Blog Tour Review of Venom by K.C. Grant

Posted by Sheila Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Feb 102012

Product Details:

Title: Venom
Author: K.C. Grant
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.;
Published:1st edition (January 3, 2012)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
ISBN-10: 1608611426
ISBN-13: 978-1608611423
FTC:FYI I was given a review copy of Venom. In no way did this influence the honest review given.

Book Description:

Samantha Evans is determined to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of advertising. Newly hired by a prestigious ad agency, she volunteers to work on location in Mexico City as a personal assistant to the beautiful and driven creative director Katrina Edwards. At first the association seems promising. But Ms. Edwards seems preoccupied in a way that makes Samantha increasingly uneasy. In fact, many in the group seem like they are not being completely open about the project including David Ayala, the mysterious and moody photographer for whose attention the two women find themselves competing. After several strange accidents and numerous appearances by an unknown man, Samantha discovers the truth: not everyone on the team is in Mexico to create a stellar advertising pitch. When her sleuthing leads to her abduction, she is brought to the pyramids of Teotihuacán and comes face-to-face with the venomous evil of the South American crime boss known as “The Serpent.” Now Samantha must not only fight for her life, but she must also discover if she can trust the man she’s come to love.

My Review:

Samantha’s main goal is to forge ahead in her career. She volunteers herself to join a group on an advertising job to Mexico. With her being fluent in Spanish, because of her serving a Spanish speaking mission, she was the perfect candidate. Little does she know what danger she is putting herself in, both physically and emotionally. Working for her boss, the beautiful and fashionable Katrina Edwards, she never feels quite up to her level. Then Samantha is attracted to freelance photographer, David Ayala, who is also the object of Ms. Edwards interest. What was supposed to be a simple business trip turns into something strange and scary. Odd things start happening that don’t add up and everyone around her looks guilty. Samantha notices that a strange man starts following her. Then, accidents start happening to her, which don’t seem so “accidental”.

To make things worst, back in the USA, Samantha’s father is diagnosed with cancer. Not only is she worried about the alarming events taking place in Mexico, but she wonders if she should leave, to head home, and support her parents through this trial. As Samantha starts discovering things about her boss, and other members of her team, she doesn’t know who to trust. The unfriendly co-workers,Lin and Mike, who are keeping secrets, and the over friendly co-worker, Seth, coming on to Samantha, lead her to start delving into what is really going on. Meanwhile, Samantha is falling in love with the allusive David, and she’s not entirely sure she can even trust him.

K.C. weaves a mystery that is very difficult for the reader to unravel. With so many people suspect, you also have a hard time figuring out who the bad guys really are. It takes awhile to get into the intrigue, but you learn so much about the history of Mexico and its people. With the author’s colorful writing, this country and it’s beauties, and the gray areas, are brought to life. The majesty of the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, are detailed so dramatically, you feel as if you are there. The sadness of so much poverty is also shown. I loved the added history that was found in this book. Most people reading this book will be surprised by the ending. Who you first thought was involved with “The Serpent”,the South American crime boss, will change with the unexpected happenings.

Venom’s exciting ending will not leave you disappointed. Just taking the ride, and seeing who falls in the end,(Literally!!), makes this a welcome read.

To purchase Venom, go here to Amazon.com or Deseret Book.

About K.C. Grant:

K.C. Grant was born in rural Idaho, but has made Utah her home for most
of her life. After serving an LDS Spanish-speaking mission to Anaheim,
California, USA, she returned and continued her studies at Weber State
University, participating in a study abroad program that allowed her to
study at the Centro Mexicano Internacional in Michoacan, Mexico. She has
been a freelance writer for eight years. Much of her work appears
in family-oriented magazines such as LDSLiving, Latter-Day Woman, Back Home, Parents & Kids, and Natural Life and also The Deseret News/Mormon Times. She
served as president of the Bountiful chapter of the League of Utah
Writers for three years and is also a member of the Association for
Mormon Letters and LDStorymakers. Though raising her children is still
her most important task, she combines it with the demanding job of
working out the numerous plots she has for future novels. She and her
husband of seventeen years love to travel and scout out new settings for
books. While ancient Mexico was the setting for her first published
novel, Abish: Daughter of God, which was released by Covenant in 2010 and its sequel, Abish: Mother of Faith, released March 2011–modern Mexico was perfect for her suspense novel titled, Venom, recently released in 2012. Other publications include short stories published in Covenant’s seasonal compilations, How Will Christmas Find Us? and A Christmas to Remember, by various LDS authors.