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Hitman's Creed #1
Hitman's Creed
Can a twenty-one year old Criminal Justice student and a thirty-four year old hitman attempt to start a new life, reach a common bond to stop a murderer, and find love, despite their disparate ages and occupations?
Two men:
Glenn Tanner, a thirty-four year old hitman who wants to disappear and start a new life.
Joey Fairburn, a twenty-one year old Criminal Justice student, studying to become a police officer.
One problem in common:
Joey’s father, an escaped killer, has come to the small town where Joey and his mother live and where Glenn has finally settled down. Glenn meets Joey, discovers what is happening, and becomes involved in trying to stop the killer before the man can murder Joey’s mother.
Will these two men, Glenn and Joey, with such disparate ages and backgrounds, be able to find a common bond that will unite them in love? Only time will tell.
Two men:
Glenn Tanner, a thirty-four year old hitman who wants to disappear and start a new life.
Joey Fairburn, a twenty-one year old Criminal Justice student, studying to become a police officer.
One problem in common:
Joey’s father, an escaped killer, has come to the small town where Joey and his mother live and where Glenn has finally settled down. Glenn meets Joey, discovers what is happening, and becomes involved in trying to stop the killer before the man can murder Joey’s mother.
Will these two men, Glenn and Joey, with such disparate ages and backgrounds, be able to find a common bond that will unite them in love? Only time will tell.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2011
1 person is currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Edward Kendrick
213 books207 followersBorn and bred Cleveland, I earned a degree in technical theater, later switched to costuming, and headed to NYC. Finally seeing the futility of trying to become rich and famous in the Big Apple, I joined VISTA—Volunteers in Service to America—ending up in Chicago for three years. Then it was on to Denver, where I put down roots and worked as a costume designer until I retired in 2007.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an online fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished, no matter the genre or content. Since then I've been writing for publication. My first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely 'romantic'. More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal as well.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an online fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished, no matter the genre or content. Since then I've been writing for publication. My first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely 'romantic'. More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal as well.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 13, 2011
Glenn Tanner is a hitman who decides that it is time to start living a life after ten years in the trade and at the top of his game. He settles in a small town and becomes embroiled in a Joey's family problems with a murderous father and offers his help to keep the family safe.
It was really good for me up to this point, and then we start having time jumps because Glenn takes off without word or explanation to the family or to Joey, knowing Joey cared for him. Joey is crushed but picks himself up and finishes school and becomes a cop were he meets a nice guy, Nate. I loved Nate and it will show how much here in a minute.
Glenn has turned his black career around and served his penance with the "good guys" to become a freelance hitman without worries that the government will prosecute and he moved back to town. All the time, he is lying to himself as to why he goes back to that town. He's there a month and doesn't look up Joey or anything. Sits and stews in his denial. It's Joey who has to tell Nate what is going on and Nate is the one that pushed Joey to find closure or love. Ack! I could have scratched Joey’s eyes out when he told Nate how great Nate was. Joey could at least feel bad!
So after Glenn has been in town a month, Joey goes to Glenn’s and they have this talk and I have to say if it was me, I would have to say 'bug off' (not quite that nicely) to Glenn. How long would Glenn have sat in his house of distractions because he was still technically running? Joey gave in way too easy after three years of absence and Nate got the shaft. That is what really peeved me off the last 5% of the book. Nate was short-sticked and I didn't even get my make-up sex. Oh, wait. No sex in the whole book.
There are some really great things about the book, the writing, the hitman jobs, killing the abusing murderous father. Glenn just really sucked at commitment, communication, and romance.
I have to say that I loved and hated this story so I stuck to the middle of the road when rating it.
It was really good for me up to this point, and then we start having time jumps because Glenn takes off without word or explanation to the family or to Joey, knowing Joey cared for him. Joey is crushed but picks himself up and finishes school and becomes a cop were he meets a nice guy, Nate. I loved Nate and it will show how much here in a minute.
Glenn has turned his black career around and served his penance with the "good guys" to become a freelance hitman without worries that the government will prosecute and he moved back to town. All the time, he is lying to himself as to why he goes back to that town. He's there a month and doesn't look up Joey or anything. Sits and stews in his denial. It's Joey who has to tell Nate what is going on and Nate is the one that pushed Joey to find closure or love. Ack! I could have scratched Joey’s eyes out when he told Nate how great Nate was. Joey could at least feel bad!
So after Glenn has been in town a month, Joey goes to Glenn’s and they have this talk and I have to say if it was me, I would have to say 'bug off' (not quite that nicely) to Glenn. How long would Glenn have sat in his house of distractions because he was still technically running? Joey gave in way too easy after three years of absence and Nate got the shaft. That is what really peeved me off the last 5% of the book. Nate was short-sticked and I didn't even get my make-up sex. Oh, wait. No sex in the whole book.
There are some really great things about the book, the writing, the hitman jobs, killing the abusing murderous father. Glenn just really sucked at commitment, communication, and romance.
I have to say that I loved and hated this story so I stuck to the middle of the road when rating it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2013
It honestly amazes me how boring a book about a hitman can turn out. Or whatever his job description is at that point.
Technicalities first.
I guess viewpoints are a free-for-all, even though they seem neatly divided for the first few chapters. The writing feels simplistic to the extreme, occasionally awkward. Nothing subtle here.
To start off the story, we are presented with our titular hitman, who is mopey. He’s moping not out of a sense of moral dilemma, though. No, he’s just sorry for himself because he has no home. This goes on and on. Sorry, but my empathy does not quite extend that far if he has no personal qualities or a conscience to make up for his self-serving killing of strangers.
I’m also more than doubtful when faced with expository statements about how he’s the best and how his talents are so unique and how safely he set everything up. For one thing, I’m not seeing it in his demeanour. For another, it smacks a bit of exaggerated glory, of the author giving their idealizing say-so instead of making it real.
I am kind of appalled at how freely everyone shares information here. Even Glenn, who supposedly is so careful – not that he shows any sign of it. But mostly that Joey’s mother tells this near-stranger . As a way of warning him off. I don’t even…
That is wrong and unlikely on so many levels I don’t know what to think. Aside from the indiscretion and betrayal of trust, in what universe is such information going to dispel a guy’s interest?
I’ll admit that at that point I stopped allowing reason to enter my brain and just went with it. This helped hugely for the rest of the book, minus moments of cringe.
*sigh* Even trying as hard as I could, it was difficult to shut down my common sense. It’s quite simply hair-raising how much Glenn blabs about, well, everything. Most importantly about incriminating matters. To people he hardly knows, too, some of which are in an unstable frame of mind at best. Remind me again why he’s supposed to be so very good at his former job? Any sensible man would handle all information about, for example, .
Funniest thing, perhaps, lies in the fact that I can’t detect any sort of connection between the romance interests. All I have to go on is the author’s assurance that it’s there and strengthening. On the plus side this means a lack of premature or situationally inappropriate obsessing over sex. (Or any. I kid you not.)
Uh. And then. The happens out of nowhere. Does not make sense in connection with Glenn’s thoughts preceding it. Jeez.
Finally we reach the end. Which fascinates me for one very misplaced reason. Simply because it becomes apparent that the entire book passed without so much as even a kiss between the guys. Guess in that light it might be a good thing there’s a second volume. And yes, I intend to read it. I need something more.
This thing? Wasn’t much of a romance. At all.
Technicalities first.
I guess viewpoints are a free-for-all, even though they seem neatly divided for the first few chapters. The writing feels simplistic to the extreme, occasionally awkward. Nothing subtle here.
To start off the story, we are presented with our titular hitman, who is mopey. He’s moping not out of a sense of moral dilemma, though. No, he’s just sorry for himself because he has no home. This goes on and on. Sorry, but my empathy does not quite extend that far if he has no personal qualities or a conscience to make up for his self-serving killing of strangers.
I’m also more than doubtful when faced with expository statements about how he’s the best and how his talents are so unique and how safely he set everything up. For one thing, I’m not seeing it in his demeanour. For another, it smacks a bit of exaggerated glory, of the author giving their idealizing say-so instead of making it real.
I am kind of appalled at how freely everyone shares information here. Even Glenn, who supposedly is so careful – not that he shows any sign of it. But mostly that Joey’s mother tells this near-stranger . As a way of warning him off. I don’t even…
That is wrong and unlikely on so many levels I don’t know what to think. Aside from the indiscretion and betrayal of trust, in what universe is such information going to dispel a guy’s interest?
I’ll admit that at that point I stopped allowing reason to enter my brain and just went with it. This helped hugely for the rest of the book, minus moments of cringe.
*sigh* Even trying as hard as I could, it was difficult to shut down my common sense. It’s quite simply hair-raising how much Glenn blabs about, well, everything. Most importantly about incriminating matters. To people he hardly knows, too, some of which are in an unstable frame of mind at best. Remind me again why he’s supposed to be so very good at his former job? Any sensible man would handle all information about, for example, .
Funniest thing, perhaps, lies in the fact that I can’t detect any sort of connection between the romance interests. All I have to go on is the author’s assurance that it’s there and strengthening. On the plus side this means a lack of premature or situationally inappropriate obsessing over sex. (Or any. I kid you not.)
Uh. And then. The happens out of nowhere. Does not make sense in connection with Glenn’s thoughts preceding it. Jeez.
Finally we reach the end. Which fascinates me for one very misplaced reason. Simply because it becomes apparent that the entire book passed without so much as even a kiss between the guys. Guess in that light it might be a good thing there’s a second volume. And yes, I intend to read it. I need something more.
This thing? Wasn’t much of a romance. At all.
September 12, 2011
It was an okay story overall, although at times I think the writing and dialogue was a little bit awkward or even boring sometimes. The action/suspense is over about halfway through the book, and then it's just whether or not Joey and Glenn will get together. At this point in the book, I really started to lose interest in what was going on. Like I said, I liked the story overall, but it didn't really stand out in any way for me.
May 15, 2012
Nice idea, hitman, age difference, killer's revenge all great to make a good story, but it just didn't work. Sorry. It was just too rushed and there was no chemistry and sparks. I was pretty disappointed.
September 12, 2011
What to tell about the book? Writer had some good ideas about the plot but writing stile is boring, you don't feel emotions at all and even characters are to empty.
December 25, 2017
I enjoyed reading Hitman's Creed by Edward Kendrick because:
1. Glenn is an awesome man who does a soulless job, but has a true conscience. For him, Joey comes always first and Glenn will change as much as possible to feel deserving of Joey's love;
2. There's no insta-sex and then deep love just because the sex was so good;
3. Glenn changes just to be a man Joey can love without reservations and tells him the whole truth. In my book this is really remarkable. Also, Glenn does it all without any certainty that Joey will be there waiting for him.
4. Glenn is ready to lose Joey if it means Joey can be happier with someone else. I wanna marry Glenn now!
Maybe the story was a little slow and not very exciting, but just for this reason it becomes more credible, more real.
I will certainly read the sequel and hope for a true and lasting HEA for Glenn and Joey and all the other endearing characters of Hitman's Creed.
Well done Mr Hendrick and keep up the great work!
1. Glenn is an awesome man who does a soulless job, but has a true conscience. For him, Joey comes always first and Glenn will change as much as possible to feel deserving of Joey's love;
2. There's no insta-sex and then deep love just because the sex was so good;
3. Glenn changes just to be a man Joey can love without reservations and tells him the whole truth. In my book this is really remarkable. Also, Glenn does it all without any certainty that Joey will be there waiting for him.
4. Glenn is ready to lose Joey if it means Joey can be happier with someone else. I wanna marry Glenn now!
Maybe the story was a little slow and not very exciting, but just for this reason it becomes more credible, more real.
I will certainly read the sequel and hope for a true and lasting HEA for Glenn and Joey and all the other endearing characters of Hitman's Creed.
Well done Mr Hendrick and keep up the great work!
February 3, 2012
Reviewed by Joe: I love m/m stories that don’t have stereotypical characters. I also love m/m stories that are romantic and leave the sex up to the imagination. These are probably two very big reasons why I absolutely loved Hitman’s Creed and can’t give it a high enough recommendation. I thought this book was beautifully and vividly written with realistic characters and rich dialogue. The characters were real and likeable. The book is over two hundred pages long but is so interesting that it is a very quick read and almost makes you wish that it were longer, or that you had read it slower.
I have always been a fan of those wonderful late night suspense/thriller movies that were on TV all the time during the 90s and I could definitely picture Hitman’s Creed being one of those movies; maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed it so much. It brought back good memories of my childhood. I thought Glenn was a very strong, very realistic action-type hero; and as a fellow bisexual male I was happy to see us represented so positively. I also loved the character of Joey. He too was very likeable and a character I found myself rooting for through out the whole book.
The book is definitely a romance and not erotica which I think is fine. While I love explicit m/m erotica as much as the next reader I feel that it would have cheapened the book and would have been unnecessary so I applaud Mr. Kendrick for delivering a sweet romance; something I think is lacking in the m/m genre. Because of this I think this work is the perfect starter book for readers who are just dipping their toes into the genre. I feel this would give them a nice taste of what the genre has to offer.
I was not familiar with Mr. Kendrick as a writer before Hitman’s Creed, but I am very glad I picked up the book and will definitely add his name on my list of author’s to keep an eye out for.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
I have always been a fan of those wonderful late night suspense/thriller movies that were on TV all the time during the 90s and I could definitely picture Hitman’s Creed being one of those movies; maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed it so much. It brought back good memories of my childhood. I thought Glenn was a very strong, very realistic action-type hero; and as a fellow bisexual male I was happy to see us represented so positively. I also loved the character of Joey. He too was very likeable and a character I found myself rooting for through out the whole book.
The book is definitely a romance and not erotica which I think is fine. While I love explicit m/m erotica as much as the next reader I feel that it would have cheapened the book and would have been unnecessary so I applaud Mr. Kendrick for delivering a sweet romance; something I think is lacking in the m/m genre. Because of this I think this work is the perfect starter book for readers who are just dipping their toes into the genre. I feel this would give them a nice taste of what the genre has to offer.
I was not familiar with Mr. Kendrick as a writer before Hitman’s Creed, but I am very glad I picked up the book and will definitely add his name on my list of author’s to keep an eye out for.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
October 9, 2012
This was an okay story about a retired hitman who gets himself dragged into the problems of a local young man and his mother when it appears her ex-husband, who escaped custody years ago for attempting to murder his girlfriend seems to be after her again. Being 13 years older than Joey is a major hurdle for Glenn, also that he's a hitman and Joey wants to be a cop. Not very compatible. After taking care of the ex and being shot in the process, Glenn decides to vanish in order to "save" Joey from chasing after him. When he comes back 2 years later, having redeemed himself by now being a government hitman (is that any better?) they end up together.
There is virtually no time on the page with them as a couple. There is some flirting and innuendo at the beginning but they don't kiss until near the end, let alone have a relationship. I also thought that Joey's mother talking to him because she didn't want her son hurt was kind of creepy. If my 21 year old daughter was lusting after a guy and I was worried about her being hurt, SHE'D be the one I talked to, not the guy. That's just creepy to me to interfere in your child's love life at that age. 16 yes. Nearly 22? No. Back off and let them make their own mistakes. You can't save someone from never having a broken heart.
But that's a personal thing for me. Other probably never even thought twice about it. And she was nice about it, not bitchy, still, it was kind of awkward IMHO.
There is virtually no time on the page with them as a couple. There is some flirting and innuendo at the beginning but they don't kiss until near the end, let alone have a relationship. I also thought that Joey's mother talking to him because she didn't want her son hurt was kind of creepy. If my 21 year old daughter was lusting after a guy and I was worried about her being hurt, SHE'D be the one I talked to, not the guy. That's just creepy to me to interfere in your child's love life at that age. 16 yes. Nearly 22? No. Back off and let them make their own mistakes. You can't save someone from never having a broken heart.
But that's a personal thing for me. Other probably never even thought twice about it. And she was nice about it, not bitchy, still, it was kind of awkward IMHO.
November 10, 2014
I truly enjoyed reading Hitman’s Creed. I liked the characters of Joey and Glenn. I also thought that Mr. Kendrick did a fantastic job of portraying Glenn and his personality. I found it interesting that he could still have a sense of honor given what he does for a living. Joey has his own sense of honor about staying with his mother and protecting her in case his dad came back as well, so I thought that in spite of the disparity in age, and even the fact that they were each on different sides of the law, they were a good match. My favorite part of the story was the ending, it just made my heart go pitter pat. If you enjoy sweet romances with a lot of action, adventure and angst, this is the book for you!
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
https://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Boo...
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
https://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Boo...
August 26, 2012
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was an intriguing book. In reality it's a little hard to categorise because while there is some action and suspense, all that is done/resolved about halfway through the book. It is a romance, yet there is very little 'romancing' going on. The relationship building isn't really there either, but it's not insta-love. As I said slightly confusing.
Having said that I enjoyed it even with all the above things happening. I think I would have preferred more at the end. I would have liked to have read about Glenn and Joey truly starting to build a romantic (and sexual) relationship. I know there is another book, but I'd rather have had it in this one. I will definitely read the next one though!
This was an intriguing book. In reality it's a little hard to categorise because while there is some action and suspense, all that is done/resolved about halfway through the book. It is a romance, yet there is very little 'romancing' going on. The relationship building isn't really there either, but it's not insta-love. As I said slightly confusing.
Having said that I enjoyed it even with all the above things happening. I think I would have preferred more at the end. I would have liked to have read about Glenn and Joey truly starting to build a romantic (and sexual) relationship. I know there is another book, but I'd rather have had it in this one. I will definitely read the next one though!
October 14, 2011
I enjoyed this book once I got by the unlikely good guy hit man premise. It is hard for me to accept that a man who could cold bloodily kill for no other reason but money could have enough morality to not take a willing young man to bed because of what he was. However, once I got beyond that, I found the book was well written and interesting. Having never subscribed to the concept of love at first sight, or in this case, few days, I wish the author allowed the characters more time to build a relationship/love strong enough to compel a killer to turn his life around. I hope this isn't too harsh, because overall I liked the book.
September 2, 2012
Just re-read it for the 2nd time so I could refresh the story for book 2. I've forgotten how very pg the book was for a homoerotic romance. It was fun to read the first wakes of a crush (that you don't see too much of in other books where the MC's both feel attraction to each other and just get together), the rejection and then the reconciliation. The relationship building was realistic enough for my liking and the plot was good. I would have liked to see a bit more action but otherwise it was a good read.
September 11, 2011
The plot was interesting and pulling. I really liked all characters in this story, they were all positive. I admit, I was surprised about the platonic relationship between Glenn and Joey, even if their emotions flown deeper. I mean there was this longing and caring between them till the end. And I'm sure that an epilogue at the end, with at list sex scene, wouldn't hurt. I really missed that. But in general I truly enjoyed this story.
September 6, 2015
Overall it was a good story there just wasn't much outstanding. "Okay" about describes it. I would have enjoyed more story at the end instead of knowing there is a second book. I did enjoy the characters overall it just didn't do much for me.
February 26, 2013
I didn't finish this book, mostly because the editing in the book was really shoddy. I found various misplaced and missing commas, along with sentences that were almost impossible to parse on the first read. The plot wasn't good enough for me to put up with bad punctuation.
September 29, 2013
2.5* rounded up. Phaney's review says it all--and book 2 is not much better. The romance was not believable, the characters actions were not believable and I couldn't even believe in the hitman's skills. On a happier note, I liked the cover!
February 19, 2012
it was a very nice read. this couple was sweet and the plot well done.
October 25, 2011
http://www.bdsmbookreviews.com/2011/1... says all that I need to say.
August 16, 2012
3.5 stars
November 9, 2012
i like killing like Hitman..
November 25, 2012
2.5 stars. Alright, but ultimately forgettable.
December 21, 2013
This book could've been better, but sadly it was a waste of (my) time.
It was kinda interesting till a certain point, and then it became very boring.
It was kinda interesting till a certain point, and then it became very boring.
May 19, 2015
A great story - wish I could get a copy of the 2nd one "Lessons Learned" that came out through Silver Publishing which went out of business. Have not been able to find a copy anywhere else...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews