Last Breath (A Hitman Novel Book 2)

The book is amazing period. They style of writing, the characters the complete story was just perfect. While both book 1 and 2 could be stand alone books ( I would not suggest skipping book 1, it was in my top 10 for 2013) there are no cliffhangers and you feel like you were told a complete story.

I waited impatiently for last breath to be released after reading last hit. And as much as i loved last hit, i think i loved last breath even more! Jessica and Jen write beautifully together. I read this book in one sitting, it was that good! It had action, drama, comedy and of course lots of sex.

plowed thru this book. loved it. loved Daniel...a real knight in shining armor! and Regan, so brave and amazing! a hot, exciting, fast paced romance. has it all. can't wait for the next one in this series!

Loved Daniel but there was something missing. The action and steam were good but the romance felt a little on the hollow side. Still, a very enjoyable read :) This is book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone with HEA however, it may give you more character background reading the first book Last Hit (Hitman) (Volume 1).

Regan: I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I’m at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he’s here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He’s also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it’s wrong to fall in love with him, but I can’t seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath, but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.

Daniel: For the last eighteen months, one goal has dictated every action I’ve taken. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and befriended criminals all across the globe to find my kidnapped sister. In every brothel I raid and every human trafficking truck I stop, I hope the next face I find is my sister’s. In a hidden brothel in Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken, and still sane despite her weeks in captivity. I should leave her behind or send her home, because the last thing either of us needs right now is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I’m less able to let her go.

*I couldn’t wait to read this book. I really wanted to know what happened to Reagan. I just couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from page one. I wanted more Daniel and I got it. I cried a few times for Reagan and what happened to her. Even after all the things that happen to Reagan the banter between her and Daniel was great. I really liked it. And Daniels nicknames for Reagan. God I melted with each new one. This series just keeps getting better. I can’t wait to see what these two talented authors have in store next.

After the stunning first book in this series and where it left things, I was more than eager to dive into this book that shares Regan's story after she was kidnapped by the Russian mob and sold into sexual slavery and about Daniel, the enigmatic hit man full of his own secrets that is sent to find her. Yep, that means this one is a sequel and works best after reading Last Hit. However, it could be read out of order in a pinch.

Oh man, Regan is in her own version of hell. She is taken from her cozy dingy apartment in Minneapolis, roughly brought to Russia by two thugs- one rapes her and then sells her into a brothel. She learns real fast that hoping for rescue and fighting her captures and sleezy johns is a lost cause. A cold evil man- an American of all things- she dubs Mr. Freeze looks her over like he is buying a horse and wants her, but doesn't want her to have any spirit so she is sent to a brothel in Rio for the owner to 'break' her. It is there that another American insists on having her. He buys her for a month and her owner is greedy enough to do it, but soon has second thoughts.

Daniel started out as a rancher's son, then a sharp Delta Force warrior and now a mercenary for hire all so he can find the little sister who has autism, but possesses a brilliant mind. He encouraged her to live a little and her spring vacation with friends lands her snatched and sold into white slavery. His parents are heartbroken and his dad tells him to not bother coming home if he doesn't bring his sister. That was a few years ago. Now, he has done a favor for a friend of sorts and discovered the missing Regan Porter in Rio where he is also pursuing the latest lead on his sister and doing a job for Vasily, the new head of one of the strongest Russian mafia families, by finding him the best hacker Vasily needs for some project. Regan's time as a sex slave have messed her up and he soon learns that she will not just be left at the doors of the American Embassy.

Regan veers between trusting only Daniel and fearing that he has ulterior motives, but seeing Mr. Freeze's bodyguard at the gates of the American Embassy convince her that only Daniel can keep her safe. He has other reasons to be in Rio- dangerous ones, but there is no way she is letting the lethal man out of her sight. He wants her, but he is as good as his word and doesn't take her body. She wants him too, but she is so twisted up that she bounces between terror and need. Not that there is much time to do something about that since they are being hunted by her old handlers even as Daniel hunts down leads for his other jobs. In the end, Regan is faced with the choice of doing what she swore she never would to help Daniel and another girl taken like Regan or forcing Daniel to choose between her and his own little sister.

This book leaped out of the gates at a hard, furious pace and never really lets up. While the first book took its time teasing out the tension in a cold, precise way that matched Nick, Daniel and Regan's story is fairly and messy like them. Regan has survived, but her mind and emotions are all over the place. Daniel is more put together, but his hard, brutal life has left its marks on his soul. These two damaged people are perfect for each other and that is really never in doubt. They have some serious sizzle. I love how Daniel handles Regan's often confusing and selfish needs as a result of her being a rape survivor. He sees her as a beautiful tough woman and he will give her whatever she needs to feel safe and special even if it means that she does all the taking for a while. Oh not that Daniel's a doormat. The few times Regan tries to get manipulate him and use him like the filthy men at the brothel used her, Daniel calls her on it and she learns really quick to either trust him or he'll dump her butt at the embassy with no in between choices. Regan has a certain coping mechanism that just cracked me up and it was a bit of a theme through the book. This girl loves her horror flicks and makes lists with them when she needed to go away inside her mind while she was in captivity.
Even when in a tight spot, she uses this movie repertoire to her advantage:
Daniel stuffs two new guns into both our bags. "So why do you like this room?"
"Two things: no windows and close to the front door."
He grunts, not looking at me as he organizes his new stash of weapons. "So you'd rather be close to the front door than have a bed?"
"The way I look at it, everyone here is dangerous," I say. "If I was in a zombie apocalypse and I wanted to be safe, I'd pick a room with no windows and close to the ground floor. You don't want to be upstairs in case of an emergency."
Then he looks at me and his gaze is amused. "Zombie...Apocalypse?"
"Yeah," I say. "So? I like horror movies. They're underappreciated gems of filmography."
Daniel shakes his head grinning. He doesn't say anything. p. 114 Regan from Last Breath

It was an amazing twisting story. The danger and excitement didn't let up. I loved the surprises that popped up and I really liked where this story left things. Most of the story's focus was on Daniel and Regan's romance development, but it was balanced with the action element. There were appearances by Vasily and then Nick and Daisy. I enjoyed the intro to a few new characters and truly hope we see more of them in the series.

All in all, super-strong continuation of the series. I loved how this one was as good or better than the first book and I loved the very different tones and pacing of the two even though they tie together well. Romantic Suspense lovers who like lots of spice and can tolerate some pretty brutal scenes might want to give these a look-see.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did not disappoint!! From the very beginning you're thrown into the action and its none stop! No worries, there's romance and passion. YES, the steamy, hot sex is included as well! AND HOT DAMN its HOT! Daniel is one dirty talking cowboy, sniper, turned hitman! LOVED HIM! He's totally a book boyfriend! He's kind, sincere, sarcastic, funny, sexy, loyal, protective... I could go on and on... but you'll have to read LAST BREATH to find out more! Remember, he's mine!! LOL!

Jessica and Jen have done it again! They have told a fabulous story of a world where the heroine could have been a doormat or utterly broken, but they chose to tell the story of woman who overcomes the circumstances she's been dealt and moves forward with her life! YES!! A woman who is stronger than she thinks she is!! AND THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU! WOOHOO! These authors KNOW we need more stronger women to read about and know that being strong doesn't make them any less likable! Regan has been through HELL! Yet, she never once put herself down like other heroines how have never been through anything like her! This was a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong - Regan does deal with the situation as a survivor! That's what she is a survivor!

Regan and Daniel have great chemistry and a connection that ignites the pages! While some may think its only physical, they truly due have a friendship and mutual respect that develops as they get to know each other. The circumstances of them meeting may not have been ideal, but this fiction, right? lol They are a couple (and so were Nikolai and Daisy) that you want the author to write another book and fast forward five years and let us see where they are at! See what they are up to, how they have adjusted to "normal" lives and how they are with each other when they don't have guns a blazing at them. Oh, how about a set of twins for one of the couples? LOL Let them deal with two screaming kids! AT ONCE!! Bwuaaaahhaha Bwwaahhhahahaa (evil laugh)

I will say, this series is the type of book I want to hand over to my husband and say "Here read! Series is about hitman! Lots of guns! Action! Yes, its a "romance" but more action and things fit in fine! You'll like it" Now start reading! Oh and the hot steamy scenes...uhm... tonight!" This series is one that men would totally enjoy reading because there is a lot of action!

Overall, an awesome read and I CANNOT WAIT for the next installment "Last Kiss (Hitman, #3)"

4 Daniel-Save-Me-Stars

I really like this series. Last Breath is part of the Hitman series and can be read as a standalone.

It’s Regan and Daniel’s story, yay! I really wanted to read Regan’s story. I’ll just say it, I love a damsel!

In Last Hit, we know Regan is kidnapped and sold into prostitution ring. Daisy asks Nikolai to help find Regan. Nikolai asks his friend Daniel to help.

Daniel is on a mission, to find his sister. His sister was kidnapped and he thinks she is sold into a prostitution ring. He’s already on the hunt for his sister and so when Nikolai requests Daniel to find Regan, Daniel obliges.

The book starts out with a bang. Regan has been in the brothel for some weeks now and you get some insights to what she has been dealing with. It’s not gritty, so don’t worry.

Regan knows she is nothing more than a piece of meat, but they haven’t broken her.

Yet.

Daniel is in Rio looking for Regan. When he finds Regan he is a taken by her beauty, but he has no time for distractions. He’s needs to get Regan, bring her to the embassy and keep looking for his sister. Regan isn’t making it easy on Daniel.

Daniel finds Regan pretty early in the book and I like that. There isn’t any filler writing and we get to the meat of the story. Despite Regan’s situation, she still has a lot of fire and she isn’t going to go down easy. She’s cautious of Daniel and doesn’t know why he wants to buy her. She has been through so much, she doesn’t know if she wants to go with him.

I get Regan. Even though Daniel is good looking, it’s kind of scary being sold to another person who could treat you like crap. I like the banter between Regan and Daniel. Regan doesn’t trust Daniel and Daniel must pretend he wants to purchase Regan for a night, so he treats her like a lowly prostitute.

I also enjoyed reading the subplot. You get to know Daniel and understand why he does what he does. I also like the side characters, which I am assuming will be in the next book. YAY!

If you were a fan of Last Hit, you will not be disappointed with Last Breath.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

Last Breath picks up pretty much where Last Hit left. Regan has been sold in a sex trafficking ring and is stuck in a sleazy bordello with a bleak outlook. Get your tissues for this part of the book because you will need them. I don't advocate trying to listen to the audiobook while you are doing your makeup in the morning (as I did) because it was a ridiculous effort.

We met Daniel in Last Hit as a bad boy acquaintance of Nikolai. We learn in this book that Daniel is not really so much of a bad boy. He is ex-military and searching for his sister who was kidnapped from Cancun, and has rescued countless other girls from the sex trade along the way.

I liked both of these characters, but I didn't have quite as strong of a connection as I would have liked, despite the emotional beginning. I think that it was because of the instalove that occurred and I just couldn't wrap my brain around the sexytime happening so soon after her forced participation in the sex trade. That being said, I still really enjoyed the story, particularly the suspense aspect with the search for Naomi, running from and going up against Mr. Freeze and his thugs, and Mendoza's odd little community. 4 stars / 4 flames.

Iggy Toma and Kasha Kensington narrate this whole series, and I raved about Iggy in book one. He did a fine job here as well narrating Daniel, but I really missed his Russian accent from Last Hit. That's why I am stoked that Naomi and Vasily will be getting a book and can't wait to listen to that one!

I've been anxiously awaiting this book ever since I finished reading the first book Last Hit and fell in love with the story and the world it was set in, with the fate of Regan in question in the previous book I was desperate to get my hands on a copy of Last Breath and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Regan has been sold to a brothel after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, after two months she's given up hope of ever being rescued, Daniel is hunting for his sister Naomi who went missing while on holidays and who was rumoured to have suffered the same fate as Regan, on his hunt he rescues Regan from the hellhole she's in, as they try to find their way out of Rio whilst searching for Naomi she will have to trust Daniel enough to keep her safe and maybe find a way to overcome the horrific abuse she has suffered and move on with her life possibly with Daniel.

I'm really enjoying this series, the books get better with each new release and I can't get enough!

Steamy, hot and sizzling, action packed with a storyline sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

A fantastic story.

Have you ever sat on pins and needles waiting for a book to release only for it to get lost in your TBR and you forget all about it? Well, that's what happened with me and Last Breath. I read Last Hit last year, fell in love with Nikolai and Daisy, and couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series... Except when Last Breath was released it passed by unnoticed.

Well, thanks to the lovely folks at Berkley, I've been given a second chance and I couldn't be happier. Last Breath is hands down one of the best books I've read all year and I'm so disappointed with myself that I let it get lost in the shuffle. That being said, I will not make that mistake with Last Kiss, the next book in the series, which I am literally dying to read!

We met both Regan and Daniel in Last Hit... Regan being Daisy's roommate and Daniel being a co-worker (if hit men have co-workers) of Nikolai's. Regan is mistaken for Daisy, kidnapped, and then sold to a Russian brothel before she is finally sent off to Rio to be "broken in" for her new master. Daniel, while looking for his sister who was also kidnapped, helps find and rescue Regan. Only things don't quite go according to plan...

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely loved Daniel. At first I wasn't really sure if he was going to be more of the anti-hero that you hate to love but the way he was with Regan... Sigh! There was one particular bedroom scene where Regan isn't really sure if she can ever have sex again after everything she went through and Daniel's actions totally solidified his place in my heart. He's this badass hit man assassin most of the time but when it comes to Regan he's a total softie.

And Regan... That girl has been through so much but comes out of it so strong you can't help but admire her. Even in the first chapter I knew that she would become a favorite of mine and I wasn't wrong! Sure she has some issues, I mean who wouldn't after what she's been through, but she really shows her tenaciousness more than once.

What really made this book for me though was the action. It started off strong and kept right on going... I literally couldn't put it down! I had to know what was going to happen, if they were going to find Daniel's sister, if they'd even get out of Rio alive, and if, after everything, they could truly find their HEA. Well, let me tell you that I was not disappointed in the least with how everything played out.

Last Breath is romantic suspense at it's finest and a definite must read! All I can really say is bring on Vasily and Naomi... I am so ready to fall in love with the Russian anti-hero!

*Book kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

Last Breath (Hitman #2)
By: Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick

5/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I must say, these ladies have another hit on their hands! I read the first book and fell in love with Nikolai & Daisy and from that book I knew that Daniel and Regan would be getting their own book and that their journey wouldn’t be an easy one.

Any doubts that I may have had about these characters, were totally WIPED OUT!! Daniel and Regan came out swinging. I want my own personal Daniel, who would search to the ends of the earth to find me. I admire Regan’s strength in the face of the adversity and reality of her life for the last 2 months.

Daniel, a former Army Ranger from a Texas ranch, has been searching for his sister for 18 months, who was kidnapped while on Spring Break in Mexico. Along the way, he’s been rescuing other women who have been sold or will be sold into sexual slavery. His income from being a hitman, finances his search and rescues. He goes searching for Regan as a favor to Daisy and Nikolai. He finds her and buys her, and plans to send her home, thinking that will just be the end of it, when in reality it’s just the beginning.

Regan is a fighter who has learned how to turn off her mind, in order to survive the rape and horrors of being sold into sexual slavery. She’s run-down & suffering, but she’s not broken beyond repair. Yes, she does break down at times…who the hell wouldn’t…but she is also fierce.

Daniel & Regan obtain information on his sister but to be able to rescue her, Regan has to put herself on the line, as they also team up with Vasily Petrovich the Russian and Rafe Mendoza the Brazilian. Daniel is sick at thinking what Regan will possibly suffer, when she puts herself on the front line and her plan if things go wrong. “You’re mine, Regan Porter. You don’t get to decide if you die or not. Because if you do, you’re destroying me, too.”

We do get to see and hear from Nikolai & Daisy, which makes me happy, because I loved them so much. Daniel and Regan are just awesome. I look forward to hearing/seeing them in future installments. “Until my last breath,” Daniel murmurs again. “I’ll never leave your side. Ever.”

This book does set up book 3, but I won’t tell you anything about it, because I don’t do spoilers!! But I think writing it will be a great challenge to the authors. I seriously can’t wait until the 3rd book, to see how they will bring about that story, because there are so many interesting facets. I trust that these ladies will probably blow my mind!

I definitely recommend this series to anyone!

Regan is in a living nightmare. She has been kidnapped, sent across the world, and sold into sex slavery. She has had to do and see things that are the stuff of nightmares. She has been beaten and raped more times than she cares to count. Somehow she is hanging on by a thread but she doesn't know how long she has until it breaks.

Daniel has spent the last eighteen months searching for his kidnapped sister. Daniel is also a hired assassin. Since leaving the military he has become hired killer and has wandered the globe making connections to help him find his sister. He sees is sister's face in every brothel he raids and he will not rest until he finds her.

When Regan sees Daniel all she can see is another man to abuse. That is until he takes her from the brothel and sets her free to go home. But there are more forces at play that either of them knew about and finding out the truth might get them both killed.

Regan and Daniel are thrown together in such a horrible way. They are two lonely people that have both experience loss to such a high degree. Regan broke my heart. She was such a strong character despite the horrible things she had been put through. Regan and Daniel's journey seemed so honest to me. Their relationship that had a sincerity that you couldn't help but root for.

Last Breath was dark, gritty but filled with hope. Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick are a force to be reckoned with! Last Breath is an action packed, emotionally driven story that will you reading the pages quicker than they can turn them. The second book in The Hitman has dialed up the action to an almost break-neck speed.

Originally given 3.5 hearts at Rookie Romance.

Where to begin...I feel like I had very high expectations going into this. It didn't quite live up to those expectations, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this!

Regan has been through hell, fairly literally. She was abducted when some Russian mafia types were looking for her friend Daisy, and then she was raped and sold into a brothel in Brazil. Despite all of this, Regan is a fighter. She refuses to give the sick perverts who visit the whorehouse what they want. I loved Regan's fighting spirit, she's brave and feisty even when her world crumbles around her. The strength of her spirit shines through the whole book.
I love Daniel as well. I loved him in Last Hit and I love him even more now. He's deadly and determined, but he doesn't want to be a part of this dark, dangerous world. He's searching for his sister, and is also looking for Regan as a favour to Nick and Daisy. When he meets Regan, he tries so hard to bury his attraction to her because of all she's been through. He gives her the patience and safety she needs.

I thought Daniel and Regan were great together. They have a palpable sexual chemistry which turns into a passionate and intense love as trust grows between them. My problem though, was how quickly Regan and Daniel were...intimate. She's been raped and abused for the last two months and then after a few days (I think) she was feeling ready for that...I just struggled with that a bit. They're in an intense and dangerous situation, and I guess the trust Regan has for Daniel is very strong because of all the danger they're in. Despite my doubts about the speed they moved, I loved the connection they had. Daniel makes her feel safe and he can also understand some of what she has been through.

The action and fast pace of the plot had me on edge through most of the book. It's dark and there's lots of elements of the story that aren't pretty, but it's absorbing and a great continuation of the series. It works well as a stand alone as well, although I'd definitely recommend reading Last Hit because it's great! I'm very, very intrigued about the next book which will be about Vasily and Naomi (Daniel's sister). It's not a pairing I saw coming and I'm very interested to see what their story will be like.

*I received a review copy for my honest opinion. Thank you!

Last Breath begins a few months after the events of Last Hit take place. Regan is still being held captive in a brothel, yearning to go home but with no way out, she’s almost lost hope. Against her will, Regan fights every man that enters the room but she finds her humanity slowly slipping away. Until the day that Daniel (Nick’s friend from the first book) finds her and fights tooth and nail for her to escape.
Daniel goes after Regan as a favor to his fellow Hitman, Nick. Daniel’s own sister had been kidnapped several months before, so he understands the ins and outs of how these terrible people operate. Seeking both Regan and his sister, he finds Regan in the slums of Rio. When returning Regan to the United States becomes complicated, they join forces to search Rio for Daniel’s sister.
If anything, I think I might have enjoyed Last Breath even more than Last Hit and I really loved Last Hit. Daniel is so irreverent and cocky, so when he’s faced with the utter devastation that has become of Regan’s life, he’s at odds with everything he knows to do. I thought the authors did an excellent job of not so much as redeeming him, because he didn’t need that...but they definitely showed a different side to him that we hadn’t seen before.
They absolutely do not shy away from the sexual abuse Regan receives at the hands of her captors. It was handled really well and I felt emotionally raw reading those torturous scenes. Regan’s mental health and eventual acceptance of her new life now were dealt with realistically. I thought that would scare me away from the story, but in fact it just made me realize the true power of the author’s words.
Extremely emotionally captivating, Regan and Daniel’s desperate escape from Rio is strained, rife with sexual tension, and fueled by desire.The romance between these two flawed characters is sweet, very romantic, with the perfect amount of heat while dealing with the difficult past of sexual abuse. An excellent story that I read through like a crazy person, I can’t wait until the next as yet Untitled story has to reveal. The authors really need to be commended for bringing this fascinating world to life, something that is pretty hard to do.

Last Breath begins a few months after the events of Last Hit take place. Regan is still being held captive in a brothel, yearning to go home but with no way out, she’s almost lost hope. Against her will, Regan fights every man that enters the room but she finds her humanity slowly slipping away. Until the day that Daniel (Nick’s friend from the first book) finds her and fights tooth and nail for her to escape.
Daniel goes after Regan as a favor to his fellow Hitman, Nick. Daniel’s own sister had been kidnapped several months before, so he understands the ins and outs of how these terrible people operate. Seeking both Regan and his sister, he finds Regan in the slums of Rio. When returning Regan to the United States becomes complicated, they join forces to search Rio for Daniel’s sister.
If anything, I think I might have enjoyed Last Breath even more than Last Hit and I really loved Last Hit. Daniel is so irreverent and cocky, so when he’s faced with the utter devastation that has become of Regan’s life, he’s at odds with everything he knows to do. I thought the authors did an excellent job of not so much as redeeming him, because he didn’t need that...but they definitely showed a different side to him that we hadn’t seen before.
They absolutely do not shy away from the sexual abuse Regan receives at the hands of her captors. It was handled really well and I felt emotionally raw reading those torturous scenes. Regan’s mental health and eventual acceptance of her new life now were dealt with realistically. I thought that would scare me away from the story, but in fact it just made me realize the true power of the author’s words.
Extremely emotionally captivating, Regan and Daniel’s desperate escape from Rio is strained, rife with sexual tension, and fueled by desire.The romance between these two flawed characters is sweet, very romantic, with the perfect amount of heat while dealing with the difficult past of sexual abuse. An excellent story that I read through like a crazy person, I can’t wait until the next as yet Untitled story has to reveal. The authors really need to be commended for bringing this fascinating world to life, something that is pretty hard to do.

Last Breath continues the story introduced in Last Hit. While Last Hit does not end on a cliffhanger, it does end with us not knowing what happened to Daisy's roommate Regan. We are also introduced to Daniel, a fellow hit man/friend of Nick. This book starts off pretty harsh as we find out that Regan has been sold off and is in a brothel in Rio. Nick can't go look for her because of the deal he had to make to save his and Daisy's lives and to get out of the hit man business. So, he sends Daniel out after Regan. Daniel is also searching for his kidnapped sister.

I really enjoyed Daniel in the first book, but feel that his personality is portrayed differently in this book. He is more quirky and sensitive instead of a cold-blooded hit man. I appreciated the fact that he tried to be sensitive to Regan and the issues she was dealing with. I did feel that Regan resolved most of her issues rather quickly, as in within days, and was engaged in a physical relationship with Daniel rather quickly following everything she went through. This was a much more emotional read, in my opinion, then Last Hit. There are scenes that are brutal and could be traumatizing to some readers. Other than the speed in which Regan deals with her issues, I liked the pace and plot of this story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This second installment of the hitman series was packed with action, adventure, suspense, romance and a bad*** hero. Daniel has spent his time going through the dreads of society looking for his kidnapped sister. As a side favor, he agrees to rescue Regan, a blonde bombshell who was kidnapped and sold through human trafficking in the first installment. Regan is a survivor! Readers if you are able to handle the strength of survival through degradation, rape, abuse and determination...then you must read Regan's story. Daniel is immediately attracted to her strength and beauty and proves to her that she can overcome her fear of sex and trust through gentleness and protectiveness. Daniel is a man all women would hope to come rescue them if they were in trouble and he will not stop until he gets the job done. He doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. I can't wait for the next installment with Vasily and Naomi. Hopefully Mendoza gets a story.

This was a great 2nd installment to the series and a much grittier story than that first one.

We met Daniel and Regan in book one…. Regan was Daisy’s roommate and Daniel was an associate of Nik’s. I recommend reading book 1 before this one… its not absolutely necessary, but reading book 1 first is going to help the reader understand more about what is going on in this installment. In the first book, we know that Regan , Daisy’s roommate got kidnapped and was not found before the ending. Nik and Daisy’s story was wrapped up in that one… this is Regan and Daniels story.

Regan was kidnapped by the Russian mafia and ended up sold into the sex slave trade.. she ended up in Rio. The beginning of this book is harsh.. we start out with Regan being raped for what we know is not the first time. She’s been in Rio for about 6 weeks and has been used over and over again. Regan has managed to separate her body from her mind though…. We see that,although she vulnerable,sad, and nearly broken.. part of her is still very strong inside. She has not given up hope that she will eventually be found. She doesn’t want to die in this hole. As the men use her body, she lets her mind wonder to other things and tries to think of anything besides what is happening to her.. she wont give up. Not yet……

Daniel is a former spec ops soldier and is currently a hitman for hire. He got into the business by accident… while searching for his sister that was kidnapped and apparently sold into slavery he needed money to keep up his search. He ended up associated with the Russian mafia and is now a killer for hire. He takes jobs that may help lead him to the whereabouts of his sister Naomi. Nik contacts Daniel to go find Regan for him.. Nik is unable to leave the country now that he is settled down with Daisy. He cannot risk drawing attention to himself…. So Daniel has 2 missions now.. find his sister and find Regan.

Daniel manages to track down Regan while posing as a buyer for her time… the buyers are supposed to stay on the premises with the girls and Regan is special. She’s beautiful and blonde and is supposed to be in training for another important buyer who just happens to be a really bad creepy dude. Regan should never be out of site.. but the trader is greedy and takes Daniels money letting Daniel have her for the entire night off site.

Regan is desperate to escape and although she is scared to go with this new buyer, being let out of the compound might be her only chance of escape. Once Daniel has her out of the home he manages to convince her that he’s rescuing her. They aren’t out the gate for very long before Daniel realizes it was a set up … get his money then kill him and get Regan back in to the compound. Daniel is no ordinary man though.. he has skills and he’s not about to let Regan be taken back in. It’s a race to evade the baddies and the locals that will do whatever they have to do to get Regan back. If the main buyer finds out she’s gone.. there will be certain death….. so Daniel and Regan are on the run.. not only to get her back home, but for their lives…

Regan and Daniel are thrown together in the most dire of circumstances… they are both attracted to each other but Daniel feels like a pig for wanting this beautiful girl who has been raped repeatedly for weeks. Regan is beyond confused because she has been through so much.. but Daniel saved her. She feels protected by him. She knows he would never let anything happened to her. It’s perhaps a little bit of hero worship but she can’t help how she feels. She never thought she would want another man to touch her again after everything she has been through but Daniel makes her feel things. It’s not long before they give in to their feelings. Daniel is able to show Regan that although she has been broken, she is strong. She never gave up on herself , even when things were beyond horrible. She’s got a long way to go, but if Daniel can get her back to safety , he’s never going to let her go.

So, we have a lot of stuff going on ! In the middle of Daniel and Regan running for their lives, Daniel is still looking for his sister.. Regan wants to help him find her and she’ll do whatever it takes.. she loves Daniel and wants to help him the way he helped her… even if it means going back into the hell she escaped from to help rescue his sister.

I was hooked from the beginning.. it was a fast paced , sometimes gritty and emotional story. There was a lot of steam and the sexy times were way way hot… Regan and Daniels connection was so good and I loved them together… Why the 4.5 instead of 5 stars? I felt there was a break down in the story towards the end in regards to how her disappearance was explained to her parents and the boyfriend (who sucked) she left behind when she was kidnappedand the ending seemed rushed. But still, the meat of the story was awesome.. I would have just liked a little more depth for the end.

We got a 1.5 installment for more of Daisy and Nik so I’m hoping we get a 2.5 for Daniel and Regan.. I’d like to see how they have settled back into things.

Wow! Last Breath by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick left me breathless!

Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick are a winning team. They have created a series that is dark, edgy, ruthless, scary, emotional, and death defying. Their heroes are bad men living by their own code of law. They play by their own rules and elimate anyone who stands in their way. The books are action packed, contain dark subject matter, violence, and finally a romance that will be their redemption.

Last Breath is the sequel to Last Hit. Regan, Daisy’s roommate, was kidnapped along with Daisy by the Russian mob. They took these women to smoke out Nick Anders and get their retribution. Regan should of never been taken. Because of her beauty her life was spared. She was sold into sexual slavery and moved out of Russia.

Nick has sent a fellow associate to find and rescue Regan. Daniel has his own agenda, to find his missing sister that has been kidnapped also. He agrees to help Nick find Regan and get her home where she belongs. He also owes the new leader of the Russian mob a favor. They want him to locate a hacker known as the Emporor. He is hoping that he will find his sister as well as the hacker. As he unravels the underground traders in human trafficking, he is lead to Brazil. He is hoping that he can accomplish all three missions and come out alive. He will stop at nothing and leave a trail of bodies.

When he locates Regan in Brazil, he is surprised. Instead of finding a broken woman, she has found the strength to survive. She has been badly abused, yet has maintained her dignity and will to survive. She is a fighter.

What Daniel did not anticipate was how deep this human trafficking is hidden. There seems to be one man who holds the key to finding his sister. This man is determined to get Regan back in his clutches at any costs. She is more than a commodity.

They are trapped in Brazil until they can get papers for Regan to get her out of the country. They are being chased by her capters. Not only are they fighting to keep Regan free, they will have to deal with the unstable and dangerous environment boiling over in the heartland of Brazil.

Daniel and Regan are both full of surprises. They are not the people they seemed to be in the first book. They will draw on each other’s strength, become a force to be reckoned with, and will find a love that will be the assassin to their personal demons.

This is not a pretty story. It is hard, gritty, violent, and very real. These characters are strong and are willing to get their hands very dirty to take out the man that has ruined many lives.

At the same time there is a very powerful love story. Two unlikely people will come together and make something beautiful out of the ugly world they are living in.

Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick wrote another amazing and thrilling book. These two are the dynamic duo.

This book ends with a new twist and cliffhanger. Once the reader gets to that point they will be dying for the next story. If Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick can pull that off they will be fricking geniuses. I think they are on their way.

[...]
My rating: 5 of 5 ⭐️

Two months ago, Regan Porter was kidnapped along with her neighbour, Daisy, by a couple of scary looking Russians. Separated Regan was raped and ended up being sold to a brothel in Rio, where she spent all this time chained up, alphabetizing scary movies in her head, while strangers came and used her body, hoping for her to scream. They could wait a long time. Regan wasn't about to give in, but she had all but given up when a man named Daniel came and purchased her for the night.

Former military man, turned assassin in order to find his kidnapped sister, Daniel Hays has been on a year and a half quest. His blond sibling a brilliant hacker who was taken while vacationing in Cancun. Chasing down every trace of her has lead him into brothels all over the world looking for blond, American girls. Encountering and killing the most dispicable of criminals and the pitiful victims of their human trafficking exploits, saving as many as he can. When he finds Regan, he knows she is special.

Two months in hell had killed any feelings of trust or desire to ever be touched in Regan. Afraid, defensive and alert, she doesn't believe Daniel when he says he is there to save her. But when it appears that some people are eager to have her stay around Brazil, and do their damndest to get her back, she concludes her best bet is to stick close to Daniel, who has guns and knows how to use them! Besides, he is making her feel safe in a world where nothing feels safe anymore.

His senses on high alert, Daniel is determined to keep Regan safe. Despite his need to find his sister, he can't bring himself to leave Regan behind. Realizing he is not making it easier on himself, he decides to keep her close by his side, but vows to keep his hands off, regardless of his growing lust. But when Regan starts to tentatively seek some human contact, it takes almost superhuman powers for Daniel to keep his hands to himself. And the more in danger they get, the more entangled they become.....

*****

AH-mazing!!! Fantabulous!! Sensational!!

I unequivocally adore this incredibly talented combo of authors, Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare. Each in their own right great writers, but combined, in this series, they are PHENOMENAL!!

The most attractive part I think for me in this series, is the contrast between the brutal reality of the life of these men - their business like, callous attitude toward life and 'justice' - versus the innocence and wonder they feel, when faced with the beauty of emotions. A contrast so stark and yet so believable.

LAST BREATH is full of similar contrasts in character, ones that make each individual and the story as a whole so colourful and dynamic.
Daniel whose strong protective streak towards his sister and now Regan, literally brings out the animal in him, except, with a cool detached robot-like precision that belies any emotional involvement. Yet he would never be involved in what he does, without a morally just purpose.
Regan who from rather demure, regular girl went to captive whore, enduring mental and physical abuse, but growing in strength instead of diminishing. She comes out with a newly found innocence of sorts, a need to rediscover herself, having seen the world through much different glasses even though she has been able to preserve her mental strength. She has come out a fighter instead of a victim.

The transition in the relationship between Daniel and Regan is rough and beautiful at the same time. Their intimacy crass but tender and so very healing, both sensuous and emotional. The trust they ultimately give each other is heart-warming.

Even Naomi, Daniel's sister, presents a contrast in her naivite versus her brilliance, and her strength winning out over her lack of social ability.
And lastly Vasily, an associate of Daniel's, who represents crime and whose hands are not clean, but who has a clear sense of justice and respect.
These last two, Naomi and Vasily we will see again in an upcoming novel.

An amazing collaborative writing effort of Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare, throwing us in the middle of clever intrigue and gritty action, while at the same time gently exploring the psychological and emotional transformations of the main characters. And despite its rather dark and heavy subject matter, the book does not feel too dark or weighty. Simply sublime!

✨A sinister, carnal and stirring rescue mission.✨

**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**

This book kept the pace moving from the beginning to the end - as Daniel tries to get Regan out of Rio safely, and find his sister too. The more time they spend together, Daniel becomes Regan's rock - and he always keeps his promise of never leaving her behind.

But Regan is not totally broken from her two months of captivity. Regan may be scared to be alone - but she is still a "fighter girl" and remains strong - even putting herself in situations that could bring her more harm.

Daniel and Regan are perfectly matched for each other - regardless of their situation, and what Regan has been through . He handles her with such care and tenderness - giving her exactly what she needs - as he allows her to take what she wants to feel safe. I smiled in so many places in this book - loving their "quips" back and forth to each other - some for fun - mostly for lightening a situation which could become extremely tense.

Daniel found more in Rio than he ever imagined with Regan. Luckily Regan stayed strong while in captivity, doing what was needed to survive - even though she was unsure whether she would be rescued - she hadn't given up in... "Holding Out for a Hero".
Daniel came to save her - and she found her hero...

I have two new "go to" authors - and they are Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare. I really enjoyed the first book in the Hitman Series "Last Hit" - a definite 5 star, but let me say I FREAKING LOVED "Last Breath" so much more - one that will stay with me for a long time!

Holy Crap. I keep trying to come up with something great to say, to start out this review. Fantastic, that’s another way I could put it. Even when there was a lull in the action, it didn’t slow down.

So, as you know from Last Hit, Daisy was rescued and Regan was not. Regan went through he!! and did her best to escape into her mind. And even when Daniel gets her out, it doesn’t end for her. He’s a man. They are all the same and she can’t trust any of them, no matter what they say. She’s afraid of being left behind. Or worse, being sent back to the brothel. Regan is scarred but she is strong. She refuses to be a victim again but, what can you do when there always someone wanting to kill you or take you around every corner.

Daniel has been searching for his sister, Naomi. She was taken and he has followed every clue that leads to nowhere. His rescue of Regan and his search for Naomi ultimately leads him to the same place. And, it’s deadly. He has killed many to get where he is now. He, too, knows that the ones you can trust are few and far between. Just when he thinks it’s safe or as safe as it’s going to get, an ally changes that.

There is so much action and suspense in this story! And, I love that. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. And, when it comes to the chemistry between Regan and Daniel? Make sure you have a fan handy. It’s HAWT! Already looking forward to the next book in the series!!

This is the second book in this amazing series, each one can be read very successfully as a stand alone. "Last Breath", certainly stole my breath! The first few pages shredded by heart to pieces, I didn't know if I wanted to continue, but the authors changed the tempo to such an extent, that Regan become the "survivor"! She overcome the odds, yes she still has "baggage" and most probably always will, but she is a fighter and with Daniel at her side - a winning combination. And what about Danniel? A deadly killer? Oh yes! Foul mouthed? Oh yes! Protective? Oh yes! A shining star in Regan's black fog? Oh yes! In short - he's amazing! The synopsis covers the story really well, so I won't repeat, but it's so different from the total innocence of book 1. This book is not for the feint hearted. It's raw, ugly and brutal but so, so compelling and through all the blackness emerges a beautiful love story! Truly worthy of 5 stars!

Last Breath is another example that should have been slotted as an Adult novel instead of YA/NA but still managed to create a grizzly story that isn't always shed in light but instead treads a line of the darker side giving credit to Jessica's capability for creating a story with both sexy and dangerous in it.

Wow, Wow, Wow, this book was amazing. From beginning to end I was hooked and I don't just mean yeah I want to read this book no I mean I NEED to read this book why is everyone disturbing me with life, and kids and husband wanting food, and job expecting me to come to work doesn't everyone know I am wrapped up in Last Breathe right now and I DON'T WANT TO BE DISTURBED. Thats how much I needed to read this book. I loved book one I was upset when it ended and impatiently waiting for book two, I knew this book would be good, it just had to because no book could be written so well and have such a griping story with great characters and then have book two fall flat, so when Jen Frederick asked me to read this book I was over the moon happy.

In book one Regan was kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery and Daniel was sent by Nick and Daisy to find her and bring her home. Now months later Regan has endured more than anyone should, at first she was sure she would be rescued but as time went on she wondered if she had been forgotten. Daniel has been on a mission, his sister was kidnapped and sold and he has been on her trail since then knowing that he can't give up till he finds her and brings her home. So when Nick asked him to find Regan along the way he agreed. Daniel has scene enough in the years trying to locate his sister, but when he see's Regan she surprises him, not only is she beautiful but she also is strong and though everything she has endured she's still a fighter.

When Regan is finally freed she is both happy, scared, and leery of Daniel but agrees to put her trust in him instead of go out on her own. Soon Daniel and Regan find out that the man who bought Regan isn't happy she was taken and wants he back. Now not only does Daniel have to find his sister and get them all home but he has to keep Regan and himself alive. The more time they spend together the easier it is for Regan to see Daniel isn't another man to hurt her but a man who loves her and a man she can trust, and the two begin to fall in love, but new revolutions are brought to light about the man who has Daniels sister and who she really is, and when Daniel thinks he can finally have it all they may not make it out alive.

I loved this book, I mean I really loved this book. It's one of those books you don't want to end because so many books can never be as great as this one. The beginning of this book is gut wrenching and painful and unbelievable sad (please read the warning) but it was written so well and the strength that Regan shows is just beautiful. I loved Regan she had tons to deal with and she did it all beautifully she was so strong and watching her learn to fall in love and trust Daniel after reading what she endured was even better.

I had Daniel all figured out in my mind after book one but he was so much more. The love he had for his family was amazing and that he saw Regan and not what was done to her was so awesome. Daniel was another bad boy just like Nick, I have always loved the bad/good guy thing and thats defiantly what Daniel was and it works and works well in this book. I mean who doesn't love a man who will do anything to protect those he loves, and will die before he lets anything happen to them.

I also found the storyline about sex trafficking very interesting and I think this was very well written but still gritty and real. Both Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick didn't shy away from the ugly in this book and thats what made it so good, and made the ending that much better because to sugar coat this book would have ruined it. I also think they were very brave to tackle this topic and they not only did it well but blew my mind with how well they wrote it. I can't wait for book three there are several people I hope we get to see more of as well as more of Regan and Daniel. I also love that we got more of Nick and Daisy and that the new characters we get introduced to were just as interesting as the old ones. This book was just amazing plain and simple, I loved it from beginning, middle to the end and everything in between.
*thank you Jen Frederick for so kindly giving me a copy of this book to review

I received an early complimentary copy for an honest review.

I liked this book, it was easy to read and the pace was perfect. Without dwelling on the ugliness of the flesh-trade criminal aspect, the book moved on very quickly to being a rescue-romance book with exciting action scenes. This was in large part because of Daniel, all ex-military uber-hotness with a piggish sense of humour that was endearing in its inappropriateness. I expected Daniel to be more of the silent, intense, knuckle-dragging, one word sentence speaking hero, but he was everything but that. He was not shy to show Regan his attraction for her but he was ever-protective and sweet when he needed to be. I love this kind of hero, who can convince me he can blow-up a building to save the heroine, make quirky and semi-offensive trash talk and looks great without a shirt, all at the same time. Regan was cute and sad in the beginning, the horror of what had happened to her was not enough to kill her spirit, and soon, with Daniel's help she was rejuvenated and perhaps even re-invented herself better and stronger. I appreciated that about this book. Neither Daniel nor Regan pretended to be naive or innocent in what they were doing or when they had to fight to kill, and I would have loved to see Regan take on Vassily, who got them into trouble in the first place. I also liked this book much better than the first one, but what it did have in common was that sense of isolation, that all of this is taking place in an alternate world where current world politics should apply, but they don't. The police never play a part in any of this so I find the series strange to read, like they are disconnected from the world the rest of us live in. All in all, I like what I have read from these two authors and when they mix humour in with romance, they do it very well.

When You finished the reading this book you could say ''wow,that was hot'' Like me. In the First book I kind of hated Regan. I wasn't know everything about her but she was kind of whore... But Now Look at her!

And I know everything about her. She is such a strong person that she was still waiting to someone to save her. After Everything! After What she thru! Can you believe it? I Can't ! I couldn't If I were her! I would just kill myself or something,honestly.

Daniel... God! These boys killing me! There ARE hot as hell and they can do whatever takes to save the girl!

Can't wait to read Vasily and Naomi! Book 3 <3

After reading Nickolas and Daisy's story in Last Hit, I was beyond excited that Regan and Daniel were getting their turn in the spotlight. I greatly appreciated their secondary roles and knew they would have a special tale to share.

The writing duo of Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare really know how to create a dramatic romance. They got back together and delivered another stellar read. This pair really knows how to create ultimate alpha males and feisty females to entertain readers from start to finish.

Regan's life has recently taken a drastic turn for the absolute worst. She has been captured, sold, transported, and now being trained to be the perfect sex slave. Regan isn't going down without a fight and I found her inner strength very inspiring. The power she held within was wonderfully described and I feel her vibrant personality light up the pages. She didn't let that tragic experience ruin her beautiful soul.

Daniel has been on the hunt for 18 long months and finally has a solid lead on his sister's location. Rescuing Regan was supposed to be a short stop along the way but he never planned for her to cling onto him. Shouldn't she be eager to return home? Turns out these two aren't separating anytime soon and I was giddy with anticipation. Their chemistry was sizzling but their odd arrangement meant no mixing business with pleasure. Plus, Regan just escaped a horrific situation and Daniel doesn't need any distractions. Too bad!

Under normal circumstances it is difficult to say if Daniel and Regan would have found each other but I am overjoyed that fate had a hand in their paths crossing. Even though there was a ton to overcome, they eventually find peace within each other's embrace. Even badass Daniel can be romantic.

I loved the constant danger lurking on every page that had the potential to destroy everything. This aspect kept me on the edge of my seat and snatched my complete attention. This novel put a new spin on romance and I loved every explosive page. Happy reading!

This was a great book. I really loved the hero. One of my favorite book heroes ever. His thoughts and what he would say....yum! If you are worried about the subject matter, please don't. It was handled really well. This is not a dark read.

This series has not disappointed me yet. I love reading from both characters point of view. My heart broke for Regan in the beginning of the book. But Daniel is everything her fragile heart and body need. The Hitman series is a must read and I can't wait to start on the 3rd book soon.

I love series that are complete, but bring secondary characters into the next novel. Those are the only series I am willing to purchase these days. This one is worth the money and the wait and I cannot wait for the next one.

Such a fantastic read. Who doesn't love a badass alpha male with a tender side? I seriously couldn't put this book down and that's saying a lot. Fantastic writing. I can't wait to read more from Jen.

I absolutely loved every minute of this book. I read the first book in the series when it came out and it was amazing. I have been waiting impatiently for Last Breath and it was everything I expected and more. These two authors are phenomenal in their writing. Reading this book, you feel as though you are traveling the streets of Rio along with Daniel and Regan. Regan was such a relatable, likeable character, and the writers did a great job of conveying the reality of her situation without tiptoeing around issues. Daniel was an incredible hero and the perfect fit for Regan. This book had hot romance, exciting action scenes, humor, angst, and best of all, an incredible love story. I am officially obsessed with this series and will now be impatiently waiting for book three!!!