Darkest Before Dawn (KGI #10)

by Maya Banks (Goodreads Author)

THE ALL-NEW KGI NOVEL from the “incredibly awesome" (Jaci Burton) #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Day Breaks.

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20453984-darkest-before-dawn?from_search=true&search_version=service

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Penguin Group

Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense

Part 10 in a series but could be read as a standalone

My Darkest Before Dawn Review . . .

So, this isn't my first Maya Banks book but it is my first KGI book.

What!!! I know, can you even believe it. Now I have to admit that I have missed out on books 1-9, but it also means that I can just add them to my TBR, so when I get a chance I can catch up on all that alpha goodness.

But doing the right thing didn't always feel right. Sometimes, doing the right thing was ten different kinds of fucked up.

Oh! Boy! Hancock. Such a conflicted soul, he is. He may tow the line but in the end he tries to do the right thing. He's already lost his goal a few times for others, but this time he's determined no matter what to reach his end goal.

Honor is basically a saint, with a strong will and a heart of gold. She ends up being at the wrong place at the wrong time, which makes her end up on the run. Her strong mind and will, is what has helped her survive within an ugly world. After getting rescued by some mysterious elite boys, she thinks her prayers are answered, to only find out that she just walked into her worst nightmare.

Immediately after rescuing Honor, the boys know something is different about her. She quickly gets under everyone's skins, which makes it harder for them to do the right thing. But one life to save many was an easy solution, but now with Honor it changes everything.

There is something about Honor, that makes the good in Hancock come out, but he fights the good fight to keep it at bay.

Yes, he owed her the truth, but it was the one thing he couldn't give her.

Hancock doesn't mean to get feelings towards Honor, but her pureness makes it irresistible to him. However, he is STILL determined to sacrifice for the greater good, even if it guts him. And what makes matters worse, is Honor totally understands this.

"You can't control my feelings, Hancock. You control my fate, yes. My ultimate destiny. My life even. But you can't control me. You don't get that choice over whether I grant forgiveness or understanding or even apologize that I'm not stronger, that I can't just stop fighting and accept that my death will save the lives of so many other innocent people."

As the clock gets closer to the end, everything changes. Only to have a shit storm blow through their already rocky plan. Now Hancock and the boys have to pull everyone in so they can save Honor, and still finish what they started.

"Don't let evil win and let it convince you that you are evil. That you're some unfeeling bastard who craves killing, torturing and shedding blood. Because when you truly start believing that of yourself, then you will become the very thing you hate the most."

What would a romance book be, without the element of assumptions and miscommunications. The sometimes necessary evil. I get why it is such a frequent theme, but it still drives me batty as it's over done. But with Honor you truly get why she jumps to conclusions, and thankfully when she is finally ready to listen to the truth she listens then moves heaven and hell to make amends to an already heartbroken situation.

"No, my darling Honor. Thank you. You are the first time I've ever tasted sunshine."

Was this book good? Yes. What could have made it better? Reading the whole series first but even though I chose to read it as a standalone, I don't feel like it lessened my reading experience. Did I like the story? Yes, very much and I loved the fact that Honor was super strong and worthy of all the men's respect. Did I love Hancock? Yes, absolutely as I'm such a sucker for the damaged/tortured men. Will I read more from this series. Absolutely.

4 Hancock Loving Thumbs up!