Gifts: The Killers, Book 3

Fast read. Page turner. Something was always going to happen and you do get a fun endingHEA and lots of characters

Oh boy did I love this one. And yes, I get that once again I am late to the review party for it (as I have been to the whole series only finding it a few weeks back), but man-oh-man did this one make me happy, sad, terrified, hot under the collar, and everything in-between. “Gifts” by Brynne Asher truly is a gift to behold!Here with the third installment of her “Killers” series, Asher plunges us right back into the mix with her original assassin group, this time with Asa and Keelie’s story. Asa being the oldest, and most stoic of the group, the information gatherer, more reserved than either Crew or Grady, a man of cunning patience and resolve. He is also a divorced father of two teenagers trying to cement a full-time relationship with both when unexpected circumstances take his ex-wife out of state. A caring, beyond overprotective Dad who relishes in the joy of having his kids move in with him after years of only being a part-time presence in their lives, but also a Dad struggling with the realities and complexities of having said kids living with him 24/7. And Keelie, an emotionally guarded city girl and single mom of two young kids, a woman putting on a brave face while internally struggling to adapt to country life in rural Virginia alone after the unexpected death of her troubled husband, a death that reveals secrets that explode her world and force her to take a job as a counselor at the local high school in order to survive financially. A high school that becomes ground zero when sinister circumstances bring Keelie and Asa face-to-face unexpectedly, circumstances that will propel them and their children into the path of immense danger that changes all their lives forever.What follows is a fiercely passionate yet heartbreaking story full of intricately woven, nail-biting intrigue, riveting action, thought provoking life lessons, and powerful emotional growth. It is a luscious, relatable story full of strong, intelligently written characters who embark on a harrowing path of letting go of past demons and having the courage to grab firmly onto second chances at both life and love. Here once again, Asher offers a brilliantly written story world that showcases the struggles of two people fighting to overcome deep-seated fear and uncertainty, as well as embrace the unexpected joys that come with finding a true and steadfast love.Keelie's well-hidden anger and terror in the wake of everything her deceased husband heaps upon her will bring you to tears, leave you wishing you could physically reach out and hug her. Asa's determination to uncover the truth about his daughter's troubles, along with his steadfast resolve to be the man that Keelie needs even when she's pushing him away will leave you swooning and brimming with affection. It is a wholly affecting story that will pierce your heart.I dare say this is Asher’s most compelling “Killers” installment yet, an absolute must-read story within a must-read saga that continues to be filled to bursting with rich and soul touching dialog, and heart melting self-discoveries and revelations. I absolutely loved it!

I found the book to be a good read that kept my interest. The lead male character's disregard for the lead female character's wants when it is opposite of his own and him using her children to obtain them (his caring about them doesn't make it any less wrong) detracts from the romance storyline and makes it hard to root for the couple to be together.

This is one Spectacular Killer of a series!! Action! Love story!! & the cheesiness level is tolerable, 😝 Highly recommended!! HAPPY READING!!

The Killers series continues with the story of Asa and Keelie, and I have to say, this is my favorite book of the series, so far!Summary:Keelie Lockhart looks like she has it all together. Playing mom and dad to her two small children, slowly refurbishing her dilapidated house, caretaker to a menagerie of animals, and working as a high school counselor. She’s determined and doing the very best she can considering all she's been through and lost. No one sees that it’s all she can do to keep it together sometimes, and keep moving forward. With time in short supply, adding a man to her already chaotic life isn’t an option. No way, no how. But Asa Hollingsworth isn’t just any man. He’s a knight in worn-in jeans and work boots, and he’s set his sights on Keelie. With the relaxed, single-minded focus he employs for his once dangerous job, Asa makes it clear they are going somewhere. After years of traveling, Asa’s finally sticking close and making more time for his kids. Being there for whatever time he has left with them before they’re grown is his only priority. At least it is until a chance meeting with the stunning strawberry-blonde woman who won’t leave his mind. Immediately, Asa understands there’s something there between them. Keelie does, too, but trusting in it isn’t as easy. It becomes even harder when Asa must dig deeper into what seems like a case of high school bullying, but turns out to be something much more, and danger lurks just around the corner with Asa’s family as a target. Asa will have to pool all of his patience to convince Keelie to take a chance on him. On them and the most precious gift of all, life.I was looking forward to seeing more of Asa, as I felt he was a bit more mysterious throughout the other two books. He turned out to be even more amazing then I thought he’d be. First, meeting Keelie. It’s easy to see that Keelie has the weight of the world on her shoulders, being mom and dad to her two young children, sole provider, refurbishing her old house, and being caretaker to a slew of animals including goats, dogs, and an old donkey. She certainly shoulders a burden, but never outwardly lets that show. What she had been through, how she became a single mom, was heartbreaking and stressful, but she showed strength in dealing so her kids wouldn't feel that. There was a point in the book where I was over her issues, and quickly becoming frustrated, but Brynne did a fantastic job of leading us through to a solution and made all the frustration make sense. Lol. Now Asa. **sigh** He was the cat’s pajamas. He was trying hard to make up lost time with his kids and be a good dad. And if that doesn’t make you swoon, then how he is with Keelie, Knox, and Saylor definitely will. He wasn’t looking for a woman, but he wasn’t going to pass up one like Keelie. He gives himself and what he can offer freely, not backing down, and not giving up when giving gets hard. I love him and Keelie together. They had chemistry, and I honestly think it was just the beginning of their intimate journey. Had we got more of them, they would have given us even more sizzle. Supporting cast was just as wonderful. We got to catch up with Crew and Addy and Grady and Maya. We also looked in on the recruits we’ve met, most especially, Jarvis, as well as meeting some newbies. Asa and Keelie’s children were sweet, Saylor especially, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Overall, this was an excellent book. I didn’t want to put it down. The suspense was just right, and I honestly wasn’t sure who our bad guy was until he was revealed. What really hooked me, though was Asa’s winning Keelie over. While on the surface they make sense, there is a lot of history to wade through. History that causes friction due to the feelings it evokes. Asa navigated this effortlessly, continuing to give all he could until everyone was on the same page. It made me absolutely fall head over heels in love with him. Brynne, well done on another amazing read, and I can’t wait to read more. In fact, I have plans to go back and reread all of your books just to get my fix. Lol. ♡

Action, drama, mystery, danger, sex…. Well written & love the characters! Good read that you won’t want to put down. Love this series.

I’m new to this author and I’ve been really enjoying this series. It’s well written. The pace is good. The characters are well done. All around great book.

I have been loving this Killers series! Asa is divorced and finally has a chance to have his two children living with him again. He meets Keely when he stops to help change a flat tire on the car that belongs to her date from Hades. They meet again when Asa realizes Keely is his daughter's school councelor. Asa is all kinds of yummy alpha hotness. Keely has been holding the weight of the world on her shoulders since her husband died two years prior, leaving her with two small children, a mountain of debt, and a run-down home she's struggling to renovate on her own. I loved Asa and Keely's story. I think you will, too.

Kellie meets Asa at the end of a rubbish first date when he stops to help them change a tyre. She thinks she’ll never see the hot, helpful man again, but it turns out he’s the dad of one of her pupils and he turns up at her school the next week. Asa couldn’t forget the gorgeous woman he met on the side of the road and can’t believe his luck when he sees her again. He decides he’s not letting her get away this time and barges into her already full world. She is trying to keep her family’s life together after a horrible couple of years and doesn’t think she can take any more being added to her life, so although she likes Asa she is very wary. Asa shows her just how much good he can add to her life. Asa has a lot going on with his own kids and Keelie is drawn into the drama as well. I really liked how different this was from the first 2 books in the series. There was much less emphasis made of Asa’s past, although his friends did help with the problems they were facing. I liked how conflicted Keelie was, but how strong she was as well and that Asa never gave up on her. This book was hot, had lots of suspense and was full of love.

Another story that smashed it out of the park, didn't think the Carpino and Montgomery series could be beaten but the Killer Series does. This story took some dark turns compared to others but the love story of Asa with Keelie plus his relationship with the kids was nothing short of beautiful. I loved reading how the two families blended and getting to know Asa who was a bigger mystery than Grady but definitely my favourite so far. This book had everything you would want in hit romance, family, thrills and plenty of steam.

Really enjoyed this book. Loved Keelie and how she submitted her thought process especially at the beginning of the book.If you had to visualise an older hot man it would be Asa,The way these two burned for each other, was off the scale , plus loved their kids. Everything just fitted into a good story.

Wow book 3 and they just keep getting better and better!!I truly couldn't read them fast enough. I love the laugh out loud humour, thriller, romance, some sex.Most of all I love the interwoven characters we get to know more. Who knew Miss Lillian Rose the crazy aunt was the very same from the home Maya worked with.Absolutely love these book .... Off to down load book 4 💕

Wow. As a non parent, books that involve kids/pregnancy don't really interest me. But this right here? It had a feel of realism, and teen-parent interactions that felt truthful (even from a place of privilege!). Seeing 2 single parents navigate baggage, trauma and all the fun stuff was a joy to read about. Plus who doesn't adore a bit of over-protective Daddy Asa...