I am so thrilled that via Kindle I have come across authors such as Rod Pennington that are able to rock my socks off while reading their book...You gotta check out the first in his new series of a family of assassins..the kind that are actually on our side...named A Family Reunion. This book provided some of the best elements I look for when searching for a new author....thrills, action, a bit of sexiness, extreme hilarity and more important...a damn good plot. The action was kickass....the laughter was wonderful...but most of all...you really like the characters of the Charon family...and their supporting cast. The next book, Family Business, should be out in the next few months per the author, and I wait with bated breath to grab it and have some real fun. I highly recommend to those who are addicted to suspense/thrillers with a political background and who like lots of action. Great job by the author...many kudos!

I totally enjoyed this, and am glad that it appears that you will be having more in the future. I so enjoy the sassiness and interaction of the main characters. I don't mind the sexual play between Michael and Valerie (they DO have a history after all, so it isn't as if they just met and are jumping each other). The mayhem was controlled so that the faint of heart wouldn't take offense, but the folks who like that kind of action will be satisfied.

I found this book terrifically engaging from the first page. I'm not sure whether it was down to the clear, flowing prose or the enjoyably dynamic characters, but I just could not stop reading.

The story revolves around corporatized assassins in modern day America, dealing with nefarious politicians and patriotic government agents. Reading this you would imagine the life of the average assassin-in-the-street to be one of luxury, witty dialogue and sex with a degree of violence thrown in. In many ways it feels like one of those television shows from the 70s and 80s with beautiful people in beautiful clothes driving beautiful cars while also having outrageous and dangerous adventures every few minutes. Theoretically this should distract from the book but it didn't. As I said, I was really engaged!

Downsides? Don't expect any character development or even deep emotional attachment to one of the characters. The author is just telling a fun and fast paced story, not clawing at your heartstrings. In this case it did not bother me. Don't expect a rich tapestry, a world of opulence and decadence and death brought to life. The elements are all there, but portrayed with a diligent workmanlike approach rather than an excess of adjectives and metaphors. Actually, I rather approved of this because it kept the pace fast.

I heartily recommend this novel.

I enjoyed this story and I'm glad that it continues, but the characters are kind of predictable and too larger than life. I liked the Awakening series more.

When I purchased A Family Reunion, I didn't know what to expect. The title of the book is very unassuming. However, as I started reading it, I noticed immediately the author's easy writing style and witty dialogue. I enjoyed the humor injected into the book; one would not expect that in an action and thriller book.

Rod Pennington does a good job of introducing characters that are smart, witty, and interesting. The romance between Michael and Valerie has just the right mix of attraction and ambiguity that draws you to their story line. The Charon family dynamic is unusual, but in a good way.

I found this book to be jammed packed with plenty of action and humor. It's definitely worth the price of the book and more. Pick up this book if you want a good read!

Kind of a weird family reunion but why would a family of killers have a normal one. Most of the characters are great except Olivia. Just awful. Let's hope the author writes her out of her terrible twos and into her twenties where she belongs. It was a fast read for me so I must have enjoyed it, even with Olivia.

'Family Reunion' was a struggle to finish. From the very beginning, the book didn't flow. Situations seem overly contrived, as does the dialogue. Speaking of the dialogue - there is WAY too much. It was almost like the book was written as a radio show to be performed by voice actors and no narrator. When I came across a full page of prose I was overjoyed - until I realized the author was just changing the scenery before dragging in the actors with their dialogue.

Dialogue aside, the book failed to entice me as a suspense/mystery/thriller. For me, the best mysteries are those that present all the puzzle pieces creatively, allowing the reader to ponder all the clues and make guesses as to the book's outcome. Suspense is created by a difficult (but not impossible) puzzle. Here, pieces are forcibly and obviously withheld. I would assume that the author is doing this to create suspense, but instead it just bred annoyance. There was no possibility of piecing together the story, because large chunks were missing.

I gave two stars because I was actually able to finish the book (eventually), but I would not recommend it.

Pennington's un-put-down-able first in a proposed series has amazingly unflappable characters mixed in with brilliant wit and humor and engulfs us with a family that mystery lovers love. We find a father that doesn't hold back his feelings whether good or bad; a mother that leads by example; and children who, in one way or another, mirrors the mix of the two. Add in the other equally fully developed "members" of the family "unit" and you've got yourself an excellent read. I couldn't put it down until I finished. My first Pennington--definitely not my last.

Wow!! Right from the start, the plot is fast paced, captivating and unexpected. These three perfect recipes makes this book enthralling and a sure candidate for a motion picture someday. The story unfolds with anticipated mix of mysterious characters, the allure of the woman assassins, espionage and secret service veterans, with the plot cleverly crafted around the relationship between father, mother, daughter and brother. The author clearly has intimate knowledge of how the secret service operate, which enables him to tell a rich and convincing story. The book is filled with dark secrets and gripping suspense. Michael Charon is a fine character in this book and his plight, depicted by the author, can't help but move readers into excitement.

I have read many thrillers, but this book is one of the best I have read to date. The book is easy to read and it is refreshing to note that the author has made good use of creative twists in the story line to maintain momentum of reader's interest throughout the book and right to the last page.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially to those who love a great thriller.

What does an ex-CIA agent do when he gets sacked, he opens an exclusive security company. Hired by governments to do their dirty work, he was respected by everyone, well that was until he met his children.

Michael Charon was good at what he did, although like most spies came across as cocky. He met his match with Olivia, who had bottled all her resentment for him and let him have it with both barrels. Following them as they go on their 1st mission, was just like a family outing. A dad with their stroppy teens. Whilst Olivia and Seth were twins they were completely opposites, but due to their background were very close.

Whilst Michael and family are the main characters, some of my favourite scenes involved some of the minor characters. Master Rōshi reminded me of a stoned-out Mister Miyagi and some of the comments towards Michael were hysterical.

As you follow them from the start of the investigation, you get drawn into much more than who killed the love of his life. There are twists through out and you could imagine this been made into a TV series. Whilst this is tagged Dark Comedy, I don’t think it is that dark, however the comedy moments will have you laughing. Thanks usually to Olivia’s smart mouth. This was a fast-paced thriller and with only 169 pages a quick read. Further books are out in the series, so you carry on with the happy family.

This book is a very fast paced thriller action novel that is worth a lot more than £0.77. The action does not stop from the very first page until the very last.

The story follows Michael Charon, a former CIA agent who just discovers that he has two children to a woman who is reported dead. Not wanting to spoil too much but the family feel to the whole assasin story is fantastic and leaves room for plenty of family drama and fast paced thriller action.

A truly fantastic read.

M. W. Rowe

Again similar to my review of the Second Charon family Adventure.

Light unchallanging read but not at all a satisfying- book---

Despite my initial reservations when I first started reading this book I ended up really really enjoying it and would highly recommend it. However....the recommendation does come with a warning. The book, indeed the series,is an entertaining and easy read, rather than a heavyweight thriller, filled with suspense, intrigue or subtlety. For me, I thought of it like a Hollywood blockbuster along the lines of a James Bond or Jason Bourne action film....you know alot of it is stretching reality but you can't help but enjoying it!

There are some whopping holes in the plot.....the main character, Michael Charon, is a super spy/assassin/enforcer, who is immensely powerful in terms of both physical strength and more importantly, the resources at his hand. We are asked to swallow that this person, who has spent 30 years in the spy/assassin world, working for the CIA and now his own mini CIA, would be completely unaware that the only woman he ever loved, an equally feared and ruthless assassin who he once asked to marry him, would be able to keep from him that she had twins by him. And that those twins were also assassins. And that despite still meeting up with the mother in secret over a period of 20 years, he didn't find out about them. That for me was too much to swallow. As was the scene where the first time daughter and father meet, they decide to get to know one another in a ring fighting!

But if you overlook these issues you will enjoy the book for its pace, humour and the overview of the American spy world which you kinda hope isn't a true reflection!