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K.B.

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Excruciatingly Long Conclusion…

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-30-25

Excellent writing as usual by D.A. Young but I have never been so relieved to reach the conclusion of a series before. It was excruciatingly long! Lol.

This was an emotional roller coaster of a ride. Billy and Ransom’s twenty year battle to finally get their HEA was fraught with so much angst and so many other plot lines that I would’ve been happy if they’d both gone in another direction in the end.

I do have a huge gripe, though. I felt that the big blowup that ended Billy’s marriage was too contrived and lacking in the treachery factor to have ended a seventeen-year marriage. It seemed that Billy had always been only halfway in the marriage from the beginning and was looking for any excuse to end it, once Ransom became single again. That information she lost her sh!t over was almost two decades old and Nick was entitled to his secrets. She never even gave him a chance to explain. I liked Nick and felt that he deserved better. Plus, it kept being said that Marcus didn’t like Nick but there was never any rational reason given for his dislike. Especially since Nick had never been painted as a villain.

All in all, I enjoyed this well-written story, even though it was too long and drawn out. Billy and Ransom’s story should’ve ended at Book 2. I’m glad the two MC’s finally worked it out in the end, although Billy’s likability took a bit of a nose dive for me.

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Plot All Over The Place

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-29-25

Ok, so this is the first 4-Star rating that I have given the series, due to it’s plot line veering waayyy off course away from Billy and Ransom’s story, and focusing 70% of the story on all the other side characters and their shenanigans.

Don’t get me wrong, the story was as well-written and entertaining as the first two books, only it’s not really Billy and Ransom’s story anymore, and probably shouldn’t have been branded as such. To be honest, even though I liked most of the other characters such as Marcus and Claudia, I don’t care all that much about their own personal journeys to be subjected to endless minutes and chapters with their pov’s. They should have gotten their own separate books.

Needless to say at this point, I am disappointed that the story has shifted so much away from the MMC and MFC, and feel like it is simply a money grab for the author to extend the story across four books when Billy and Ransom’s story could’ve been wrapped up in two.

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A Thrilling Ride!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-28-25

The story was riveting and engaging. The narration grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the very end. Great plot, characters and world building. D.A. Young is a talented writer and deserving of all of the great reviews her books have gotten. On to Book2!

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Another Cliffhanger But I’m Still Hooked!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-28-25

First, I’d like to express my frustration with the author drawing out Billy and Ransom’s story over FOUR books! It just seems like a bit of a money grab, but I love the series and will buy the other books because I’m already invested. Lol.

Book 2 was just as riveting and engaging as Book 1. The story and narration grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the very end. Great plot, characters and world building. D.A. Young is a talented writer and deserving of all of the great reviews her books have gotten.

Oh yeah, and I pray that Lorelai gets her payback in the next book!

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Another Hit!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-26-25

What can I say? The DS cross series is the epitome of a fine detective novel. DS cross is an endearing straight shooter with no drama. The supporting characters are also very likable and engaging, and helps to keep the story realistic and interesting. The storyline itself was original and a true who dunnit. I look forward to reading more!

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A+++ Detective Novel!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-26-25

This is a new to me author and now one of my favorites! I have been searching diligently for some while now for a new favorite detective series, and finally found it in the DS Cross series. The world building and character development was spot on. The methodical process of solving a complex crime kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat with little to no frustration, or with a need to dispense with disbelief, as so many books often do.

I highly recommend this series and am looking forward to reading the next books!

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Excellent Follow-up!

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-21-25

What an excellent follow-up story to Book 1! This story followed alongside the Lion & Mouse book that I’d already read (maybe book 5?), but was told from JP and Eden’s POV, I loved getting to know Jean-Pierre and Eden a little better, as well as JP’s other three cousins.

My one complaint, however, and the reason I gave the book only 4-stars instead of the 5-stars I’ve given all of KW’s other books, is that I found myself fast-forwarding through the repetitive sex scenes that seemed to happen every other chapter or two. Come on KW—we get it, JP and Eden have mad attraction for each other and a hot sex life! That had already been established in Book 1.
I felt like the over saturation of sex scenes were used as filler and took away from the action and actual story. Personally, I would prefer to have fewer but more meaningful chapters in a story, rather than a lot of empty chapters filled with sex.

Another thing that aggravated me and made no sense was the fact that something as widely available as cosmetic surgery, especially when it comes to someone as wealthy as Jean-Pierre, who could easily afford it, was never mentioned as an option or practical solution to Eden’s disfigurement, versus JP compounding the problem with his over the top actions. SMH on that one. He could’ve expressed his unconditional love to Eden by taking her to a plastic surgeon.

But this is fiction, however, not reality.

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Team Jean-Pierre!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-20-25

After reading all of the Lion and Mouse books, I fell in love with Jean-Pierre and was excited to read his and Eden’s story. And I was NOT disappointed! Bravo Kenya Wright, you did JP’s character justice and expanded on his and Eden’s connection, which I hadn’t fully grasped in the Lion and Mouse books. I loved JP and Eden’s story and look forward to reading the second book!

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Want a Refund…DNF’d at Ch. 19

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-14-25

This book proves that art truly is in the eye of the beholder. I cannot believe all of the positive reviews for this book and hate that I got suckered in because Corrupt Kingdom was pure garbage. It has the most ridiculous storyline and even more ridiculous characters. I was ready to quit reading around chapter 7 but forced myself to give it more time in hopes that my initial negative reaction to the plot and characters would turn around and improve. Nope. The more I listened, the more I rolled my eyes or frowned.

Cyrus was supposed to be a ruthless, powerful, immoral man but I never glimpsed any of those traits. He was the typical man to fall in insta-lust over a woman’s looks and decide he somehow claimed ownership of her. And not in a hot, alpha male way either. There was never any chemistry or build-up to anything between the two main characters.

Ivy’s character was portrayed as being very immature and there was no substance there for me to connect with her or sympathize with her plight. And the narrators’ voice made me hate Ivy even more, as it was a bit whiny and lacked zero warmth and inflection to convey emotions. Everything with her was snarky and petty. The narrator for Cyrus wasn’t much better but did a better job than the female narrator. If you have to TELL the listener that you’re angry or that you have raised your voice, instead of showing them, you aren’t a very good narrator. This is basically what happened with Cyrus and it was very laughable. All in all, I would NOT recommend this book unless you enjoy being constantly annoyed.

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Action Packed…But Too Long

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-12-25

Yet another home run by Kenya Wright! This story was a little too long for my liking but I’d rather get a long, well plotted-out story with a satisfying conclusion, than a rushed story left with a lot of holes.

That being said, I think I am about done with Kaz and Emily’s story. I truly did have to suspend disbelief at the level of absurdity with Emily’s psychotic alter ego and the enablers around her. Kaz has also been losing steam with me the last few books, as he now seems like a different person from the man who dominated the firsts few books, and not in a good way.

The only things that saved this story for me was Blue’s POV, which a lot of reviewers didn’t like, but which I loved as a distraction from Kaz and Em’s nonsense. I like King David but am firmly Team Giorgio! He is such a fascinating character and there were so many laugh out loud moments for me with his dialogue. I also love Maxwell and hope to hear more about these characters in future books.

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