REVIEW: Targeted by Kendra Elliot

In Targeted by Kendra Elliot, a trip with the guys from work turns into a nightmare when Detective Mason Callahan finds his boss murdered. That nightmare only becomes darker as the FBI partners with the Oregon State Police and soon discover a serial killer is on the loose. Special Agent Ava McLane, recently back on the job, is assigned to the case with her partner. Unofficially, Mason, Ava’s fiancee attaches himself to the case. With law enforcement officers the target of a killer, none of them can feel safe until the killer is caught. Will they catch him or her before he/she gets closer and claims more victims?

Kendra Elliot took me right into shiver mode from the start of Targeted! She drew me in and kept me immersed in Targeted from start to finish.

Ava and Mason are fantastic, strong main characters with realistic characteristics that effectively made them stand out. Ava has been through a lot professionally and personally. With a lot of difficulty and struggling, she has come through and emerged capable and stronger. Ava’s character showed tremendous growth in Targeted, and though I have not read the other books in the series, the sense I got from her is that she gets stronger and more confident with each book. I liked that she was independent and competent, but at the same time was able to lean on Mason and take strength from him. Mason is strong and protective, but not overly so. He is very supportive of Ava, and I liked how that worked with the plot. He comes across as honest and very caring. Both of them have tough jobs, and both of them give their jobs their all. I liked how they managed to make their relationship work both on the job and off. I could feel the bond they had in this already established but still evolving relationship.

The suspenseful plot of Targeted had me on tender hooks! Kendra Elliot writes this well and scarily believably! The references to horror movies gave me goose bumps, and the unknowns kept me guessing all the way through. With surprises, unexpected twists and characters, and the fear of what would happen next, Targeted was hard to put down. Targeted is very well paced with great flow, and the life of Ava and Mason along with the suspenseful plot are woven seamlessly together.

I enjoyed being taken into Ava and Mason’s lives, I really felt like I was right there with them sometimes. Strong secondary characters and a running sub plot about Ava’s sister add a lot of depth and realism to the story.

Kendra had me all over the place – scared, teary and hopeful. Having not read the other books in this series, I can confidently say that Targeted can be read as a stand alone. I’d recommend Targeted by Kendra Elliot to any reader who likes vivid suspense with a hint of romance.

Book Info:

Publication: June 7th 2016 | Montlake Romance | Callahan & McLane #4

All Detective Mason Callahan wanted was a quiet fishing trip with the guys—a chance to get away and unwind before Halloween.

Until he finds the body of his boss, Denny Schefte, near their remote Oregon cabin. Now all he wants is to catch the sadist who slit Denny’s throat and covered his face with a mask. Mason was the last person to see him alive and will stop at nothing to find his friend’s murderer.

When the FBI learns of the mask left at the scene, they realize they have a serial killer on their hands—one who is targeting cops. They assign the case to Special Agent Ava McLane, despite her engagement to Mason. Barely recovered from her own nearly fatal injury and her sister’s attempted suicide, Ava hopes she is ready to chase another killer.

But as she delves into the increasingly disturbing case, the killer may be closer than expected—dangerously close.