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Protective Hearts
Finn is the only surviving victim of the Chicago Heart Ripper.
Struggling to come to terms with what happened, she fights against the amnesia that prevents her from identifying the serial killer.
Caleb Sheppard is determined to protect Finn. He suspects that there is more to the prolific serial killer than meets the eye; why did he leave Finn alive?
With the Ripper on their heels, they race against time to retrieve Finn's memories, keep her out of the murderer's clutches, and discover the secrets of his identity.
What Finn does not realize is that Caleb is hiding secrets of his own – some of which she might not be able to accept.
Praise from
★★★★★ - "The writing is exquisite and the characters are well developed and complex. The story of the Ripper satisfied my need for suspense while Finn and those who were trying to protect her, touched my heart. Well done."
★★★★★ - "A must-read if you like well-developed characters, smart plots, great writing and smoldering romance."
★★★★★ - "This book kept me captivated from the first paragraph on. I loved the writing style, the plot and the colorful cast of characters. Everything about this book is out of the box and makes for a riveting read."
Struggling to come to terms with what happened, she fights against the amnesia that prevents her from identifying the serial killer.
Caleb Sheppard is determined to protect Finn. He suspects that there is more to the prolific serial killer than meets the eye; why did he leave Finn alive?
With the Ripper on their heels, they race against time to retrieve Finn's memories, keep her out of the murderer's clutches, and discover the secrets of his identity.
What Finn does not realize is that Caleb is hiding secrets of his own – some of which she might not be able to accept.
Praise from
★★★★★ - "The writing is exquisite and the characters are well developed and complex. The story of the Ripper satisfied my need for suspense while Finn and those who were trying to protect her, touched my heart. Well done."
★★★★★ - "A must-read if you like well-developed characters, smart plots, great writing and smoldering romance."
★★★★★ - "This book kept me captivated from the first paragraph on. I loved the writing style, the plot and the colorful cast of characters. Everything about this book is out of the box and makes for a riveting read."
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
48 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
D.S. Williams
21 books157 followersI'm a lover of the written word and imaginary worlds and have been from a very young age.
My first forays into writing were stories I wrote to amuse myself - since then I like to think my writing has matured - perhaps more than I have!
Reading is a passion, although I suspect I have far more books than I'll ever have time to read and collecting new books is a pleasant addiction and a fabulous time waster.
Writing is a joyful undertaking conducted with copious amounts of journals, planners and more pens than I'm willing to admit I've bought over the years. Suffice to say I own a multitude of shelves and pencil cases to store it all.
I adore pandas and penguins, elephants and manatees and fluffy butts of all varieties.
Life is taken up with the aforementioned occupations, plus life with the Darling Husband and our four adult children.
Filling up the last of my spare time are the two furry children; Mollie, a rescue Cane Corso/Mastiff and Stanley, the hyperactive American Staffy/Possible Catahoula.
And just in case there are a couple of minutes left over, the Darling Husband and I are planning to build our own house in the hills outside Perth, Western Australia during 2025/2026!
You can find me here:
Website: https://theworldsofdswilliams.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D.S.Williams...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/chunkiep...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chunkiepandas/
My first forays into writing were stories I wrote to amuse myself - since then I like to think my writing has matured - perhaps more than I have!
Reading is a passion, although I suspect I have far more books than I'll ever have time to read and collecting new books is a pleasant addiction and a fabulous time waster.
Writing is a joyful undertaking conducted with copious amounts of journals, planners and more pens than I'm willing to admit I've bought over the years. Suffice to say I own a multitude of shelves and pencil cases to store it all.
I adore pandas and penguins, elephants and manatees and fluffy butts of all varieties.
Life is taken up with the aforementioned occupations, plus life with the Darling Husband and our four adult children.
Filling up the last of my spare time are the two furry children; Mollie, a rescue Cane Corso/Mastiff and Stanley, the hyperactive American Staffy/Possible Catahoula.
And just in case there are a couple of minutes left over, the Darling Husband and I are planning to build our own house in the hills outside Perth, Western Australia during 2025/2026!
You can find me here:
Website: https://theworldsofdswilliams.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D.S.Williams...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/chunkiep...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chunkiepandas/
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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January 17, 2018I bought this book from an Amazon based on the first two lines of the description. Anticipating an average serial killer thriller I have to say the actual genre came with an element of surprise. Having already spent my $1.24 I decided to finish the book.
One could say there was enjoyment in getting to flex my eyes a bit with all the rolling. I'm not giving this any stars because of the fact that I didn't really check what I was about to read, but being a fan of such classics as the Mermaid's kiss this wasn't the silliest thing I ever read and it made the commute to work go by just fine.
One could say there was enjoyment in getting to flex my eyes a bit with all the rolling. I'm not giving this any stars because of the fact that I didn't really check what I was about to read, but being a fan of such classics as the Mermaid's kiss this wasn't the silliest thing I ever read and it made the commute to work go by just fine.
August 18, 2018
Scary Good
This is a good read literally. I guessed early on who it might be but that didn't t stop my devouring this book. The interesting angle of the relationships among Rafe, Caleb, and Finn gave me a new perspective on how and whom we choose to love. I wasn't fond of the patronizing attitude of the men or Finn s rather submissive demeanor. On the other hand I liked the caring family vibes of the enclave. I would have liked to know more about Bryan and how he rescued his sister. Gracie was poignant as a well written character should be. All in all, reading this book was time well spent.
This is a good read literally. I guessed early on who it might be but that didn't t stop my devouring this book. The interesting angle of the relationships among Rafe, Caleb, and Finn gave me a new perspective on how and whom we choose to love. I wasn't fond of the patronizing attitude of the men or Finn s rather submissive demeanor. On the other hand I liked the caring family vibes of the enclave. I would have liked to know more about Bryan and how he rescued his sister. Gracie was poignant as a well written character should be. All in all, reading this book was time well spent.
March 18, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive an A.R.C. of this but that doesn't colour my review in any way.
★★★★★
Oh wow, this book is so different from anything I have read before.
Our heroine Finn has been rescued from the clutches of a vicious serial killer, at the expense of her brother's life. The heart ripper has killed many prostitutes, but Finn is not his usual target. Add to that he kept her far longer than his other victims. Finn has P.T.S.D. and can't remember anything about what the man looked like. Everything happened in total darkness. She is physically and mentally wounded. Her friends have gathered round and decide to hide her away to make sure the killer will never find her again.
Caleb has known Finn and her brother for years, and has always treated Finn as a little sister. Her friends leave her in a hideaway with a wolf as protection. Finn has a very traumatic time ahead of her. Her belief in her own sanity will be pushed to it's limit.
I loved this book. The heroine is faced with so much it's a testament to her strength that she is not a gibbering wreck. Caleb and Rafe are such typical Alpha males . Doing their best to protect but constantly pissing her off. They are werewolves and are used to sharing everything, even their thoughts. The killer has been robbed of his prey, and will not rest until he gets her back.
This book is loaded with sexual tension, but no sex scenes. There are some very uncomfortable memories. The emotion of all the characters is the strongest part of the story. You can really relate to Finn trying to understand everything and everyone around her, and trying to recover from her ordeal. With the killings still happening Finn wants to help identify the killer.
I want to read much more about all the characters in this story. I think I see a potential relationship building between two of the secondary characters.
★★★★★
Oh wow, this book is so different from anything I have read before.
Our heroine Finn has been rescued from the clutches of a vicious serial killer, at the expense of her brother's life. The heart ripper has killed many prostitutes, but Finn is not his usual target. Add to that he kept her far longer than his other victims. Finn has P.T.S.D. and can't remember anything about what the man looked like. Everything happened in total darkness. She is physically and mentally wounded. Her friends have gathered round and decide to hide her away to make sure the killer will never find her again.
Caleb has known Finn and her brother for years, and has always treated Finn as a little sister. Her friends leave her in a hideaway with a wolf as protection. Finn has a very traumatic time ahead of her. Her belief in her own sanity will be pushed to it's limit.
I loved this book. The heroine is faced with so much it's a testament to her strength that she is not a gibbering wreck. Caleb and Rafe are such typical Alpha males . Doing their best to protect but constantly pissing her off. They are werewolves and are used to sharing everything, even their thoughts. The killer has been robbed of his prey, and will not rest until he gets her back.
This book is loaded with sexual tension, but no sex scenes. There are some very uncomfortable memories. The emotion of all the characters is the strongest part of the story. You can really relate to Finn trying to understand everything and everyone around her, and trying to recover from her ordeal. With the killings still happening Finn wants to help identify the killer.
I want to read much more about all the characters in this story. I think I see a potential relationship building between two of the secondary characters.
January 27, 2015
I received a free copy from the author for an honest review, but if I hadn't...hell, I'd have bought it anyway. The description alone intrigued me no end.
I'd heard all sorts of rumours - from ménage to paranormal to detailed psychological research - and when there's a serial killer on the loose, I was almost afraid of what that might mean.
I'll give you no spoilers, so you'll have to read it yourself to find out how steamy the intimate scenes get and with whom, not to mention the chilling view from inside the mind of a serial killer as well as his victim. It's really hard to write this review without spoilers, though...because there are so many little mysteries that draw you deeper into the book as you read.
The detailed plot kept me guessing - if you want a book that spells out the whole story in the first chapter, this isn't it. The serial killer's identity was as much a mystery to me as it was to Finn - until it wasn't, of course. One of the many reasons that I couldn't seem to stop reading this one once I'd started. I just had to get to the end to find out who and what and whether Finn found love...
Five stars. Undoubtedly.
I'd heard all sorts of rumours - from ménage to paranormal to detailed psychological research - and when there's a serial killer on the loose, I was almost afraid of what that might mean.
I'll give you no spoilers, so you'll have to read it yourself to find out how steamy the intimate scenes get and with whom, not to mention the chilling view from inside the mind of a serial killer as well as his victim. It's really hard to write this review without spoilers, though...because there are so many little mysteries that draw you deeper into the book as you read.
The detailed plot kept me guessing - if you want a book that spells out the whole story in the first chapter, this isn't it. The serial killer's identity was as much a mystery to me as it was to Finn - until it wasn't, of course. One of the many reasons that I couldn't seem to stop reading this one once I'd started. I just had to get to the end to find out who and what and whether Finn found love...
Five stars. Undoubtedly.
January 31, 2015
I know, 5 stars! Surely there was something wrong? Nope, it was pretty perfect. I love to read. I love to fall into a book and feel that sadness, when it's all over. D.S Williams is an artist of the written word, and I enjoyed every single bit.
Finn is an extremely strong young lady and I felt very invested in her character. The secrets, the romance and suspense this book has is mind-blowing.
Thank you D.S Williams!
Finn is an extremely strong young lady and I felt very invested in her character. The secrets, the romance and suspense this book has is mind-blowing.
Thank you D.S Williams!
February 2, 2018
Different!
Although as someone else commented they rolled their eyes a lot at some of the "impossible and oh too good to be true love scenes" I still felt the book was fun reading, albeit some dreadful parts, too. Never knew what was coming next and I liked Ms. Williams imaginative descriptions of events as they unfolded. For those who like love stories, mysteries and unreality all rolled into one, I'd recommend it.
Although as someone else commented they rolled their eyes a lot at some of the "impossible and oh too good to be true love scenes" I still felt the book was fun reading, albeit some dreadful parts, too. Never knew what was coming next and I liked Ms. Williams imaginative descriptions of events as they unfolded. For those who like love stories, mysteries and unreality all rolled into one, I'd recommend it.
April 8, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
January 7, 2023
This book has it all. Intrigue, suspense, romance with a heat. There is so many twists and the book is not only a love story, but involves a serial killer and supernatural elements as well. Finn has been rescued from the heart ripper, who has killed prostitutes, but Finn is not his usual target. She is physically and mentally wounded. Her hide her away to make sure the killer will never find her again.
Caleb has known Finn and her brother for years, and has always treated Finn as a little sister. Her friends leave her in a hideaway with a wolf as protection.
Loved the narration of Nick Flesher, who brings out the action, suspense and romance, perfect. Makes this a great listen.
Caleb has known Finn and her brother for years, and has always treated Finn as a little sister. Her friends leave her in a hideaway with a wolf as protection.
Loved the narration of Nick Flesher, who brings out the action, suspense and romance, perfect. Makes this a great listen.
September 30, 2017
Vampires and Wear Wolfs ménage à trois?
Romantic mystery novels about wear wolf twin brothers who fall in love with a human girl who has been followed for centuries by a vampire.
First novel I've read dealing with any of the above. The author is very good. Almost made me wonder if there may be some wolf packs living near me, lol.
As a Wiccan there are tales of all animals however if they showed up as Caleb and Rafe on my doorsteps I might consider joining their pack. Interesting book. Would like to read a part two in the future.
Romantic mystery novels about wear wolf twin brothers who fall in love with a human girl who has been followed for centuries by a vampire.
First novel I've read dealing with any of the above. The author is very good. Almost made me wonder if there may be some wolf packs living near me, lol.
As a Wiccan there are tales of all animals however if they showed up as Caleb and Rafe on my doorsteps I might consider joining their pack. Interesting book. Would like to read a part two in the future.
September 10, 2017
Fascinating
To learn more about the werewolf culture is fascinating. Seriously, it kept me interested throughout the entire story, not knowing what to expect next. Great Read. Keep the stories coming.
To learn more about the werewolf culture is fascinating. Seriously, it kept me interested throughout the entire story, not knowing what to expect next. Great Read. Keep the stories coming.
December 5, 2018
Excitement of the mystery of kind
Abduction,murder best friends keep you turning pages to the end. I have this a four because the romance was a little drawn out and repetitive i felt. A good book that I stayed up late to read. Keeps your attention.
Abduction,murder best friends keep you turning pages to the end. I have this a four because the romance was a little drawn out and repetitive i felt. A good book that I stayed up late to read. Keeps your attention.
February 17, 2017
When I began to read this book I didn't know what to expect, as I had never heard of it before.
To my surprise this book is actually pretty good and even though it touches some sensitive subjecs for a lot of people it does explain the reasons behind those subjects, it threats the author as a part of that story and it does absorb you into the plot, the characters and the emotions.
This is a book for 18+ in my opinion. It doesn't have explicit sex scenes, but we do see sexual tension, a bit of foreplay, mention of rape and bloody murders.
I didn't like so much that the narrator is in first person, but soon you get over it.
The main plot is kind of simple: Finnola O'Flaherty, the protagonist, is the only survivor from the Chicago Heart Ripper and nobody knows why. She is not like his other victims and that also rises the question as to why he targeted her.
To make sure she doesn't fall into his hands again, her friends hide her in a security home while the Police tries to find and capture the Ripper. One of her friends, Caleb Sheppard is adamant to protect her, to the grade that he doesn't even trust entirely her other friends. This is because nobody knows who the Ripper is.
Finn has shut out her memories while being captive because of excesive trauma, but in there lies the key to discover the Ripper's identity and is up to her to recover those memories in order to capture the Ripper.
It does sound simple, but it isn't. This novel is labeled under the romance/supernatural genre, and we do see mythical beings. When I found out about them, for a moment remember other romance novels but this one doesn't fall into those stories.
Ther are a lot of characters in this book, and every single one of them have a reason to be there, they are all well developed and all the side stories that we get to know during the main plot are interesting.
This book is really good, as I said. The author is well informed about the psychological topics that are treated in here and the suspense and action scenes are excellent. There's never too much nor so little. It's just really well written. I can't give it 5 stars because, to my personal taste, the fact the narrator was in first person was a no-no, but I must accept that even that was well done.
I can't say more without giving away spoilers, just read it, it does absorb you in it and you will be desperate to find out who the Ripper is, just as much as the characters are.
To my surprise this book is actually pretty good and even though it touches some sensitive subjecs for a lot of people it does explain the reasons behind those subjects, it threats the author as a part of that story and it does absorb you into the plot, the characters and the emotions.
This is a book for 18+ in my opinion. It doesn't have explicit sex scenes, but we do see sexual tension, a bit of foreplay, mention of rape and bloody murders.
I didn't like so much that the narrator is in first person, but soon you get over it.
The main plot is kind of simple: Finnola O'Flaherty, the protagonist, is the only survivor from the Chicago Heart Ripper and nobody knows why. She is not like his other victims and that also rises the question as to why he targeted her.
To make sure she doesn't fall into his hands again, her friends hide her in a security home while the Police tries to find and capture the Ripper. One of her friends, Caleb Sheppard is adamant to protect her, to the grade that he doesn't even trust entirely her other friends. This is because nobody knows who the Ripper is.
Finn has shut out her memories while being captive because of excesive trauma, but in there lies the key to discover the Ripper's identity and is up to her to recover those memories in order to capture the Ripper.
It does sound simple, but it isn't. This novel is labeled under the romance/supernatural genre, and we do see mythical beings. When I found out about them, for a moment remember other romance novels but this one doesn't fall into those stories.
Ther are a lot of characters in this book, and every single one of them have a reason to be there, they are all well developed and all the side stories that we get to know during the main plot are interesting.
This book is really good, as I said. The author is well informed about the psychological topics that are treated in here and the suspense and action scenes are excellent. There's never too much nor so little. It's just really well written. I can't give it 5 stars because, to my personal taste, the fact the narrator was in first person was a no-no, but I must accept that even that was well done.
I can't say more without giving away spoilers, just read it, it does absorb you in it and you will be desperate to find out who the Ripper is, just as much as the characters are.
August 17, 2017
Cuando comencé a leer este libro no sabía qué esperar, ya que nunca antes había escuchado de él.
Para mi sorpresa este libro es muy bueno y aún y cuando trata temas sensibles o controversiales para muchas personas sí explica los motivos detrás de esos temas, trata al autor como parte de la historia y te absorbe en la trama, los personajes y las emociones.
Este es un libro para mayores de 18 años, en mi opinión. No tiene escenas de sexo explícitas, pero sí vemos tensión sexual, "juegos previos", menciones de violación y asesinatos sangrientos.
No me gustó mucho que el narrador esté en primera persona, pero pronto te acostumbras.
El tema principal es sencillo: Finnola O'Flaherty, la protagonista, es la única sobreviviente del Destripador de Corazones de Chicago, y nadie sabe por qué. Ella no es como sus otras víctimas y eso también levanta cuestiones sobre por qué la atacó.
Para asegurarse de que no vuelva a caer en sus manos, sus amigos la ocultan en una casa de seguridad mientras la policía intenta encontrar y capturar al Destripador. Uno de sus amigos, Caleb Sheppard, está decidido a protegerla, al grado de que ni siquiera confía del todo en sus otras amistades. Esto es porque nadie sabe quién es el Destripador en realidad.
Finn ha bloqueado sus recuerdos de cuando estuvo cautiva debido al trauma excesivo, pero ahí yace la clave para descubrir la identidad del Destripador y depende de ella recuperar esos recuerdos para capturarlo.
Suena sencillo, pero no lo es. Esta novela está marcada bajo la categoría de Romance paranormal y sí vemos a seres sobrenaturales. Cuando los descubrí, por un momento recordé otras novelas de romance, pero esta es diferente a esas historias.
Hay muchos personajes en este libro, y cada uno de ellos tiene su razón de ser, todos están bien desarrollados y todas las pequeñas historias que descubrimos durante la trama principal son interesantes.
Como dije, este libro es muy bueno. El autor está bien informado sobre los temas psicológicos que se manejan aquí y las escenas de suspenso y acción son excelentes. Nunca hay demasiado ni muy poco. Simplemente está bien escrito. No puedo darle 5 estrellas porque, personalmente, no me gustó que el narrador fuera en primera persona y por el problema de maquetado que dañó el índice y el inicio de algunos capítulos (errores de formato), pero debo aceptar que está muy bien hecha.
No puedo decir más sin revelar piezas clave de la trama, solo leanlo, los absorberá y estarán tan desesperados como los personajes por descubrir quién es el Destripador.
Para mi sorpresa este libro es muy bueno y aún y cuando trata temas sensibles o controversiales para muchas personas sí explica los motivos detrás de esos temas, trata al autor como parte de la historia y te absorbe en la trama, los personajes y las emociones.
Este es un libro para mayores de 18 años, en mi opinión. No tiene escenas de sexo explícitas, pero sí vemos tensión sexual, "juegos previos", menciones de violación y asesinatos sangrientos.
No me gustó mucho que el narrador esté en primera persona, pero pronto te acostumbras.
El tema principal es sencillo: Finnola O'Flaherty, la protagonista, es la única sobreviviente del Destripador de Corazones de Chicago, y nadie sabe por qué. Ella no es como sus otras víctimas y eso también levanta cuestiones sobre por qué la atacó.
Para asegurarse de que no vuelva a caer en sus manos, sus amigos la ocultan en una casa de seguridad mientras la policía intenta encontrar y capturar al Destripador. Uno de sus amigos, Caleb Sheppard, está decidido a protegerla, al grado de que ni siquiera confía del todo en sus otras amistades. Esto es porque nadie sabe quién es el Destripador en realidad.
Finn ha bloqueado sus recuerdos de cuando estuvo cautiva debido al trauma excesivo, pero ahí yace la clave para descubrir la identidad del Destripador y depende de ella recuperar esos recuerdos para capturarlo.
Suena sencillo, pero no lo es. Esta novela está marcada bajo la categoría de Romance paranormal y sí vemos a seres sobrenaturales. Cuando los descubrí, por un momento recordé otras novelas de romance, pero esta es diferente a esas historias.
Hay muchos personajes en este libro, y cada uno de ellos tiene su razón de ser, todos están bien desarrollados y todas las pequeñas historias que descubrimos durante la trama principal son interesantes.
Como dije, este libro es muy bueno. El autor está bien informado sobre los temas psicológicos que se manejan aquí y las escenas de suspenso y acción son excelentes. Nunca hay demasiado ni muy poco. Simplemente está bien escrito. No puedo darle 5 estrellas porque, personalmente, no me gustó que el narrador fuera en primera persona y por el problema de maquetado que dañó el índice y el inicio de algunos capítulos (errores de formato), pero debo aceptar que está muy bien hecha.
No puedo decir más sin revelar piezas clave de la trama, solo leanlo, los absorberá y estarán tan desesperados como los personajes por descubrir quién es el Destripador.
April 20, 2018
Realmente disfruté este libro. Si eres una persona que disfruta del suspenso y ciencia ficción, realmente te gustará leerlo. El libro te va envolviendo en una historia que drásticamente da un giro que no esperabas, tocando temas sensibles aún para nuestra época.
Es el primer libro que leo del autor, es fácil de leer, esta historia en específico no tiene momentos lentos y/o aburridos.
Es el primer libro que leo del autor, es fácil de leer, esta historia en específico no tiene momentos lentos y/o aburridos.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews