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The Anomaly #1
Time Thief
Hunted for her ability to steal time, Bay North lives a life on the run. All she wants is to make the crime lord who slaughtered her family pay. But now he’s set the ultimate hunter on her trail and Bay will need all her skills to carry out her revenge and survive.
Ex-Navy SEAL Sean Archer saw his team killed by a time thief in Afghanistan and came back a broken man. He’s made a dark deal with a criminal to hunt down all time thieves and now Sean’s tracked the wily Bay North to Denver where he plans to rid the world of one more dangerous mutation.
But during a shootout, hunter and hunted find themselves depending on each other for survival. Joining forces to exact payback by stealing a priceless treasure, their reluctant alliance shatters both their defenses. Can Bay find the courage to trust? And can Sean convince a woman honed in revenge that she can have more than vengeance, blood and killing?
Ex-Navy SEAL Sean Archer saw his team killed by a time thief in Afghanistan and came back a broken man. He’s made a dark deal with a criminal to hunt down all time thieves and now Sean’s tracked the wily Bay North to Denver where he plans to rid the world of one more dangerous mutation.
But during a shootout, hunter and hunted find themselves depending on each other for survival. Joining forces to exact payback by stealing a priceless treasure, their reluctant alliance shatters both their defenses. Can Bay find the courage to trust? And can Sean convince a woman honed in revenge that she can have more than vengeance, blood and killing?
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2012
398 people are currently reading
813 people want to read
About the author
Anna Hackett
162 books2,913 followersI’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com
I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
April 2, 2015
The idea of the book, or of Anomalies in general, was great. The execution not so much.
+++
Here's the thing--I have certain expectations when you toss around words like "Time Thief" or "stealing time" in a book. Like Xanatos stealing a year from everyone in New York City in order to become immortal expectations (and if you don't get that reference shame on you, that man is utterly brilliant). If you have a hardened, gone through hell military type who's ready to cut a bloody swath through his enemy's foot soldiers to get to him...I, well expect him to cut a bloody swath through his enemy's foot soldiers before then cutting said enemy into tiny tiny pieces.
I don't expect a somewhat akward partnership that morphs into an uncomfortable (highly, uncomfortable) romance between two people who can't find pavement if they hit it with their faces.
Let me first point out that I find it extremely hypocritical of Sean to have joined up with a crime lord all in hopes of taking down people like Bay. We'll lay aside the fact it turns out to be the most monumentally DUMBASS thing Sean has likely ever done, and focus instead on the most judgemental attitude of any romantic hero I've come across recently (not including historicals, because that's too easy). Not only does he take an extremist stance against all "Time Thieves" because of the actions of one, but he then proceeds to not bother to do his homework about the guy he works for.
He knows he's a crime lord. He knows he has people killed routinely. He knows he is up to his neck in the shadiest business ever contemplated. NONE OF THAT MATTERS if the crime lord can give him the Time Thief that took out his command unit.
Let me restate that--NONE OF THAT MATTERS to Sean; not the human trafficking, not the drugs, not the prostituition rings, not the murders.
He's a fucking peach isn't he?
I can't really speak for any of the other Time Thieves he may have helped capture (and/or kill, its a bit vague all said), since we don't SEE any but Bay and she's pretty small potatoes. So I don't know if the untold others were all as monstrous as the one that took out Sean's unit. Or if they're like Bay and laying low to live a life. I don't know that I care really. Sean sure as hell didn't. In classic romance fashion he doesn't question his orders until he meets an attractive female.
Meanwhile I wasn't particularly taken by Bay. And I think this is partially because her story is similar to the story of another orphan with special powers who's life is destroyed by a crime lord because of said special powers (Gin from Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin books). Granted Gin had someone to help...mold her as she grew up, but they have very similar set-ups.
Bay wasn't very proactive. Like Sean she wanted revenge, but unlike Sean she was content with smaller petty crimes (stealing a valuable necklace?) to create an impact. She didn't have an endgame though. It wasn't like she was living in the moment until she could enact that endgame, she was just living in the moment because she had no clue. Her vague desire to live a normal life didn't have any support beams.
I mentioned earlier I felt uncomfortable with the romance angle and that's largely because it didn't feel...deserved. On Bay's part it felt, and sounded a lot like, she was attracted to him because he was protecting her. Neither learns a great deal about the other--the timeline is rapid & brief. It was a bit Stockholm. At no point is Bay given the valid ability of walking away from Sean before they start a physical relationship. Oh Sean says she can, but the reality is much further from the words.
In all this never came together for me. The glimpses of the other "Anomalies" (how many different words can authors use to avoid using metahuman, superhuman, mutant...) is just that, glimpses. I'm not terribly interested in revisiting the world to find out more however. Its a shame since I enjoy Hackett's other series (about the Phoenix Brothers), this just fell so short of expectations.The idea of the book, or of Anomalies in general, was great. The execution not so much.
+++
Here's the thing--I have certain expectations when you toss around words like "Time Thief" or "stealing time" in a book. Like Xanatos stealing a year from everyone in New York City in order to become immortal expectations (and if you don't get that reference shame on you, that man is utterly brilliant).
+++
Here's the thing--I have certain expectations when you toss around words like "Time Thief" or "stealing time" in a book. Like Xanatos stealing a year from everyone in New York City in order to become immortal expectations (and if you don't get that reference shame on you, that man is utterly brilliant). If you have a hardened, gone through hell military type who's ready to cut a bloody swath through his enemy's foot soldiers to get to him...I, well expect him to cut a bloody swath through his enemy's foot soldiers before then cutting said enemy into tiny tiny pieces.
I don't expect a somewhat akward partnership that morphs into an uncomfortable (highly, uncomfortable) romance between two people who can't find pavement if they hit it with their faces.
Let me first point out that I find it extremely hypocritical of Sean to have joined up with a crime lord all in hopes of taking down people like Bay. We'll lay aside the fact it turns out to be the most monumentally DUMBASS thing Sean has likely ever done, and focus instead on the most judgemental attitude of any romantic hero I've come across recently (not including historicals, because that's too easy). Not only does he take an extremist stance against all "Time Thieves" because of the actions of one, but he then proceeds to not bother to do his homework about the guy he works for.
He knows he's a crime lord. He knows he has people killed routinely. He knows he is up to his neck in the shadiest business ever contemplated. NONE OF THAT MATTERS if the crime lord can give him the Time Thief that took out his command unit.
Let me restate that--NONE OF THAT MATTERS to Sean; not the human trafficking, not the drugs, not the prostituition rings, not the murders.
He's a fucking peach isn't he?
I can't really speak for any of the other Time Thieves he may have helped capture (and/or kill, its a bit vague all said), since we don't SEE any but Bay and she's pretty small potatoes. So I don't know if the untold others were all as monstrous as the one that took out Sean's unit. Or if they're like Bay and laying low to live a life. I don't know that I care really. Sean sure as hell didn't. In classic romance fashion he doesn't question his orders until he meets an attractive female.
Meanwhile I wasn't particularly taken by Bay. And I think this is partially because her story is similar to the story of another orphan with special powers who's life is destroyed by a crime lord because of said special powers (Gin from Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin books). Granted Gin had someone to help...mold her as she grew up, but they have very similar set-ups.
Bay wasn't very proactive. Like Sean she wanted revenge, but unlike Sean she was content with smaller petty crimes (stealing a valuable necklace?) to create an impact. She didn't have an endgame though. It wasn't like she was living in the moment until she could enact that endgame, she was just living in the moment because she had no clue. Her vague desire to live a normal life didn't have any support beams.
I mentioned earlier I felt uncomfortable with the romance angle and that's largely because it didn't feel...deserved. On Bay's part it felt, and sounded a lot like, she was attracted to him because he was protecting her. Neither learns a great deal about the other--the timeline is rapid & brief. It was a bit Stockholm. At no point is Bay given the valid ability of walking away from Sean before they start a physical relationship. Oh Sean says she can, but the reality is much further from the words.
In all this never came together for me. The glimpses of the other "Anomalies" (how many different words can authors use to avoid using metahuman, superhuman, mutant...) is just that, glimpses. I'm not terribly interested in revisiting the world to find out more however. Its a shame since I enjoy Hackett's other series (about the Phoenix Brothers), this just fell so short of expectations.The idea of the book, or of Anomalies in general, was great. The execution not so much.
+++
Here's the thing--I have certain expectations when you toss around words like "Time Thief" or "stealing time" in a book. Like Xanatos stealing a year from everyone in New York City in order to become immortal expectations (and if you don't get that reference shame on you, that man is utterly brilliant).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Everything happened so quickly in this. I’ve read novellas of this length that pull off the balance of depth, romance, and steam with a low page count but this didn’t do that for me. The H goes from hating the h because of her power to him protecting her, just based on her words. Then they’re working together for revenge but I had a lot of questions. There wasn’t really any world building about the supernatural til the very end and even then, it was minimal. It’s a quick read with a lot of action and a couple of steamy scenes. The story ends with a HFN and enough info to set up a lead in for the rest of the series. The story is written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, neither were virgins, and bc is discussed. I won’t continue the series.
November 17, 2022
Really interesting premise but not as strong a delivery as I've come to expect from this author. She does a decent job explaining how the hero could make a massive and potentially deadly mistake, but I never quite bought it.
I'm classing this as PNR, but the enhanced-humans could be classed as SFR.
I'm classing this as PNR, but the enhanced-humans could be classed as SFR.
June 10, 2016
RATING: 4 Hearts! :)
October 3, 2023
This story was short, not so sweet, and full of drama. Bay was a time thief, meaning she could stop time for brief periods of time. She was also being hunted, and while Sean had her in his sights, he might be the only one able to keep her safe. I really enjoyed the idea of the various anomalies out there and how these people had to cope with their abilities and stay one step ahead of those who wanted them for their powers. The relationship between Bay and Sean was instalust at first sight, but I could see the potential for so much more in the end. I hope to see them in the following books of the series.
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April 14, 201520 January 2015: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
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November 3, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/3/2019)! 🎁
July 8, 2021
I really enjoyed how much story got packed into this fun-sized novella.
I will be reading more.
I will be reading more.
March 5, 2024
Such a reviving story!
FMC is a Time Thief. She has a gene anomaly that permits her to freeze time.
Unfortunately there is a horrible villain man who captures time thieves and torture them to his bidding (steal valuable things/ kill people etc.) FMC is on a mission to kill that man.
MMC is an ex-soldier. His men were killed because of a time thief (and they couldn't fight back or defend themselves) He wants revenge against every time thief until he finds the one responsible for the death of his men. So he hunts FMC for months and months.
The rest of the story is them setting aside their prejudice, getting to know and to love each other, and running away from imminent danger.
Despite the book being 90 pages or so, there was no insta- lust or insta-love. You can feel emotions brewing and connection getting stronger within every chapter.
Another thing I like so much is that there are a lot of characters with anomalies. And we'll get 2 other books with different FMCs that got different super powers.
I loved how the author said at the end of the book (hey I'm an engineer, I really don't have time to write or read long books. So she writes short ones packed with action and romance)
FMC is a Time Thief. She has a gene anomaly that permits her to freeze time.
Unfortunately there is a horrible villain man who captures time thieves and torture them to his bidding (steal valuable things/ kill people etc.) FMC is on a mission to kill that man.
MMC is an ex-soldier. His men were killed because of a time thief (and they couldn't fight back or defend themselves) He wants revenge against every time thief until he finds the one responsible for the death of his men. So he hunts FMC for months and months.
The rest of the story is them setting aside their prejudice, getting to know and to love each other, and running away from imminent danger.
Despite the book being 90 pages or so, there was no insta- lust or insta-love. You can feel emotions brewing and connection getting stronger within every chapter.
Another thing I like so much is that there are a lot of characters with anomalies. And we'll get 2 other books with different FMCs that got different super powers.
I loved how the author said at the end of the book (hey I'm an engineer, I really don't have time to write or read long books. So she writes short ones packed with action and romance)
October 6, 2024
Huh. Minimal world building and I didn't particularly connect with (or like) either of the lead characters. I thought Sean was a bit stupid (ex-military who decides to work for a crime Lord? really?). The romance was fast and I didn't buy it.
March 11, 2015
4.5 stars.
Loved this! Really loved the writing, the pacing, the characters. The only reason I took off a half star was because some of Bay's decisions toward the end bothered me, and the big bad guy seemed really easy to defeat. Like, so easy, given Bay's ability, that she should have had no problem killing him the last fifteen years.
Anyway, this was a free read. It has an X-Men feel to it. Bay is a time thief, meaning she can stop time. The novella opens with her breaking into a bank vault. It's a great scene, and so are most of the rest that follow.
Sean is a former SEAL, and he's hot. Of course. lol. But I was really impressed with the way his character was written. I've read a lot of SEAL memoirs the last few years, and he's one of the most believable SEAL characters I've read. The only time I didn't think the author got it right was when she mentioned his hair had grown out of its normal military precision cut (paraphrasing there). Have yall seen pics of Navy SEALS? Or special forces in general? They're all so shaggy. lol
But this was a really great read. The writing and voice were perfect - perfect enough that I know her other books will be worth reading.
Oh, and before I go. I loved Matt. Like, really, really, really loved him. I want his story. Not sure if we'll get it - I think Mara's story is next and I feel just so-so about her.
Definitely pick this one up.
Loved this! Really loved the writing, the pacing, the characters. The only reason I took off a half star was because some of Bay's decisions toward the end bothered me, and the big bad guy seemed really easy to defeat. Like, so easy, given Bay's ability, that she should have had no problem killing him the last fifteen years.
Anyway, this was a free read. It has an X-Men feel to it. Bay is a time thief, meaning she can stop time. The novella opens with her breaking into a bank vault. It's a great scene, and so are most of the rest that follow.
Sean is a former SEAL, and he's hot. Of course. lol. But I was really impressed with the way his character was written. I've read a lot of SEAL memoirs the last few years, and he's one of the most believable SEAL characters I've read. The only time I didn't think the author got it right was when she mentioned his hair had grown out of its normal military precision cut (paraphrasing there). Have yall seen pics of Navy SEALS? Or special forces in general? They're all so shaggy. lol
But this was a really great read. The writing and voice were perfect - perfect enough that I know her other books will be worth reading.
Oh, and before I go. I loved Matt. Like, really, really, really loved him. I want his story. Not sure if we'll get it - I think Mara's story is next and I feel just so-so about her.
Definitely pick this one up.
February 22, 2015
I was very confused by this book. There was some world building done, but some of the more important aspects of it were left out. The relationship moved too quickly for my tastes and I never really formed a connection to the characters. In fact, there wasn't really much I enjoyed about it, giving it an extra star for the unique Paranormal twists in it. I won't be continuing with the series, and will be deleting it from my Kindle library.
September 28, 2015
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I have no idea why two smart people would let a man live who would obviously be not only looking for them but would be hurting as many people as he could along the way. I'm sorry to say this thought overshadowed everything else I felt about the book.
January 15, 2016
Great start!!
Different concept of time stealing! Another hit by Anna! I knew she wouldn't let me down. On to the next one!!
Different concept of time stealing! Another hit by Anna! I knew she wouldn't let me down. On to the next one!!
March 27, 2018
Angst with steam
This was a quick fun read. A time-walker falling for the man hunting her with a heart warming HEA.
The heroine was pretty stubborn, but that’s expected with her background. The hero was compassionate and very easy to like.
This was a quick fun read. A time-walker falling for the man hunting her with a heart warming HEA.
The heroine was pretty stubborn, but that’s expected with her background. The hero was compassionate and very easy to like.
March 13, 2024
Excellent
I'm a huge Anna Hackett fan and I found this series by accident, thinking I had already read everything she's written. Great story, excellent timing and plot. Can't wait to continue and read the rest.
I'm a huge Anna Hackett fan and I found this series by accident, thinking I had already read everything she's written. Great story, excellent timing and plot. Can't wait to continue and read the rest.
March 7, 2016
I'm hitting this book on a reread so I can have all the books in the series reviewed in one place. Meaning, I technically read book 2 before book 1 this time around and had to go back and refresh my memory. Which is totally cool because I like this world. It's dangerous and chock full of people with abilities beyond the norm. I LIKE THOSE THINGS!
Bay and Sean definitely have a bit of a rocky start to their relationship. You know, seeing as how he's after her at the behest of a very bad man. Once Sean listens to what Bay has to say, however, things get straightened out. Since this isn't a terribly long book, that listening part comes pretty early on. This pleases me because it gives us more time for the sexy times. *slow thumbs up*
Great setup for the series, we get to see how Bay's extra abilities set her apart from others and that there are more out there than just her. Plus, we get the sexy times. Which I am always down for reading!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Bay and Sean definitely have a bit of a rocky start to their relationship. You know, seeing as how he's after her at the behest of a very bad man. Once Sean listens to what Bay has to say, however, things get straightened out. Since this isn't a terribly long book, that listening part comes pretty early on. This pleases me because it gives us more time for the sexy times. *slow thumbs up*
Great setup for the series, we get to see how Bay's extra abilities set her apart from others and that there are more out there than just her. Plus, we get the sexy times. Which I am always down for reading!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 19, 2015
Ehhh... Like this author's alien series, I really like the concept, but the execution is seriously lacking.
I HATE
I hate third party narration.
I hate it when all the characters sound the same with no unique, distinguishing elements to their voices or personalities.
I hate one-dimensional characters.
I hate it when I step into a standalone book and feel like I missed a book or two of backdrop and background.
I hate repetition of thoughts, feelings, musings, dialogue, and/or narrative.
I Love
The plot idea of para time and mind jackers.
Bottom Line
When the hates outweigh the loves by a landslide, something went terribly amiss. The author just didn't implement her ideas in a likable way and her writing itself wasn't executed well.
Can't say I'd recommend beyond a mindless beach day or doctor's waiting room read when you don't want anything too engrossing or mind blowing:/
I HATE
I hate third party narration.
I hate it when all the characters sound the same with no unique, distinguishing elements to their voices or personalities.
I hate one-dimensional characters.
I hate it when I step into a standalone book and feel like I missed a book or two of backdrop and background.
I hate repetition of thoughts, feelings, musings, dialogue, and/or narrative.
I Love
The plot idea of para time and mind jackers.
Bottom Line
When the hates outweigh the loves by a landslide, something went terribly amiss. The author just didn't implement her ideas in a likable way and her writing itself wasn't executed well.
Can't say I'd recommend beyond a mindless beach day or doctor's waiting room read when you don't want anything too engrossing or mind blowing:/
May 24, 2015
A fabulously steamy novella. 'Time Thief' is filled with blood-pumping adrenaline and passion; as two strong characters collide and discover they have equally strong feelings for each other.
What more could you want? (besides the next instalment of the Anomaly series.)
What more could you want? (besides the next instalment of the Anomaly series.)
September 22, 2012
A pleasure to read!
I've read many of Anna's works and this one is my fav so far. Skilled story telling, great flawed characters and beautifully flowing (easy to read) writing.
Read the excerpt for the next in the series, it's fantastic too!
I've read many of Anna's works and this one is my fav so far. Skilled story telling, great flawed characters and beautifully flowing (easy to read) writing.
Read the excerpt for the next in the series, it's fantastic too!
April 9, 2015
Wondeful first book in the series where anomalies are people having special abilities, like X-Man!
Full of action! Very fast-paced!
Great!!!
Full of action! Very fast-paced!
Great!!!
January 18, 2018
She’d been a thief a long time but bank robbery was a new low.’
Australian author Anna Hackett became a mining engineer whose work required travelling from icy, subarctic Northern Canada to the heat of Southern Africa, She now lives in Perth, writing ‘stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.’ She has close to fifty books to her credit.
TIME THIEF is book 1 in her series she has named The Anomaly Series. In this fascinating first installment Anna combines science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and romance in a story that is best described by her synopsis: ‘Bay North wants revenge, no, she craves revenge. Hunted for her psychic ability to steal time and forced to watch her family die, all she wants is to make the crime lord who's taken everything from her pay. But now he's set the ultimate hunter on her trail and Bay will need all her skills just to survive the gray-eyed, hard-bodied man out to kill her. Ex-Navy SEAL Sean Archer has nothing left but a thirst for vengeance. After his team is killed in Afghanistan by a time thief, he came home a broken man. Now he hunts any of the monsters he can find, ready to rid the world of the dangerous mutation. But when he finally tracks Bay to Denver, he doesn't see a monster or a mutation, he sees a tough, beautiful survivor who ignites a desire he can't deny. During a shootout, hunter and hunted find themselves thrust into a reluctant alliance that shatters all their defenses. Can Sean convince a woman honed in revenge that they can have more than vengeance, blood and killing?’
Anna has the ability to sculpt her characters in a way that, despite their anomalies’ the are readily visible in the readers mind. She introduces her Main character as follows: ‘Bay North stood in line at the Concord Downing Bank and surreptitiously scratched under her wig. The damn thing itched like crazy. She ran a hand down the pencil skirt of her cheap, gray business suit. It was a challenge trying to blend in with the Denver lunch crowd waiting to bank checks and open new accounts. The suit, the foreign makeup and brown wig were her attempt at a chic disguise. She swallowed a snort. She wouldn’t know chic if it slammed her in the head with a pair of designer heels. Out of necessity, she usually wore clothes she could run in. Things might have been different if she hadn’t been born a freak. Her chest constricted. She fought to keep her hands relaxed, to not curl them into tight little fists. Things weren’t different. She breathed out. Imagined the rush of emotions bleeding away like a spent wave.’
It is this polished writing style that sweeps the reader through the book making the 100 page length seem even shorter – but pungent! Terrific little novel, this.
Australian author Anna Hackett became a mining engineer whose work required travelling from icy, subarctic Northern Canada to the heat of Southern Africa, She now lives in Perth, writing ‘stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.’ She has close to fifty books to her credit.
TIME THIEF is book 1 in her series she has named The Anomaly Series. In this fascinating first installment Anna combines science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and romance in a story that is best described by her synopsis: ‘Bay North wants revenge, no, she craves revenge. Hunted for her psychic ability to steal time and forced to watch her family die, all she wants is to make the crime lord who's taken everything from her pay. But now he's set the ultimate hunter on her trail and Bay will need all her skills just to survive the gray-eyed, hard-bodied man out to kill her. Ex-Navy SEAL Sean Archer has nothing left but a thirst for vengeance. After his team is killed in Afghanistan by a time thief, he came home a broken man. Now he hunts any of the monsters he can find, ready to rid the world of the dangerous mutation. But when he finally tracks Bay to Denver, he doesn't see a monster or a mutation, he sees a tough, beautiful survivor who ignites a desire he can't deny. During a shootout, hunter and hunted find themselves thrust into a reluctant alliance that shatters all their defenses. Can Sean convince a woman honed in revenge that they can have more than vengeance, blood and killing?’
Anna has the ability to sculpt her characters in a way that, despite their anomalies’ the are readily visible in the readers mind. She introduces her Main character as follows: ‘Bay North stood in line at the Concord Downing Bank and surreptitiously scratched under her wig. The damn thing itched like crazy. She ran a hand down the pencil skirt of her cheap, gray business suit. It was a challenge trying to blend in with the Denver lunch crowd waiting to bank checks and open new accounts. The suit, the foreign makeup and brown wig were her attempt at a chic disguise. She swallowed a snort. She wouldn’t know chic if it slammed her in the head with a pair of designer heels. Out of necessity, she usually wore clothes she could run in. Things might have been different if she hadn’t been born a freak. Her chest constricted. She fought to keep her hands relaxed, to not curl them into tight little fists. Things weren’t different. She breathed out. Imagined the rush of emotions bleeding away like a spent wave.’
It is this polished writing style that sweeps the reader through the book making the 100 page length seem even shorter – but pungent! Terrific little novel, this.
March 24, 2017
Прекрасная задумка. Просто прекрасная. Тем и обиднее для меня, как для читателя, что она никак не реализована. А ведь сама идея серии обещает очень много.
Есть воры времени - люди, которые способны останавливать (красть) какой-то промежуток времени, прилагая физическое и умственное усилие. Бэй - одна из них. Шон - тот, кого послали ее остановить. С этого все и начинается.
С первой главы я сказала себе: да, намечается экшн. Собственно, тем и понравилась мне серия "Отряд Ада", о которой я напишу чуть позже. Хэкетт умеет совместить любовную линию и сюжет. В этой книге сюжет есть, а вот любовная линия.
Для начала герои. Бэй. Она - воровка времени. Ее цель - отомстить парню, убившему ее семью. Она крадет то, что ценно и важно, живет местью и, и она очень умна.
Шон. Он вояка, работающий на парня, который насолил Бэй. Он должен найти ее - и передать в руки своего хозяина, чтобы тот убил ее.
Их любовь вспыхивает быстро. Я бы сказала, мгновенно. Для книжки-малышки, в принципе, это нормально, так что снимать звезды не стала. А теперь, за что сняла.
1. Шон. Он классный парень. На самом деле классный, ибо, поняв, что его надули, не вымещает на Бэй злость, да и вообще не видит в ней "отклонение", которым она сама себя считает. Автор говорит нам, что он крутой вояка. Но истерика после того, как Бэй спасла ему жизнь и рассказала, что его обдурили, как-то попортила этот образ, особенно на фоне собранной и спокойной Бэй. В дальнейшем главным персонажем, "мужиком" в их паре так же неоднократно оказывается Бэй.
2. Поступок Бэй сразу после побега из банка. Шон прибегает на вокзал, следуя часовику, и понимает, что опоздал, т.к. как раз только что ушел поезд. Что помешало Бэй сесть на этот поезд, если она действительно хотела сбежать? Рубин-то был у нее. Трудно поверить, что, так идеально спланировав ограбление, плюс, натолкнувшись на парня, который пришел за ней, она не продумала момент.
В книге еще несколько мелких шероховатостей, о которых не вспомню, иначе отзыв окажется длиннее книги. Книга не лучшая у автора, но вторую часть почитаю.
Есть воры времени - люди, которые способны останавливать (красть) какой-то промежуток времени, прилагая физическое и умственное усилие. Бэй - одна из них. Шон - тот, кого послали ее остановить. С этого все и начинается.
С первой главы я сказала себе: да, намечается экшн. Собственно, тем и понравилась мне серия "Отряд Ада", о которой я напишу чуть позже. Хэкетт умеет совместить любовную линию и сюжет. В этой книге сюжет есть, а вот любовная линия.
Для начала герои. Бэй. Она - воровка времени. Ее цель - отомстить парню, убившему ее семью. Она крадет то, что ценно и важно, живет местью и, и она очень умна.
Шон. Он вояка, работающий на парня, который насолил Бэй. Он должен найти ее - и передать в руки своего хозяина, чтобы тот убил ее.
Их любовь вспыхивает быстро. Я бы сказала, мгновенно. Для книжки-малышки, в принципе, это нормально, так что снимать звезды не стала. А теперь, за что сняла.
1. Шон. Он классный парень. На самом деле классный, ибо, поняв, что его надули, не вымещает на Бэй злость, да и вообще не видит в ней "отклонение", которым она сама себя считает. Автор говорит нам, что он крутой вояка. Но истерика после того, как Бэй спасла ему жизнь и рассказала, что его обдурили, как-то попортила этот образ, особенно на фоне собранной и спокойной Бэй. В дальнейшем главным персонажем, "мужиком" в их паре так же неоднократно оказывается Бэй.
2. Поступок Бэй сразу после побега из банка. Шон прибегает на вокзал, следуя часовику, и понимает, что опоздал, т.к. как раз только что ушел поезд. Что помешало Бэй сесть на этот поезд, если она действительно хотела сбежать? Рубин-то был у нее. Трудно поверить, что, так идеально спланировав ограбление, плюс, натолкнувшись на парня, который пришел за ней, она не продумала момент.
В книге еще несколько мелких шероховатостей, о которых не вспомню, иначе отзыв окажется длиннее книги. Книга не лучшая у автора, но вторую часть почитаю.
March 21, 2023
TIME THIEF, Bk1 in Anna Hackett’s Anomaly series.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3 to 3.5 Stars.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Bay North is a time thief. North has been on the run since she was 16. Her family was murdered because of her genes and the ability they provide. Although North was raised to use her gift responsibly, she has the ability to stop time temporarily, grab what she wants or needs in the interim and disappear.
Former Navy SEAL Commander Sean Archer witnessed a time thief murder his entire SEAL unit while in Afghanistan. Apparently his unit had been in the wrong place, putting pressure on the wrong guys. As his unit’s sole survivor, Sean returned to the US and has since been focused on taking down a certain time thief, Bay North.
Comments ~
1) TIME THIEF is bk 1 in a 4 bk series. It has a complete story with a HFN/HEA with an overriding story arc connecting the titles.
2) TIME THIEF is a novella and reads quickly. As such, I felt overall it didn’t have the depth of other Hackett books. I thought the character development and world building was good.
3) Hackett’s book tend to be steamy. I don’t generally mind unless the balance of the book leans more heavily toward sexuality than action and story, which I felt was the case with TIME THIEF. I’ll see if I feel the same with the next book.
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to YA or to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used.
VIOLENCE - PG-13.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Steamy scenes of intimacy occur several times.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3 to 3.5 Stars.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Bay North is a time thief. North has been on the run since she was 16. Her family was murdered because of her genes and the ability they provide. Although North was raised to use her gift responsibly, she has the ability to stop time temporarily, grab what she wants or needs in the interim and disappear.
Former Navy SEAL Commander Sean Archer witnessed a time thief murder his entire SEAL unit while in Afghanistan. Apparently his unit had been in the wrong place, putting pressure on the wrong guys. As his unit’s sole survivor, Sean returned to the US and has since been focused on taking down a certain time thief, Bay North.
Comments ~
1) TIME THIEF is bk 1 in a 4 bk series. It has a complete story with a HFN/HEA with an overriding story arc connecting the titles.
2) TIME THIEF is a novella and reads quickly. As such, I felt overall it didn’t have the depth of other Hackett books. I thought the character development and world building was good.
3) Hackett’s book tend to be steamy. I don’t generally mind unless the balance of the book leans more heavily toward sexuality than action and story, which I felt was the case with TIME THIEF. I’ll see if I feel the same with the next book.
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to YA or to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used.
VIOLENCE - PG-13.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Steamy scenes of intimacy occur several times.
April 18, 2018
The heroine of this book is Bay North. She was born with the ability to "steal time" - freeze it so that she is the only one able to move around and do things. As you can imagine, this is a talent that could be exploited by a criminal mastermind. A crime lord, Gabriel Leven killed her family in an attempt to force Bay to work for him. However, she's spent her adult life not just hiding from him, but working to make his life miserable, with an ultimate goal of destroying Leven.
Sean Archer was part of a Navy Seal team that encountered another time thief while in Afghanistan, and he was the only member of his team to survive. Sean has been hired by Leven to hunt time thieves, but after an encounter with Bay, he realizes that he is on the wrong side.
The book covers Sean and Bay's attempts to hurt Leven and their relationship while also setting up another series. The characters aren't as well developed as her Hell Squad or Galactic Gladiators series, but it was an easy enjoyable book to read.
Sean Archer was part of a Navy Seal team that encountered another time thief while in Afghanistan, and he was the only member of his team to survive. Sean has been hired by Leven to hunt time thieves, but after an encounter with Bay, he realizes that he is on the wrong side.
The book covers Sean and Bay's attempts to hurt Leven and their relationship while also setting up another series. The characters aren't as well developed as her Hell Squad or Galactic Gladiators series, but it was an easy enjoyable book to read.
July 18, 2018
Prime example of why I normally don't like to read Novellas. This story had potential to it, but writing it as a novella hurt the story. It took me 2 & 1/2 hours to read this. Too much of the world building was left out, though there was some, but not enough to help a reader find their bearings in the story. The characters (good & bad) were not fleshed out enough to make me care as a reader, one way or another, what happens. Also, being a novella, rushed the "love" feelings between Sean & Bay. I mean they didn't come out & say the "Love" word, but it was implied that they were in love. It was almost unbelievable to me, in 2 days, that they could feel that strongly about each other which in turn hurt the story. The ending felt unbelievable too. Just too many questions & things left hanging (like leaving the bad guy out there to do more bad things to other innocents who happen to either have an anomaly or get in his way). I would like to see the author go back & re-work this into a fleshed out actual book, maybe add another 100 pages to it, & it could end up being a great story.
April 6, 2018
Bay North can stop time and she uses it to steal things that belong to Gabriel Leven, the crime lord who killed her family.
But Leven has hired a man to hunt her and he’s getting close. Too close.
***
*Frowns*
You know where you are told someone is a brilliant SEAL team leader and a great soldier and then they just aren’t?
Yeah.
No recon, no plan, didn’t even know the name of the woman he was hunting, or care that the man he’s working for is a crime boss … what the?
Whispers *it makes no sense*
2 stars
But Leven has hired a man to hunt her and he’s getting close. Too close.
***
*Frowns*
You know where you are told someone is a brilliant SEAL team leader and a great soldier and then they just aren’t?
Yeah.
No recon, no plan, didn’t even know the name of the woman he was hunting, or care that the man he’s working for is a crime boss … what the?
Whispers *it makes no sense*
2 stars
August 13, 2018
This was a fun read! The story was almost nonstop action, and I mean that in a good way. The time thief has the ability to stop time, as the name implies, and she uses this ability frequently throughout the story (much to my delight). There's gun fights and close calls, and the focus is actually on the revenge/redemption plot instead of having random smut everywhere, which is a plus in my eyes. I like for the romance to develop around the plot unfolding, and that's what this story does. It sets up an interesting villain and a common goal for the two enemies-turned-allies main characters.
My biggest complaint is how the final showdown played out. I have to say, I was irritated by that. I almost knocked a star for it, but the rest of the book makes up for it, including the ending. This is a quick read and I really enjoyed it!
My biggest complaint is how the final showdown played out. I have to say, I was irritated by that. I almost knocked a star for it, but the rest of the book makes up for it, including the ending. This is a quick read and I really enjoyed it!
February 24, 2019
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this different type of romantic suspense paranormal story - the heroine is a time thief... The romance moves along pretty quickly - insta love etc, but I was expecting that - although it didn't really feel rushed to me. The steamy scenes were well done. The hero had been following his target for several months, so we really go into this story knowing there's an attraction to start with and a history - of sorts. Enough said, I don't like to reveal plot lines a great deal. The novella was very well written and my only criticism, is that the ending was pretty abrupt. The back story is ongoing, although there was a HEA for the H/h. I would really like to continue with this series and I've ticked other books by this author on my goodreads 'to read' list. 🙂💘
October 20, 2022
What an interesting idea…
Anomalies are people with extraordinary abilities.. but some criminals want to exploit them. Bay has been on the run from Gabriel Leven since he killed her family to get to her.
Sean has been following her for Leven for months, and he finally gets the drop on her, but what he gets is not what he expected.
He wanted revenge for his team killed in action by a time thief and Bay is a time thief but when he learns her story and learns that he has been betrayed by Leven, he runs with her, but she takes time from him to save him…
She finally finds a place to rest called Haven, and he is waiting for her.. HEA
Anomalies are people with extraordinary abilities.. but some criminals want to exploit them. Bay has been on the run from Gabriel Leven since he killed her family to get to her.
Sean has been following her for Leven for months, and he finally gets the drop on her, but what he gets is not what he expected.
He wanted revenge for his team killed in action by a time thief and Bay is a time thief but when he learns her story and learns that he has been betrayed by Leven, he runs with her, but she takes time from him to save him…
She finally finds a place to rest called Haven, and he is waiting for her.. HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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