Never Miss

Author: Melissa Koslin
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 4, 2021

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

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Reviewer: Raechel Kelly

This book wasn't for me. At first, I was excited about a new romantic suspense novel and went into it with anticipation. But as I continued to read, I had a harder time staying engaged because I disagreed with several aspects. 

The plot was interesting, don't get me wrong - it's what kept me reading till the end. And I thought the wrap-up at the end was handled well. The author's writing style was good. I struggled with the Christianity element in this story.  Faith wasn't discussed until well into the book, and when it was, I don't personally feel that it was with a Biblical basis. I agree that Faith and Science go hand in hand, but how it was presented in this book did not get the logic across in a clear and reverent way. I also couldn't agree with the part where it was shown that God chose the main character because of what she could do for Him. God chooses us simply because He is good and loving - our works could never be good enough for Him, but He is merciful. That is why He chooses us - all because of Him, not because of us.

There were also some moral things I didn't care for, nor for the fact that beauty was defined to be only what the main character looked like. I, of course, don't mind when the main character is described as remarkably beautiful, but it irks me when that beauty is defined down to the bone structure of specifics and made to sound like that is the only standard of beauty. 

I also wished there could've been some heavier emphasis on the fact that Lyndon was a strong character. Because he was different and not an assassin like Kadance, he was often portrayed as the weaker of the two. I don't generally have a problem with strong female characters, but I have a problem when it means that the man must be shown as somehow less than - I'd prefer to see it go the same way.

One thing I did really enjoy throughout the story, though, was the cat, Mac. He was undoubtedly my favorite character. I loved how loyal he was and how much personality he had - I wouldn't mind having him for my own personal bodyguard/buddy! 

As with all reviews, I would like to reiterate that these are only my personal thoughts from this book. I am by no means wanting to disrespect the author, as I understand how much work, labor, and love are put into each novel, and I can appreciate that fact alone whether or not I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to Revell through Interviews & Reviews for the copy of this book.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

This debut novel by Melissa Koslin is definitely memorable with a great plot and unique characters. The storyline has plenty of twists and turns that are completely unexpected and makes for an excellent suspenseful atmosphere.

Lyndon, a gifted researcher, and Kadance, a gifted sniper, are unusual main characters with unusual talents who make a fantastic team as they struggle to figure out who is targeting them and who is trying to unleash a deadly virus. Their friendship is fun but the emphasis on physical attraction felt a bit excessive, particularly on Lyndon’s part. Dialogue felt stilted (but perhaps that was a reflection of the characters’ personalities?) and writing was somewhat choppy at parts but the plot still moved at a good pace. I loved Mac, Kadance’s cat, who was like another main character.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, you will enjoy this book. I received the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

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Reviewer: Amy Smelser

So this was a fun and enjoyable romantic suspense. You have your snipers, bioterrorism, a bad guy who is completely whacko, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages to find out how our hero and heroine are going to make it out. Alive.

However, my very favorite part of this whole drama rich story, is the characters. Two completely unique and out of the box characters who are thrown together because they need to survive but stay together because they want to. Both Kadance and Lyndon have pasts that are very shady and they each have unique skillsets.

Lyndon is smart. Super smart, like a walking computer. Not only that but he is also a fighter. He knows how to take care of himself. Kadance is from a family of assassins and her upbringing brings to mind the ancient people of Sparta. Kadance is no damsel in distress and she is not only smart as well, but she has some lethal skills. Lyndon and Kadance come together when just out of the blue, Kadance saves his life from a sniper. But who was the sniper really aiming for? Throw in Mac the cat who barks his meow's and you have a most interesting trio team. And the romance? Well that is very well done as Lyndon is the perfect gentleman and protector. They were right for each other from the beginning and it was fun to watch their relationship play out especially with their unique personalities. It was a bit swoony.

I look forward to more stories by this new to me author. This is my favorite suspense this year.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"I was in the CIA, Special Activities Center."

Kadance Tolle had been trained to hit targets from long distances since she was old enough to position a rifle. Following years of covert operations as a highly trained black ops sniper, her return to normal life had been plagued by a family who stubbornly refused to give her a choice about anything but following orders. No more. Kadance had finally broken free, only to find herself in the line of fire after she instinctively befriends a total stranger in order to save his life.

Dr. Lyndon Vaile is so brilliant that he can hardly carry on a normal conversation, but when a gorgeous avenging angel literally knocks him out of harm's way, he forms an odd alliance in order to survive. Whoever is seeking Lyndon's knowledge about the Ebola virus is deadly serious, and while neither Kadance or Lyndon consider personal attraction a good idea, it seeps into their psyche without their permission. The larger question being, can it survive; can they survive. Hundreds of lives are depending on their combination of instinct and intelligence to do just that. Never miss.

Reading this book could be likened to drinking several cups of black coffee on an empty stomach, the adrenaline factor is high octane from the very first page until the last. What a unique story line, matched by characters who are as individual as their talents, thus offering readers far more questions than answers until the very end. While a bit foggy on spiritual detail, the power of God's presence in a life is certainly lauded, and encouraged . . making Lyndon and Kadance's cautious steps toward romance all the sweeter. This is an outstanding debut and suspense fans will be clamoring for more!

Note: The thought patterns surrounding physical attraction between these two characters are just that; thought patterns, and while their blunt interruptions might raise an eyebrow, they fit the metamorphosis of their characters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders

'Her eyes were deep, but not in a dramatic way---more like she'd seen terrible things no one should have seen, carried memories she longed to forget.'

What a story! A woman from a family of trained assassins, and a brilliant research scientist studying an Ebola virus, join forces to prevent the release of a deadly virus on an unsuspecting society. The action and suspense begin immediately when Kadance Tolle saves Lyndon Vaile from an assassin's bullet, and the danger escalates as they both become targets in this desperate race. Will they be able to find, and stop, the mastermind behind this malicious act?

'Even if she wanted to stay with him longer, have a real friendship, she couldn't do that to him. She was a hand grenade waiting to explode.'

An ex-CIA sniper certainly isn't the usual heroine of a Christian fiction novel, and Kadance appears to be one tough cookie until author Melissa Koslin teases us with suggestions of her goodness and kindness. A trained assassin, yes, but Kadance is totally devoted to Max, her Maine Coon cat, and willing to risk her life to help a relative stranger. Will he return the favor by recognizing her need for redemption? Can Lyndon convince her that grace and forgiveness are available to all of us?

The plot of Never Miss could have been taken from recent news events, but Koslin states that it was written before 2020! It is an exciting novel, laden with danger and intrigue, and the unanswered questions continue until the very end. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate the chemistry between Kadance and Lyndon, and there is also a light faith element. I am giving this contemporary Christian suspense novel 4 stars.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: June McCrary Jacobs

A riveting story with unusual characters . . .
 
Never Miss is the debut novel by Author Melissa Koslin. The book begins with a lot of action which sparked a lot of questions in my mind—the perfect way to kick off a romantic suspense novel, in my opinion.
 
The lead female character is a trained, experienced, expert sniper. The lead male character is a highly-educated, brilliant scientist and self-proclaimed nerd. Both characters have a lot of heavy baggage from their pasts to burden them, and this baggage becomes a focus of the fast-paced action story.
 
There is a fair amount of graphic violence throughout the novel, which I did not expect in Christian fiction. The robotic manner in which one of the characters carries out physical violence and aggression toward others concerned me. But the author did explain the reasons for this behavior later on in the story.
 
The faith thread was unique compared to other books published by Revell in that faith was mentioned sporadically, with one exception. One of the characters shared their spiritual testimony with another character in very personal terms. I found this testimony to be unique but inspiring nonetheless.
 
I always like to try to predict the endings of these suspense stories when I'm about halfway through reading the book. This time I was only partly correct in my predictions. The culmination of the story is rewarding and well-written. Overall, I was amazed at the author's ability to construct such a complex plot, with many sub-plots, without wasting a single word. Every scene in the book contributed to the overall story. This is a fantastic debut for a talented new author.
 
I received a paperback copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

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