Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater

Illegal Reviews

• 
  Angela

  3.5 Stars
  
  Illegal: A Ripped-From-the -Headlines Romantic Suspense by K.J Gillenwater is the first book that I have read from this author, so I wasn’t sure of what to expect from one of her stories. But I love a great romantic suspense, so I snapped up a copy and set off on Selena’s adventure.
  Selena Hernandez has had her whole world turned upside down. What she thought she knew of her life was nothing but lies. She has no choice but to return to Mexico to sort things out and try to reclaim her life. But things take a complicated and dangerous turn when she uncovers her true identity.
  With danger, tension, and ties to the cartel the story makes for an intriguing and suspenseful read.
  Happy Reading!
  
  Thank you, K.J. Gillenwater!
  
• 
  Isis Ray-sisco

  I enjoyed reading this book. I have read at least one other book by this author and enjoyed it as well. I would love to read more books by this author in the future. I liked the main characters and the chemistry between them. I thought there was a good balance of action and intrigue with a little romance as well. I thought Selena was a strong character though she wasn't without flaws and made a few bad decisions. Wyatt was interesting. I liked the fact that he was willing to help a complete stranger in the time of need. The story had plenty of twists and some surprises as well. I would recommend it to others.
• 
  Jessica Mitchell

  A great story, ripe with romance, action and adventure. I will have to keep a watch out for more from this author. Very compelling and had me at every turn when wanting to take a break. But my brain was like no no you don't keep reading.
  All her life it was just her mother and her. She was told her father died when she was young. And she never planned to return Mexico. But that was before she had no choice in the matter what so ever.... Now can she stay alive long enough to make it back to the states?
• 
  Mandi Martinez

  Illegal had a very good story, one that interests me and that disturbingly is probably more true and relevant than most are willing to admit. However, I just felt like the delivery was off; I didn't feel the connection or chemistry between Selena and Wyatt. Pieces of the story kept being repeated which I find frustrating and derails my focus in the book. I felt like the author wasn't sure what to do with Selena; at first she was an innocent, then she learns of her father and when she meets him she starts thinking she wants to be part of his life and his world, but then retracts when she realizes he isn't there for her. I would give the author another read, I loved the story but not the delivery.
• 
  Heather W

  Illegal: A Ripped-From-The-Headlines Romantic Suspense is an intriguing read. The characters are well depicted, strong, and intelligent. The storyline is well written and flows smoothly throughout with secrets, danger, action, intrigue, and romance.
  I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
• 
  Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews)

  Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater is a heart-pounding, riveting read! Once I started reading, it was impossible to put down.
  
  Selena finds herself alone in Mexico, the country she was born in but doesn’t remember living in. She grew up in Arizona, thinking she was an American citizen. That was just one lie her mother told her. Her goal is to do what she needs to do to get back to her life in the US. Little does she realize that everything she knew about her life was a complete lie which puts her life in grave danger. Thankfully, a chance encounter with handsome stranger, Wyatt, saves her life in one instant. Now, they both are in a fight for their very lives, thus putting them on a journey of not only survival but truth and quite possibly love!
  
  Wow! As I wrote in the earlier paragraph what a riveting read! Gillenwater did a phenomenal job of balancing romance, suspense, and drama! My heart went out to Selena. Everything she thought she knew about her life was a complete lie. I’m not a reviewer who likes to bring politics into reviews because I read books to escape things in the news, but this one really made me think alot about the children who have been essentially raised in the US and know nothing about their birth country and suddenly finding themselves facing deportation. It was obvious she was a foreigner in Mexico too. As the author wrote the following passage, my heart just broke for her.
  
  “Or was she American? What exactly made someone American anyway? A look? An experience? A certain length of time living in the US? These questions had been ping-ponging around in her mind for a couple of weeks, and she had no answer?”
  
  Not only was this a journey in discovering who she really was, but now she had no idea who the strangers were who were after her, and whoa, when she discovered who she really was, what a shocker for her!
  
  Wyatt has quite a dark past himself…a dark childhood, and he is learning some things about himself as well in his quest to keep her safe all while falling helplessly and hopelessly in love with her.
  
  There was nothing I didn’t like about Selena and Wyatt’s story! They were complicated and complex characters who just kept growing and evolving. The suspense and twists kept me turning the pages as well! If you are looking for a great romantic suspense with some great human lessons within the pages as well, this one is a winner!
  
• 
  Lorrene Huisman

  This book really gave me all the feels, it tugged at my heart strings as I read, and I really felt a lot for the characters the story circled around. I found the characters grew into something nice as the story went on, and the suspense, it was very real, and the power this book possessed was very genuine!
  
  This was a new author for me. Certainly will not be my last book to read by them. This book literally swallowed me whole. And would nit provide a separation until I had finished it. The writing was amazing, as I said I was held until the end. There was a lot of action going on from things being dangerous and life threatening, and not really knowing how things would turn out. The book was very un-predictable. I really felt for the two characters Wyatt and Selena. Especially Selena. Her past made her who she was today, and who she would become. The moments these two shared were very intimate and sweet in a special way. It was nice to see they had each other's backs as well as their character growth. The book was a great read and one I truly enjoyed, it was a book that really put everything in the line, and succeeded!
  
  Amazing author and truly amazing writing! The story came together very nicely. I found there was really no plot holes and the story flowed at a good pace as well as held your interest to the fullest. I am glad I got to experience this book. I loved it truly! I highly recommend this read as it is for sure a must read!
• 
  Jennifer

  This romantic suspense novel was a real page turner and I was hooked from page one. Selena Hernandez discovers that she was brought to the United States illegally as a child, and in order to become a legal immigrant, she must return to Mexico, a country she does not know. Selena meets Wyatt Demko, an embassy employee whilst at the US Embassy asking for help with a visa. Wyatt is happy to help Selena, but the more they discover about her past which includes connections to a notorious and dangerous drug cartel, Wyatt’s own carefully planned life is upended. Having escaped a hard upbringing in a Wisconsin trailer park, Wyatt has worked hard for his stable career with the State Department. However, he also wants to keep Selena safe, and maybe win her heart at the same time.
  As Selena fights to be allowed to return home to the US, her complicated situation becomes an international affair, whilst she’s stuck in a unknown land. Wyatt and Selena only have a few days to attempt the impossible, including hiding from the brutal drug cartel and the corrupt law enforcement, to make a daring getaway. This novel kept me gripped from start to finish with its fast paced and action packed storyline, and plot twists that kept me guessing. The characters were likeable and relatable and I felt engaged with them, and the settings from the streets of Mexico City to the sandy beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula were brought vividly to life by the descriptive narrative. The chemistry between Selena and Wyatt really came across in the writing and I liked how their relationship developed. This was an enjoyable and exciting read, full of drama, suspense, and plenty of romance.
• 
  Katie Turner

  Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater takes its readers on a wild adventure in Mexico. This story portrays a view of the life of a young woman, Selena Hernandez, whose life is turned upside. She is ripped from her world in Arizona after finding out that she and her mother were both in the United States illegally. Her mother is thrown in jail and Selena is told to return to Mexico and reapply for a visa to become a legal citizen. After meeting him on the street, she is reacquainted with a young man named Wyatt, who ends up being a customer service representative at the embassy when she goes to apply for her visa. From there, the story begins to unfold. As Wyatt is pulled into this mess surrounding a pretty girl, unknown truths surface and they become more intertwined more than either of them planned to be.
  
  This had it all for me. Suspense, romance and action fueled this story from beginning to end. I thought the main characters, Wyatt and Selena, were perfect and well-fleshed out. They both came from two different backgrounds, both had deeply rooted issues with trust that cause them to question each other’s intentions. But they have to find a way to work together because all they have is each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to read more stories by this author!
• 
  Rebecca Hill

  I thought this book was a unique story. Selena Hernandez found out her mother has been lying to her for her whole life. When her mother is arrested and taken to jail, Selena finds out that she is actually from Mexicao and not a legal citizen. Selena is led to believe that deporting herself to Mexico is her only option. She thinks it will be a rapid turn around to going back to her life in Arizona. She doesn’t count on discovering that her birth father is an important man in the drug cartel. Wyatt Demko didn’t plan on getting involved in everything going on with Selena, but he knew that he needed to warn her. Together they end up on quite the adventure, not knowing who they can trust. I was so sad for Wyatt as details of his abusive past came to light. I could see myself in Selena’s inner dialogue, especially when she would give herself a pep talk. This was an enjoyable read and had some small twists that I enjoyed!
  
• 
  Lisa Konet

  OMG??!!! WTF just happened? This book is current to what is happening with immigration today especially what happens to the kids in the family, and this was fictional work!! I loved the characterization of both Selena and Wyatt. She is the immigrant looking for sympathy and any help being forced back to Mexico where she is alone and does not understand the language. He is the immigration officer to her case, but begins to get emotionally involved.
  
  This book has it all. Danger. Romance. Intrigue. A dangerous drug cartel. I think I need to own a copy of this to re-read in the future. It was that good and totally believable: Highly recommended!!
  
  Thanks to Netgalley, KJ Gillenwater and Independent Book Publishing Association Member's TItles for an after publication copy in exchange for an honest reviews.
  
  Already available: 11/30/20
• 
  Katie

  Overall I really enjoyed this book – I thought the storyline was really interesting and the author threw in some great twists too. There were a few times where I skimmed over a few parts as they were a bit drawn out but it was an exciting read at times – I’m going to say this especially true from the middle part of the story – the action definitely kicked up a notch there. I really liked the characters, and the authors descriptions of Mexico in particular were great, I got a real feeling for what the place was like. I liked Wyatt, I thought he really did do what he could to help protect Selena at the beginning and be there for her as the story progressed. I felt for Selena especially finding out about her extended family the way she did.
  A great read and one that I would highly recommend.
  
• 
  Julie

  Hold onto your passports!!! This book gripped extremely hard and was very difficult to put down the couple of times I had to!!
  
  Selina has self-deported back to Mexico from her home in Tucson. She wants everything to be on the up-and-up, especially after finding out her entire life has been a huge lie. She doesn't know the language and is struggling to go through the proper channels when her life changes drastically.
  
  Wyatt isn't loving his job but knows that the work he is doing at the Embassy could lead to something better. It's when the beautiful woman walks into his office and a mysterious phone call is made that causes life to get interesting.
  
  What lengths would you take to protect someone you just met?
  
  Be ready to sit down and dive in because this one grabbed me from the first line and didn't let up until the end. I've still got some questions though....
• 
  Bobbi Wagner

  I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is a new author for me which I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story from the start. The level of suspense kept growing throughout the story. The author’s use of details made the story realistic. I found the characters to be connectable as well as engaging. This is a fast paced story that is full of action. A story where two people find themselves in danger from drug cartels and corrupted law enforcement. You don’t want to miss what happens next. A great story that was hard to put down. It is a fun and entertaining story that I highly recommend. You don’t want to miss these twists and turns.
• 
  Heidi Sturgess

  This was a brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read !!
  
  I must just say I was so impressed with Selena wanting to do the right thing and self deport , that takes courage and for that I honour you 😘
  
  That’s how Selena abs Wyatt’s path crossed actually , he overheard a corrupt official in his office and decided to step on and come to her rescue , for that I want to comment Wyatt , thank you for your bravery ❣️
  
  So as you may have noticed there’s a bit of a fan club going here 😂🤦‍♀️ I just love Selena and Wyatt !
  
  This read ticked all my boxes , there was suspense , romance , twists and turns and some moments where I held my breath with great anticipation and anxiety 😳😳
  
  A brilliant, shout from the rooftops read !
• 
  Jenni Bishop

  Illegal is the first book I have read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. Ms Gillenwater has given a thrilling ride with action and adventure, danger and intrigue, secrets and fear, romance and chemistry. This captivating story sees one young woman finding her whole life is a lie.
  
  Selina finds herself thrown deep into the darker side of a strange country facing a past she knows nothing about. A language that is foreign to her, dangerous drug cartels and corrupt law enforcement. The suspense is palpable as she finds the truth is worse than she ever thought.
  
  I highly recommend this book it is a must on the TBR list!
• 
  Candida Hopper

  This is the first time I have read anything by this author and after reading this book I look forward to reading more. This story was full of romance, suspense, action, danger, rich detail, and great characters. I was pulled into this story and kept entertained. I found myself unable to put it down to find out if Selena is able to put all the pieces of her life back together without getting herself hurt. What will happen between her and Wyatt. Selena and Wyatt come from different backgrounds and yet they still both have trust issues. I'm glad I took a chance on a new author. I recommend this book.
  
• 
  Lorralei Hoerner

  Wow, I am so glad I picked up this book! If you love a story with action, danger, intrigue, cartel and lies this one is for you.
  
  Selena, upon learning she is illegally living in the US, decides to go back to Mexico to obtain her documents and visa legally to return to Arizona. Selena discovers hard truths and is on the run as someone is out to get her. Wyatt Demko, a Embassy employee, at first is smitten by Selena, but then becomes her protector when Wyatt learns that there is someone out to get Selena. Lies that are slowly being uncovered as Selena learns she may be linked to a notorious cartel family.
  
  This story is fast paced and very enjoyable characters.
• 
  Megan

  Selena's life has been a lie and she is determined to make it right. Wyatt is simply trying to help when he gets pulled into the drama Selena doesn't even realize she's about to encounter. In a world where nobody can be trusted two perfect strangers have to decide whether or not they should trust one another in order to stay alive.
  The story starts slow, but you really get a chance to know the characters. Once the action starts it simply doesn't end! From one suspenseful situation to another, you will find yourself reading late into the night.
• 
  Stephanie

  While this is the first book that I have read from this author, I was overall impressed. The chemistry between the main characters was great, and there was a great balance between romance, intrigue, and action. Selena was a great main character, although like most she did have a few character flaws. But her chemistry with Wyatt and his sweet nature more then made up for it. This book was full of surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat and I'll definitely be looking for more from this author.