One part Pride and Prejudice.
One part Romancing the Stone.
All the feels.
Don’t miss this laugh-out-loud, action-packed romantic comedy, new from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis, writing as Kay Marie.
Agent Leo Alvarez is on his way to Hawaii when his partner calls in a favor–the mob is after a pastry chef in NYC, and he’s the only one who can get to her in time. With his dreams of Mai Tais and sandy shores ruined, Leo rushes to her rescue. But when he arrives at her apartment, he’s greeted by an upturned nose and an icy blue stare. This damsel in distress doesn’t need saving. Good thing he’s a retired marine who never backs down without a fight.
After a childhood racked by scandal, McKenzie Harper has learned to loathe surprises. So when a strange man knocks on her door, interrupting her morning routine, she has no choice but to politely shut it in his face–no matter how deeply his hazel eyes might pierce. She has places to go, pastries to bake, and promotions to secure. Or she did, until three masked men kidnap her and throw her into the back of a van… Suddenly, that white knight doesn’t seem so scary.
He’s a cocky Fed with a killer smile. She’s an uptown beauty with a biting tongue. If they want to survive, they’ll have to learn to work together–assuming they don’t kill each other first.
**To Catch a Thief is a romantic comedy series that’s one part humorous and one part heartfelt, with a dash of adventure, a hint of criminal activity, and a whole heap of fun! Each book is a stand-alone romance with a HEA.
MY REVIEW
I want to first thank the author, Kay Marie, for asking me if I wanted to participate in the blog tour. Thank you and I will love to be in any future ones.
I received a copy from the author for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. The was no compensation for this review.
Off the Grid is the third book in the To Catch a Thief trilogy. It centers on the couple, Leo Alvarez (Nate’s, from book one, partner) and McKenzie Harper (Jo’s second baking buddy). It is a battle of the wits meets a woodsy expedition. And it’s filled with laughs.
I had always liked Leo even in book one so when I found out his book was the third, I had to jump in. From reading it, I fell for him even more. The playful teasing exterior is only made more interesting with the strong and troubled interior. Here is a guy who struggles hard to give the shirt off his back, protect, and provide without asking for anything in return. It’s the kind of personality that had me falling for my husband, so clearly, Leo and I are meant to be.
McKenzie starts off seeming like this closed individual with OCD tendencies and a very New Yorker attitude. They are… at least in media… a more jaded group of people. Stern. In control. Not in the mood to deal with BS and has no problem dishing out the sarcasm. And though I am not New Yorker, I can get behind that with McKenzie. I understand her. I can be like her at times.
I too, McKenzie, think that squirrels are the assholes of nature (I absolutely loved that moment).
I think you can see where I’m getting at. This book, though completely different from my own love life, resonates well with me.
All in all, this is the perfect ending to a fun trilogy. I am definitely a fan of Kay Marie and plan on reading more in the future.
Final Rating: 4/5
Excerpt:
The door to the kitchen swung open.
“You’re early,” McKenzie groaned, trying and failing to stifle her sigh. How many times had she asked the line chefs to give her a few hours alone to prep? “I’m supposed to have the kitchen to myself until— Oh. It’s you.”
The federal agent she’d ditched in the subway leaned against the wall with his arms folded and a single dark eyebrow raised. “It’s me.”
McKenzie frowned. “What are you doing here? Who let you in?”
“Someone who respects authority.”
Must’ve been one of the waiters. McKenzie shrugged and returned her gaze to her papers. “I thought I made myself abundantly clear before. Thank you, but no thank you.”
“So did I,” he said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him use his foot to push off the wall. When he reached the prep area, he put his palms against the table and leaned forward, gaze so piercing McKenzie couldn’t help but look up. “When I make a promise to protect someone, I honor it. So, I’m here. And I’ll be here. Whether you want me to be or not.”
The golden highlights in his eyes flared with unspoken challenge. McKenzie was more than happy to oblige. This was her kitchen, her safe place, and she wouldn’t be intimidated here. He didn’t seem more than an inch or two taller than her, so she put her hands on the table and leaned in, meeting him at eye level. “Some people might call that harassment.”
The muscles in his arms flexed, drawing her attention. His bronze skin was contoured and hard in all the right places. “Some people might call it admirable.”
“Some people understand how to take a hint.”
“Some people understand how to show some gratitude.”
“For what?” She scoffed. “Barging into my place of work and promising to stalk me?”
“No,” he clapped back, shaking his head. “For sacrificing my time and energy in order to keep you safe.”
“I’m not in danger!”
“Yes. You are.”
Somehow, their faces had moved closer, a little too close. McKenzie could feel the warm brush of his breath on her skin. The muscles in his square jaw were clenched. A layer of scruff covered his cheeks. His hair swept over his eyes, steeping them in shadow, so only the barest hint of glittering green was visible. She felt that stare in every part of her, as though it were a physical caress. The heat in the kitchen spiked, even though she hadn’t had a chance to turn the ovens on yet.
The ovens!
Crap!
McKenzie tore her gaze away, finding the clock on the wall. She was ten minutes behind. She needed to preheat all the ovens, and she needed to start baking, dammit! With a sigh, she slumped her shoulders and relented, if only for the sake of her rapidly disintegrating schedule.
“Fine,” she murmured, using her palms to push back off the table and break away from this Fed who had seemingly made it his life mission to babysit her. “Fine, if you’re so hell-bent on protecting me, do it. I don’t care. But I am not leaving this kitchen and there’s nothing you can do to make me. So, go stand in the corner or something, and don’t under any circumstances get in my way. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Title:
Off the Grid (To Catch a Thief Book 3) by Kay Marie
Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQ6B83J
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MQ6B83J
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07MQ6B83J
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07MQ6B83J
Hot Pursuit will be free on 4/10 and 4/11.
Stolen Goods will be discounted to $0.99 on 4/10 thru 4/14.
Casia's Corner 
Thank you so much for this fabulous review!! As a New Yorker, I can say we are definitely a no-BS group of people 🙂 Lol! McKenzie may be a little inspired by myself! So happy you loved Off the Grid! And YES, the squirrel scene–I had so much fun writing that! Thanks so much for joining my tour!