Deadly Obsession

I really enjoyed the first books by this new author - lots of suspense and nicely detailed scenes, strong characters. This newest effort was a little disappointing. It took too long to get into the meat of the matter - TOO MUCH juvenile bantering with some of the characters - oh and an FBI agent who was supposed to be on the scene figuring things out had so much time on her hands she could dance away the night and also help paint - always feel bad for saying negative comments, because of the enormous work that must go into writing and publishing a book. As an avid reader - 2/3 books at least a week, it takes a lot for me to be negative as I just enjoy reading everything....but this was was not GREAT!

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the start of a new series from April Hunt. It follows Zoey and Knox who have known each other for forever because Knox is BFFs with Zoey's brother. It was a good action romance where all the men are either cops and or military, and of course they are all super hot :) Though I do wonder how the cop gets away with bringing in all of these civilians into a murder investigation. Even though there is a string of murders, I wouldn't consider this suspenseful since I guess the killer fairly early on.

I have to say though, I am getting a little tired of the super protective brothers/groups of men who can't reign in their alphaness. I feel like I've read it a lot lately. They spoke about Zoey like she was a child, even though she could handle her own. There's a difference between loving someone and wanting to protect them and condescending behaviors.

It looks like there will be more to come on this series and I will give them a try.

A great adrenaline rush story of a CSI agent and her childhood crush as they chase down a serial killer.

Zoey Wright has spent her whole life in and out of hospitals. She is fed up with playing it safe. She is taking control of her life and getting out of her comfort zone by taking on a new job as a CSI agent that will put her in the thick of things. Now her childhood crush, Knox Steele, has returned and ends up getting pulled into the case that she is working on.

Former Army Ranger Knox Steele is back in Washington to help his brothers open an elite private security firm but plans for his return to be temporary. But when he stumbles onto the crime scene where his best friend's little sister is working the electricity flies between them. Trying to resist the attraction between them proves to be pointless. Even though he planned for his return to be temporary things will quickly change. When Zoey becomes the object of the serial killer's fantasy Knox realizes just how much she means to him.

Don’t you just love “discovering” a new author? I saw someone review this book and grabbed it right away. A friends to lovers with a crazy serial killer thrown in.

I love romantic suspense so much, and this was a fantastic one, and my first by this author!

Zoey Wright has a congenital heart defect, and it has affected her entire life. From multiple surgeries, and missing important school and group activities, to not being able to participate in sports and PE at school, she always felt like a bit of an outsider. She and her brother Cade were adopted by a single mom when Zoey was about 4 years old. Their mom never thought twice about having a sick kid, and they managed fine, with the help of an anonymous angel paying all the medical bills. Now, Zoey has transitioned to a civilian crime scene investigator, after years of only working in the lab, processing the evidence. D.C. has a serial killer, and they've just found his twelfth victim, which is Zoey's first crime scene. Who should show up but her lifelong crush she hasn't seen in 2 years, her brother's best friend, Knox.

Knox Steele has been away from home for the last 2 years, repairing boats down in North Carolina, while his entire family and everyone else he cares about is back in D.C. He made some mistakes during his last Army tour of duty, and his brothers don't deserve to have someone around who will now always second guess all his own decisions. They're taking his brainchild, a private security firm called Steele Ops, and making it a reality, without him, and he's here to help them get things running, and then leave again for a job in California. Everyone is mad at him for how long he's been gone, and that he's not planning to stay now that he's back. He didn't expect so much of that fire to come from his angel, little Zoey though. She's now healthy and stepping out of the lab, and throwing sass his way he doesn't know how to deal with. But he's afraid she just might be able to convince him to stay after all.

Knox and Zoey had mega feels, and hot chemistry, from the start. They are lifelong friends, and she's always had a thing for him. I LOVE a best friend's little sister story, it's my favorite trope, so mix it with my fave sub-genre, romantic suspense, and I am fully here for it! I loved their interactions and how comfortable they were with each other from the start, even when the feelings started rearranging things.

Both the Steele and Wright families were awesome. I love both of their single moms and how they banded together for each other over the years. They're all so close, like one big family, and I thought that was awesome. Grace, as Zoey's best friend, Knox's cousin, and Cade's childhood sweetheart, had an interesting POV with which to view everything, and give Zoey advice. They had a fantastic connection, and I loved their banter. Cade has always been protective of his baby sister, and can be overbearing, so thinking about Knox and her getting together didn't make him happy, but his heart was always in the right place.

There were many paragraphs here and there throughout the story from the killer's POV, which was so interesting, and made you realize how truly sick and twisted he was. It kept the suspense high, and me on the edge of my seat. It also let the reader know things that were still a mystery to the characters, which was fun. I had 2 suspects in my mind towards the middle of the book, for who I thought the killer might be. Later I had whittled it down to one, and I ended up being correct. The second original suspect I had, ended up being someone wholly unexpected, and I feel like that part of the story was left slightly unfinished. I didn't really understand that character's motives for what they'd done in the past, and I don't think we got a completion to that story. But, Cade will be be the hero of book 2, and I'm assuming his connection to that character will carry over, and perhaps we'll have more about all that in book 2.

Overall this was an exciting suspense story, with plenty of steamy heat and action, and an awesome coming together of two lifelong friends into something so much more. Knox and Zoey really cared so much about each other, in addition to their attraction, and I adored their connection. I really enjoyed the story, and I can't wait for book 2!

Great book

Deadly Obsession by April Hunt was my first romantic suspense and I loved it! Zoey Wright is a new CSI agent in DC, she’s spent her life in and out of hospitals due to Congenital Heart Defect and she’s ready to step out of her comfort zone. What she’s not ready for is having her childhood crush, former Army Ranger Knox Steele, pulled onto her case hunting for a serial killer who has terrorized DC. ⁣
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I really loved Deadly Obsession! The pacing, suspense, and romance were so enjoyable. I will say I guessed who the killer was as soon as they were mentioned. BUT that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story at all! ⁣
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I’ve never read any of April Hunt’s books before and this book made me a fan. She knows how to write some damn good steam! I really enjoyed the plot of this and I loved that she had Zoey living with a chronic condition. As someone living with Cystic Fibrosis, I found myself identifying with a lot of Zoey’s feelings on growing up “sick” and in the hospital. April has a really genuine authors note on why she had Zoey living with CHD. I really appreciated how much thought and care she wrote in her character! ⁣
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I thought this was a fantastic first book in the Steele Ops series. The dynamic between all the characters was so engaging and fun to read. I immediately wanted to read more with these characters! The next book sounds like it will be a second chance romance, and I am 100% here for it! Deadly Obsession was a 4.5 star read for me! Thank you Forever Romance for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Romantic suspense at it's finest. A wonderful start to a great new series!!!

Zoey Wright has taken charge of her life. Born with a serious heart defect, and having gone through several major surgeries, she has just begun a new job as a CSI agent. In her current case, she is more than a bit nonplussed when someone she had a serious crush on when she was younger is pulled into it. Zoey must fight her feelings for Knox Steele and focus on the fact that a serial killer seems determined to kill as many women as possible.

Knox is in town because he and his brothers are intent on opening an elite private security firm. When he happens upon a crime scene, he is rather disturbed to see that his best friend's little sister is working the case. Well, she is not so little any longer, and Knox must fight his growing attraction to her. As much as this fight is intense, a bigger fight soon presents itself when it seems that Zoey herself might actually become a victim. So, Knox and Zoey end up together - in more ways than one.

While the romance is developing and the search for the killer ensues, readers are introduced to the other members of the Steele and Wright families. This no doubt sets the reader up for future books in this new series by April Hunt. I am thrilled that I got to read it and am eager to continue with this series. If you enjoy intrigue, romance and family, then you will be glad to read this book. I found it to be quite intense and pretty much read this book in one sitting.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Steele Ops #1, This was a great book I loved the characters and the story, it is a great start to a new series. Zoey Wright has CHD (Congenital Heart Defect) it doesn't make her weak it just makes her all that much more of a bad ass. Zoey has been protected her whole life by her adoptive mother and her brother, Cade. Working in the crime lab was not getting her anywhere so she transferred to crime scene tech. Knox Steele finally left the Army Rangers but instead of going home and working with his brother start up their private security firm he decides he going to go to be a Hollywood bodyguard. Despite not wanting to come home he gets pulled home and his first night back he stumbles across a dead body, unfortunately this is not the first one DC has seen like this, the news has already dubbed the killer a catchy name and Zoey fits the type the killer likes. Cade and Knox try and get Zoey to back off but she just digs her heels in, she can help catch this killer even if all she does is collect evidence.

Meanwhile Zoey and Knox try not to give into temptation. Zoey has had a crush on Know for just about forever and Knox has tried to keep his distance but once he realizes Zoey isn't safe he's going to protect her not matter what she says. But being so close to her makes it hard to resist her and before you know it they give in and fall into bed. The killer has an obsession and when he finds out his obsession is with someone else he loses it and any semblance of control he had is gone. That just makes it easier for Cade, the DCPD and Knox to find him or will they be too late?

Overall, this was a great read. Knox has issues with guilt he has to work out with his brothers and that was a nice side story to help with character development and establish what kind of people his brothers are, I look forward to their books. Cade really comes off as an overprotective butt and he has this on again off again going with a Steele cousin and best friend to Zoey, Grace, who is FBI profiler; I hope their story is next. I love April Hunt's writing it's descriptive and has a great third person narrative. Thank you to Forever for this ARC, As Always, this review is Honestly and Voluntarily Given.