Review: No Place to Run by Maya Banks

No Place to Run
Maya Banks {Facebook | Twitter}
Series: KGI #2
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Format: Mass Market Paperback {p.332}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Characters: Sophie Lundgren, Sam Kelly
My Rating:

Sam Kelly was her first love.

The last person Sam Kelly expected to pull wounded from the lake was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercover and then she vanished. She's spent the last months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her life and that of her unborn child—Sam's child. Now she's resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he's the one in danger.

Now he's her last chance.

Sam has too many questions to let her slip away again—like why she disappeared in the first place. This time he vows not to be seduced. But one look in her eyes, and the passion burns again, and Sam knows he’ll do anything to keep her and his child safe. However, Sophie’s dark past is more dangerous than he imagines, and the only way for either to survive it is to outrun it.

He was waiting for her as soon as she opened the door to his hotel room.

I was truly excited for Maya's new KGI series after reading Ethan and Rachel's story. I so loved them and the whole Kelly family, that I was counting down the days to the next installment. With that being said, I didn't love Sam and Sophie all that much.

No Place to Run features one of Ethan's older brothers, Sam, whom we all met in The Darkest Hour. Sophie, Sam's love interest, is on the run from her family, who just so happens to be involved in some pretty dangerous and illegal activities.

There was instant chemistry between these two, even though they both were not truly honest with each other about who they were. Sam believed Sophie to be just a sweet, innocent waitress in a dive bar in Mexico, not realizing that she was actually the kingpin's daughter. The plot was good; not so far out there that there is no possible way it could pass as believable. It was a nonstop thrill ride from the start. No dull moments here.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, something unexpected happens to make you rethink all your puzzle pieces.

And the characters. Of course there was the return of one of, if not my absolute favorite of the Kelly brothers, Garrett. Where can I get me one of those? Of course Garrett is extremely suspicious of Sophie and her motives when she shows up five months pregnant with dire warnings for Sam. He wouldn't be Garrett if he wasn't suspicious.

The rest of the Kelly clan puts in appearances, although we don't see much of Rachel and Ethan this time around. Also there wasn't much of Rusty and her attitude, and no appearance whatsoever by the Kelly twins. This latest installment lacked all the family face time that its predecessor possessed. I guess No Place to Run was setting us up for Garrett and Donovan's story since they were the two dominant brothers other than Sam.

The whole Kelly family did however pull together in an effort to protect Sophie and her unborn baby. Whatever misgivings they had for Sophie, they wouldn't let her and her child be harmed. And when tragedy struck the Kelly matriarch and her husband, everyone stepped up to help.

I can't wait to see the woman who is strong enough to take on Garrett.