What do you think?
Rate this book
Final Hour #1
Every Last Breath
48 hours
2 covert operatives
1 chance to get it right
Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes...even if it destroys her.
When Maddox crashes back into Cole Matthews' life, he wants to fight back. He wants to hate her. But the crisis is too strong to ignore, and soon the two former lovers find themselves working side-by-side in a breakneck race to stop a world-class killer with a secret that could end everything.
2 covert operatives
1 chance to get it right
Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes...even if it destroys her.
When Maddox crashes back into Cole Matthews' life, he wants to fight back. He wants to hate her. But the crisis is too strong to ignore, and soon the two former lovers find themselves working side-by-side in a breakneck race to stop a world-class killer with a secret that could end everything.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2019
396 people are currently reading
4028 people want to read
About the author
Juno Rushdan
131 books1,575 followersJuno Rushdan is a veteran US Air Force intelligence officer and the award-winning author of romantic thrillers. Her books are action-packed, nail-biting page-turners with twists you won’t see coming. Critics from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, BookPage and Library Journal have called her work “heart-pounding James Bond-ian adventure”, “fast-paced”, “gripping”, “a thrill ride” that “will captivate lovers of romantic thrillers.” She is married to her own military hero and is privileged to have two rambunctious kids and a spoiled rescue dog. For a FREE book from Juno: http://bit.ly/JunoFREE. Be sure to follow her on BookBub for the latest on sales: bit.ly/BookBubJuno.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
May 18, 2019
★ 4 strong STARS ★
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
What an incredible book!
I loved it and cannot wait to read the next one in this series!!!
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
“Nine years ago, he’d been deadly. Today, he looked sixty-nine shades of lethal.”
What an incredible book!
I loved it and cannot wait to read the next one in this series!!!
April 14, 2019
I love discovering new-to-me authors who can deliver the goods as Juno Rushdan does in Every Last Breath. This book is an intense, explosive Second-Chance Romance Thriller that begins with a bang and never lets up. Maddox Kinkade is an expert undercover operative for the Gray Box Black Op Unit on covert assignment to defuse a threat by a group hellbent on releasing a lethal bioweapon upon the innocent masses. Maddox made a huge mistake nine years ago when she unknowingly betrayed the trust of the love of her life . . . a mistake that cost him, Cole Matthews, everything including the life of his father as well as his own life. Or did it? When Maddox is ordered to meet a man and solicit his help in preventing the ultimate disaster, she is shocked to come face to face with the presumed dead love of her life. Where has he been for nine years? As shocked as Maddox is, Cole is just as surprised and angry as he's never forgiven his former lover's betrayal. As the clock is ticking and time is running out, these two professionals must let bygones be bygones and work together someway, somehow. Meantime, they're walking a fine line between love and hate because the one thing they haven't lost is the explosive chemistry sparking between them. Can they keep it together long enough to save the world from a madman?
Take a breather before you start Every Last Breath because you won't get another one until you finish! This book packs a wallop in every way - nonstop action, explosive scenes, espionage, sizzling passion - all well-written and expertly woven into plot lines that had me burning through the pages. I enjoyed the strong support cast and would love to see more of these characters. I also liked that the author managed to make me feel a little empathy for the villain, and that's not easy to do! While most things are resolved in this book, I like that there's an ongoing story arc that I assume we'll explore more of in coming books in the Final Hours series. Every Last Breath is an emotional, second-chance romance thriller that kept me riveted to the pages and my seat all the way through. Grab this one and read it the first chance you get as it's A Must Read!
*Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca Publishing for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
Take a breather before you start Every Last Breath because you won't get another one until you finish! This book packs a wallop in every way - nonstop action, explosive scenes, espionage, sizzling passion - all well-written and expertly woven into plot lines that had me burning through the pages. I enjoyed the strong support cast and would love to see more of these characters. I also liked that the author managed to make me feel a little empathy for the villain, and that's not easy to do! While most things are resolved in this book, I like that there's an ongoing story arc that I assume we'll explore more of in coming books in the Final Hours series. Every Last Breath is an emotional, second-chance romance thriller that kept me riveted to the pages and my seat all the way through. Grab this one and read it the first chance you get as it's A Must Read!
*Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca Publishing for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
March 21, 2019
Smoldering passions, edge-of-your-seat intrigue and non-stop action explodes off each page in Juno Rushdan’s EVERY LAST BREATH!
Maddox is a top gun in an ultra-covert black ops unit, but her latest assignment requires the help of the one man who shattered her heart, Cole Matthews. In a game of life or death, can these two pull off the impossible? Undercover operations, a deadly auction and millions of lives on the line…and the clock is ticking…
Be prepared for raging tempers, questionable loyalties and a romance that simmers with garrote sharp emotions. This romantic thriller is simply brilliant and the pen of Juno Rushdan is like the baton wielded by a new maestro!
Let’s re-cap: Razor taut tension – Searing heat – Brilliant writing! Read it, you’ll thank Juno Rushdan!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Juno Rushdan!
Series: Final Hour - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 30, 2019)
Publication Date: April 30, 2019
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Print Length: 448 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Maddox is a top gun in an ultra-covert black ops unit, but her latest assignment requires the help of the one man who shattered her heart, Cole Matthews. In a game of life or death, can these two pull off the impossible? Undercover operations, a deadly auction and millions of lives on the line…and the clock is ticking…
Be prepared for raging tempers, questionable loyalties and a romance that simmers with garrote sharp emotions. This romantic thriller is simply brilliant and the pen of Juno Rushdan is like the baton wielded by a new maestro!
Let’s re-cap: Razor taut tension – Searing heat – Brilliant writing! Read it, you’ll thank Juno Rushdan!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Juno Rushdan!
Series: Final Hour - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 30, 2019)
Publication Date: April 30, 2019
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Print Length: 448 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 5, 2019
Great story with non stop action!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that this book was a surprise in many ways. First of all the writing was quite riveting in many places. With loads of anticipation and heart pounding scenes, there is never a dull moment in this story.
I love a great story that holds me captive. This book does it with a mixture of suspense, surprises, and romance. A perfect combination!
I fell for Cole and his overly patient way he dealt with Maddox, trying to convince her she was always in his heart.
She got on my nerves a bit as she pushed him away then pulled him back- never forgiving but recognizing she still had feelings. Frustrating and a tad annoying especially towards the end.
Overall, a fabulous read full of the tension we look for in a suspense thriller with a heightened romantic edge.
I would definitely read more by this up and coming author in this genre!!
*copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/every-last-b...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that this book was a surprise in many ways. First of all the writing was quite riveting in many places. With loads of anticipation and heart pounding scenes, there is never a dull moment in this story.
I love a great story that holds me captive. This book does it with a mixture of suspense, surprises, and romance. A perfect combination!
I fell for Cole and his overly patient way he dealt with Maddox, trying to convince her she was always in his heart.
She got on my nerves a bit as she pushed him away then pulled him back- never forgiving but recognizing she still had feelings. Frustrating and a tad annoying especially towards the end.
Overall, a fabulous read full of the tension we look for in a suspense thriller with a heightened romantic edge.
I would definitely read more by this up and coming author in this genre!!
*copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/every-last-b...
April 25, 2019
Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan
Romantic suspense. Non stop action.
The bad guys were always one step ahead. A bit of a cliffhanger with one big thread left hanging which obviously makes this the beginning of a series.
By the end, I was breathless.
The heroine, OMG, she’s a kick butt fighter. As a government operative, she needs to be tough. And she definitely has the skills.
The hero is just as strong, and I liked their chemistry together but his past is a bit glossed over.
“She wore her bossy pants well but he didn’t take orders.”
I will look for future books by this author. It was an exciting read.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I intend to buy a copy as well to share.
Romantic suspense. Non stop action.
The bad guys were always one step ahead. A bit of a cliffhanger with one big thread left hanging which obviously makes this the beginning of a series.
By the end, I was breathless.
The heroine, OMG, she’s a kick butt fighter. As a government operative, she needs to be tough. And she definitely has the skills.
The hero is just as strong, and I liked their chemistry together but his past is a bit glossed over.
“She wore her bossy pants well but he didn’t take orders.”
I will look for future books by this author. It was an exciting read.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I intend to buy a copy as well to share.
April 27, 2019
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I've read a lot of Romantic-Suspense authors and Juno Rushdan is truly unique. She writes a wonderful plot, hot as hades romance and seat of your pants action scenes. As a first book - I'm speechless. The hero and heroine are flawed people who grow and overcome a lot in the book. The supporting characters are just fantastic too. This is the start of a series and I can't wait to find out what happens to these people.
Maddox Kinkade is an Officer with the Gray Box, an ultra secret government outfit tasked with saving the world, this time from a lethal smallpox bioweapon. Maddox and her team are sent to acquire an asset, Cole Matthews, who can get them into the auction for the weapon. When they take Cole away from the Russians, Maddox comes face to face with a face from her past - the love of her life who she thought has been dead for nine years. That is enough to throw anyone off their Secret Agent game, but working with him - that is just dangerous to her heart.
All Cole Matthews thought about when he saw Maddox was how her betrayal hurt . . . and how beautiful she is. Helping her is going to be the real death of him. He has a really hard time reconciling the sweet girl he knew with the lethal agent he is now working with. Like it or not, she is stuck with him and he is going to protect her no matter what. 4 1/2-Stars
I've read a lot of Romantic-Suspense authors and Juno Rushdan is truly unique. She writes a wonderful plot, hot as hades romance and seat of your pants action scenes. As a first book - I'm speechless. The hero and heroine are flawed people who grow and overcome a lot in the book. The supporting characters are just fantastic too. This is the start of a series and I can't wait to find out what happens to these people.
Maddox Kinkade is an Officer with the Gray Box, an ultra secret government outfit tasked with saving the world, this time from a lethal smallpox bioweapon. Maddox and her team are sent to acquire an asset, Cole Matthews, who can get them into the auction for the weapon. When they take Cole away from the Russians, Maddox comes face to face with a face from her past - the love of her life who she thought has been dead for nine years. That is enough to throw anyone off their Secret Agent game, but working with him - that is just dangerous to her heart.
All Cole Matthews thought about when he saw Maddox was how her betrayal hurt . . . and how beautiful she is. Helping her is going to be the real death of him. He has a really hard time reconciling the sweet girl he knew with the lethal agent he is now working with. Like it or not, she is stuck with him and he is going to protect her no matter what. 4 1/2-Stars
May 6, 2019
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Maddox is an officer for the Gray Box, an organization so deep undercover that most people in the know, don't know about it. Nine years ago Maddox told her father, who she didn't know worked for the CIA, about a gathering of Russian mobsters that resulted in her almost fiance's, Nikolai, father's death and eventually Nikolai's. Maddox sees the work she does for Gray Box, neutralizing threats against the U.S. and taking out terrorists, as repentance.
Cole Matthews is what was emerged from the ashes of his former life but when some Russian mobsters attack him, he knows his cover is blown. When he is recused by Maddox and swept into a fight to stop a bio terror attack, he realizes that the past is never really the past.
They’d been as close as two people ever could be. He’d lived for her, killed for her, and, in a million ways, died for her.
Every Last Breath, is the start to the new series Final Hour and was a high energy, quick moving, and loaded story. There are numerous characters and story threads thrown at the reader right from the beginning, Maddox's co-workers at the Grey Box, the father and son villains, the threat of the enhanced small pox strain releasing, and Cole and Maddox's history. I had some problems keeping all the Grey Box characters and their relationships clear in my mind. Castle works with Maddox and is actually her brother but even though it seems they aren't that close (there was mention of how much Castle took care of her in the past) I still felt like their familial bond wasn't felt, her brother could have been any of the characters.
There is a lot happening in this story, Maddox trying to get Cole, who turns out to be the fiance she thought was dead, to help get her into an underground auction to buy an enhanced small pox strain, Aleksander and Val (the two villains) maneuvering to buy that same small pox strain and then trying to orchestrate releasing it on American soil, and the story thread of a mole in the Grey Box. These action threads pretty much dominate the story. The romance thread of Maddox and Cole having a past and then reconnecting didn't have enough time or breathing room to have me emotionally connecting to them. Their past has them already having feelings of love, we don't really get to see them develop them. They spend a good amount of time together but the hunt for the villains takes up most of the time and emotional energy, what we get is Maddox shying away from trusting Cole after he lied to her about his death and Cole still smarting over what he feels was a betrayal by Maddox and being super protective of her, even though she has the skills and knowledge to take care of herself in this world.
As a romance story, this fell short because Maddox and Cole didn't have the depth and time to emotionally grip me but as a suspense, this definitely had the energy and danger to capture my attention. The beginning is very busy with a lot of characters thrust at you and as the story progresses, plots and threads add up but my attention was still captured. Now that the introductions have been made and characters, along with some relationships, and threads have been laid out, I'll look forward to more of a focus and development of more emotional aspects in the next. This series looks to have the potential to have a lot of thrills.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Maddox is an officer for the Gray Box, an organization so deep undercover that most people in the know, don't know about it. Nine years ago Maddox told her father, who she didn't know worked for the CIA, about a gathering of Russian mobsters that resulted in her almost fiance's, Nikolai, father's death and eventually Nikolai's. Maddox sees the work she does for Gray Box, neutralizing threats against the U.S. and taking out terrorists, as repentance.
Cole Matthews is what was emerged from the ashes of his former life but when some Russian mobsters attack him, he knows his cover is blown. When he is recused by Maddox and swept into a fight to stop a bio terror attack, he realizes that the past is never really the past.
They’d been as close as two people ever could be. He’d lived for her, killed for her, and, in a million ways, died for her.
Every Last Breath, is the start to the new series Final Hour and was a high energy, quick moving, and loaded story. There are numerous characters and story threads thrown at the reader right from the beginning, Maddox's co-workers at the Grey Box, the father and son villains, the threat of the enhanced small pox strain releasing, and Cole and Maddox's history. I had some problems keeping all the Grey Box characters and their relationships clear in my mind. Castle works with Maddox and is actually her brother but even though it seems they aren't that close (there was mention of how much Castle took care of her in the past) I still felt like their familial bond wasn't felt, her brother could have been any of the characters.
There is a lot happening in this story, Maddox trying to get Cole, who turns out to be the fiance she thought was dead, to help get her into an underground auction to buy an enhanced small pox strain, Aleksander and Val (the two villains) maneuvering to buy that same small pox strain and then trying to orchestrate releasing it on American soil, and the story thread of a mole in the Grey Box. These action threads pretty much dominate the story. The romance thread of Maddox and Cole having a past and then reconnecting didn't have enough time or breathing room to have me emotionally connecting to them. Their past has them already having feelings of love, we don't really get to see them develop them. They spend a good amount of time together but the hunt for the villains takes up most of the time and emotional energy, what we get is Maddox shying away from trusting Cole after he lied to her about his death and Cole still smarting over what he feels was a betrayal by Maddox and being super protective of her, even though she has the skills and knowledge to take care of herself in this world.
As a romance story, this fell short because Maddox and Cole didn't have the depth and time to emotionally grip me but as a suspense, this definitely had the energy and danger to capture my attention. The beginning is very busy with a lot of characters thrust at you and as the story progresses, plots and threads add up but my attention was still captured. Now that the introductions have been made and characters, along with some relationships, and threads have been laid out, I'll look forward to more of a focus and development of more emotional aspects in the next. This series looks to have the potential to have a lot of thrills.
April 25, 2019
‘Loving him hurt, but the pain was a skinned knee compared to the agony of losing him.’
When we were asked if we’d like to read Every Last Breath, the book in the Final Hour Series by Juno Rushdan, we immediately said yes after reading the synopsis. Talk about a heart-stopping introduction! If you’re in the mood for action-packed romantic suspense with tangible sexual chemistry, duplicity, and a whodunit that will keep you guessing, check out Every Last Breath! Explosive with an abundance of swoony second chance romance and a bit of enemies to lovers thrown in for good measure, what an accomplished and clever debut novel this was from Juno Rushdan.
‘Loving her had been the greatest danger. The biggest damn mistake.’
Every Last Breath is told in the pov of Cole Matthews, a man presumed dead, his ex-girlfriend, Maddox Kinkade, an operative for a top-secret special op, and Alexander Van Helden, an enemy who is hellbent on vengeance and retribution with zero sympathies for anyone who stands in his way, and each voice adds an atmosphere of mystery and suspense.
Cole’s reappearance in Maddie’s life knocks her for six. After all, she’s grieved the death of the love of her life for the past nine years. Maddox is in shock; Cole is full of animosity believing he was betrayed all those years ago. But what really happened all those years ago when it all went wrong? One thing is for sure, they have a lot of unresolved anger towards each other, but their feelings haven’t abated, and their sizzling magnetic chemistry is explosive!
“I’ve got you.”
“No. You don’t.”
“You let me go. You let me grieve. You let me fall.’
Maddox’s Special Ops team, Gray Box, needs Cole to help them stop the release of a deadly disease, but can Maddox and Cole put their past behind them and work together and get the job done?
“Who in the hell are you, Maddox? What’ve you become?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Although they’re wary of one another, Cole’s instincts scream to protect Maddox at all costs, a hard thing to do when Maddie is intent on putting herself in danger at every opportunity. This lady doesn’t shy from doing what needs to be done, and they’re both a force to be reckoned with.
‘Nine years ago, he’d been deadly. Today, he looked sixty-nine shades of lethal.’
We loved the adventure Juno Rushdan took us and buckled in as Cole and Maddox set about saving the world from a crazed, vindictive and dangerous hitman, all whilst dealing with their hearts in the process. The story will conclude Nothing To Fear , coming this August and we can’t wait!.
‘They’d been as close as two people ever could be. He’d lived for her, killed for her, and, in a million ways, died for her.’
We really enjoyed impressive debut, and although there were times it felt a little repetitive, we’re chomping at the bit and eager to get stuck into the next book as we follow Maddox and Cole’s passionate and thrilling journey. The story continues……
Available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come and say hi, at:
✲ TotallyBookedBlog
✲ TBB on Facebook
✲ TBB on Instagram
✲ TBB on Twitter
✲ TBB on Pinterest
July 17, 2022
I think this book may have/has/had an identity crisis.
WTF do I know, though? All I know is I was confused by what it wanted to be.
Let me explain.
For over 50% of the book, the "romance", and I use that term loosely, was at best an afterthought. The action/suspense was the star of the show complete with acronyms galore and obscure spy craft references. It really was a decent story and I actually thought the whole romance storyline could easily be deleted altogether.
So, hypothetical question: say your lover/significant other vanishes and is presumed dead but NINE years later you discover it was all a ruse, what would your reaction be?
Mine would be:
With a side of:
Not Maddox, though. It's almost like she takes it in stride which I just couldn't identify with at all. Cole responds in equally baffling ways by almost gaslighting her into thinking faking his death is no big then being a douche to her.
Confusing people are confusing.
Then they doubled down on the confusion in the second half by flipping the script and turning the whole thing into more romance than suspense which did not work for me. At all.
Mostly because these two have as much chemistry as a bar of soap. I'm told they're in love and crazy about each other ad nauseam but...
So uninspired they were that the albino alligator equivalent of reading events happened at Casa de Cupcake - I skimmed the seggs.
I found it awkward and strange and the bizarro unexplained personality transformation from salty spies into sappy lovebirds was too much for my brain to compute.
Overall, I found the writing to lean more purple than I would've liked. I also was fussy about the plot twist that was left dangling. Undoubtedly, it was meant to entice readers into the series but considering it took me 3 years to finish this one I'm not going to be one of those people.
My opinions, as always, are my own and YMMV.
A copy was provided by NetGalley. Thank you!
WTF do I know, though? All I know is I was confused by what it wanted to be.
Let me explain.
For over 50% of the book, the "romance", and I use that term loosely, was at best an afterthought. The action/suspense was the star of the show complete with acronyms galore and obscure spy craft references. It really was a decent story and I actually thought the whole romance storyline could easily be deleted altogether.
So, hypothetical question: say your lover/significant other vanishes and is presumed dead but NINE years later you discover it was all a ruse, what would your reaction be?
Mine would be:
With a side of:
Not Maddox, though. It's almost like she takes it in stride which I just couldn't identify with at all. Cole responds in equally baffling ways by almost gaslighting her into thinking faking his death is no big then being a douche to her.
Confusing people are confusing.
Then they doubled down on the confusion in the second half by flipping the script and turning the whole thing into more romance than suspense which did not work for me. At all.
Mostly because these two have as much chemistry as a bar of soap. I'm told they're in love and crazy about each other ad nauseam but...
So uninspired they were that the albino alligator equivalent of reading events happened at Casa de Cupcake - I skimmed the seggs.
I found it awkward and strange and the bizarro unexplained personality transformation from salty spies into sappy lovebirds was too much for my brain to compute.
Overall, I found the writing to lean more purple than I would've liked. I also was fussy about the plot twist that was left dangling. Undoubtedly, it was meant to entice readers into the series but considering it took me 3 years to finish this one I'm not going to be one of those people.
My opinions, as always, are my own and YMMV.
A copy was provided by NetGalley. Thank you!
August 16, 2019
Publication Date: April 30, 2019
5-Hold onto your seat - Stars!
This was such a great read!
Right from the beginning, I was sucked into the story and engaged with the characters.
I couldn't put it down and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
This book reminded me a lot of Linda Howard's All the Queen's Men.
Loved the characters!
Loved the story!
Loved the writing!
"A copy of this book has been provided by SocialButterfly PR."
5-Hold onto your seat - Stars!
This was such a great read!
Right from the beginning, I was sucked into the story and engaged with the characters.
I couldn't put it down and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
This book reminded me a lot of Linda Howard's All the Queen's Men.
Loved the characters!
Loved the story!
Loved the writing!
"A copy of this book has been provided by SocialButterfly PR."
May 7, 2019
Juno Rushdan is a new to me author and I feel like I won the reading lottery! Every Last Breath is an intoxicating ride with romantic suspense/thriller taken to a whole new level...
Maddox is a highly trained operative, able to fight her way through almost any situation as she and her team battled the world’s evil. When her past rushed up to slap her in her face, she had to rely on instinct to as she, and her heart, was brought to its knees. A decade of understanding was shot to bits as she and Cole, a man she’d loved deeply and thought lost forever, had to work together battling a global safety threat. Sound uncomfortable? Definitely! Cole’s bitterness matched the bewilderment she felt but with the current situation they had to figure things out on the run…
This was non-stop action and intensity as the dangerous mission they were thrown into together forced close quarters. You know good writing when you feel a part of things including every moment of fear and anger as well as pain. Afraid for the consequences if they failed, and uncertain about where their personal feelings would take them, meant a roller coaster read!
I found the prequel novella to this series and that will have to tide me over until the next instalment. The series storyline is far from finished and I can’t wait for what’s to come!
March 5, 2019
Marie's Tempting Reads ARC Review:
Intense, thrilling and smoldering with passion, I think I found the QUEEN or Romantic Thriller with Every Last Breath!
This book was one incredible rush. Action packed and LOOOOADED with heat and second chance romance I couldn't possibly resist. And dang, I was amazed at the descriptions in this book. I felt like I was THERE every step of the way with Maddox and Cole. I have never felt so on edge as I did with this story. It was sexy and exciting. I had no idea this type of romance existed but now that I do, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be seeking out more...especially from Juno Rushdan because this book won me over in the romantic thriller department. Every Last Breath sure did live up to its name. It took my breath and left me shocked and left my heart thumping madly and now I am BEGGING for the next one! What a RIDE!
Every Last Breath gets without a doubt, a SMOLDERING FIVE THRILLING STARS!
Intense, thrilling and smoldering with passion, I think I found the QUEEN or Romantic Thriller with Every Last Breath!
This book was one incredible rush. Action packed and LOOOOADED with heat and second chance romance I couldn't possibly resist. And dang, I was amazed at the descriptions in this book. I felt like I was THERE every step of the way with Maddox and Cole. I have never felt so on edge as I did with this story. It was sexy and exciting. I had no idea this type of romance existed but now that I do, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be seeking out more...especially from Juno Rushdan because this book won me over in the romantic thriller department. Every Last Breath sure did live up to its name. It took my breath and left me shocked and left my heart thumping madly and now I am BEGGING for the next one! What a RIDE!
Every Last Breath gets without a doubt, a SMOLDERING FIVE THRILLING STARS!
April 1, 2019
2.5 Stars
At almost 500 pages this is one long romantic suspense novel. The thrills were good- a new smallpox virus being sold to the highest bidder and possibly to be released in DC- but the romance left me wanting. For as much introspection that happened in Maddox’s and Cole’s head, not a lot went on as far as talking out and resolving their past.One minute they are hurt and angry over things that had happened and the next they are ready to re-profess their love. There’s an underlying mystery that doesn’t get resolved by the end gearing up for a good start to the next book.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
At almost 500 pages this is one long romantic suspense novel. The thrills were good- a new smallpox virus being sold to the highest bidder and possibly to be released in DC- but the romance left me wanting. For as much introspection that happened in Maddox’s and Cole’s head, not a lot went on as far as talking out and resolving their past.One minute they are hurt and angry over things that had happened and the next they are ready to re-profess their love. There’s an underlying mystery that doesn’t get resolved by the end gearing up for a good start to the next book.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
March 7, 2019
A white-hot, blisteringly sexy thriller that brings new authority to the genre. After tearing through this book that's filled with heart-pounding fight scenes, deep romance, and unforgettable characters, I loved getting to the author bio and seeing that Rushdan herself is a former military intelligence officer. So AWESOME. Super excited for the second book in the series!
May 6, 2019
I requested this book via Netgalley because it claimed to be ‘romantic suspense’. I love romance. I love suspense. I figure romantic suspense should be right up my alley. Well, if this is indicative of the romantic suspense genre I’m in trouble.
First, the suspense part… Our leads are young fit special ops types. They get to ride motorbikes and dress up for 'white tie' parties. There’s guns and gadgets and snipers. There’s underground bunkers full of special spies, enemy agents wanting to purchase bioweapons and the obligatory double agent. Less suspense, more action.
As I’ve only read a couple of books that technically fall into this category, I can’t judge but I must say I think it’s false advertising. After all, would you class a James Bond as a ‘suspense’ book? Would you class a Mission Impossible movie as ‘suspense’? No, you’d call them action thrillers.
I must admit Rushdan writes the action pretty well. I found it easy to follow the action/fight scenes. What I didn’t find easy to follow was the characters. There’s a lot of them and characterisation is not Rushdan's strong point. I needed a spreadsheet to keep them all straight as they tended to blend in to each other. Some are obviously going to feature in the book’s sequels and I suppose a couple stood out as interesting. But, overall, there were just too many.
I’d probably cope with all this if it wasn’t for the ‘romantic’ aspect. Maddox and Cole are attracted to each other. We know this because they keep thinking it. Over and over. Inner thought after inner thought by both Maddox and Cole, telling us they were once really in love and meant for each other because they had such incredible chemistry and sex. (In one particularly silly inner thought, Maddox thinks back to the time they even had sex three times in one day and this proves they were something special.) I can’t even. Not romantic.
Let’s just call it ‘lustful action’ and be done with it.
Not my cup of tea. 2/5
First, the suspense part… Our leads are young fit special ops types. They get to ride motorbikes and dress up for 'white tie' parties. There’s guns and gadgets and snipers. There’s underground bunkers full of special spies, enemy agents wanting to purchase bioweapons and the obligatory double agent. Less suspense, more action.
As I’ve only read a couple of books that technically fall into this category, I can’t judge but I must say I think it’s false advertising. After all, would you class a James Bond as a ‘suspense’ book? Would you class a Mission Impossible movie as ‘suspense’? No, you’d call them action thrillers.
I must admit Rushdan writes the action pretty well. I found it easy to follow the action/fight scenes. What I didn’t find easy to follow was the characters. There’s a lot of them and characterisation is not Rushdan's strong point. I needed a spreadsheet to keep them all straight as they tended to blend in to each other. Some are obviously going to feature in the book’s sequels and I suppose a couple stood out as interesting. But, overall, there were just too many.
I’d probably cope with all this if it wasn’t for the ‘romantic’ aspect. Maddox and Cole are attracted to each other. We know this because they keep thinking it. Over and over. Inner thought after inner thought by both Maddox and Cole, telling us they were once really in love and meant for each other because they had such incredible chemistry and sex. (In one particularly silly inner thought, Maddox thinks back to the time they even had sex three times in one day and this proves they were something special.) I can’t even. Not romantic.
Let’s just call it ‘lustful action’ and be done with it.
Not my cup of tea. 2/5
February 21, 2019
Writing a Romance/Thriller is no small feat. The book has to deliver suspense, action, and simmering sexuality in equal measure. It's a delicate balance to find, and I'm happy to say that Juno Rushdan delivers on all counts.
The romantic leads have a believable will-they/won't-they dynamic, and their spark intensifies as the plot picks up steam. (Favorite line: "Not even Superman had the misfortune of being attracted to his kryptonite.")
The world of covert ops and layered espionage soaks every page, and the occasional POV chapter from a mysterious assassin keeps the action intense while still allowing the main characters the chance to catch their breath. It's a clever technique, and helps Rushdan create a setting that feels like it poses true danger to our heroes. There's no bruise-free James Bond types in this book-- physical combat exacts a toll, even from the victors. But while the operatives at The Gray Box team carry the physical and emotional wounds you'd expect, they can also find romance.
This debut novel tics all the boxes for the thriller and romance, and readers of both genres will delight in the story and look forward to the rest of the series.
The romantic leads have a believable will-they/won't-they dynamic, and their spark intensifies as the plot picks up steam. (Favorite line: "Not even Superman had the misfortune of being attracted to his kryptonite.")
The world of covert ops and layered espionage soaks every page, and the occasional POV chapter from a mysterious assassin keeps the action intense while still allowing the main characters the chance to catch their breath. It's a clever technique, and helps Rushdan create a setting that feels like it poses true danger to our heroes. There's no bruise-free James Bond types in this book-- physical combat exacts a toll, even from the victors. But while the operatives at The Gray Box team carry the physical and emotional wounds you'd expect, they can also find romance.
This debut novel tics all the boxes for the thriller and romance, and readers of both genres will delight in the story and look forward to the rest of the series.
June 11, 2019
Steamy, Sexy and Suspenseful!!!! All wrapped up together. Holy Electricity Batman! This book is red hot! I wasn't quite sure how I would like a romantic suspense novel, but this totally worked for me. The electricity and heat between Maddox and Cole just sparks off the page. I was completely drawn into their story and invested in what was going to happen with them and their relationship. At the same time you have this crazy madman running around the city with a bioterrorism weapon trying to annihilate America. It's like The Notebook and The Avenger's Infinity Wars got together and had a baby, and that baby was this book. I loved it. Super hot romance on one page and total butt kicking, not getting away with it in my house on the next. I could not put this book down. And this brings a whole new light to a genre I didn't even know existed. You have twist and turns and intrigue and too hot to touch passion that leaves you ready for more. It's explosive! Did I mention that I could not put this book down??? This book was such a rush and it checked all the boxes for me! Oh, and the cliffhanger at the end..... Oh boy!! How fast can Juno Rushdan write the next book in this series?? I will be first in line to read it.
Every Last Breath took my breath away!
My thanks to Juno Rushdan, Sourcebooks Casablanca Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Every Last Breath took my breath away!
My thanks to Juno Rushdan, Sourcebooks Casablanca Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2019
I read a lot of romantic suspense and thrillers, but this was my first TRUE romantic thriller. Usually when a book is hyped as a "romantic thriller" it falls flat and disappoints me. Don't mislabel a romantic suspense as a thriller. Publishers should realize this peeves a reader off. Every Last Breath didn't disappoint. There was plenty of action, lots of intrigue, twists, and an intense romance. I wanted Maddox and Cole to work through their issues so badly while the plot kept me turning the pages. The ending was big and tense in such a great way! And now I can't wait for the second book in this series.
April 30, 2019
Loved the book. Great thriller, suspense and romance. Wanted to keep turning the page to see what was going to happen next. Definetly worth the read. Looking forwarding to the next one to find out what happens next. A definet recommend read in my book.
March 1, 2019
Every Last Breath, is the 1st book by Juno Rushdan that I've read. And now I cannot wait to see what else there is for me to devour.
April 16, 2019
Be prepared not to be able to put this book down, read well into the night, and be blown away by Juno Rushdan’s Every Last Breath ( Final Hour #1). This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. Every Last Breath is the first book in the up-and-coming new series, Final Hour.
Every Last Breath is perfectly balanced with intense nonstop action, a plot thick with intrigue and suspense, woven with deception and betrayal, where loyalties will be tested and of course heart-pounding romance. I was surprisingly delighted that the thriller aspect and the bioterrorist plot is not overrun by the romance but perfectly intertwined in this book.
This book was well written, paid attention to detail, and the main characters and the secondary characters were all well developed. I loved the vast range of dialogue between Maddox and Cole; it is barbed, hurtful, soft and caring and intensely hot and steamy. I loved Maddox, and I found her to be smart, bold, loyal and every bit as kickass as the men that surrounded her without losing her soft feminine side. Cole is the son of a Russian crime boss, and he is the epitome of the alpha male, intelligent, determined and incredibly hot. However, he too is struggling with his demons from the past.
Our two main characters Maddox and Cole have a tangled past, things between them are tainted, broken and complicated. They haven't seen each other in nine years, and then they are thrown together by circumstances that are out of their control, to work together, to bring down a madman who is hell-bent on taking his revenge out on the United States by way of a biological weapon.
I don't want to reveal too much of the storyline; therefore I will stop here. Usually, I don't like to compare authors, but in my humble opinion I feel that Ms.Rushdan has earned her self a top spot in the thriller genre right alongside the “big boys.” This book will keep you reading to the very last page and then dangle you right on the edge of the proverbial book cliff, setting you up for the next book in the series. I for one am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Nothing to Fear, due to be published late August 2019. I know that if you give this book a chance, it will take you on a wild thrill ride you will not soon forget.
***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***
Every Last Breath is perfectly balanced with intense nonstop action, a plot thick with intrigue and suspense, woven with deception and betrayal, where loyalties will be tested and of course heart-pounding romance. I was surprisingly delighted that the thriller aspect and the bioterrorist plot is not overrun by the romance but perfectly intertwined in this book.
This book was well written, paid attention to detail, and the main characters and the secondary characters were all well developed. I loved the vast range of dialogue between Maddox and Cole; it is barbed, hurtful, soft and caring and intensely hot and steamy. I loved Maddox, and I found her to be smart, bold, loyal and every bit as kickass as the men that surrounded her without losing her soft feminine side. Cole is the son of a Russian crime boss, and he is the epitome of the alpha male, intelligent, determined and incredibly hot. However, he too is struggling with his demons from the past.
Our two main characters Maddox and Cole have a tangled past, things between them are tainted, broken and complicated. They haven't seen each other in nine years, and then they are thrown together by circumstances that are out of their control, to work together, to bring down a madman who is hell-bent on taking his revenge out on the United States by way of a biological weapon.
I don't want to reveal too much of the storyline; therefore I will stop here. Usually, I don't like to compare authors, but in my humble opinion I feel that Ms.Rushdan has earned her self a top spot in the thriller genre right alongside the “big boys.” This book will keep you reading to the very last page and then dangle you right on the edge of the proverbial book cliff, setting you up for the next book in the series. I for one am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Nothing to Fear, due to be published late August 2019. I know that if you give this book a chance, it will take you on a wild thrill ride you will not soon forget.
***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***
March 19, 2019
I love a good spy thriller with action and a sexy romance. This is the best of both! This was a new author for me and I'm so glad I gave it a try. There was an element of realism that I normally find lacking in the romantic suspense genre. Every Last Breath gave me all the right feels and sucked me in. This was very cinematic and easy to visualize everything happening. Action-packed, smart, not your typical cardboard villain, enough twists to keep me hooked, and a sizzling romance that made me sweat. An edge-of-your-seat page-turner that left me dying to pick up the second book! I've fallen in love with a new series.
April 6, 2019
Every Last Breath is kick-***. This ex-military author really knows her covert ops. With some seriously bad men and a worldwide threat and plenty of toys like comms in diamond earrings and flash bang grenades in chunky buckles, it would be a riveting spy thriller all on it's own, but then egads it's also….very sexy. And did I mention the kick-*** female protagonist? She’s stuck with me for days, and I can't wait to read the next book. What a cliffhanger ending!
April 12, 2019
Hey, book friends! Today's review is of Every Last Breath, the first book of the Final Hour series and debut novel by Juno Rushdan. Get ready, because this debut novelist has just earned herself another fan. As in, "Seriously, is book two out yet?"
Luckily for me, book two is not only in the works but has a set publication date. But we'll get to that.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Casa for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review. We are avid James Bonds fans in my household; therefore, any book that is hailed as being Bond-ish (That's James Bond, to differentiate from any E. L. James fans) has my immediate attention and interest. Replace the British sexpot with an American femme fatale secret agent—I’m sorry, femme fatale operations officer—and you have a novel featuring a badass heroine.
Maddox Kinkade is an undercover officer working for a covert CIA subsect, Gray Box. Today’s mission? Stop the madman threatening to unleash a bioweapon in the country’s capital. With a team fit for duty, and friendships of steel to boot—steel-tipped, no less—they are ready to face off against any enemy, foreign or domestic.
What Maddox isn’t prepared for is her presumed-dead fiancé, Nikolai Reznikov, now Cole Mathews, to shock the hell out of her and turn her already upside-down life on its side. His “death” nine years earlier has pained Maddox in ways that will haunt her forever, and his coming back to life reopens the wound she’s not yet healed from. She bites her tongue to keep from asking the questions she desperately needs to hear. Why did you leave me? Why did you let me think you were dead?
Cole Mathews has wanted nothing more than to be rid of Maddox’s memory for almost a decade. Believing her responsible for the death of his father, Cole stepped out of their life—the life they’d once shared as future husband and wife, the architect and the art enthusiast—to seek revenge for those responsible. Her sudden reappearance into his life is the chance he’s needed to finally be rid of her, only it seems his heart isn’t quite finished with Maddox yet.
Forced to join forces and to each learn who the other has become, they work together to bring Aleksander Novak—known as "the Ghost"—down before he destroys the working government. Maddox fights to keep a tight rein on her personal feelings in order to get the job done, while Cole is forced to face a series of truths that make it all but impossible to leave Maddox in the past.
If either of them is to even consider the option of a future together, they not only have to navigate the monstrous threat they face in Aleksander, but they will also need to accept that the people they were are long gone. Maddox is a scum-sucking spook in Cole’s eyes. And Cole became the killer his father the assassin always wanted him to be.
Evading the Bratva—the Red Mafia—and chasing Aleksander across ocean and through the busy D.C. metropolis, and navigating the line between ally and enemy in both their personal and profession lives, Maddox and Cole, along with her team, will need to gear up and focus on the job, or else there won’t be a future to even consider.
This romantic suspense is the whole package for me. Family drama? Check. (Can you say protective-older-brother-who-is-also-her-superior?) Fast-paced, action-packed badassery? Also check. Emotionally laden, sexily scintillating chemistry? Double check, and then some.
I love series like this whose secondary characters support and enhance the plot line, urging you to get to know them through the novel and each subsequent one after. I want to go hang out at a bar with Maddox's team. Director Bruce Sanborn (the Black Ops Whisperer), the mountain of muscle Castle Kinkade (hey, bro!), Gideon "Reaper" Stone, John Reece, Alistair Allen, and Sean "Ares" Whitlock, these are the guys you hope are protecting our country in real life. The more you learn about the Gray Box operators and analysts, the more you want to consider a career in espionage.
Aleksander Novak is sinister, but his backstory makes his character complex and interesting amidst all of his depravity. Overall, I thought him very well developed. There was only one instance that I thought something he did belied the picture I had of him in my head—which jolted me out of the story for a moment—but he's a villain worthy of Ian Fleming.
Juno Rushdan is quick to jump right into the story, which I love. The book is full of fun action puns and entertaining metaphors. One of my favorites was, "He'd been a moth drawn to a blowtorch."
I don't want to give anything away about the ending, but I will say that I appreciate the fact that Maddox didn't need a man to save her. She fights smart, the action scenes feel realistic (and practically tangible, they're written so well), and I love that she exhibits physicality without unrealistic machismo. She uses her strength and grit and intelligence as a woman would, she relies on her team as a great leader would, and she handles her business! Maddox Kinkade is a character I won't soon be forgetting anytime soon.
As far as warnings go, readers should be aware of the adult language and explicit sexual scenes.
The sequel, Nothing to Fear, is set to be published in August of this year, and I cannot wait. Check out Every Last Breath on April 30th to find out why this series (and this debuting author) will soon be gracing my shelf of honor. I mean, 5 stars? Nothing. This baby's gettin' 5 ninja stars! Juno Rushdan has just been added to my list of favorite romantic suspense series writers.
P.S. Does anyone know where I can get a steel prayer bead necklace? Thanks in advance.
Luckily for me, book two is not only in the works but has a set publication date. But we'll get to that.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Casa for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review. We are avid James Bonds fans in my household; therefore, any book that is hailed as being Bond-ish (That's James Bond, to differentiate from any E. L. James fans) has my immediate attention and interest. Replace the British sexpot with an American femme fatale secret agent—I’m sorry, femme fatale operations officer—and you have a novel featuring a badass heroine.
Maddox Kinkade is an undercover officer working for a covert CIA subsect, Gray Box. Today’s mission? Stop the madman threatening to unleash a bioweapon in the country’s capital. With a team fit for duty, and friendships of steel to boot—steel-tipped, no less—they are ready to face off against any enemy, foreign or domestic.
What Maddox isn’t prepared for is her presumed-dead fiancé, Nikolai Reznikov, now Cole Mathews, to shock the hell out of her and turn her already upside-down life on its side. His “death” nine years earlier has pained Maddox in ways that will haunt her forever, and his coming back to life reopens the wound she’s not yet healed from. She bites her tongue to keep from asking the questions she desperately needs to hear. Why did you leave me? Why did you let me think you were dead?
Cole Mathews has wanted nothing more than to be rid of Maddox’s memory for almost a decade. Believing her responsible for the death of his father, Cole stepped out of their life—the life they’d once shared as future husband and wife, the architect and the art enthusiast—to seek revenge for those responsible. Her sudden reappearance into his life is the chance he’s needed to finally be rid of her, only it seems his heart isn’t quite finished with Maddox yet.
Forced to join forces and to each learn who the other has become, they work together to bring Aleksander Novak—known as "the Ghost"—down before he destroys the working government. Maddox fights to keep a tight rein on her personal feelings in order to get the job done, while Cole is forced to face a series of truths that make it all but impossible to leave Maddox in the past.
If either of them is to even consider the option of a future together, they not only have to navigate the monstrous threat they face in Aleksander, but they will also need to accept that the people they were are long gone. Maddox is a scum-sucking spook in Cole’s eyes. And Cole became the killer his father the assassin always wanted him to be.
Evading the Bratva—the Red Mafia—and chasing Aleksander across ocean and through the busy D.C. metropolis, and navigating the line between ally and enemy in both their personal and profession lives, Maddox and Cole, along with her team, will need to gear up and focus on the job, or else there won’t be a future to even consider.
This romantic suspense is the whole package for me. Family drama? Check. (Can you say protective-older-brother-who-is-also-her-superior?) Fast-paced, action-packed badassery? Also check. Emotionally laden, sexily scintillating chemistry? Double check, and then some.
I love series like this whose secondary characters support and enhance the plot line, urging you to get to know them through the novel and each subsequent one after. I want to go hang out at a bar with Maddox's team. Director Bruce Sanborn (the Black Ops Whisperer), the mountain of muscle Castle Kinkade (hey, bro!), Gideon "Reaper" Stone, John Reece, Alistair Allen, and Sean "Ares" Whitlock, these are the guys you hope are protecting our country in real life. The more you learn about the Gray Box operators and analysts, the more you want to consider a career in espionage.
Aleksander Novak is sinister, but his backstory makes his character complex and interesting amidst all of his depravity. Overall, I thought him very well developed. There was only one instance that I thought something he did belied the picture I had of him in my head—which jolted me out of the story for a moment—but he's a villain worthy of Ian Fleming.
Juno Rushdan is quick to jump right into the story, which I love. The book is full of fun action puns and entertaining metaphors. One of my favorites was, "He'd been a moth drawn to a blowtorch."
I don't want to give anything away about the ending, but I will say that I appreciate the fact that Maddox didn't need a man to save her. She fights smart, the action scenes feel realistic (and practically tangible, they're written so well), and I love that she exhibits physicality without unrealistic machismo. She uses her strength and grit and intelligence as a woman would, she relies on her team as a great leader would, and she handles her business! Maddox Kinkade is a character I won't soon be forgetting anytime soon.
As far as warnings go, readers should be aware of the adult language and explicit sexual scenes.
The sequel, Nothing to Fear, is set to be published in August of this year, and I cannot wait. Check out Every Last Breath on April 30th to find out why this series (and this debuting author) will soon be gracing my shelf of honor. I mean, 5 stars? Nothing. This baby's gettin' 5 ninja stars! Juno Rushdan has just been added to my list of favorite romantic suspense series writers.
P.S. Does anyone know where I can get a steel prayer bead necklace? Thanks in advance.
Read
March 20, 2021DNF @25% / 0 Stars / 0 Steam Fans
Overly procedural for my taste. Attempted to read for the #BrownNippleChallenge
Video review available in Week 8: Feb 21 – Feb 27, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Overly procedural for my taste. Attempted to read for the #BrownNippleChallenge
Video review available in Week 8: Feb 21 – Feb 27, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
April 25, 2019
‘Loving him hurt, but the pain was a skinned knee compared to the agony of losing him.’
When we were asked if we’d like to read Every Last Breath, the book in the Final Hour Series by Juno Rushdan, we immediately said yes after reading the synopsis. Talk about a heart-stopping introduction! If you’re in the mood for action-packed romantic suspense with tangible sexual chemistry, duplicity, and a whodunit that will keep you guessing, check out Every Last Breath! Explosive with an abundance of swoony second chance romance and a bit of enemies to lovers thrown in for good measure, what an accomplished and clever debut novel this was from Juno Rushdan.
‘Loving her had been the greatest danger. The biggest damn mistake.’
Every Last Breath is told in the pov of Cole Matthews, a man presumed dead, his ex-girlfriend, Maddox Kinkade, an operative for a top-secret special op, and Alexander Van Helden, an enemy who is hellbent on vengeance and retribution with zero sympathies for anyone who stands in his way, and each voice adds an atmosphere of mystery and suspense.
Cole’s reappearance in Maddie’s life knocks her for six. After all, she’s grieved the death of the love of her life for the past nine years. Maddox is in shock; Cole is full of animosity believing he was betrayed all those years ago. But what really happened all those years ago when it all went wrong? One thing is for sure, they have a lot of unresolved anger towards each other, but their feelings haven’t abated, and their sizzling magnetic chemistry is explosive!
“I’ve got you.”
“No. You don’t.”
“You let me go. You let me grieve. You let me fall.’
Maddox’s Special Ops team, Gray Box, needs Cole to help them stop the release of a deadly disease, but can Maddox and Cole put their past behind them and work together and get the job done?
“Who in the hell are you, Maddox? What’ve you become?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Although they’re wary of one another, Cole’s instincts scream to protect Maddox at all costs, a hard thing to do when Maddie is intent on putting herself in danger at every opportunity. This lady doesn’t shy from doing what needs to be done, and they’re both a force to be reckoned with.
‘Nine years ago, he’d been deadly. Today, he looked sixty-nine shades of lethal.’
We loved the adventure Juno Rushdan took us and buckled in as Cole and Maddox set about saving the world from a crazed, vindictive and dangerous hitman, all whilst dealing with their hearts in the process. The story will conclude Nothing To Fear, coming this August and we can’t wait!.
‘They’d been as close as two people ever could be. He’d lived for her, killed for her, and, in a million ways, died for her.’
We really enjoyed impressive debut, and although there were times it felt a little repetitive, we’re chomping at the bit and eager to get stuck into the next book as we follow Maddox and Cole’s passionate and thrilling journey. The story continues……
Available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come and say hi, at:
✲ TotallyBookedBlog
✲ TBB on Facebook
✲ TBB on Instagram
✲ TBB on Twitter
✲ TBB on Pinterest
April 25, 2019
Every Last Breath is the first in a new series from author Juno Rushdan and the first of her work I've read. Well, after being on the edge of my seat reading since I first picked up this book, I can assure you I'll be following the rest of this series. This book was awesome!
There was so much I loved about this book. To start, Maddox is one amazing kick-ass heroine with a past that shaped who she is today. It's a past laced with heartbreak and loss and a past that haunts her every day. I loved her. Cole has an equally messy past that, we find early on, intertwines with Maddox's in a family drama way that I couldn't way to dive into. It was deliciously messy and scandalous and added a layer to their current reunion that broke my heart. Together, the sexual tension between them filled the pages and made the dangerous task at hand even more tense. Oh man, how I loved all of it!
Adding to these two dynamic characters is a whole cast of super-secret special ops badasses I have no doubt we'll be seeing more of all of them as the series continues.
Filled with twists, turns, action, smoldering sexual tension, and one helluva cast of characters, this story was incredible from start to finish. Thank you, Ms. Rushdan, for a fabulous read! I can't wait to see what's in store!
There was so much I loved about this book. To start, Maddox is one amazing kick-ass heroine with a past that shaped who she is today. It's a past laced with heartbreak and loss and a past that haunts her every day. I loved her. Cole has an equally messy past that, we find early on, intertwines with Maddox's in a family drama way that I couldn't way to dive into. It was deliciously messy and scandalous and added a layer to their current reunion that broke my heart. Together, the sexual tension between them filled the pages and made the dangerous task at hand even more tense. Oh man, how I loved all of it!
Adding to these two dynamic characters is a whole cast of super-secret special ops badasses I have no doubt we'll be seeing more of all of them as the series continues.
Filled with twists, turns, action, smoldering sexual tension, and one helluva cast of characters, this story was incredible from start to finish. Thank you, Ms. Rushdan, for a fabulous read! I can't wait to see what's in store!
June 22, 2019
Maddox is part of a secret agency that does jobs other agencies sometimes can’t. She is one of the top operators and is about to go on a mission that could change her life. Someone has developed a smallpox virus that is deadly. Cole is a Russian and was Maddox’s boyfriend years ago until she thought he died. He faked his death and Maddox is supposed to try and get Cole to help them. He is still mad because of Maddox, his father was killed. Now together this must go undercover and try to be the winning bid for the virus. But her cover is blown and they barely escape and now an assassin has the virus and plans to release it. Can they find him and stop him before he kills thousands of people?
First time reading this author and I absolutely loved this story. So much suspense, action, and sex. There is a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, so be prepared.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
First time reading this author and I absolutely loved this story. So much suspense, action, and sex. There is a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, so be prepared.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
April 30, 2019
EVERY LAST BREATH by Juno Rushdan is book One in the Final Hour Series. This is the story of Cole Matthews and Maddox Kinkade.
Maddox is a tough women who is a part of the black ops unit. Maddox thought Cole was dead which broker her heart because she loved him and she has grieved for years over him. But now she learns that he isn't dead and he thinks she might have been a part of the betrayal that was done to him. Of course their feelings and attraction is going on full force, but can they get past their feelings where both felt they were wronged? There is evil nemesis who is lurking in the shadows that adds to the drama of this story. I really enjoyed this second chance at love and the page turning story line. Hope to read more from this author.
Maddox is a tough women who is a part of the black ops unit. Maddox thought Cole was dead which broker her heart because she loved him and she has grieved for years over him. But now she learns that he isn't dead and he thinks she might have been a part of the betrayal that was done to him. Of course their feelings and attraction is going on full force, but can they get past their feelings where both felt they were wronged? There is evil nemesis who is lurking in the shadows that adds to the drama of this story. I really enjoyed this second chance at love and the page turning story line. Hope to read more from this author.
March 18, 2019
In Rushdan's debut novel, Maddox Kinkade is thrust into a top secret mission while battling long lost feelings for an unexpected visitor from her past. Every Last Breath is a Kick-ass romantic thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat wanting more and more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews