Shades of Gray: A KGI Novel (KGI series Book 6)

After such great characters, great pacing, and a decent storyline. The tactical errors of this team, the rookie mistakes they made and the fact that the main character got raped while the team was in a vehicle listening is astounding. From a military standpoint, these kinds of mistakes cost lives and I was disappointed in the fact that P.J actually drank something an enemy gave her. I've yet to meet anyone, even in the civilian world, who would make such a rookie move. While the scene really bothered I will say that P.J's comeback was brilliantly executed, hence the three star rating. I just couldn't swallow the fact that an elite team of warriors fubared on this operation so badly. There are precautions set into place for instances like this that weren't included in this scene. It was difficult to read.

This again very very good story by Maya. Book 6 in the KGI Series. I thought when I started reading these stories and heard PJ and Cole's names and the way they were between each other that they might get together. Good to know I was right. he story was so intense with the gang of KGI going after a nasty person that they needed PJ to go under cover which Cole didnt like but it was her job to help. Then for her to be Raped and her body to be abused and cut up so much. That got the whole of KGI Team so angry that while they were trying to plot a plan without them knowing PJ had already gone off by herself and tracked down them men. She had killed 3 of them before the rest of the team had found out what she was up to and went to help her which is what she needed at that time as she had gotten herself into trouble. Realizing that she should not have gone on her own the team finished he job and they then put her on leave the heal. While on leave Cole and PJ got married Great book again Maya

While everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion I am honestly surprised by all of the negative reviews. I read and review on a daily basis and just got around to this series. I love KGI and appreciate the fact that Ms. Banks didn't just bang out six books in a row that picked off each brother into love and marriage but has interjected the stories of the supporting characters that also make up the KGI family.This was a hard story, no doubt. I wasn't thrilled that P.J. was raped any more than the rest of the readers, it's a horrific thing. Having said that I think what it did was to take a woman who is a badass sniper fighting for her place in a mans game and exposed the feminine side of her. Could this have been achieved in other ways? Perhaps, but with a character like P.J. it would have been a tough sell without something extreme to push her there. This in no way makes P.J. a weak female and her initial instincts were to go solo and exact revenge which she did in fact do allowing us to see that she is still tough as nails. Of course her team never accepts her departure and shows up when she needs them the most. Together they take care of business while along the way allowing us to see the complete woman that is P.J. while as her and Colt explore their relationship and eventually fall in love.The importance of the KGI series is that amongst the angst and chaos the consistent message is friendship, love, family, and loyalty and we see that shine in all of the characters.While remembering that these books are for entertainment and to allow you to escape, if you want something real then I suggest you start reading non-fiction. If you want a story that provides drama, love, and strength of character and loyalty, then I suggest you read this book and the rest of the KGI series. I highly recommend them!

I love Maya Banks and the fact that she wrote this book with it's difficult theme. It is simply reality for women in military situations, if things go bad, bad things can happen. It doesn't matter how strong you are, in the right situation the fact that you are a women can and will be taken advantage of.PJ is a sharp shooter for KGI (Kelly Group International) a super elitie private military type opperation. Cole is her rival sharpshooter on her team. They have a great deal of respect for each other. The book opens with Cole finally acting on those feelings. After one amazing night together though they are sent on a mission that goes wrong in so many ways. PJ ends up captured and though she is an amazingly strong woman she becomes the victom.Cole and the team manage to rescue PJ but not before she suffers at the hands of her captures. PJ is bent on revenge and decides that she must go it alone so that she does not taint the reputation of KGI or her team.This book can be a very hard one to read for some people. Be warned there are some graphic scenes in it. It explores the idea of what is the difference between a justified military kill and murder. You may not agree with everything that Ms. Banks writes but it will make you think.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys military romance and is willing to have some of their belief systems challenged.

I have read and enjoyed all the other books in the KGI series but I found this one disappointing and not up to the standard of its predecessors. This is PJ and Cole's book. They are both members of Steele's team and have been minor characters in the novels so far in the series having been involved in all the adventures to date. I had looked forward to this book as the two of them have had an interesting relationship so far and it was obvious that sparks would fly when they got together.The book starts exceedingly well, with Cole turning up at PJ's favourite bar and the two of them having a night of passion. It was great to see him take the initiative this way and it was an interesting start to what could become a new relationship. When a mission gets in the way the two of them cannot move forward but have to concentrate on getting access to a child trafficker. They do this by having PJ dress up as a sexy woman and try to seduce him in order to get him alone. This backfires seriously and PJ is very badly hurt and her team are devastated. I admire the author for writing these scenes as so many authors have their characters threatened with horrible things but they are rescued at the last minute. It is obvious that some times missions must go wrong and that team members will bear the consequences.What happens at this point is where the story goes wrong for me - apologies if there are some spoilers here, I will try to avoid them. Firstly, PJ disappears for six months and we never get a really good idea of what she does and how she feels during that period - I found that this broke the narrative for me as when we pick up with her again she is in a different stage of recovery. When she is reunited with the team both PJ and Cole have very good and sensible reasons why their relationship won't work if they stay team members - they agonise over this for a long time and then seem to forget all the reasons. A lot of the emotional threads, like this one, are not carried through so it seems that Cole and PJ have different emotions about the same thing every chapter. This especially applies to how PJ thinks that the team will treat her after her ordeal.I could cope with these inconsistencies (after all, this is romantic suspense and not great literature) were it not for the main theme of the book which is revenge. This may be personal to me, but I actually thought that the idea of tracing the perpetrators of the crime down and killing them to be morally repugnant. However black the author paints their character and however awful their deeds which she describes it is difficult to understand why, at no time, does PJ or anyone involved with her get the authorities involved. It is clear that the author's view about victims having the right to inflict punishment on those who commit evil acts is shared by the characters - PJ does feel bad about it on a few occasions but soon talks herself out of it. I was uncomfortable about this aspect of the book.A couple of instances occur where it looks like the author was rushed or just didn't give us enough details - how did the bad guy know who PJ really was ? How could PJ stand on her bad leg and use karate with her good one when two days before she had been so injured that she couldn't walk ? Why does no one in Vienna speak German ? How did they capture Cole (and know where he was) and overpower him ?I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy this book more as I have really engaged with this series. I wish that the author hadn't rushed this story and produced a plot with holes and inconsistencies. I didn't like the overall premise (although that may just be me). I did admire how the author took PJ's injuries seriously and didn't gloss over the long-term effects of this but I thought that this might have been stronger if we had shared the missing six months with her. I was slightly nauseated by all the good-will, love, acceptance and pseudo-family feelings projected on to PJ although I really do wish that the world was like this (Maya Bank's characters are either very, very good or very, very evil with the possible exception of Resnick who I would like to see get his own book.Even though I found this book disappointing I still think that this is a good series and would encourage new readers to catch up from the beginning.

PJ goes on a mission with her team to find information about child trafficking when things go horribly wrong, afterwards she cant face her team mates so hands in her resignation to KGI and goes on her own mission of revenge.What follows is an emotional story about PJ coming to terms with the failure of the mission in her own way but also realising shes not alone and the whole of KGI including the wives think of her as family.There is lots of action and the romance between PJ and cole is sweet, i really enjoyed this story, its not the best in the series but its up there with the good ones and i was sucked into the story from the very first page. The characters are all great and fully formed as all MBs characters are. I love this series and cant wait to read the next installment.

Every book in this series has been amazing. Not many authors can maintain such a high standard book after book. While you know how the story will end, there are always twists and turns keeping you hooked to the last word. I always feel regret at the end because it is over, and hanging on for the next KGI book.I love Maya Banks writing style - flowing, easy to read,but not written for idiots using one syllable words. The sex scenes are tasteful and part of the story rather than the story being a few words cobbled together to fill in gaps between sex scenes.

Really good read. Fast paced, emotional and kick arse. Things happen you don’t expect to happy but the journey after is the best and griping

I've read a lot of Maya Banks, with varied results, but I've always like the KGI series - strong men, but tough women. I was dying to read the PJ/Cole story, and this was not what I was expecting - in a good way. When you read books that are within the romance genre, they can vary from fun fluff to painful cliches, underrated reads to overrated mush - and let's be honest, people who aren't fans of the genre often roll their eyes and don't consider it 'real' writing.Well this book proves them wrong.I was not expecting a lot of what happened in Shaes of Gray, and I admire Maya Banks for being gutsy and not glossing over a very difficult subject. I won't spoil it for you, but be warned: this story is at times hard to read, and very powerful, but I promise you it's all the better for it. In my opinion, it's the best book she's written so far.

This is the only book I have read by this author but will definitely read the others in this series.looking forward to hearing about the other team members stories.

Love this book, have read the whole series but this is my favourite strong female character and the love shines through, love Cole and pj

I have read all the books in the series so far, all are excellent however this one has to be the best storyline, exceptionally well written and emotional at the same time. Looking forward to the other books.

A very special and intense relationship develops between P.J. and Cole when P.J. encounters personal danger on an assignment.This exceptional story will keep your interest from beginning to end.

I am a Maya Banks fan. The KGI series has been very good and just really enjoyed the story from one of the group who was not a Kelly. Before reading this book suggest you read the books in sequence to get the feel of the series.

Not as interesting as the books with the kelly family but i still enjoyed it. Want to read the next in the series as find them a great read. Enjoy this serjes

Maya Banks does it again brill read this I think was one of my favourite KGI novels P.J. and Cole are made for each other can't wait until Steele's story.

not as good as the others in the series

I could not put this and all the other books in this series down. I loved the characters, storylines the action and the romance.

I really enjoy the KGI books. Strong female lead. As with this series it is at some points gritty but this adds to the plot.