King of Hearts (Entangled Ignite)

by Kay David

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Maybe romantic suspense isn't for me, or maybe King of Hearts just wasn't the romantic suspense for me. I think it's most likely the latter, since I did start to enjoy it once the story picked up. Unfortunately, that wasn't until about 80% in. It's all about King Landry, a Texas deputy, who is out for revenge. His father, sister, and brother were all brutally murdered by a drug lord, Pablo Ortega, also out for revenge, after King's father shot his father during a robbery. King has moved to a new town, taken a new name, and stalks the man who killed his family. Of course, Pablo isn't far away, and murders start up again on King's property. His boss teams him up with an undercover agent, Jessie, to help solve this case without knowing that King is much closer to the crime than he lets on.

The plot of King of Hearts seemed exciting and suspenseful in the beginning, but it really dragged on and was quite boring. For the most part it felt like King was just moping around about how he can't let himself get close to Jessie because then Pablo will come after her, too. The two officers had already had a one night stand prior to these events, and both of them want more, but won't let themselves for different reasons. Jessie is undeniably attracted to King, but she spends a good chunk of the book remembering how her ex was a lawman with secrets, and now she can't get involved with King because he's clearly a lawman with secrets. That's mostly what's going on, with a few near death experiences thrown in for good measure, and King tampering with evidence so no one can make the connection back to him. For the first 80% there was a lack of romance and a lack of suspense. Yawn.

Then finally things picked up. The last 20% of King of Hearts is nonstop action and drama. Jessie finds out King's secrets and its torn between what's right to do as an officer and her feelings for him. King is dead set on his revenge, whether it gets him killed or not, because he wants his remaining loved ones to be safe. There's plenty of people who aren't who we thought they were, and some gun fights. It's finally what I was expecting it to be when I picked it up. There's still a sad lack of romantic activity, but I did enjoy the ending a lot more than I did the rest of the book.

King of Hearts is sadly a bit of a disappointment. It's neither romantic or suspenseful despite having some great material to work with. Jessie and King are fighting their feelings in order to remain professional and distant, which should have created an insane amount of sexual tension, but didn't. There is one sex scene, but it's essentially of the "fade to black" variety which I am not a fan of in adult novels. The plot had all the makings of a great mystery but it largely takes a back seat to the character's personal problems, then gets crammed into the last few pages. Perhaps it'll work better for readers who don't mind a slow build up then an explosion at the end, but I am not that reader.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.