The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love – Alice Winters

Synopsis

What happens when a snarky hitman and a by-the-book PI cross paths?

Leland
Being a hitman has its perks, but I never thought getting an accidental mooning by an attractive PI while he’s caught on a fence would be one of them. While it’s not exactly love at first sight, he’s captured my interest and won’t let go.

Suddenly, I find myself caught in a game of cat and mouse, determined to attract the attention of Jackson, the PI who should be my enemy. He pretends like he’s not flattered by my flowers and the mentions of my totally-not-fictitious blow-up doll Randy (or was it Dandy?), but I know better. Why else would he be teaming up with me to bring down Hardek, one of the city’s most ruthless criminals?

Jackson
Even though the cops are telling me that the hitman is a notorious contract killer, I can’t help but admit that I’m drawn to him. He’s funny, charismatic, and attractive. There’s no way this ridiculous man can be the person the cops are after.

But when Leland ends up at my doorstep injured, I’m faced with a tough choice. It’s my duty to hand him over to law enforcement, but my heart has other plans. I want to keep him. To protect him. To be with him.

Though one question remains: why in the world does the man have so many d*mn guns?

Contains: shenanigans on a swing that you would NOT find at a playground, a car chase that sadly doesn’t have flips or explosions, a horsey ride sans horse, cuddles, an exuberant mutt, a suspicious chief of police, and lots and lots of laughs.

My Thoughts

My first impression of Leland is that he’s completely unhinged in possibly the best way. A killer who takes out the trash, he’s highly skilled, but bored. And that makes him dangerous not only to himself, but to everyone around him. Which is why Jackson is such a good balance for him.

Where Leland is pure chaos, Jackson is pure control. Jackson has his ducks in a row, and he takes his job as a private investigator very seriously. Encountering Leland while on a job throws all of that completely off kilter. And even knowing that Leland is a hitman, he can’t bring himself to turn him in.

Their dynamic is a true delight. It’s a dynamic I’ve become accustomed to with Alice Winters, and I love it so much. Leland is pure chaotic sunshine, and Jackson is just straight up grumpy. They’re drawn to each other, and learn how to navigate the case they’ve found themselves both working on together in the most unhinged way I could possibly ever imagine. And I love it so much. It’s honestly never a dull moment with these two.

As they work together to solve the case, I honestly didn’t see the big twist coming, though I feel like I should have. I was so distracted by Leland and Jackson and their budding romance, I kind of developed a tunnel vision just for them.

In the end, they really did prove to make an incredible team. Even with Jackson coming to terms with Leland’s darker side (look, he has incredible skills, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t use them to their benefit), and Leland learning to live a life outside of the self-described monster he was abused into becoming, I have a feeling their work as private investigators is going to keep everyone they encounter on their toes for a very, very long time.

~ by Aubrey Smith on May 24, 2024.