Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Michael Quinn

Roseblood

Rate this book
Ex-Navy Seal Michael Quinn's assignment is to protect a beautiful young Russian concert pianist who is in New York City for a performance. At a time of escalating international tensions, there is concern at high levels that the girl's life may be in danger.

With the threat unspecified, Quinn must be on alert everywhere for the unexpected...from the crowded concert hall...to the snowy winter streets of New York...to a secret from the past.

28 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2014

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Kevin Scott Olson

9 books356 followers




Kevin Scott Olson lives in southern California, where his hobbies include travel, outdoor sports, and keeping up with the adventures of ex-Navy SEAL Michael Quinn.

His debut Michael Quinn novel, Night of the Bonfire, is an Amazon Best Seller, reaching #6 of the top 100 novels in its genre.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
32 (42%)
4 stars
26 (34%)
3 stars
9 (12%)
2 stars
7 (9%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for aLena.
73 reviews65 followers
August 27, 2015
If I understood correctly Goodreads' first-reads policy, an honest review is welcomed. Or rather, expected. In that manner, I have to say I did not like this story. Ex-Navy SEAL Michael Quinn is assigned to protect a beautiful 20-something Russian pianist. Did I say she was beautiful? But I haven't said how hot she was when she “played the piano as if she were making love”. Just to be sure, I'll repeat it twenty more times.

Her life is threatened. Her guard has to sleep in the same penthouse she does. Of course you can see where I'm going with this. Strong bodyguard and hot blond Russian chick. It's like a teenage boy's dream come true, or an intro to a porn movie. What a cliché. Every time I read something like this coming from a guy, I can't help it but believe he imagined himself being the protagonist. A lot of times, heh.

Two stars because I've read worse and this could have a sequel or be expanded into larger story, so I could be wrong about the ending. I believe this author can do better.
Profile Image for Liselott.
62 reviews17 followers
July 1, 2015
Roseblood is a short, intense, fast paced thriller about Michael Quinn, an ex-Navy SEAL whose assignment is to protect a beautiful young Russian pianist. For some reason it didn't feel like a short story the way it was written with all the descriptions. More like a beginning of a novel.
But I liked it, the details, the pace. I just wish the characters weren't so stereotypical and the ending such a cliché.
I think Michael ought to be more careful in the future and stay more focused on his assignments or he will be very short lived.
Profile Image for Jay G.
1,725 reviews447 followers
August 2, 2015
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

*I received this book from good-reads give away*
Michael Quinn is an ex-navy seal. His assignment? To protect a young Russian Pianist from being assassinated.

This is a short story, only 26 pages, but it was still able to grab my attention right from the beginning. I did feel like the ending was a bit random and unnecessary, but overall it was an okay short story! I could see this story becoming a longer book which could be very entertaining to read if Olson so chose to make it. I did feel like it was a bit repetitive at times though.
Profile Image for Christy.
95 reviews46 followers
August 22, 2015
"Roseblood" is an extremely suspenseful short story that leaves you wanting more!

This short story was well written and packed in everything you need in just a few pages: a suspenseful detective plot, vivid scene descriptions, to a culminating ending that completes the story but could be continued.

"Roseblood" was a wonderful quick read and I would love to see the author, Kevin Scott Olson, have a series of these short stories that continue the story.
3 reviews
May 1, 2015
Within a few pages, I was drawn into the lives of the developing characters as the drama that intersected their lives played out. Good balance of action and sensuality. Good read.
Profile Image for Melissa.
195 reviews23 followers
August 18, 2021
For a short story, it was well written and didn’t lack on detail to bring you into the story. My only criticism was the last few sentences. The ending is so cliche, I wish more imagination had been used to wrap it up.
261 reviews10 followers
June 6, 2015
This is a short little adventure story with a certain charm.

It starts out reading like a Hollywood action movie. There's a lot of care in setting the scene and very little dialogue. The author paints strong visuals that really help set the tone. As our protagonist meets more people and the dialogue builds the cliches start to be poured on, but they work. That earlier atmosphere told you to expect this and you're not expecting some high drama to develop. At times there's almost a Bond-like sense of humour in the story - a quick gadget fix, a beautiful woman, a political back story that manages to be a little vague and drifts a little towards implausibility without becoming too far fetched.

Basically, it's fun. It's also pretty well written - as started above the intro is solid stuff, and with time and space to flex those writing muscles I can see it developing well. As it is this is fractionally too short, the conclusion just a little too rushed and squeezed in. It's not really a problem, but a few extra pages could've potentially lifted this higher.

If you like your action movies written down this is worth a look. It's definitely at the lighter end of my usual reading and as such it was a nice break from the norm. Kick back, flick through, and just enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy as part of a First Reads promotion.
Profile Image for Michelle Arredondo.
502 reviews60 followers
October 15, 2015
Another good Michael Quinn short story by the talented Mr. Kevin Scott Olson. This one, Roseblood was another quick fast paced read. I am learning that is what I enjoy about Kevin Scott Olson short stories...there is no dragging...it gets right to the point and the action with just enough details that makes the flow of the story great.

This time Michale Quinn's job is to ensure the safety of a famous beautiful Russian Pianist. The story goes that her father was a prominent Russian journalist whose reports were not kind to the regime...he was imprisoned..and slowly killed off by poisoning. The Russian FSB are given orders to dispose of any family relations and associates of the man before a trial is to begin thus the hit on the woman and the need to protect her....and that is the job of Michael Quinn.

Again, it is a great quick read that gets right to the action. If I can just point out, yes I like how it "ended" however, I had mixed feelings about it..maybe just a bit cliché...you know hunky handsome guard..the beautiful woman he is protecting..the lust...the connect. The wording leading up to it was beautiful but the story has been told before in many a book and movie...still I was ok with it if only because Kevin Scott Olson has a way with his words. Based on these short stories, I fully anticipate something wonderful to come out of a novel.
Profile Image for Cátia.
1 review1 follower
August 1, 2015
This short story was a giveaway and I was very happy to get the opportunity to read it, as I have had little to no experience of reading something of this genre.

It was my first time reading something by this author so I had no initial expectation. I was very surprised by the captivating introduction. The description was very poetic and transported me into the scene. It had a promising start.

As I read on though, I got increasingly tired by the obsessive description of the female character. I'm certain that a lot more could have been inserted into that space. The captivating entrance turned this raw gem into a short little Bond cliche (which is not bad, but somewhat unexpected and a little let down). While I know it was a short story, I'm very certain that the author could have explored and developed a lot more of the story.

There is a lot of promise here and the author certainly knows how to tease you. I really want to read a lot more and see into the creative mind behind Michael Quinn.
Profile Image for Cezara Corbu.
11 reviews10 followers
August 20, 2015
I received a copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads, in exchange for my honest review.
This is a captivating short story, set in New York, where a talented young pianist's life is threatened. I was immediately drawn into the action and the suspense kept growing until the end. The characters are very likeable, however the Russian pianist simply wasn't built in the complexity she deserved, as she reminded me of an immature teenager (although she was 21 years old), somehow unworthy of the beauty her music creates.
Michael Quinn is the main character, whose job is to protect the young woman's life. He impresses with his wit and perspicacity and is definitely worthy of a hero status.
I feel like this book series could be made into a TV series, as it has all the necessary ingredients for success: action, suspense, intrigue and even sexual tension.
I would love to read more Michael Quinn short stories and I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to discover this interesting character.
Profile Image for Lisa Cobb Sabatini.
899 reviews27 followers
June 30, 2015
I won Roseblood: A Michael Quinn Short Story by Kevin Scott Olson from Goodreads.

Roseblood is a short story that readers will wish was, instead, a full novel. Upon reaching the end of the story, readers simply want more. Olson has created a fascinating protagonist in Michael Quinn and Olson's writing keeps the story moving at a quick pace. As a teaser for a full length novel, this short story is five-plus stars. As a stand-alone short story, however, this story has an ending that disappoints even as it ties directly to the opening lines of the story because the details of the crime central to the tension of the drama are left unanswered. Readers will want to follow Michael Quinn into his next adventure. The question: Will the adventure include Anna? I look forward to reading Kevin Scott Olson's novel to find out.
Profile Image for Jessica.
591 reviews30 followers
July 17, 2015
This is the first novel about the life of Michael Quinn and it is very cinematic. The story sucks you in almost immediately and it is very easy to see it all in your head as if it was in fact a movie you were viewing.
The characters show both good traits and flaws and even though the story is short I get to know them enough to feel for them.
The story is not as action-filled as the "Breakout"-novel about Quinn (which I read before I read this one) but it follows the theme greatly and they complement each other in a good way. They are just like different scenes from the same movie...
It is very "classic" to the "action-hero"-theme though and I believe there is room for some less classic details in the stories about Quinn than there is at the moment. But I do look forward to reading more about Michael Quinn and his adventures.
Profile Image for Nicole.
384 reviews4 followers
July 21, 2015
I received this in the First Reads scheme.
This seemed like a book I would like as I appreciate a detective story. This however wasn't great and I'm glad I didn't spend money on it. It seems that this is part of a larger series of books which I have not read so I cannot comment on how it fits into the canon. My view of the book however is that it is poorly constructed for a short story and the tension needed for it to work was sadly absent. I also had a huge problem with the drawing of the singular female character who was written like some fetishised, wet-dream-like creature, hardly human. If it was meant to be the misogynist view of the main character, it wasn't written well enough to make that clear.
I gave it a second star because I felt that it had potential and that one may be more forgiving if one had read other books about Michael Quinn.
Profile Image for Terry Pearson.
342 reviews
July 30, 2015
I received this copy of Roseblood directly from the author. In return for his generosity, I would like to leave my honest review.


Michael Quinn, ex-Navy Seal and what I presume, hot as hell, is assigned to protect a beautiful Russian concert pianist. He is a gentleman with an appreciation for beauty and at first glimpse of the lovely Anna Marina Kosenko, he vows to spend the night with her. Was he merely referring to staying overnight in the hotel room to protect his ward or was he referring to his carnal lust? Hmmm, you will just have to read it to find out. Keep in mind that this is not a "romance" story.

Just like another short story by Kevin Olson, Breakout, Roseblood is fast paced and filled with just the right amount of suspense and excitement with a sprinkling of innuendos without bogging one down.

If you like short stories, "Try it, you'll like it".



Profile Image for Sara Monk.
147 reviews11 followers
July 26, 2015
This is a very well written story. Although this is a short story, the author did a great job with the characters; they felt very realistic. This book focuses on one event - a young Russian concert pianist playing at the Kronberg Concert Hall - and occurs over the course of two days. Michael Quinn is responsible for the protection of the pianist; thus, this book is written in his perspective. I would have liked to learn more about Michael Quinn. He seems like an interesting character. I recommend reading this short story. Overall, this book leaves you wanting more. I look forward to future books written by Kevin Olson.

Note: I received this book as part of Goodreads first-reads giveaway. This review is my true and honest opinion of the story.
Profile Image for Teresa.
378 reviews8 followers
April 7, 2016
I won this book from the goodreads giveaway. Personally I was not super impressed. I normally do not read short stories so its hard for me to compare the quality of this to other stories, though to me it just seemed really clique. An ex navy seal is charged to care for a hot young Russian girl. While the meat of the story was pretty good, I just couldn't quite get past the author reminding us how attractive this girl was. To be honest, I was not a fan of the ending either. It just seemed, again, way to clique for me.

This story did keep my attention till the end, and was well written so I must give it that. Would I recommend this book to someone? Probably not. Would I read any more of the authors works? Possibly.
Profile Image for Patricia.
432 reviews46 followers
June 30, 2015
This is a brilliant short story that lacks nothing. From page one the reader is drawn into the thrill of the world of undercover agents protecting someone who is under threat for whatever reason. The characters are robust, perfectly credible and the reader is drawn into a world where anything can happen and is expected.

From the beginning to the very last page this story hooks the reader as a thriller and a good 'clean' read. I will certainly be looking to read more by this author and I definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes a clean thriller of any length.

This is a Goodreads First Read
Profile Image for Julie.
95 reviews
July 2, 2015
I was given a free copy of this book by the author – Thank you.

This is a ‘short story’. Michael Quinn is guarding a famous, beautiful Russian pianist. His job is made more difficult because she is performing in New York but Michael is well up to the job and has dealt with cases like this many times before. He forte is assessing danger and protecting this client. It would seem that, on the quiet, he is also a lothario as he usually gets the girl. Danger strikes when others least expect it but Michael is on his metal and is always alert. Ultimately Michael Quinn saves the day.
An enjoyable read.
3 reviews
August 14, 2015
I received a copy of this through the Goodreads Firstread giveaways.
Great read. Characterization, storyline, and narration all worked together beautifully in painting the picture of Roseblood. Refreshing, intriguing, and very hard to put down after getting through the first few pages. In terms of style, there is very little I would change ("hot" / choice of words on occasion; careful -- it's easy to fall down into the distasteful, testosterone-packed, stereotypical side of things..), and there is still much to applaud. I look forward to reading more of KSO's short stories in the future.
A lucky FirstReads discovery.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
150 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2015
I have not been much of a short story reader until now but this sounded interesting so I entered this Goodreads Giveaway and won. I have to say I was surprised to receive an actual little book with cover etc. for a short story, nicely presented.

I enjoyed the story, pace was quick, characters good, dialog believable. I especially like the lipstick tube twist. The story is a little trite, strong guy protecting beautiful girl, but well done, could have been turned into a novel.

Hope to read more from Kevin Scott Olson. Thanks for the Goodread Kevin!
Profile Image for Laura.
173 reviews14 followers
July 17, 2015
I won this booklet in a Goodreads Giveaway.
By no means my favorite genre of books, this one managed to catch me and keep me until the last page. Authentic sounding male voice in Michael's POV. The romance/lust issue was rushed and lacked something. I would have liked it more if they kept their relationship as a friendship of sorts. The way he kept thinking of her as "the girl" became creepy when he took her to bed at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gamzegül.
33 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2015
It's a well-written,short-story which doesn't bore you with unneccessary details,descriptions and never loses its action at any part of the events that is enjoyable to read.It ends at the exact point that it should be,making you want to read what's next without giving any clue and too much information about characters(Michael&Anna) just like in the action movies.I want to thank author for introducing me with this story.
Profile Image for AJ.
238 reviews
October 20, 2015
I received this book in the Goodreads First Read giveaway

Pretty good little short story. Very cinematic and descriptive without bogging you down in details. The only thing that really threw me out of being immersed in the story was the use of written out word slurs such as Musta, Fer Chrissake and gotcher especially after the beautiful descriptions of the girl and music.

All in all a lovely little story.
Profile Image for Kay.
1,729 reviews19 followers
October 27, 2015
I was given this book in return for an honest review.

The reader is drawn right into the story from the first page - in fact, dropped right into the action!

This is a well written, enjoyable short story with Michael Quinn as the undercover agent guarding the beautiful Russian concert pianist, Anna Marina Kosenko. The ending is a wee bit predictable though... ;-)

I look forward to the full-length novel in the near future.
2,358 reviews107 followers
June 1, 2015
I won this book from Goodreads. It is a very good short story in the Michael Quinn series. Michael Quinn is an Ex-Navy Seal but now he protects high profile persons from harm. This time he has a young pianist from Russia who has had some threats on her. Two incidents do actually happen but she ends up safe due to him and his two partners.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Deborah.
757 reviews14 followers
August 8, 2015
I won this book on Goodreads. This is a very short story which I feel could have been better if a little longer. I felt it is a good story, well written and developed. Then the ending happens so fast that I felt a little let down. The ending itself was ok and I would not necessarily change that part but lead up to it a little more.
Profile Image for Tia.
105 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2015
I received a copy of this through the Goodreads Firstread giveaways. I can report that I enjoyed this; I like stories that are driven less by narrative and more by scene setting and description. Its only a short story so theres only a couple of characters in it but what is there is enough to make you want to want some more. Russians, bodyguards and assassins...... Right up my street. 5 stars!
4 reviews3 followers
August 13, 2015
It is a very well written book, with just the right mix of drama, action, suspense and romance. I was immediately drawn into the story, and want to know more. It has inspired me to go on and read the other books in the Michael Quinn series.

Thanks to GoodReads first reads for the opportunity to read this book.
1 review
September 14, 2015
I received a copy of Roseblood through a giveaway on Goodreads. It is indeed a short story, self-contained, even though my understanding is that the author has bigger plans for the main character.

Very well-written and paced. Technically sound.

I would have liked to hear a bit more about Michael Quinn's background.

18 reviews
October 13, 2015
I won this story through a goodreads giveaway! I took it on the city bus with me for a day of traveling between classes, work, and the gym. I really liked it and an definitely going to keep it on the shelf for re-reads. It was instantly captivating with a moving story line. I love that the author kept it classy and left some of the story untold.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews