5 Smooches!
Synopsis
WARNING: Hot-Blooded does NOT end with a happily ever after. It contains drug use and graphic sex, language, and violence. The story is intended to entertain, not to condone or glorify illegal or immoral activities. This book is unsuitable for sensitive readers and those under the age of 18.
*Written in 3rd person with multiple POVs.
‘Ohana is everything…
When an accident claims her mother’s life, Keahilani Alana must take charge of her `ohana (family) or risk losing what little they have. With an underage brother to care for and no education, she has few options. The door to a heavenly hellish opportunity opens when she stumbles upon a valuable secret her mother left behind on the slopes of an extinct volcano—a legacy that tempts the family with riches beyond their wildest dreams. But the secret is much bigger and more sinister than they realize. As reality unravels and exposes eerie truths about the ‘ohana that should have remained deep under the mountain, Keahilani must either resist the call of her blood or risk being consumed by its darkness.
Blake Murphy is an assassin working to infiltrate a new Hawaiian cartel. His investigation reveals that Keahilani, the sexy surfing instructor he pegged as an informant, is much closer to the drug ring than he thought. Passion ignites between them in the bedroom, but their ironclad ties to opposing interests pit them against each other everywhere else.
When tensions reach the breaking point and her ‘ohana is threatened, the only cure for Keahilani’s hot-blooded fury is a loaded clip with a body bag chaser.
They don’t call her Pele for nothing.
Review
What the heck did I just read? Hot-Blooded surprised the hell out of me and in an amazing way. I am huge fan of Kendall’s Hard Rock Harlots series and I was excited to read Hot-Blooded. I went in blind, avoiding synopsis and reviews. I knew I was going to like it. I mean helloooo, Kendall’s writing is crazy good. However, I was in no way prepared for the insane journey that I took with Keahilani. She broke my heart, made me scream, and I admit at some points I wanted to strangle her. She has to be the most horrible “good person” I have ever read.
This book captured me right away. In only the first few pages Keahilani watches her mother die. She immediately steps into the shoes of care taker and decides right then and there that she will do anything for her “ohana”. ANYTHING.
Hot-Blooded is not considered a romance but it most definitely is a love story. It was actually a love story within a love a story. Some of my favorite parts of this book are Keahilani reading excerpts from her mothers diary; her mothers story of meeting Keahilani’s father.
Really, what interested me the most through this entire novel was Blake and Keahilani’s relationship. These two really broke my heart. They were pretty much their own worse enemies; letting greed, power, and their families get in the way of a “them”. Their relationship was messy, volatile, and often bloody. The sex scenes were scorching hot and scary. I am not sure how Kendall managed to pull that off but she did.
She and Blake were criminals. Killers. Lovers.
This book pretty much had it all; drug dealers, criminals, goddess’, love, family, and mystery. It was all blood, and guts, and fire. It kept me hooked from the very first page. It also had a good bit of paranormal aspects to it. It was really fantastical and mysterious. I kinda loved that about it. Like the synopsis said…this book is not an HEA and is most definitely a cliffy. I am left feeling more than a little mad about the ending but I really am a glutton for punishment because I love the wait and suspense of waiting for the next book in a series. It is true that this book is nothing like the Hard Rock Harlots books but it is also like nothing I have ever read; a true blend of all kinds of different genres.
Amie
