Review: Chasing Vengeance (Redemption Harbor #7)

Chasing Vengeance (Redemption Harbor #7)

by Katie Reus 

Blurb:

Wanting her means putting a target on her back…

Layla’s taste in men runs toward the epic side of awful. With one murderous ex-fiancé already behind her, she’s attempting to start over in Redemption Harbor with the help of her bestie, Nova. And wine. Lots of wine. The very thing that helps her make another epic mistake—trying to kiss Xavier, one of her newest friends. So what if he’s sexy, funny, and has completely taken over her fantasies? Relationships and Layla don’t mix. And Xavier is clearly not interested anyway.

But it’s too late to walk away…

Any good hitman has no business forging a personal life…no matter how great the temptation. And Xavier is an exceptionally good hitman, with a long list of enemies. Even if Layla could somehow look past his profession, he’d never put her in jeopardy. But everyone has their breaking point—and when Layla accepts a date with someone else, Xavier’s possessiveness is unleashed. The greater the risk, the sweeter the reward…until Xavier’s sweet Layla is used against him by someone from his past. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her from the enemy hunting her from the shadows.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The finale to one of my favorite series has come and I am so sad to see it, but I certainly enjoyed every single second of it. Layla and Xavier’s story was one that we have been waiting for a long time now, ever since Gage and Nora’s story where we first meet Layla as she runs from her murderous fiancée.  I was dying to read this story, but my unwillingness for the end to arrive put me off a little bit, but then when I finally gave in my happiness at seeing Layla and Xavier so happy curbed my sadness.  Reus has a way of making her readers truly dedicated to her characters’ lives, pulling us in and making us feel like they are our friends telling us their love stories years later as they have lived their HEA.  Layla and Xavier have been friends since they met at the ranch at a wedding, but when Layla suddenly finds herself in danger Xavier will give and do anything to keep her safe, including telling her the dirty secrets of his past in order to make her understand that he can keep her safe.  Layla is angry about his deception, but the pull between them remains undeniable and the love that has slowly been building is not dead yet.  Forced into very close quarters, Layla and Xavier must come to terms with one another and decide if the truth of their relationship is enough to overcome his past in order to have a future.  I went into this story thinking I was going to dislike Layla because of the way she was portrayed in her first appearance in the series, but thankfully she has grown and become much stronger since then.  Her unwillingness to let others dictate her life and future, her dedication to forging her own path, and her strength of character really shined through as we go to know her. Xavier was another interesting alpha male to get to know, one that was obviously sexy as hell, but more than that is commitment to keeping his past from affecting Layla is honorable. When they are together their passion is beyond combustible and the sweetness of their friendship is also easily detectable. I enjoyed getting to know Xavier, even as Layla really got to know him again, even though she had the base of their long friendship, but to see her standing up to him so passionately, which definitely turned him on, was beyond remarkable.  I truly am sad to see this series end, but I know that whatever Katie comes up with next will be just as sensual, passionate, and inspiring. If you have enjoyed this series as much as I have, this finale, wrapping up all the erotic, remarkable, and incredible stories of people that are so much more than just heroes, will make you laugh, cry, and smile as Xavier and Layla fall deeply in love and find their HEA.  Another magic ending to a series that broke my heart as much as it made it sing.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.