or fuck you. I’ll give you a hint, Angie. I’m going to do both.”
Evan is a sexy, dominate man. Possessive, secretive, and thrilling. I enjoyed his character. He was by far the best part of the book. It took me a few chapters to really feel connected to the characters (mostly Angie) and get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.
An intriguing story with elements of suspense and mystery. Lust, sex, longing, desire and love. A wonderful cocktail of emotions. J. Kenner’s writing is fabulous and I look forward to continuing this series with Cole and Tyler’s books!
“You are the biggest rush of my life. The biggest thrill. The wildest ride. You are everything I always wanted, and everything I thought I didn’t deserve. You are exceptional. You are beautiful. You are mine.”
*ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* -
2-2.5 Stars
The setup for this story was interesting and somewhat new. A politician's daughter who feels responsible for her sister's death is all grown up. Her uncle, whom she was very close to, dies and his funeral brings together all of his loved ones, including Angie's long time crush Evan Black and his "boys", who were friends and students of her uncle. Evan and Angie have a connection, but this is the first time Angie has seen her want reflected back at her from Evan. Only Evan has a promise to Angie's uncle (who apparently saw their lustfully delicious gazes years ago) that he will not mess with Angie.
EVAN
So that was okay, but the execution left me in turns scratching my head and bored. First of all, Evan is supposedly a bad boy who is into bad things. But we don't figure out, or even get a hint of, any specifics for nearly the whole book. He's just bad. And he tries to fight his attraction to Angie and uphold his promise to her uncle, but not for long, and not very hard, actually. It was more of a token resistance, really.
ANGIE
Angie felt like a little girl playing at being grown up, in my opinion. Her sister's death and her subsequent guilt was such a trope and it didn't feel genuine. Not to mention how she tried to act in turns like a sexpot...then suddenly is very awkward and inexperienced, so later she demands to be treated as an equal by the group of baddies and ends up squealing and acting very childish and girlie. Her character was just very inconsistent. To be honest, she had few redeeming qualities for me.
THE SEX
I had high expectations for the sex, and this was honestly the part that was most disappointing for me. The sex did not flow naturally...it felt like the author took things that she THOUGHT were sexy and acted the puppeteer for this couple. I don't get the feeling that she wrote what felt sexy to HER, and it showed. For me, there was little to no sensuality, no overwhelming passion or emotion. It felt awkward and forced. And if there is a truly a guy out there who tells me he wants to suckle my breast, I'd love to meet him, truly.
Oh, the sexy dialogue...it burned my eyes. There was simply too much talk, and they only played at talking dirty. I felt literally dirty reading it, like I was intruding on a teenage couple losing their virginity or something. It was just...again...awkward and forced. There were BDSM elements thrown in that were flat out cheesy. It was just a whole other level of awkward, thrown in to satisfy this necessity of a contemporary romance to have some Fifty Shades throwbacks.
I know this author has some wild and crazy fans out there, and I have not read her first series so maybe it's just me. I do see that this book has lower ratings than the much loved first series, so I may have to try that out before forming a hard opinion. This one just did nothing for me.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. -
4 Enigmatic, Secretive, Soaring, Wanted Stars
Quick, You'll Want it-ONLY $1.99!!!
* * * * 2013 Review-Warning, Long Ass Review
Picture yourself in a deluxe movie theater. You are primed and waiting for the film to start.
Some of the viewers are real fans of the last films of this director. Some are people are familiar with the work from reviews and articles but haven’t experienced them personally.
That was me… I had an awareness of J. Kenner and the Stark series; had read reviews and knew of loyal fans. I was considering diving in and reading all of the books, just hadn’t gotten to them yet. I then had the opportunity to read Wanted. I liked the blurb… the concept struck a chord. I realized it was by J. Kenner and I was finally going to experience what others had been talking about.
So back to that moving theater thing…
I really got that type of feeling this story was told not by all of the dialogue and actual doing but by observing everything… taking it all in. I was able to appreciate all of it more when I thought this way about what I read.
Kenner put me physically in the locations by giving word pictures. I have never been to Chicago except for the airport mid-trip. But I have experienced The Drake Hotel, The Willis Tower, The Art Institute, and many other world-class locations due to the descriptions given. What I appreciated most was they were not in the way of the story to me – like fillers; they were a part of all of it… again like when you absorb things while watching a film…
Now our story and characters… This was interesting… it is told from Angelina’s perspective. This woman comes from an affluent, political, and yes, loving family; however, the dynamics change drastically when her older sister is murdered. Prior to this event, Angelina went by the nickname, Lina.
Lina was carefree, a risk-taker, an art lover, a spirited person trying her wings and learning in a not so careful way how to fly, to be. Part of this behavior was due to her desperate wish to be loved and noticed by her father.
When tragedy struck, Lina decided she would become everything Grace would have been for her father and mother… she would change… she would toe the line; no risks, no soaring or flying… just be the perfect daughter her political family would be proud of.
So she became Angie. Angie did as she was guided by her parents. Angie visited her Uncle Jahn and learned all about great works of art. Angie would study political Science at Northwestern following in the path Grace would have adored. Angie even is dating a man that would have been perfect for Grace, Kevin, an FBI investigator.
But the true person Angelina is; our Lina… has ways of surfacing…. of causing doubts and stress for our girl. Because really in the end…
we are who we are, and we need what we need.
Which brings me to where we meet all of the players….
Uncle Jahn has died. Angie is devastated and at 23 feels alone. She has grown into a beauty and has been working with his art foundation, living in his penthouse condo, and caring for him; she feels lost. He was her confidant; her anchor; he was the only one who knew the real her.
There is one other, though she feels drawn to… Evan Black.
He is her desire, love, and total focus. This has been going on since she was 16. She met Evan with Cole and Tyler through Jahn’s art camp seminars and would see them every summer until she went away to college. Her first meeting with Evan rocked her to her core and never left. She would remember every interaction; every look or awkward experience; filing it away to think about, obsess about over and over; knowing there was no hope of him taking her away like the knights in the fairytales did… as that was not for her… she didn’t deserve that… Grace would.
And who was Evan Black… well, that question is something we ask quite a bit throughout the book.
He is strong, with hair that is just enough to fall around him almost like a lion’s mane, with a commanding presence and magnetism which draws all eyes on him. He has the undercurrent of an electrical charge he turns on and off depending on who he interacts with… all with a smoothness acquired by years of experience. At 28, he has risen to the top of the business community with his partners Cole and Tyler. He has a bio that tells an acceptable story to show his rise yet he has the FBI interested in him and his dealings.
What happens going forward from this setup for me was two people hiding who they were; wearing many different faces, and only being who they truly were meant to be with each other. Evan saw through all of the walls and pretense Angie up…bringing out her true self, Lina. Angie/Lina opened Evan to feel; to make decisions and put himself on a different life path… all due to the awakening and willingness to finally be with the woman he has always wanted.
Now there was, of course, sex… and some very….. very hot moments. I can say I wouldn’t mind being Evan’s love interest at all…. No, not at all… if fact if he is listening… I happen to have the whipped cream right here…
So what is Wanted… It’s all of the above and a story of intrigue, buddies, and friends which will continue. This is not a cliffy yet we will follow Cole and Tyler in the next books.
I left my personal movie theater experience with J. Kenner and with a couple of thoughts. I felt overall this experience was a good one. I appreciated the writing, the attention to little things but not making them into distracting big things. I did feel there was a lot done in the last section of the story to make it feel rushed but overall, it was a positive introduction to an accomplished author.
I will be keeping my eye out for Heat and will get my movie popcorn ready.
Wanted (Most Wanted, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heated (Most Wanted, #2) 
Ignited (Most Wanted, #3)
Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
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2,5 Stars.
Angie lives haunted by her sister death, and the guilt she fears almost eats her constantly. Now the only person in the world that understands her and eases her pain, died.
For years Uncle Jahn was her only support and with his death the only one that understands Angie is Jahn’s three boys, the ones he took by his wings and they was almost like their sons.
Since she was a child she had a “thing” for Evan but he never returned it. Not because he didn’t felt the same, but because Jahn made very clear that his niece was off limits.
Now that there’s nothing preventing them from being together, but there was one reason for Jahn never wanted them together. They both have secrets… and sometimes, secrets aren’t supposed to be revealed.
After reading so good reviews and loving the “Stark Trilogy” from the same author I was expecting so much more from this book. The cover is HOT, the plot is great but somehow the book didn’t work for me since the beginning. For a while I considered DNF it, but I’m glad I didn’t: I ate not reading the whole book and there was some good moments. Not many, but some.
Rating: 2,5 Stars.
Storyline: The plot was original and had everything to be a great story. Unfortunately it wasn’t well developed. Along the book I felt myself losing interest in what was going to happen next.
Writing Style: Female POV. First person.
Character Development: The characters were my biggest problem in this book. First, their connection didn’t felt real. Angie annoyed me to no end: she was childish, incoherent and probably had a personality disorder. Normally the hero saves the book for me, but again, not in this case. He’s supposed to be a bad boy and that’s basically all we know about him. There isn’t much development of his character except for his not-so-strong will of keeping his promise to Jahn.
They were just “meh” for me.
Steam: It was good but felt slightly forced at some moments.
HEA: -
2 What to Expect when you are Expecting Stars
“The universe can be a raving bitch sometimes...”
I am quoting a direct line from the book to express the feelings of injustice and disappointment, that haunt me since I started reading this. I wanted to like it.... Hell, my body was ready to love it. I admit it. I made the same mistake that I usually do. I had.... EXPECTATIONS.
I know it. Just because J. Kenner's last hero, the one and only Damien Stark, was my book boyfriend and main star in my fantasies last year I was kinda fixated that the same will happen now again. Alas, life happens and your dreams are crashed.
Please don't get me wrong. This book has everything it needs to succeed:
✓ 3 delicious main specimen.
“Evan Black, Tyler Sharp, and Cole August.”
Here are only bodies to drool over, but you get my meaning... ;)
✓ Love, Secrets and Intrigue.
You can do anything with me.” He leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. “Anything. Because I will always be there. I will always catch you if you fall.”
✓ Hot, Scorching, Panties-melting sex.
Danger and fire, lust and hunger.
But somewhere along the way the main couple failed to connect with me. Evan and Angelina were both tortured and kinda loners, perfect for each other but I just couldn't see it; the mystery was obvious and Angie... I just didn't get her. I couldn't sympathize with her or understand her demons. Maybe the length of the novel didn't help. If this was a series maybe we could savior the experience. But as it is, I just got bored and the ending was obvious from miles away.
I got my lesson. I just hope it sticks this time.
LOL! -
J. Kenner (aka Julie) has plenty of writing talent, and most of it probably goes unnoticed within the erotica genre. Before you paste a “kick me” sign on my back, and I run up and down the halls trying to figure out why feet are constantly being tossed in my direction and my ass is suddenly and inexplicably sore, just hear me out for a minute. While erotica has reached mainstream level (thanks
Fifty Shades), I can’t help but feel it’s whispered about at parties in the dark, men may, or may not, be reading it, but most of whom certainly aren’t going to admit it, and if you sat on an airplane next to someone who was reading a book with a half-naked man or woman on the cover, who may, or may not, have her legs wrapped around the waist of some hunk of burnin’ love, you’d probably cringe and turn away, even if you had the same damn book at home on your shelf. That’s just the way it is. We’re a society of Puritans, while Europeans laugh at us from the other side of the ocean.
And so it goes for
J. Kenner. She isn’t praised for her writing talents, even though they are displayed for the masses. But she’s probably not complaining, because the six figure advances show up like clockwork, her erotica trilogies are pushed out on a conveyor belt, and she’s smiling every time she cashes one of those paychecks. But the character development is there. Angelina Hayden Raine (aka Angie or Lina) has scars as long as a country mile to go with her body built for sin and an ass that keeps on giving. She’s tainted as all get out, but there’s still purity and innocence to her, and it creates layers people. Layers. Evan Black has abs that could bounce quarters and nickels and dimes all at the same time. But he’s not just some rich billionaire who is damaged goods, although he does have his own issues. Again, we have depth, and it makes for a more enjoyable ride in the saddle.
Sure, there’s sex, but it never feels overt or dirty or forced. These are just two people exploring the depths of their relationship, who just happen to fuck more than normal couples do. It’s natural damn it!
What I really liked about WANTED, and which made me want it even more, was that the story was self-contained. It doesn’t drag out or implode or create additional complications, just for the sake of conflict and complication (thanks again
Fifty Shades). It doesn’t extend out to additional books, and there aren’t unexpected blips just so we can watch a man drink himself into a coma. When the curtain drops, it drops. And I’ll stand up and applaud.
While this is a trilogy, the second book HEATED revolves around Sloane Watson, an undercover cop posing as a stripper at Destiny, who may, or may not, grow rather attached to what Tyler Sharp has going on in his pants. It sounds like a winner. I just hope I can get a front row seat, because I’ve got my stack of ones ready.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads -
"Wanted" is the first book in a brand new series that is coming out in January by author J. Kenner.
She is well known for her creation of the "Stark trilogy," and the sexy Damien Stark!
In this series we have three dark,sexy,and mysterious men who were nick named by a close friend; "the Three Dog Knights." These men all have secrets and they met many years ago when they had been made to go to a camp that was supposed to reform troubled teens. They remained friends and had made friends with a man named Jahn. Over the years Evan,Cole, and Tyler were around Jahn frequently,right alongside his niece Angelina.
Angelina was the daughter of a US senator, and her life was changed drastically when her sister was killed. Lina went from being a thrill seeking rebel girl, to a life of straight and narrow with no taking risks. Along with her major personality change, she decided to go by the name, Angie; which helped her hide behind this new person she created herself to be through her sorrow.
From the time Angie was sixteen, she had an insane attraction to Evan. Unfortunatley, he never gave her the time of day, so she just lusted over him from afar. They continued along life, with Angie thinking that Evan wasn't interested because she was too "weak" for him. Then on the day of Jahn's memorial, everything changes..suddenly Evan isn't able to hide his attraction anymore. This gets Angie's juices flowing like nothing and noone else before Evan has ever been able to do.
Evan continues to fight the attraction because he told Angie that he is not good for her. Also, he made a promise to Jahn long ago, that he would stay away from Angie.
What will happen if and when Evan gives in to the growing sexual frustration? Will Angie ever find out what secrets Evan is hiding? Evan doesn't realize it; but Angie has some skeleton's in her closet too? Will he be able to accept them if and when he finds out what they are?
There are so many "what if's" and secrets floating around that it is impossible not to be on edge wondering what is going on, and what is going to happen.
I really enjoyed this beginning to what promises to be an explosive series. Not only does Evan have a bunch of secrets; but the other two men have some as well. What I loved about this book is that there was no cliffhanger. It seems that each book will be written about each man and the heroine he falls for! It is rare to find a series like that now with all of these books coming out with cliffies. So, it was such a pleasant surprise to find out that this series will not be leaving the reader wanted to rip their hair out!! (thank goodness my hair is safe this time!!)
I think it is a series that any romance reader should check out. The sex is hot and fulfilling as well, and there is nothing "vanilla" about it. Evan likes to have control, and lets just say that Angie wasn't complaining. In fact, I am positive there were times she was purposely egging him on to punish her for her sassyness!
I can't wait to see what book two will bring to the table, and who it will be about. I am positive it will be full of mystery, sex,and I am thinking next up might be Cole!
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
Wanted was a steamy, sexy, whirlwind ride of secrets and mystery. The discovery of an important truth: the secret fantasies you've built up in your mind will never hold a candle to the reality of letting yourself go. If we are not our vices, who are we really?
I tried to give myself some time to digest this book before writing a review, because I am a mass of contradictions when I think about this story. I loved Evan's dialogue, but I hated Angie's. I loved that there was so much mystery twisted throughout everyone's lives, but I hated that my questions were teased straight to the ending.
This was a fun book, but it simply failed to resonate with me.
The premise was freaking awesome, and it started with some amazing fanfare. Evan's dirty talk was some of the most alpha-male hotness I've read in a while. The sex was lusty and well written. I was especially pleased with the fact that Angie and Evan knew each other for a long time before they became lovers, so the emotional attachment didn't seem so contrived.
Allow me to present my grievances:
1. Angie was not a very strong person… She struggled to find who her way in life, was prone to self-inflicted mental breakdowns, keeps secrets from her friends… And she completely lost herself in the fantasy she created of Evan Black when he was her teenage crush. She really grated on me, and caused more than one moment of yelling at a fictional character.
2. Sometimes an author begins a book by dangling mysteries in front of the reader, and our overactive imaginations begin filling in the blanks. The problem starts when the author dangles these mysteries in from of you for too long without resolving them… My imagination had all types of wild ideas concerning the secrets which were bearing down on Evan and Angie. Some of my predictions were 100% true (and that felt awesome), and some predictions were way off. Unfortunately by the time the author showed me the truth, I was almost disappointed that the answers weren't as good as the ones I'd thought up on my own.
3. For all the awesome things which made this book enjoyable, it was completely dragged through the mud because of the pace. It started out amazing, and it ended awesomely as well… But the whole mid-section of the book was a rough read for me. In fact, the middle section was so repetitive and dull, repeating the tropes of "What are Evan Black's secrets?" and "Angie must conform and do what's right for the family!" that by the time the plot picked up again it felt rushed.
From what I understand this is going to be a trilogy, and I assume that the other two books will be about the other "Knights" Cole and Tyler… And with any luck, J. Kenner will find her rhythm and I will be waiting patiently to read
Heated, Book two in the Most Wanted Trilogy. There is a lot of potential here.
Some of My Favorite Moments:
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I'd like to thank
Wendy for Buddy Reading this book with me. We had a lot to discuss, postulate, praise, and complain about (which made for a really enjoyable reading experience) I'd like to direct you to
her review as well. -
2 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a disappointment for me. I love mysterious heroes, but obviously I didn't love this one (see below H section). It was like he was 2 different characters: The dick and the lovesick romantic. I also had some issues with the pacing, as I skimmed a good bit at one point because I wanted to get to something other than "he has secrets I want to know", "I have secrets I don't want him to know", "lets have sex and not think of anything", "he has secrets I have to know", "I have secrets that he can never know", "lets have sex and forget everything"...so on and so forth. I found that a lot of my GR friends really liked this one, so it very well likely is just me being overly picky ;)
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Angelina and Evan's story. Angelina met Evan when she was 16 and he was a protege of her uncle. She developed a strong crush on him, but once her uncle warned her away she kept her distance. Years later, her uncle has died and Evan is looking at her differently. He looks like he wants her, and she wants to give in to her strong feelings for him. They dance around each other, but eventually end up together. There are some big secrets revealed, some big baggage to take care of, as well as some hot sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This was told in Angelina's POV. I think it would've contributed a lot to the H's likability if we got at least some of his POV to understand where he was coming from.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. I skimmed a good bit from around 60ish% to about 74ish% when I was waiting to find out these big secrets. I even skimmed some sex scenes, because I wanted to get to the meat of the story -- shocking I know ;)
Instalove: No, they've known each other for many years.
H rating: 2 stars. Evan. He grated on my nerves. I get that he was supposed to be this mysterious and powerful alpha man, but I didn't feel it. I thought he was an ass for most of the book, because he ran majorly hot and cold. We didn't get his POV, so we don't really understand what his big bad "secrets" are until close to the end. He then makes a complete 180 and becomes mushy, lovey-dovey, all about the h, guy. I just didn't believe it...or like it.
h rating: 2.5 stars. Angelina. She was kinda messed up. It felt like she was having an identity crisis the whole book. She also ticked me off with her martyr act (one of my big pet peeves).
Sadness level: Low. No tissues required.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot scenes and chemistry. Some BDSM elements (D/s dynamic, spanking, bondage, and anal play)
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. Mentions of birth control and std status. I think the H said he had never been without, but I don't remember any mention of the h's previous practices.
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had ok closure, but as always -- I wanted more. I would call it a HFN ending , but I'm sure that the couple gets some more closure in the other books in the series.
How I got it: It was on loan from my public library.
Safety: I'd say that this is probably Safe with exception for most readers. -
(4.5 "You. I want you, Evan. I've always wanted you." Stars!)
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
Angelina Raine aka Angie/Lina grew up in California in the public eye as the daughter of a United States Senator. At age fifteen she looses someone close to her, and this changes her whole life. She has always been a spoiled, free spirited girl, who was sort of the wild child of the family. This loss in her life causes her to re-evaluate herself, and want to be a better person, someone to make her family proud.
When Angie is sixteen her parents start letting her spend summers with her uncle Jahn in Chicago. They are very close, and share a love of art. While at her uncles she meets three young college guys that take a seminar with her uncle Jahn. Her uncle is a mentor to these men, and they spend a lot of time at her uncle's house that summer. They are three best friends nicknamed The Knights. They are all great guys, and Angie begins to form lifelong friendships and care for all three.
All of these guys are gorgeous, and Angie is instantly drawn to one of them, beginning to feel a whole lot more than friendship. Evan Black is all Angie can think about. She wants him so bad, but her uncle notices her crush, and tells her he is too old for her, seeing as he is about six years older than Angie. Over the years she continues to be fascinated and obsessed with him, but never truly gets close to him.
Angie's uncle Jahn gets sick, and she goes to work for him in his PR Dept. where he buys and sells businesses. She moves in with him, and takes care of him. Her uncle passes away, and she feels lost without him. During the tragedy of losing her uncle she sees Evan as he comes to pay his respects.
Jahn was like a dad to Evan, and his friends, Cole and Tyler. They considered him a cool guy, and the smartest man they knew.
Evan Black is a wealthy, confident, secretive, gorgeous businessman. He made his own fortune after his father died, and is now known as somewhat of a local celebrity in Chicago.
Now at almost twenty four, Angie has dated different men, but never stopped wanting Evan. She always felt he saw her as a little sister, and nothing more. Now after knowing him for eight years, she still feels that electric pull when she sees him. All of the sudden she is shocked to see heat and desire in his eyes as well, when he looks at her from across the room.
Angie has always found Evan to be a bit mysterious. When she realizes he shares an attraction for her as well, she decides to go after him, and take what she wants. She has known him most of her adult life, but doesn't feel like she truly knows him. She wants to feel alive, and to feel the rush of excitement she feels whenever Evan is near. She has fantasized about him for so long, and wants to make her dreams reality.
When Angie first comes onto Evan he is resistant. He wants to be there for he with the loss of her uncle, but feels he isn't good for her. Angie has nightmares, and is sad over her uncle, and Evan is a great support and comfort to her. The more he is around Angie the more persistent she is, and he can't resist her. He begins to crave her as much as she does him, and stops fighting his feelings for her.
We get the whole cat and mouse game for a while, and it is so damn hot! By the time these two get together, I was dying for Evan! :) Well done J. Kenner! Evan is one hot, sexy character! I am excited to read the next two books in this series to get more of Tyler and then Cole and Kat! :D
-This was what I'd wanted. What I'd fantasized about. This man in my bed. His body hard against mine. His hands upon me, his tongue tasting me.
-Immediately, my chest tightened and a current of electricity zinged across my skin. Technically, I saw him first, but it was my body's reaction that caught my attention. Only after I felt him did I truly see him. And what a sight he was.
-I, however, saw only his face. His eyes. And I swear they were looking at me with the kind of wicked heat I'd fantasized about.
-One of his hands clutched my head, holding me in place as we devoured each other with kisses. The other roamed my back, palm flat, each bit of skin that he caressed lighting up in the wake of his touch until I was sure that I glowed as bright as the sun.
-It's always been you, Lina. Even before I realized it, you were always there inside me."
-"We're a unit," he said. "A team. You need the rush, and I'm desperate to give it to you. You want to surrender, and I am here to catch you."
-"You make me feel alive, Evan. You make me feel like me." It was true. I could be myself with Evan. No secrets. No holding back. I'd never understood what it meant to be free until I was in his arms.
-You are everything I always wanted, and everything I thought I didn't deserve. You are exceptional. You are beautiful. You are mine. -
ARC Received on behalf of Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell from NetGalley
Wanted, the first in the Most Wanted Series brings us Evan and Angie's story. This series will follow three friends and the woman who capture their hearts.
The blurbs and teasers of this series have remained partially vague so I will not go too far into the story. I barely saw more than the cover reveal before reading this and not knowing what to expect just heightened the experience.
Angie has wasn't always so controlled but events from her past have forced her to keep that wildness inside. Evan is the man that has caught her eyes since she was sixteen, the unattainable. The man that fueled her fantasies. But warnings were issued to stay away and promises were made. When an event occurs, those promises and warnings fall away.
Both hold secrets. But even if those secrets can't stay hidden from the one person who truly sees you. Evan might appear to be the put together business man and cherished son of Chicago; but appearances can be deceiving. Angie is just scratching the surface when it comes to figuring out the man can't seem to work out her system. But she knows that there is something far deeper connecting them than just the family ties that brought them together.
J. Kenner won me over with the sizzling Stark Trilogy, I knew that this author would be on my must read list. Wanted did not disappoint. The writing was superb, the sex was hot and the tension of these two could have set fire to my Kindle. Instead of a ton of relationship drama and angst we were given a few twists of suspense. Evan's character was complex and nothing about him was predictable. Angie had me rolling my eyes once or twice at the start of the story but that had more to do with her coping with the situation at hand. Once that event faded, her true colors came through. She was a strong heroine that although was suffering from events from her past; she was not completely weakened by it.
This series has such great potential, Tyler and Cole were introduced and will eventually become the Hero of their own stories. Although I would love nothing more than reading more about the dominating Evan, I love the idea of this series consisting of individual stories for each of the guys. I am intrigued to see how this series will play out, overlapping or continuing on from where the last left off...
I was so excited about getting a chance to read this early and suddenly I am a little depressed to know that I have to wait until May for Heated. A excellent read that fans of the Stark Trilogy and romance readers will love. -
4.5 Panty Soaking Stars!!!
(ARC Provided by Netgalley)
Wanted was a FABULOUS read!!
I was drawn in by the gorgeous book cover and the intriguing synopsis!
A big THANKS to Netgalley for giving me this advanced copy!!!
Ladies, there is a new incredibly gorgeous and HOT ALPHA, who will have you all swooning, and his name is Evan Black!
This man exudes Sexual Dominance!!
He had my attention the moment he's introduced in the story.
This is a bit of a friends to lovers story.
Evan is the older guy that our heroine, Angelina (Lina/Angie), has secretly been in love with since she was 16, and he was one of her uncle, Jahn's, students at Northwestern!
She met Evan, Cole, and Tyler, at her uncle's backyard BBQ party one summer when she came to visit after a horrible family tragedy.
Angie blames herself for her sister's death.
She has a bit of a "thrill seeker" personality.
The "high" she gets from thrilling/dangerous situations is what she gets off on.
She used to go by "Lina" when she lived her life as the risk taker.
When her sister is killed, she takes on the role of the good daughter and now goes by "Angie".
She's only ever told her uncle, why it was her fault her sister was killed.
Several years later, Angie suffers another loss when her uncle passes away, and she's reunited with Evan Black.
The chemistry is electric between these two.
It seems for some reason, Evan was forbidden by her uncle to get involved with Angie.
Evan is a successful businessman but he also has some illegal dealings that have him, Tyler, and Cole on the FBI's radar.
And here we get suspense and action!
I will say that the sexual tension had me just as frustrated as Angie!!
Evan kept giving her a taste of what pleasures they could have together and then he'd pull back!!
I knew this back and forth sexual teasing meant that when they finally got down to business, I WAS NOT going to be disappointed!!
HOLY HELL THE SEX IS ON FIRE!!!!!!!!
Not only is Evan a sex God, he says things that make your heart melt.
I highlighted so many sections of this book!
I think I just may love this man!!!
I definitely need more of Evan Black!!!!
I know there are more books in this series and I'm hoping we get one more book for Evan!!
This was my first time reading a book by J. Kenner and I'm looking forward to reading her other books as well!!
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves HOT ALPHAS & Panty Soaking Steamy Sex!!!!!
"I know you need a man who's strong enough to anchor you. A man who understands what you need, in bed and out of it." A deliciously sexy smile eased across his mouth. "You need a man who can just look at you and get you hot. And, Angie," he said, "I also know that Kevin Warner isn't that man." - Evan
"I swear to god, Angie, you're like Kryptonite--you fucking break me." - Evan
He was like a drug, and now that I tasted him, I knew that I could never give him up.
He'd taken charge of my body, of my senses. There was no pleasure without his touch, no passion without his caress. It was all culminating in that one point, every bit of sensation inside me, building up, ready to rocket through me.
Ready to explode. -
ARC provided by Netgalley for honest opinion and review posted.
Wanted is the first of three books in Julie Kenner’s new Most Wanted Series and it is a strong read starting off the series with pure heat. For those fans of the FSOG genre, then Wanted will be a new fave in your library. This unique tale leads to a strong hot romance between the thrill seeking Angelina Raines and the mysterious enigma Evan Black.
In a world of control and public image, Angelina has never had anyone understand her need to fly. She desperately wants to fall out of control, so when Evan calls her on her needs, basically offering to fly with her.
Angie and Evan are intense and when together, pure hot sensuality with the perfect blend of give and take. Angie needs to let go and Evan needs to the control, and what ensues is phenomenal attraction and panty dropping action.
I truly enjoyed everything about this book. I found both Angie and Evan to be likeable. I loved their chemistry and their intimate connection. I often find some erotic books to get a bit repetitious with the intimate scenes, however Wanted was fantastic. Maybe it was Evan’s ridiculous self-control, but each interaction felt like the first time with a long buildup to the release.
Again, a fabulous start to a new series. There was no darkness to the characters, or traumatic pasts to create character flaws.
I liked reading the confident characters and their strong relationships. For me I liked that the relationship was on an even keel with the storyline set in the contrasts of illegal activity and success, business and art, politics and law. The erotic nature of the romance was not overwhelming to the story and I truly appreciate the uniqueness of the series.
Full Review to Post at The Window Seat on a Rainy Day
http://www.thewindowseat13.com -
TEASER!!!
From J. Kenner's Blog <3
His eyes were as gray as a wolf’s and his hair was the color of cherrywood, a deep brown that hinted at golds and reds when the light hit it just right. He wore it long in the back so that it brushed his collar, and the natural waves gave it the quality of a mane—which only enhanced the impression that there was a wildness clinging to the man.
Wild or not, I wanted to get close. I wanted to thrust my fingers into his hair and feel the locks on my skin. I imagined his hair was soft, but that’s the only part of him that was. Everything else was edged with steel, the hard planes of his face and body hinting at a dangerous core beneath that beauty.
And, yeah, I had good reason to believe that the danger was more than just an illusion.
Right then, though, I didn’t care.
I wanted the touch, the thrill.
That desperate need to fly I’d been feeling all night? So help me, I wanted to fly right into Evan’s arms.
I needed the rush. I craved the kick.
I wanted the man.
And it was just too damn bad that he didn’t want me, too.
----------
He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.
Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.
My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.
And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same. -
Wanted is another J. Kenner masterpiece. This is a story of a bad girl turned good who falls for the older bad boy. But Angelina must accept who she is and embrace her inner bad girl to be with the man of her dreams.
The story begins with the death of Angelina's Uncle Jahn. He took Lina under his wing when she was a teenager. Her sister was murdered and Lina was suffering from depression and guilt. Jahn took her in and showed her that she was worth more. His loss is devastating.
Lina is left wondering how she will ever pick up the pieces. Her father is a politician. She has a loving family but Lina doesn't feel that she fits in. She has always wanted something more. She craves the rush of adventure. Jahn was the one person on this Earth who truly understood her and knew all of her secrets. She feels lost.
Jahn was a professor. Lina has always been close to a group of guys who took some of Jahn's classes and who he mentored. The group of guys were quite a few years older than Lina. Two of them, Cole and Tyler see her as a little sister, Evan is the wild card of the three. Lina has watched them from afar for years. She has harbored feelings for Evan the whole time.
Evan shows up at the funeral and Lina discovers that he may have feelings for her too.
Jahn left a legacy behind. He was a connoisseur of fine art. Lina developed a love of art as well.
Lina loves her Uncles art collection and she longs to live a life of excitement. Lina had to leave her wild ways behind her, what she wanted and needed became secondary. She now lives to please her family. She has gone to college and studied political science to follow in her father's footsteps but this is not what she truly wants.
Evan and Lina run into each other time and again. Even has iron clad restraint when it comes to Lina. She tempts him and she hopes that eventually, he won't be able to resist her.
Lina discovers that Jahn knew of Lina and Evan's attraction to one another. He forbid Evan from pursuing her. She believes that Jahn's dying wish was for them to be together. Lina has to convince Evan that she is right.
When Evan commits, he is all in. He loves intensely and freely and wow, it is something else.
Lina begins to discover that Jahn was not who she thought he was. Neither is Evan. She begins to uncover secrets that were meant to remain hidden. Soon, she is in deeper than she could ever ave imagined.
Evan is not all he seems and Lina discovers that must make a choice. She can be true to herself or continue to live a lie. And the choice she makes could determine whether or not Evan will fit into her life.
This was an intriguing look at self discovery and forbidden love all wrapped into a neat little action suspense package. There was plenty of sexual tension and eventually action. Evan was HOT, HOT, HOT! Together, they were combustible. But can we expect anything less from J. Kenner?
I felt like this one definitely lived up to my expectations. I really couldn't put it down. There are some negative reviews for this one but overall it appears to be rating high overall. I think that some folks had some expectations for this one. The sexy enigmatic rich guy and the naive young woman has been done before. So has the bad boy angle. But it worked for me and I felt like this one was fresh and different.
I really liked Evan. I felt like he was struggling to abide by his pledge to his mentor and ignore his feelings for the young woman who Lina has grown to be. I also enjoyed seeing Lina grow and come into her own. She became a stronger person through all of her struggles.
Overall, I would give this one a high 4 stars, rounding up to five. It was entertaining and Evan was very yummy and I loved how he and Lina came together. Well done. I would recommend it to J. Kenner fans, just beware, this one is a bit different, but different is good.
5 Stars.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. *** -
When I saw this author on Netgalley - I jumped all over it. I didn't even read the blurb. Who Cares!? I loved Mr. Stark... I was sure this book would be interesting at best.
And true to the style - Kenner didn't disappoint me!
First - you know any book that talks about coffee I love! You have to love an author who can make you chuckle out loud.
"Apparently the road to riches isn't paved with coffee filters. At least not unless you're the dude who invented Starbucks. But I have some irons in the fire."
and I also love an author that can speak truth.
"The universe is a fucked up bitch, and she doesn't play by the rules."
Okay, the book started off slow (remember I didn't read the blurb so I had NO idea where it was going)... but as I kept reading I loved it. The mystery, the lust, the men! oh hell yes the man Evan!
I will read the next books in this series ASAP.
**ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell via Netgalley!** -
Angelina has lived her adult life feeling held back, living the dreams of her sister Grace while putting her own wants aside. After all, it's her fault her sister is no longer alive. When that day came, Lina was gone, Angie appeared. The book starts out on the heels of her Uncle Jahn's death and funeral. She's a shell of a person. Jahn being her next closest person in her heart...second to Grace. Now they're both gone. She feels trapped, caged, craves the feeling of freedom, adrenaline. Anything to make her feel alive. Angie wants to fly.....
Evan is one of three men that were extremely close to Jahn. Not by blood, but a different bond. Jahn used to call the three "boys" Evan, Cole, Tyler) the Three Dog Knights since the Three Musketeers wasn't original enough for them. Angelina has essentially grown up watching these men visit her uncle, learn from his wisdom, but they've always been off limits. It's clear there's an unspoken promise there that they'd stay away from dearest Angelina. The problem is Lina needs Evan now. She's feeling reckless, her need for adrenaline peaking during her grief. Evan see's it. He knows it...he craves it, craves her himself. Can these two restless souls remain at bay, keeping a dead man's promise to stay away from each other? What's the lessor of evils? Reckless abandon together or risk taking behaviors that could land Lina in jail...or dead..
Lina presents as a shell of a person. She's locked up tight but needs to break free of the grief she's held inside for so long. Evan Black has always treated her like a kid sister but the way he looks at her at the funeral sets her needs on fire. She knows Jahn's wishes but she wants this man more.
Evan too has an inner battle. Lina is all he's known. She runs deep for him. Yes, he's had sex, lots of it. But nobody holds his heart like Lina has all these years. He can see she's ready to fall over that cliff of distruction. Can he save her and still hold his promise to Jahn? He knows he's a bad bet for her. She deserves more but he knows her like nobody else because he too has a need to fly...
The book was a bit anticlimactic for me. All while reading along, I knew the secrets Evan keeps locked up will eventually come out and I'll go from snooze to holy cow in 2.0 seconds. It wasn't quite that extreme but the second half definitely picked up speed from the first half. Evan was the typical alpha male with shady skeletons in his closet. You know, the kind of hero you just have to fix. Angie, the typical scarred heroine that needs the strength of a hero like Evan to pull her from the darkness that swallows her.
A big fan of a The Stark Trilogy, I was uber excited to dive into the awesomeness of Ms Kenner. She knows how to build a story, add suspense, a lot of heat...Voila! A great book.
This is book one of the Most Wanted series. I'm under the impression each book is about one of the Three Dog Knights. Book 2, I believe, is Cole. Book 3 will be Tyler's book. So, essentially they're stand-alones. But I do also hope to see the future years for these two...next up...Cole!
Arc received from a Random House- Bantom Dell via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
3.5 so-so stars but still loved it in my own way!
I'll admit, the first 45% of the book I literally hit the snooze button. It was way to slow and boring for me.
But soon after, it picked up and boy did it! Well, the sexiness did! ;)
Wanted was thrilling, suspenseful, and full of mystery. You just can't help but wonder about what secrets both Angelina and Evan are holding that could possibly undermine their undeniable pull for one another.
I won't go into the whole gist of the synopsis as I'm sure that other reviewers will entertain you with the whole break down of it all but in a nutshell: rich, powerful, and dominant guy with a lot of dark secrets and clout falls for senator's daughter who is literally falling apart and harbors a secret of her own. But there's a catch to their tumultuous romance that makes it forbidden. Now throw in some danger, seduction, and some drama and you got yourself a story!
So what's my reasoning for the three star rating? Well, asides from the beginning be slow, for a brief portion of the book:
*I kind of felt disconnected
*and often at times my mind often ran away too extensively for my own good. ;)
I mean, throughout the book we got peeks of what cards both Evan and Angelina were holding and then nothing. It made me imagine all kinds of cr*p that often at times matched up to the real thing or didn't measure up. Was kind of disappointing in that sense.
Also, was I the only one that was caught in a parallel of Maya Banks' Breathless Series, particularly the first book Rush, and Tijan's Carter Reed.
I don't know, in some ways or another, Wanted made me think of those books while reading it. I mean, to better explain my points: 1) three hot and powerful business men: Evan, Tyler and Cole (Most Wanted men) vs. Gabe, Jace, and Ash (Breathless men). 2) Then you got a guy who's a good amount of years older than the girl;; Evan is six years older than Angelina and Gabe was 14 years older than Mia.
*DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT MEAN DISRESPECT BY COMPARING THESE TWO BOOKS SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THE WRONG WAY! THANK YOU!!* :) :)
As for the Carter Reed reference, this even puzzles myself but I just had to mention it! Maybe it's because in some ways the demeanor and personality of Evan reminded me of Carter.
And lastly the ending...was a little rushed and anti-climatic don't you think? Hmmm, might just be me.
So overall, a good read but needed to pick up the ante in terms of the pacing and the length of keeping certain key info under wraps.
I would definitely recommend this book to others even with some of my criticisms since it was indeed an intriguing and engaging story!
I now can't wait for book two, which will be Tyler's story, in Heated! -
4 Stars.
I am sure that I am not the only person that wondered if Julie Kenner, could ever top Damian Stark, well I am happy to say that for me she has. Evan Black, is of similar character – Dark, Dominating and all consuming, but also completely different at the same time. He also has a deliciously dirty and descriptive mouth, and I found myself fanning myself several times from the heat!!
Evan – “I want to hold you. I want to fall asleep with the taste of you on my lips and the scent of you all around me. And I want you to drift off with nothing in your head but the pleasure I gave you. Do you understand, baby?”
Seriously this guy gets his woman, and what she needs 100%. The good thing about that is it gives Angelina the courage to explore a side of herself in the right way, a side she has tried to keep hidden for a long time. I think it is safe to say that we are looking at a dom/sub relationship without me really giving anything away, and I really enjoyed reading Angelina embrace that part of herself.
One thing that really stuck with me and in my humble opinion highlights the talent that Julie Kenner’s writing displays was how Evan used different derivatives of Angelina’s name in certain situations throughout the book. What I mean is she was Angie for general conversation, but as soon as it got sexy, Evan usually switched to Lina, and always used her full name when things became emotional. This is apparent through and it for me highlighted great continuity and character development. This is a guy who cares, and shows it in actions as well as with words –
“You can do anything with me”…”Anything. Because I will always be there. I will always catch you when you fall.”
Along with his partners Cole August and Tyler Sharp, Evan doesn’t always operate within the law, and this amongst other things this excitement and unpredictability, is what draws Angelina to him. It also sets us up for what I think is going to be an absolutely stellar series of books, especially when you throw in an ex boyfriend who is also in the FBI, and a family that is based mainly in politics, you have got one hell of a mix.
I have to be honest and say that the first 60-70% of this book was a solid 3 Stars for me, I was entertained, but not blown away, I think this is mostly due to the fact that Angelina (mainly) and Evan have quite a bit of history that we need to know about. You are also given glimpses of Tyler and Cole’s background as well, and how they became business partners.
But then…..BOOM the story takes off like a rocket, a lot of things that you are initially left wondering about are answered and it all comes together like a well oiled machine. I enjoyed the suspense, and how well the book built up to provide a really exciting ending.
If you enjoy J. Kenner’s other books you will enjoy this. I don’t want to pigeonhole her into the whole FSOG category, because that would be doing the author an injustice. This book is as much about the story as it is about the main couple in it, and due to that you have a really enjoyable and highly entertaining read.
ARC provided by Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above review. -
nada, nada mau....
Este foi o meu livro de estreia com esta autora. Já tinha ouvido falar muito nos livros de J. Kenner, mas nunca tinha sentido aquele impulso de os ler. Se calhar, na altura em que ela apareceu, tinha lido demasiados livros eróticos. No entanto, e sempre a medo, peguei neste primeiro livro da nova série desta autora "Most Wanted", e não é que fiquei mesmo surpreendida com a qualidade de escrita desta autora?
É que vejamos: Não é porca na linguagem, não rebaixa nem a personagem feminina, nem a masculina com cenas que em muitos livros roçam o ridículo, não inventa nas cenas mais quentes e acima de tudo, consegue cativar os leitores com personagens que têm, não só um background coerente, como também têm personalidade.
Opinião Completa
http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/... -
Angela Raine has wanted Evan Black since she first laid eyes on him as a teenager visiting her Uncle Jahn in Chicago following the death of her sister. Evan and his two best friends and business partners, known as The Knights, were mentored by Jahn. They accepted her as a friend through the years but kept her at arm's length.
Angie is now a 25-year old Northwestern grad working for Jahn's business in the PR department when he died suddenly. She's dating Kevin, an FBI agent, but her heart and mind are focused on Evan. At her uncle's service, she seeks and receives solace from him, despite the fact that Jahn had forbidden him from dating her when he was alive. The Knights are all very successful but rumors about their involvement in shady business practices challenge their reputations as upstanding citizens of Chicago.
The heart of the story
There were just too many things that didn't work for me. Angie's preoccupation with getting Evan's attention dominated most of the story, without really providing any basis for her obsession other than his physical attributes. I couldn't find a connection to her because what I knew of Angie wasn't all that attractive. Evan was never really fully developed except for details divulged late in the book. Both were harboring secrets that were drawn out and revealed near the end (including Jahn's reasons for keeping them apart) when I no longer really cared that much. It was pretty anti-climatic by then.
It took a long time for the romance to develop and then sex scenes overwhelmed and interrupted the flow of the story. It wasn't erotic, just explicit, with hints of BDSM that seemed to be tossed in gratuitously.
The narration
The narrator is truly talented and was the highlight of the reading experience. She really gave more texture to the characters than the story provided. And, those sex scenes? I felt like a voyeur she was so effective. I'd love to hear her narrate a more complex book.
The bottom line
I'm now of the opinion that maybe these stories aren't for me. The first person narrative is a shortcoming when the character just isn't that interesting or compelling. The buildup of the circumstances surrounding the death of Angie's sister was way more interesting than the actual details, thanks to the narrator. I didn't care enough about the romance or the characters to root for them, especially as I learned more about them. The narration is really good and was what kept me in the story. It was simply entertaining. However, I don't plan to continue the series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher) -
★ J. KENNER - WANTED ★
• Most Wanted Series #1
• 352 pages
• Release Date: 7 January - 2014
• Book #2
Heated will be out 13 May
• Book #
Ignitedwill be out 2 September
(Books #2 + #3 will be about Evan's best buddies Cole & Tyler!)
★★★★★
4,51 of 5 Stars
First Line:
I know exactly when my life shifted.
MY THOUGHTS
Chicago.
Angelina Hayden Raine is the perfect little politician's daughter. She just finished her political science degree at Northwestern University and is now jobbing in her uncle Jahn's company.
Ever since her older sister Grace was killed almost 8 years ago she wanted to be everything that Grace always was for her parents. The perfect daughter.
Angie, or Lina - as she was called back then - has always been a bit of a wild black sheep in this perfect family. She was always seeking thrills - she always wanted to experience everything life had to offer - she wanted to fly - to soar through life.
All that changed when Grace died. Lina became Angie - the good girl - who would one day work on Capitol Hill, just like her Dad.
Only her passion is not politics! Not at all. She loves Art. That's why she spent the last 8 summers with her uncle in Chicago - and why she went to move there to go to college.
Uncle Jahn is one of Chicago's most prominent Art Collectors.
Uncle Jahn always held those art camp seminars - that's where she met Evan 8 years ago.
Evan Black!
This rich, sexy & mysterious guy that she's been half in love with ever since. But he and his 2 buddies Cole and Tyler always treated her like a little sister.
Not anymore ....
Uncle Jahn dies suddenly... and that's where the book starts...
his wake in his huge penthouse apartment.
Angie finally sees Evan again - but she's with her almost boyfriend, FBI Agent Kevin.
She doesn't really want to deepen the relationship with Kevin because she only has eyes for Evan.
The moment their eyes meet Angie feels that something has changed in Evan - where he always played the big brother - she can now see heat and sparks and longing. Or is it only wishful thinking?
Angie decides that she wants to find out. She wants to spend one night with Evan.
Easier said than done, because Evan has this unbelievably strong control over his emotions.....
will Angie wear him down?? ☺ hehe probably - but I'm not telling you the how's and when's ☺
Evan.
Evan has secrets on top of secrets.
The only facts Angie knows, she knows from newspapers. But everything is not really as it seems. And some things might even be worse.... Angie's FBI-Kevin seems very interested in Evan's business!!
But Evan and Angie - Evan and Lina - will try their best to figure things out.
Angie and Evan belong together - that's what the reader knows from the start and that's what they both feel and what they're too stubborn or blind or ignorant to see....
Evan is the only person in the world, next to her late uncle, who finally sees the real Lina - the girl who wants to fly - who has a reckless spirit - he sees all of her.....and he has for a long time...but circumstances prevented him to act on that attraction....
But now the chance has come.... ♥
There will be lots of romantic and erotic scenes in this book.
Lots of sad and moving parts.
Suspensy parts.
and there might be a strip club ☺☺☺
BUT THAT'S ALL I'M TELLING YOU ABOUT THE STORY ☺
I LOVED THE BOOK
I was soooo looking forward to reading it - I read about Evan in Take Me - the Stark Trilogy Epilogue Novella - he was only in there for a few lines, but he stayed in my head.
And now here he is ☺
And he's perfect! Perfectly flawed too of course....but perfect!
Angie/Lina is really sweet too - I liked her a lot.
Cole and Tyler - the stars of the next 2 books are very likable too!!! Can't wait for their books.
Then we have Angie's best friends - Katrina and Flynn.
Angie met Kat years ago when 'Lina' was about to steal something in a department store - just to experience a thrill again - to feel a bit like her old self...
And Flynn - he was her first 'lover' - they were each other's first times - just because they wanted to know what all the talk was about ☺ But they decided to stay friends.
Then we have Angie's parents - her soon-to-be Vice President (possibly) dad and her mom. They love her very much - probably a lot more than she thinks she deserves.
There's a lot happening in the book - but it kind of felt like a slow-moving nothingness.
Sounds totally weird - I don't really know what I mean either.
I loved the book and the people in it.
It was just so slow - all the action and secret-revealing and sex was put into the last 15% of the book - it felt really rushed at the end :(
I knew that the next 2 books would not be about Angie & Evan - but by the way the first 60% of the book move along, you get the impression and maybe the hope even, that their story won't be finished by the end of the book - that there will be a cliffhanger and that we'll get to hear lots more about them. But no :( It's over. I guess we will see them again in Cole and Tyler's stories...
This slow-moving thing doesn't mean it was bad - it was just slow. If this would be a movie - the screenwriter would have to add some murders or other kind of suspense into the first half of the book - because otherwise the theater audience would fall asleep.
Jeez - that sounds horible!! NO - it's not bad - it's just slow at the beginning - but not bad slow at all - we learn a lot about Angie and her fears and hopes and secrets and also about Evan.... But I just wish the end wouldn't have been so rushed....
I loved the way J. Kenner took us through Chicago in the book ...
from High Tea at THE DRAKE HOTEL
to the Bean Sculpture
I really felt like I was right there with Evan - ok and with Angie too ;)))
I loved the whole sightseeing part :)
A few things I didn't like about the writing ...
there was this one word: empirically..
It was in the book at least 3 times - I don't know why that bothered me so much, but it did.
If you need to use 'big' words - once is enough. ☺
The other thing - Angie was stuttering a lot - lots of sentences of hers begin something like that:
I..oh...
Oh. I... oh...
Oh.
Wait. Oh... I....oh
grrrrr.... I hate that. I don't have anything about a bit of stuttering - but why couldn't it be hmmms or But, but buts or uhms? Well - that's just something I hate ☺ It probably won't bother anybody else!
WANTED was a really great erotic, romantic & mysterious book!
Readers who loved Damien Stark will love Evan Black as well ☺
Now I can't wait to read the next 2 books in the series....even though there won't be much of Evan in them :( But Cole and Tyler are really hot too ♥
-
3.5 stars
I went into this book really expecting to be wowed because this is J. Kenner and that's what she does. I can't say I was overly impressed, but I did enjoy this one.
Angie has been in love with bad boy Evan since she was 16 visiting her uncle's house for the summer. She was there as an escape from a family tragedy and completely falls head over heels for Evan, who is a good 6 years older than her. When her uncle dies years later, her relationship with Evan begins to change.. as does her relationship with her normal self. She doesn't want to toe the line and always stay inside the box. She needs to break out. And who better to do it with than her longtime crush who could make all of her fantasies come true.
However, its not as easy as it seems. Evan has many secrets that keep him from pursuing her like he's wanted. He has to maintain his distance but can't seem to stay away. There's definitely lots of steam between the two, and the buildup it nice.
For all of its good points, this book just wasn't paced as well as I would like. There's no really spark or connection between Angie and Evan until at least halfway through. And then once something happens, it seems like a rollercoaster ride of action. But the action wasn't as exciting or pulse pounding as expected. And I didn't have enough time to get to know Evan, outside of what we're told through Angie. This was a good book, but I couldn't quite connect with it. And because I'm pretty sure the next in the series will be about another couple, I don't know if I'm satisfied with the ending.
*ARC provided via NetGalley for an honest review* -
I really enjoyed this story it was fast paced with one twist, turn, mystery or secret that needed to be resolved. I couldn't put it down took me a day to read. I love Mrs. Kenner's writing it has a sophisticated quality to it, her stories are all well rounded, and scorching hot, Wanted was no different.
Jahn, Angie's wealthy, and beloved uncle has suddenly past away. This has left Angie bereft and confused. She start's to examine her life, who she is, what she wants out of life and with whom. Her current life has her feeling caged and lonely, know one gets who Angie is. Well know one that is except her uncles long time friend Evan. He has admired her from a distance for years. Angie has always loved Evan and admired him. Not until know has she been willing to try and open up to him. Once these two finally get together watch out the chemistry is electric, and sizzling. They really are just beautiful together. Evan understands her so completely and helps her unlock her true self. He is control, fierce, handsome, self made, broken and scorching hot. Yes, another book boyfriend for me,lol. Angie to is strong, a little lost do to past events, sweet, and goes after what she wants. This was such a wonderful story, loved it! -
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley for honest review
The beginning moved at a slow pace but yet it worked. I like that the author seemed to make us work for the story.
Evan's indecision with doing the honorable thing and being the bad boy made my head spin but again this seemed to work for the story and kept me wanting more.
And just like Evan liked to work Angie's body to a frenzy I felt like J. Kenner was working my head into a frenzy.
I really enjoyed this story. I think my only complaint would be that the ending felt a bit rushed. I think the author spent more time pacing out the beginning, which I enjoyed because I felt like I was learning everything I needed and wanted to learn but the last 15-20% felt more rushed, like the author felt she needed to hurry up and present this with a big red bow. I probably would have preferred a longer book or even a cliffhanger rather than what felt like a nice, tidy, rushed ending.
Still overall I enjoyed the story and will definitely continue with the series, want to know all about Cole and Tyler.
http://www.rebelbookchicks.com/home.html -
Whoa! Hold on just a minute cuz I have added a new favorite author to my list! I’ve seen peeps talk about this author and her books in glowing terms and although this is my first experience with her,it won’t be my last. It was fantastic!
You can read the rest of my review here:
http://bookishtemptations.com/2013/12... -
Cover: Alright alright alright...
My Rating: 88/100
Overall: Loved it
Page Turner: Yes
Recommend: Yes
COMMENTS: It took so damn long from Evan and Angie to get together. But it was worth it. Loved it. -
4.5 Hot yet not quite FSOG stars
When I dove into Wanted I expected lots of steamy scenes and typical alpha male action. Now Evan fits the bill for your typical alpha male. He is rich, hot, charismatic, dominant, and has the required tattoo. Angie is your typical, "I want someone who is bad for me" heroine. She is refreshing in that she did not overdo the back and forth "should I/shouldn't I" and just went for it. So together as a couple I liked them. The sex scenes are definitely hot but it took over half the book to get there. Interestingly, once there, despite being hot they were definitely more vanilla, but not like that is a bad thing.
What I found to be surprising, was the little mystery/suspence that was throw in at the end. I think it helped to round out the story and found it enhancing Evan and Angie's relationship. It also helped to bring Tyler and Cole back into the story and I so can see one or both of them getting their own books. Angie's friend Kat was also enjoyable and I was disappointed that she wasn't in the book more.
The best part is the book can be read as a stand alone gives you a HEA, so two thumbs up!!!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
