It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.
His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he’s built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive.
To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.
The Darkest Hour kicks off my new action/adventure romantic suspense series that focuses on the Kelly family. I’m super excited about The Darkest Hour. I’ve waited a long time to tell Ethan and Rachel’s story. Right now there are plans for at least six books, and I hope to do more :)
Ali, a reader on the Writeminded Readers loop, asked for recommendations for books that involved a husband and a wife who for whatever reason were forced apart and the story focused on them coming back together. I always call them marriage in jeopardy stories and I LOVE them. It’s a particular favorite theme of mine. So tell me what you think of them? And if you’re so inclined, share some of your favorites! I’ll choose one winner at random from all the comments posted. The winner will be asked to provide their mailing address so I can ship the autographed ARC. I’ll leave entries open until this coming Sunday and I’ll post the winner Sunday night.
Good luck to everyone!
I think what I like most about “marriage in jeopardy” stories is that they show that marriage takes work and committment. The easy thing to do is walk away when life gets dramatic… Three of my favorites are ‘The Wedding’ by Nicholas Sparks, ‘The Summer of Two Wishes’ by Julia London, and ‘Stay With Me’ by Maya Banks (of course!)
love your books, new to your books and have read all that I can find– write fast…. can’t wait
thanks
b
As long as I like the characters I’m usually pretty good with any plot. The marriage jeopardy sounds like a good premise. And I’m afraid I’m horrible at remembering titles.
I have to say that I haven’t really read a lot of “marriage in jeopardy” books besides your “Stay With Me” (which I really enjoyed) and “Ain’t She Sweet” by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Oh, and A Season Beyond A Kiss by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(which I also really enjoyed, primarily how their falling in love changed as they had a baby and became parents). I really like the fact that these kind of books typically show how a couple, who have already fallen in love and gotten married and are committed, can separately change and grow apart or face a huge obstacle and can fall back in love and get through their challenges. My favorite moments in those books always seem to be at some kind of breaking point at the end of the couples trials where they both just overcome their fears about each other and the future of their relationship.
I love the whole “marriage in Jeopardy’ theme. I believe it shows that no matter what some couples grow through you can still find love at the end of the tunnel. I love reading these types of stories.
i enjoy marriage in jeopardy stories. i can’t wait for your new series!!
First of all I just love your books and I can’t wait to read the Darkest Hour!
Second, I love the theme marriage in jeopardy because I like reading about couples that have a history and didn’t meet at the beginning on the story. I also think as some comments mentioned that marriage take lots of work in real life to it makes the story more believable and readers can better relate to the plot.
I like the marriage in jeopardy stories, but what I really like are the relationships in jeopardy stories, like when a couple is seperated by time, or issues or what have you. I have been reading alot of Diana Palmer stories lately and I find that in about half of her stories, I am close to tears with the circumstances of the relationships and how the fight and try to get the relationship back together.
I’ve never really cared that much for “marriage in jeopardy” theme stories until I read Stay With Me, in Linger and ever since then, I’m all for it. Who doesn’t like emotional wrought scenes where people fight to stay together because in reality, people don’t just fall in love and stay in that happy place.
my 2 favs are stay with me by maya and summer of two wishes by julia london.
My absolute favorite married and finding their way back is Lora Leigh’s first Elite Ops book, “Wild Card”. I also loved Lorelei James’ “Strong SIlent Type”. I guess I am just a sucker for a happy ending.
In my opinion, there don’t seem to be many books out with this theme. Maybe I’ve just missed them but I’m really looking forward to this series.
I enjoy marriage in jeopardy stories. I like to see a couple get a second chance at HEA. The Darkest Hour sounds great. I love the cover.
Oh gosh… Marriage in jeopardy stories hit to close to home for me. Give me a new romance, or an old flame or even just a couple together… but marriages.. umm.. I don’t deal well with. But… being uncomfortable and pushing pass certain boundaries is a good thing as a reader! But I do love HEA!!!
The Darkest Hour has always intrigued me! Thanks for the chance!
I loved Stay With Me. I’ve made a list of all the favorites people have shared here. I love this theme. One I laughed out loud reading was “If You Could Read My Mind” by Jeanie London. A very cute premise. My favorite part of this kind of thing is when the guy has to grovel a little to win his lady back.
I really enjoy this theme. I also love it the friends firdt then lovers added into the mix. I like the challenge in a relationship ;)
So many to choose from I can’t think of any except for the some of the previous mention ..
Stay With Me – Maya Banks
Wild Card – Lora Leigh
Coyote’s Mate – Lora Leigh (there are a couple of Breed books where the mates refuse one another .. would that count?)
“Beat of Temptation” in An Enchanted Season – Nalini Singh (Refused mates again)
:winks:
I absolutely LOVE relationship in jeapordy stories. I’m a big fan of PNR books and my fave theme seems to be when there are so many obsticles to be together that it seems impossible. I love when a story breaks my heart (i.e. Ethan is mourning the death of Rachel) and I can cry my eyes out with the character, and then I find hope; real hope that makes my breath catch as I turn the pages, one after another b/c I can’t seem to put it down. At times like that it almost feels as if my continuing to read the book will determine the outcome for them…so I must go on. Thank you for the chance to win this book. I really look forward to reading this [no matter how I acquire it :)].
I love marriage in crisis type stories because I think so many women can relate to them, me included. While I enjoy reading Erotica, for 99% of all women that’s a true fantasy (although I’d be willing to try to make fantasy come to life with Micah Hudson)!
My favorite marriage in crisis story is “The Ocean Between Us” by Susan Wiggs. I also have to give a nod to Nicholas Sparks with “The Notebook”.
Can’t wait for The Darkest Hour!
One of my favorites is Sherry Thomas’ “Not Quite A Husband.”
Hello,
One of my favorite themes in romance books is reunited couples. So, the marriage in jeopardy theme is one that draws me in every time. I can’t wait to read The Darkest Hour. Some books that I’ve enjoyed with this theme are: Still Mr & Mrs by Mary McBride (although this book is probably 6-7 yrs ago) & Just the Way You Are by Barbara Freethy (about 10 yrs ago). More recently, I enjoyed Christy Reece’s No Chance & Cindy Gerard’s To The Brink (although I think they were divorced in this story).
Lora Leigh uses this theme alot and it always makes me a bit teary. Another good one is Beneath The Surface by M.J. Fredrick.
Sounds great! I’ve been waiting for this one!
I think that when done right they are great. The couple comes out stronger in the end and it is believable. When not done right it seems like a waste of what could have been a good story. I have read some of both. In one instance by the midway point I really didn’t care if they got back together and by the end I wished they hadn’t. With that being said, I have read some that I found myself rooting for them almost from the start. Learning about the shared history between the characters I think adds a lot to a story. It makes it easier to fall in love with them. I am excited about this story for two reasons one being I have yet to read a bad book from you and two you gotta love soldier types.
Love the theme, most of them I’ve read has been through Silhoutte. I enjoyed Stay With Me and how she was protecting herself from more pain. That she wouldn’t back down from what she wanted.:)
I love that theme, I like the whole divorced but find a way back to eachother too, Like in Cindy Gerard’s To the Brink. I also like LL’s Wild Card, Lorelei James Strong Silent Type, and Stay with Me
I like reading these types of stories. They show how couples work through their relationship/troubles and find their HEA.
The Darkest Hour saounds really good.Can’t wait for it
Since I am a much older reader & married for almost
50 years, I especially like to read about couples,
whatever their situation. After a mention on the
Writeminded Loop about To The Brink, I checked out
my TBR stack. Sure enough it was there, lonely and
unread, so I scooped it up and I’m now reading it.
(Good book by Cindy Gerard.)
Pat Cochran
I love the marriage in jeopardy theme. Too often in books marriage is made to look so easy which is not reality so its nice to see real life!
Ahhh Maya I think what sets the marriage in jeopardy theme apart is, it doesnt have the typical “meet attract, fall in love” scene. The couple has been there, done that and they are now at crossroads and need to find their way back. Her wedding wish by Jillian heart is a personal favorite of mine. How the couple gets back together with two kids in toe is absolutely fantastic! After reading stay with me i really wanted to to read another one from you on this theme. Ofcourse I read Long road home and the short one love me still…all with couples having to find their way back together but none of them were married. Its great to see one on this theme from you. Desperately awaiting its release! Love ya!
I’m really interested in reading this book and am so excited for it to come out.
This is a total new theme to me in the romance genre and I so looking forward to finding out if it’s one I’m going to enjoy.
:)
I hope I’m not too late! First of all I love your books Maya. You are actually one of the first romance author’s I read. I am not sure how I feel about marriage problem stories. I have never read one. I do like to read stories about couples that go through problems and overcome them. I guess the principal is the same…. love conquers all!
Sounds like a good one! Can’t wait to read it.
I can’t recall any marriage in jeoparday stories I’ve read, except Stay With Me, which was awesome. But I have to say there’s not much sexier than a man fighting for his woman. There’s just so much more to it when there’s a relationship and a bond already established and they have to fight for it to stay intact. I love the premise and can’t wait to ready the Kelly brothers. Thanks for all your awesome books!
I can’t really think of any marriage in jeopardy stories but I am really looking forward to this book coming out.
Fighting for someone you love is always romantic. Looking forward to reading this one!
I can’t remember if I’ve commented on this yet. I love romance in general but one of my favorite themes in romance is second love.
And I mean like reunited love, two people who were in love but were separated. Then they find themselves in love again later.
I’m super excited about this new series Maya.
Your writing is always so amazing and refreshing :D
I really love Rawhide & Lace by Diana Palmer–its one of Diana’s early ones and one of her best I think. Another good one is one of yours Maya–”Stay with Me”–you write some terrific books but SWM is one of my tops about couples getting back together when the odds are against them….then Lora Leigh has one “Wild Card”–I love this book so much by LL that I have had to reorder the book because I wore my copy out because I read it over and over again…those are my top 3 fav…I do love couples who reunite back together and I am soo psyched for The Darkest Hour to arrive…. :)
i seen on facebook, this is last day for contest, well i lucked up and got here !
Marriage in jeopardy thems are often interesting, if they´re written well, because of the idea to “work” on a relationship. It needs commitment and compromise, respect and acceptance. Your new bookd sounds really promising. I love “Stay with Me” and “The strong silent type” by Lorelei James.
Good luck and many greetings from Germany, Heike
i like stories of navy seals, or any other miitary, they are hero’s and they are hunky men. I enjoy any kind of romance, and if its husband trying to hook-up again with his wife thats so cool. This is personnel, but I’m having trouble in my marriage and I’ve taken some advice from books that I’ve been reading, its not working but thats not saying much for he doesn’t want to work at it anymore, but in the book its sounds so good when a man says I’m sorry, and tries to make-up. My husband nver says sorry for he thinks its all my fault, never takes the blame for anything. But thats my life, gotta get out of this empty marriage, but I love a good romance.
I love “Marriage In Jeopardy” storylines. There is just something about two people that love each other more than anything in the world, try to over cvome their differences to reunit. Some of my favorites are from the Harlequin/Silhouette Collections {to many to mention} But I’m looking forward to your new Series. Happy Writing.
I love reunion stories so marriage in jeopardy is a play on that. Lorelie James’, Strong Silent Type and Theresa Weir’s, One Fine Day are two great reads with this theme.
You know, I think it’s a sign of just so much reading, but I can’t think of a one. . . and I know I read books where it starts that the hero/ine already married. Had a hard time thinking of reunion stories, even though I know I’ve read plenty of those too. LOL Think most of the ones I’ve read with marriage in jeopardy have been historical, but I imagine I’ve read plenty with the theme in the Presents line or such. :)
Lois
i like books like this one by you. Cause I know marriage takes work I’ve been going on 25 yrs to the same man. and lord knows there were times when I didn’t just want to divorce him but was serisouly searching for a way to hide the body. It’s hard to stay together for sure. But I am not particularly fond of the one that divorce and then get back together. I think that should be the last option after you’ve tried everything else. but if it’s a good story I’d probably read it. Your new series sounds fantastic and I am looking forward to reading it.
I love the theme marriage in Jepodary. There is nothing sexier than two (or more) people so deep in love and then encountering a hiccup in their relationship. I absoultely loved Stay with Me. Any story of a marriage in trouble, even if it a subplot in the story, brings tears to my eyes. I cry like a baby when the partners finally get back together and have their HAE.
Chris
First I’d like to say, Maya, I LOVE your books!!! Thank you for writing them for us to read!!!
As for the “marriage in jeopardy” theme, I like it, but for me my “keepers” are the stories where you can really FEEL the emotion between the two characters.
A few of my favorites right now are historical romances. Jennifer Ashley’s “Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage”, Kathryn Smith’s “When Marrying a Scoundrel”, and Cathy Maxwell’s “The Earl Claims His Wife”.
Also, I’ve noticed quite a few of y’all have mentioned Lora Leigh… I’m going to have to pick up some of her books! I’ve heard nothing but good things about her!!
i always enjoy the stories of couples in trouble and find out what they really mean to each other.
i enjoy stories of the man falling for the average woman
when he leasts expects it like in judith mcnaughts perfect.
something like jennifer crusies book agnes then hitman, and lorie o’clare tall, dark and deadly stories, and elizabeth hoyt to desire a devil and to beguile a beast.
i also enjoyed the brotherhood series by jr ward.
looking forward to your new series.
As popular as marriage in crisis stories are, they just don’t interest me. I’m not knocking them what so ever. I really think the reason, is that my age and non-married status don’t allow me to personally connect with the characters.
I would love to read this one I like the excerpt and have read all your books that you have written so far within the last year you are one of my favorite author and i try to always grab up your books as soon as their out
I’ll close comments at 6pm central standard time. Any entries received with a time stamp afterwards won’t be counted. I’ll post the winner shortly!