From USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus comes the next story in the explosive Redemption Harbor series where sparks fly and so do bullets… they’re from two different worlds. Not only is she innocent, she’s out of his league. He should keep his distance, but he can’t. Not when someone wants her dead. Now he’s driven to protect her, to keep her safe.
What happens when she discovers who he really is?
Hadley moved to Redemption Harbor for vet school and to be closer to her new family. Now that her billionaire father knows about her existence, her life has changed drastically. She just never imagined that she might be targeted because of her family. And she definitely never imagined she would fall for the one man she should never want. A man who kills for a living. A man who’s obsessed with her. A man who will do anything to protect her from the danger lurking in the shadows.
Redemption Harbor Series
1. Resurrection
2. Savage Rising
3. Dangerous Witness
4. Innocent Target
5. Hunting Danger
6. Covert Games
7. Chasing Vengeance
more
We again realize that lines can be blurred with the government and agencies/people they hire. So why do we love to read stories that include these types of characters so much? Is it their alpha tendencies, their kick-ass attitudes, or is it just because they really just want to see good triumph over evil? I think it is all of those things. I was hooked into this story right from the start and honestly I could have read even more of it. The closeness of the people of Redemption Harbor Security resonates throughout the story. Axel and Hadley make you want to join them in their world (not the killing part but you know what I mean). Great read!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Axel is not a member of the Redemption Harbor group, but he still has all the skills to needed to keep Hadley safe. He’s only supposed to watch from afar, but finds himself drawn to her and can’t deny the attraction between them. Hadley was equally attracted to Axel and was determined not to let her brother and friends change her mind.
Loved it from beginning to end.
Innocent Target by Katie Reus is book Four in the Redemption Harbor series. This is the story of Axel and Hadley.
Hadley just moved to Redemption Harbor after finding her father and brother. They are very wealthy protective people that Hadley is getting used to being around.
Axel is a hard man who only wanted to warn Hadley of what information he just came into but once he meets her its hard to just leave.
But where Hadley is innocent he is everything but…can there be something more?
Another riveting read. I love this book, this series and this author. This book is a perfect balance of romance and suspense. It is a thrilling ride from the beginning until the end. I would definitely recommend this book and this series.
This is my very first book from Katie Reus and it for sure won’t be my last. While I sometimes felt that I was missing a little something from not having read the other books in the series, I was able to follow along and make the connections relatively easily. I flew through Innocent Target. The opening sequence alone gave me the big eyes and made my heart pound.
I really liked Hadley. Brave. Independent. Honest. Giving. Determined. She didn’t have the best life growing up. But she didn’t let that deter her from what she wanted for herself. For as much as I liked Hadley, Axel took it to another level. THAT MAN (and he was all man) was a walking contradiction. A gentle giant. A killer with a conscience. And a very soft spot where Hadley was concerned. She was his “job” but quickly became so much more.
Cue the intensity. While Axel knew there was a threat, he didn’t know where it was coming from and the only way to ensure the danger surrounding Hadley would really go away was to take the perpetrators down. Enter Brooks, Hadley’s brother, and his team of justice serving friends.
It was quite an eclectic mix of personalities and they all added to the cohesiveness of the book. I will say that for as sinister as the plot to use Hadley was, I found the way the ring leader faced the music it a hair anti-climatic. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Innocent Target. It was fast paced, intense, sweet, and captivating.
Oh wow what a fantastic story we get this time.
In this one we are diving deep into one heck of a supsense ride and top on the romance and it just keeps you glued to the words.
We met Hadley in a previous book. She is the newly found half sister of Brooks.
So yes her daddy is a rich billionaire but this young woman was not raised with it and doesn’t want it now. She is pretty down to earth and although she doesn’t really know a lot of what her dad or brother or his friends do in life she knows it’s something pretty big. So it’s no shocker when she now becomes the hunted.
Axel was not suppose to look at the photo and want the young woman who was in it. But things start to spiral and when he runs into her at a coffee shop things and then even more intense when he rescues her on the college campus…
He shouldn’t want her but he does…
But will she want him when she knows more about him?
Pickup your copy and find out. This is truly good reading.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, what I’ve loved most about this series is the camaraderie between all the characters.
In each book, we get to know not only the main characters in that book but the entire “cast” play a role. They’re always a team and their loyalty knows no bounds.
There’s a murky start to this book but you’ll quickly find that Axel is nothing, if not honourable – in his own way.
We met Hadley in an earlier book but now we really get to know her. Accustomed to looking after and relying on herself, it’s strange for her to suddenly be surrounded by people that care.
Although there are a few twists and turns in this book, somehow, it’s not as angst ridden as the previous books in the series. This is not a bad thing though. What really shone through for me were the bonds between all of the characters. The trust and loyalty is palpable and pulls at your heart.
I absolutely loved this book – and the series so far. I’m dying for Gage’s story and hope it might be next.
When someone is out to kidnap and torture Hadley, Axel immediately steps in. Just a look at her picture is enough to send his protective instincts into overdrive. Once he meets her face to face, he’s completely gone for the sweet innocent woman who is in a madman’s crosshairs.
Hadley had a rough upbringing and now that she’s met her brother and father she’s finding a contentment she never knew, even if they are a bit overprotective. When she spills coffee on a handsome stranger she immediately feels attraction to him, not knowing that he’s been monitoring her actions. As they become closer Hadley has stars in her eyes not realizing that Axel is keeping a deep dark secret from her. One that has the potential to rip her heart out.
I loved Axel so much! He was so totally in it with Hadley. Every step he took, every decision he made was to keep her as long as he could before the inevitable would happen. Once his secret was revealed there was no way she would want to be with him and my heart hurt at his assurance that all would be over when that day came. And that day must come soon, and he’s the one who must reveal all his secrets to her, quickly. That was just additional angst to an already fraught situation.
Hadley was so sweet. She deserved all the goodness life could offer and she has fought hard to become something more. When things take a drastic turn she never loses her control. She may not be able to physically take down a threat, but she keeps her emotions in check and handles each change in her perceptions with a strength that was compelling to read about. She was the perfect woman for Axel and together they were amazing.
Each book in this series has gotten better and Innocent Target is no exception. Definitely my favorite of the group at this point. Axel and Hadley both checked all my boxes for a great hero and heroine. This is a fast paced read with lots of action, well developed secondary characters that added to the plot rather than bog it down, so much steam you’re going to need a fan, and an ending that will leave you with a happy and contented sigh.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Axel is a contract killer, yet overall a good guy, he falls for Hadley. Mistaken contract, now he wants to warn her, and get out, was easier said then done. She was naive, a new father and family with money. Someone wants her dead. Well done plot of a love they both felt they shouldn’t have, the heart knows best. Protection and love is what Hadley needed, and he was the best there was, a good series, and good plot. Readers will love Axel and Hadley. Can be read as a stand alone, but all in series is good.
Given ARC by Net Galley and KK Press for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
When I read the blurb on this book I knew this one was going to be my favorite of the series. I love the idea of a contract killer falling for a target. Already being a fan of Katie Reus and her Alpha’s, I knew she would do this particular story line justice.
If you have never read this author before, she doesn’t go very dark in her series. While the hero is a contract killer, he is still very much a good guy. He’s just lost faith in the system and has taken it into his own hands to bring down the bad guys.
Hadley is a fairly new character to the series. We got introduced to her in the previous book when she approached Brooks letting him know she was his half sister. Her mom kept her from her father and Brookes growing up and is just now getting to know them.
Hadley isn’t from the world that Axel, her brother and all the other characters in this series are from. She’s still young and somewhat naive but she gets a fast introduction into their dangerous world when she becomes the target.
This is an awesome series and I’m looking forward to the next book.
Innocent Target (Redemption Harbor #4) by Katie Reus ….. I am so lucky to get to read this book through #NetGalley …I have loved all the Redemption Harbor books and this one is no different…can I move there? Axel (a hit man…but not a bad guy) Hadley finds her way to Brooks and her father..the family she thought didn’t want her. Axel finds out she is a target and he vows to keep her safe…we get to touch base with the other Redemption Harbor folks… This is a fast moving story with feels, twists and turns and some fun and sex. I didn’t want to put it down ….loved their HEA and Lucky. Can’t wait for more….
Innocent Target is book four in Katie Reus’ Redemption Harbor series. However, each book can be read as a standalone.
Hadley Lane wasn’t given the option to know her father and half brother until her mother passed away. Now that she’s found them, she’s also found an extended family in her brother’s friends and business partners. So when it’s found that someone has put a hit out on her, everyone rally’s to keep her safe and to try to figure out WHO put the hit on her and WHY. Axel is the reason they even know about the hit. He’s not your average hitman. He only goes after the true monsters in this world and knows he’s not good enough for Hadley. But after only a few days in her company, he can’t find it in himself to stay away. What happens when her brother and the rest of her family figure out who he really is?
I’m actually a fan of this author and her Red Stone Security series is one of my favorite romantic suspense series. But Redemption Harbor has definitely hit second favorite status! And Innocent Target is my favorite after Resurrection (book 1). All of your favorite characters make a cameo in this book, but even if you haven’t read any other books in this series, she writes them all in a way that makes you feel like you aren’t lost. Hadley is young and innocent but she’s no pushover, either. Axel is tough and alpha but has a heart of gold underneath. He’s not the good guy but he’s not a monster, either. He works the gray area in between very well.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I give Innocent Target 4.5 stars. Ms. Reus’ writing style is definitely the type that I like. Her characters are well thought out. The females are sometimes REALLY tough and sometimes not so tough. But none of them cower in fear. They come up swinging when they are knocked down. The males are all tough, alpha characters. But she manages to give each one their own distinct personality. And their love for their women knows no bounds. The suspense in this book kept me guessing until near the end. For someone who prides themselves on usually knowing the “who” in “whodunnit,” that’s a huge thing! All in all, it’s a really good read. If you really like romantic suspense, I personally don’t think you can go wrong with any of Katie Rues’ books in that genre!
I enjoyed catching up with the Redemption Harbor Consulting crew as they stepped in to help Axel eliminate the danger to Hadley. Axel and Hadley were great together, and I loved their sweet relationship. I really liked Innocent Target, and I look forward to the next book in this series!
I voluntarily read & reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.
Another yummy story in the wonderful Redemption Harbor series! Axel is my type of hero. He’s a guardian-protector who comes to town to investigate a tip he’s had pointed out that just doesn’t seem right. Axel is a former good guy FBI who got fed up with his higher ups letting innocents die to catch the “big bad guys”. In civilian life he ends up eliminating permanently the bad guys who escape the system. He gets wind of a contract on Hadley Lane, the just discovered daughter of rich guy Douglas Alexander, Brook’s dad. He falls for her the first time they meet although he tries really hard not to. Hadley Lane took a chance and came to Redemption Harbor to meet her Dad and half-brother when she got the chance. She decides to settle in and go to vet school when warmly welcomed by both of them. She seems innocent but has strong survival instincts and good judge of character because she was left to raise herself mostly and spent her last years in foster care.
This story read quickly because it was so engaging. It had a lot of action and mystery. As always the steamy scenes Katie gives us are toe curling. I really enjoy Katie’s stories and I want to thank her for giving me an ARC of this book for my honest review….go get it folks. You won’t be disappointed!
4.5 stars– INNOCENT TARGET is the fourth instalment in Katie Reus’ contemporary, adult REDEMPTION TARGET romantic, suspense series focusing on the men and women who work security and Black Ops investigations for Redemption Harbor Consulting. This is thirty-two year old, former FBI agent and assassin Axel O’Sullivan, and twenty-two year old vet school student /heiress Hadley Lane-Alexander’s story line. INNOCENT TARGET can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Hadley is Brooks Alexander’s (Dangerous Witness #3) half-sister.
Told from several third person perspectives including Hadley and Axel, INNOCENT TARGET follows the building relationship between former FBI agent and assassin Axel O’Sullivan, and vet school student /heiress Hadley Lane-Alexander. Assassin for hire Axel O’Sullivan is sent notification about a potential target, a young woman who was not the usual type of mark, but a woman who has no idea that multiple assassins are heading her way. To ensure Hadley’s well being, Axel takes personal responsibility for the safety of Hadley Lane, a responsibility that includes quickly losing his heart to our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance between Hadley and Axel as the team as Redemption Harbor Consulting are pulled in to investigate and search for the person responsible for ordering a hit on Hadley Lane.
Axel O’Sullivan is a reluctant assassin but all of his targets are the lowest of the low, people who have destroyed too many lives, ensuring no one is saddened by their loss or disappearance. Meeting Hadley Lane finds our hero with a change of heart as his attraction to, and developing love for our story line heroine includes threats of a personal nature from the men and women who work and own Redemption Harbor Consulting.
The relationship between Hadley and Axel is one of immediate attraction; a palpable sexual energy that sees our heroine wanting more before the truth about Axel is finally revealed. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters include all of the previous story line couples: Colt Stuart and Skye Arevalo (Resurrection #1), Zac Savage and Olivia Carter (Savage rising #2), Brooks Alexander and Darcy Cooper (Dangerous Witness #3 ), as well as Hadley’s father Douglas Alexander. The requisite evil has many faces.
INNOCENT TARGET is a fast paced, intriguing and sexy story line. The premise is suspense-filled and dramatic; the romance is impassioned and breathtaking; the characters are charismatic and sassy. Katie Reus’ energetic cast of characters pulls the reader into a thrilling and intoxicating story .