I struggled with the first book in this series but thought I'd give this one a chance. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get engaged by the characters or the story line and the pacing just seemed to drag. This one was a miss for me.

I felt this book took too long to get going. It took me a few starts and stops but in the end I found it to be a good mystery.

I felt this book took too long to get going. It took me a few starts and stops but in the end I found it to be a good mystery.

Only problem I had is that I didn't realise this was book two. So yes I read them in the wrong order. I would definitely advise you don't repeat my mistakes. There are several points that would have made more sense if I had read the first one first.

This book is about second chances. With some action thrown in.

Austin has a very distinct writing style and at times I felt she took the long way round. I think that's why I couldn't get into it. I did enjoy the story line and I really liked the two main characters. It just took too long to tell in my opinion.
But, I would recommend it. It's a good enjoyable story.

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2492731473

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3LGM8ZPIHG5W0/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I made a big mistake when I agreed to review this book by MB Austin. Mainly because I didn’t read the first book in the ‘Maji Rios’ series. The reason I didn’t read the first book was after reading the synopsis I knew it was a book I won’t find interesting. Therefore all I can do here is recommend reading some of the other review posted by true fans of the series so you will get a better overview.
eARC via NetGalley

3.5 Stars. This is the second book in the Maji Rios series and the second book by the author Austin. While I liked the main storyline of the first book better, I thought this book was better written than the first. I would recommend reading book one first since this picks up where that book ended. However, if for some reason you just can’t, I think this book gives enough of the important background information that you would understand mostly everything that is going on.

Rose is giving Maji a second chance at a possible relationship. Rose is attending an anthropologist conference in Sitka Alaska and invites Maji along to spend the week with her. But with suspicious deaths and Russian submarines being spotted in the area, will Rose and Maji have a chance to work on their relationship?

I think the easiest way to classify these books would be action-romance. I was happy that this book spent a little more time on the romance. However, the action part of the book wasn’t quite as exciting as the first. It still was an entertaining read don’t get more wrong, I just would love even more romance and excitement.

While the excitement was not as high, I absolutely thought the writing was better. Austin seems to be growing from her debut. The first book was a little long and would go from excitement to dragging. This books pace was much better and the length seemed perfect. I loved the setting of Alaska but I do think Austin could have used it to her advantage even more.

Last thing I want to mention is I think Maji was a little too toned down in this book. I was very happy with her being more opened to Rose, but overall she lost some of her grit. In the first book Maji was almost superhero-ish, and I really liked that she was such a badass that I kind of missed that in this book. I hope Austin will amp her back up in the next installment.

I think Austin still shows a lot of promise and is going in the right direction. This book was still not totally there, but I absolutely will be reading book 3. If you are an action-romance fan you might want to give this series a try.

This is the second instalment in the Maji Rios series and it seems that there will be at least four books in the series. I’m quite conflicted about it because it didn’t have the romance I was hoping for (although there is much more than in “Strictly Need to Know”) so my disappointment might be more about my expectations than the book itself.

Rose hasn’t seen or heard from Maji in six months but invites her to a conference she’s attending and speaking at in Sitka, Alaska. Maji accepts and takes leave to be with her. Within a day of them being there, people they’ve just met are in danger and even though two mob families were brought down previously, the most ruthless of them all is still out there.

Maji is of Iranian and Chilean descent, speaks eight languages and an expert in martial arts with the body to go with it. She is completely over-protective of Rose but also completely in love with her and knows that her job and past actions put Rose in constant danger. Rose is a beautiful, free-spirited academic who is as in love with Maji as Maji is with her. They’re a hard couple not to like.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of Sitka and the bits of history that were woven into the story. I wasn’t nearly as captivated by the crime aspect of this book as I was in the first because it felt like nothing more than a roadblock to the love Rose and Maji share. I will read the next two in the series because I’ve been hooked in and now I need to know what happens.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.