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She Bites
Dr. Robyn Sparks is a veterinarian with a dark she moonlights as a self-appointed vigilante, who deals her own brand of justice to animal abusers by murdering them. If you do bad things to dogs, Robyn does bad things to you. "She Bites" tells the story of a talented veterinarian who dispenses brutal judgment. Her work with sick and injured animals provides Robyn with a view of life's most tender moments as well as a view of man's most brutal behaviors. Robyn's regular habit of sending bad people to the pet crematorium is interrupted when she meets Jack Williams, a damaged detective who is fighting his own demons. Their relationship is a roller coaster ride of tangled emotions and legal close calls. Ultimately, Robyn has to make a whether to continue down her destructive path and kill a twisted psychopath turned professional dog fight promoter, or to pursue a romance with a cop who believes morality is best served by the hand of the law.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2015
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 16, 2016
She Bites by Roger Arsht & Caitlin Hawker is my kind of thriller. I am always on the lookout for a new twist to a familiar story and they supply a fantastic one.
She Bites is action packed from the get-go and I love it. Dog fighting is a cruel ‘sport’ and I do not understand how anyone can get any enjoyment from treating an animal that only wants to please with such cruelty.
Want to take a walk on the dark side…read on.
Dr Robyn Sparks is not only a veterinarian, but a vigilante, doling out punishment to animal abusers. Having critters in a book adds a special little something for me and increases my enjoyment.
I love that Robyn Sparks cares so much for animals that she will stand up for them when others don’t. She is a strong, determined woman, and after my own heart.
She wants them to feel the pain and she dishes it out with a vengeance. She is a female Dexter.
Would I go that far? Would you?
Have you pissed her off? Wellllll, if you have, she will be paying you a visit and She Bites. It WILL be hazardous to your health!
When Jack Williams, a detective with his own issues, comes into her life, it becomes even more complicated.
Two damaged souls are drawn together…by a dog. Their terrors may be different, but their motives are the same.
Is one bad and the other good? Yin and yang?
When dealing with vigilantism, moral questions are raised.
Justice…is it legal…illegal? What would happen if everyone took the law into their own hands?
I don’t see how this can end well, but I want it to.
The writing makes the story flow smoothly and the suspense is a nail biter. How can he not figure out what is really going on with her? How can she keep her secret? Will the authors be able to put their thinking caps on and come up with an ending that I will be happy with, yet find ‘believable?’ That you will find ‘believable? All I can say is…you will have to read it for yourself to find out.
I love it, will highly recommend it, and I will be looking for more of their work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of She Bites from Roger Arsht, Caitlin Hawker and Archway Publishing.
To see more visit fundinmental
She Bites is action packed from the get-go and I love it. Dog fighting is a cruel ‘sport’ and I do not understand how anyone can get any enjoyment from treating an animal that only wants to please with such cruelty.
Want to take a walk on the dark side…read on.
Dr Robyn Sparks is not only a veterinarian, but a vigilante, doling out punishment to animal abusers. Having critters in a book adds a special little something for me and increases my enjoyment.
I love that Robyn Sparks cares so much for animals that she will stand up for them when others don’t. She is a strong, determined woman, and after my own heart.
She wants them to feel the pain and she dishes it out with a vengeance. She is a female Dexter.
Would I go that far? Would you?
Have you pissed her off? Wellllll, if you have, she will be paying you a visit and She Bites. It WILL be hazardous to your health!
When Jack Williams, a detective with his own issues, comes into her life, it becomes even more complicated.
Two damaged souls are drawn together…by a dog. Their terrors may be different, but their motives are the same.
Is one bad and the other good? Yin and yang?
When dealing with vigilantism, moral questions are raised.
Justice…is it legal…illegal? What would happen if everyone took the law into their own hands?
I don’t see how this can end well, but I want it to.
The writing makes the story flow smoothly and the suspense is a nail biter. How can he not figure out what is really going on with her? How can she keep her secret? Will the authors be able to put their thinking caps on and come up with an ending that I will be happy with, yet find ‘believable?’ That you will find ‘believable? All I can say is…you will have to read it for yourself to find out.
I love it, will highly recommend it, and I will be looking for more of their work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of She Bites from Roger Arsht, Caitlin Hawker and Archway Publishing.
To see more visit fundinmental
December 31, 2016
Robyn Sparks is a veterinarian who is passionate about animals and dogs in particular. She spends her days taking care of those dogs after they have been brought in after having been injured by abuse and dog fights, which she abhors. At night she is a hunter of the people who abuse these animals and gives them the justice that they would not get in the courts if caught.
Police Detective Jack Williams has seen horrors of his own and is recovering from wounds he received from a serial child killer. Not only does he have physical wounds but psychological wounds as well after witnessing the killer kill a child. The only companion he can handle being around is the dog, Lizzie. that belonged to the murdered child. Jack meets Robyn the first time when Lizzie becomes ill.
Both of these people are tortured souls who need to heal. Can they together or will they be torn apart by what Robyn does? This story reminds me of the Dexter series, in that Robyn does terrible things but for the right reasons! Even though you could say that what she does is a crime, sometimes stopping the evil that people do to animals, is ok. The story takes on the real life topic of dog fighting and how terrible it really is. I really enjoyed the story and how the relationship between Jack and Robyn plays out. I would love to see this become a series!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
Police Detective Jack Williams has seen horrors of his own and is recovering from wounds he received from a serial child killer. Not only does he have physical wounds but psychological wounds as well after witnessing the killer kill a child. The only companion he can handle being around is the dog, Lizzie. that belonged to the murdered child. Jack meets Robyn the first time when Lizzie becomes ill.
Both of these people are tortured souls who need to heal. Can they together or will they be torn apart by what Robyn does? This story reminds me of the Dexter series, in that Robyn does terrible things but for the right reasons! Even though you could say that what she does is a crime, sometimes stopping the evil that people do to animals, is ok. The story takes on the real life topic of dog fighting and how terrible it really is. I really enjoyed the story and how the relationship between Jack and Robyn plays out. I would love to see this become a series!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
December 25, 2016
Ok
I probably shouldn't give a rating but I feel 3 is about right. I was very interested in the beginning half but maybe because I put it down and picked up so much that I became a bit disjointed from the story. Maybe I'll read it again some day.
I probably shouldn't give a rating but I feel 3 is about right. I was very interested in the beginning half but maybe because I put it down and picked up so much that I became a bit disjointed from the story. Maybe I'll read it again some day.
May 17, 2016
Veterinarian Turned Vigilante Combats Dog Fighters – and Scares Readers!
What animal lover hasn’t dreamed of revenge against an animal abuser?
She Bites, a dark thriller, explores this strange blending of compassion and revenge with the tale of Dr. Robyn Sparks, a canine veterinarian who has had enough with animal cruelty. After witnessing numerous accounts of it come across her operating table, especially from dog fighting, she determines to end it. Forever.
This vet-by-day, vigilante-by-night woman is first introduced to us covered in blood from her latest murder and trying to stuff the remains into a pit-bull sized bag for cremation.
The smile that creased Robyn’s face as she prepared to dismember Blevins would have chilled the blood of anyone unfortunate enough to witness it. After locking the door to the operating room, something she would never neglect to do again, she approached the corpse. “Trust me, Mr. Blevins, this won’t be pleasant. Well, not for you, anyway.”
Then police detective Jack Williams walks into her veterinarian office one day to get help for his hurt therapy dog, Lizzie. Jack’s vibrant green eyes catch the attention of Dr. Sparks, as does his compassion for his dog. This romance gives readers a bit of a break from the dark side of Sparks and becomes a thrill ride for the reader as we try to determine how the cop-dating-a-serial-killer romance is going to work out. Will Jack find out what Robyn truly is before it’s too late? Or will she kill him too?
Also mixed in with the noir are doses of humor, such as with the nosy, bossy Ms. Smyth-Anders, a client of Sparks: “...through the wonders of Botox, rhinoplasty, and chemical peels, she resembled an expressionless, twenty-one year old mutant…” and the police psychologist who texts under his desk while talking to his patients.
The novel is smoothly written and a page-turner, reminiscent of a James Patterson meets Steven King. Authors Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker blend their voices and talents to produce a book that will leave readers wanting more.
Arsht is a high school English teacher who first met Hawker while she was a student in his school. Remembering her dark fiction that horrified him and the other teachers, he looked her up years later to see if she wanted to collaborate on a book with him to give it a more horrific voice. She did and the match-up is perfect.
While a enjoyable (horrifying?) read, the book is also part social platform, rendering the awful side of dog fighting in terms that the reader won’t likely forget. The horrors of dog fighting are so brutal, I had to read those parts with my eyes half shut, so was thankful for the scenes with Lizzie, Jack’s therapy dog, and the other animals that added some warm fuzzies into an otherwise harsh world.
This book would appeal to readers of horror and thrillers, as well as any animal-lovers who would like to place a well-aimed kick into the behinds of animal abusers – preferably with a stiletto heel attached.
She Bites rewards the reader with a bit of justice, and leaves the question – how far would you go to stop something so brutal as dog fighting? This evil indulgence is a must-read for all dog lovers.
What animal lover hasn’t dreamed of revenge against an animal abuser?
She Bites, a dark thriller, explores this strange blending of compassion and revenge with the tale of Dr. Robyn Sparks, a canine veterinarian who has had enough with animal cruelty. After witnessing numerous accounts of it come across her operating table, especially from dog fighting, she determines to end it. Forever.
This vet-by-day, vigilante-by-night woman is first introduced to us covered in blood from her latest murder and trying to stuff the remains into a pit-bull sized bag for cremation.
The smile that creased Robyn’s face as she prepared to dismember Blevins would have chilled the blood of anyone unfortunate enough to witness it. After locking the door to the operating room, something she would never neglect to do again, she approached the corpse. “Trust me, Mr. Blevins, this won’t be pleasant. Well, not for you, anyway.”
Then police detective Jack Williams walks into her veterinarian office one day to get help for his hurt therapy dog, Lizzie. Jack’s vibrant green eyes catch the attention of Dr. Sparks, as does his compassion for his dog. This romance gives readers a bit of a break from the dark side of Sparks and becomes a thrill ride for the reader as we try to determine how the cop-dating-a-serial-killer romance is going to work out. Will Jack find out what Robyn truly is before it’s too late? Or will she kill him too?
Also mixed in with the noir are doses of humor, such as with the nosy, bossy Ms. Smyth-Anders, a client of Sparks: “...through the wonders of Botox, rhinoplasty, and chemical peels, she resembled an expressionless, twenty-one year old mutant…” and the police psychologist who texts under his desk while talking to his patients.
The novel is smoothly written and a page-turner, reminiscent of a James Patterson meets Steven King. Authors Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker blend their voices and talents to produce a book that will leave readers wanting more.
Arsht is a high school English teacher who first met Hawker while she was a student in his school. Remembering her dark fiction that horrified him and the other teachers, he looked her up years later to see if she wanted to collaborate on a book with him to give it a more horrific voice. She did and the match-up is perfect.
While a enjoyable (horrifying?) read, the book is also part social platform, rendering the awful side of dog fighting in terms that the reader won’t likely forget. The horrors of dog fighting are so brutal, I had to read those parts with my eyes half shut, so was thankful for the scenes with Lizzie, Jack’s therapy dog, and the other animals that added some warm fuzzies into an otherwise harsh world.
This book would appeal to readers of horror and thrillers, as well as any animal-lovers who would like to place a well-aimed kick into the behinds of animal abusers – preferably with a stiletto heel attached.
She Bites rewards the reader with a bit of justice, and leaves the question – how far would you go to stop something so brutal as dog fighting? This evil indulgence is a must-read for all dog lovers.
April 29, 2016
‘It’s knowing I can turn to you in dark times that keeps me going.’
Utah authors Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker join in their fascination (? obsession?) with horror in creating a novel that is far different from other dark literature. Not the usual paranormal, zombie, undead tale this: instead this is a story that blends animal abuse and human response in a manner that sends chills up the spine – and a few seeds for nightmares. And part of the terror is due to the polished skills of an English professor spelling out the tale with richly colorful prose, with just a pinch of dark humor to spice the brew.
From the first chapter we are privy to the dark nature of an animal compassionate veterinarian, Dr. Robyn Sparks, who deals with abused animals and acts of animal cruelty with a special sort of response – vengeance to the perpetrators. The flavor of the writing and the direction of the novel is offered to the reader in the opening chapter: a pit bull is brought in by a dogfight organizer named Blevins. ‘Robyn let out the breath she’d been holding, and secretly thanked any deity that would listen that Dougie hadn’t thought to look beneath the blood-soaked sheet draped across the bottom shelf of the operating table. Mr. Blevins had been dead for over an hour, but Robyn hadn’t been able to perform the last few necessary steps to dispose of his remains. She pulled back the corner of the
sheet and admired her work. The skin around the corpse’s lips had turned from simply pale to a ghostly blue, and the scent of death hung heavily, almost tangibly, around it. Robyn pulled a pit bull size cadaver bag from a closet in the corner of the room and eyed it dubiously. There was no way that Blevins would fit inside, not with his gut. She tossed the bag back into the closet and bent over to get a larger one. The smile that creased Robyn’s face as she prepared to dismember Blevins would have chilled the blood of anyone unfortunate enough to witness it.’
A mark of a successful horror story is the wise use of romantic asides that allow the reader’s attention breathing room, space away from the blood bath for realism and relief – and when that space is also laced with quality humor and apropos language then the novel is a bona fide winner. That is exactly what Arsht and Hawker have accomplished – a challenging story about animal abuse, a no-holds-barred female veterinarian whose mission to exact revenge by appropriate vivisection and disposal of the perpetrator, and an introduction of a love interest n the form of a new client with an injured Corgi, the client just happens to be a detective with his own problems! The manner in which this set up proceeds to a decision between the veterinarian’s compulsion to destroy a psychopathic dog fight promoter or turn the other cheek and succumb to a law abiding detective provides one terrific challenging romance. There is as much philosophy about human need – good and bad – wrapped tightly into this web as you’re likely to find in any other book. A strangely bizarre and richly rewarding novel
Utah authors Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker join in their fascination (? obsession?) with horror in creating a novel that is far different from other dark literature. Not the usual paranormal, zombie, undead tale this: instead this is a story that blends animal abuse and human response in a manner that sends chills up the spine – and a few seeds for nightmares. And part of the terror is due to the polished skills of an English professor spelling out the tale with richly colorful prose, with just a pinch of dark humor to spice the brew.
From the first chapter we are privy to the dark nature of an animal compassionate veterinarian, Dr. Robyn Sparks, who deals with abused animals and acts of animal cruelty with a special sort of response – vengeance to the perpetrators. The flavor of the writing and the direction of the novel is offered to the reader in the opening chapter: a pit bull is brought in by a dogfight organizer named Blevins. ‘Robyn let out the breath she’d been holding, and secretly thanked any deity that would listen that Dougie hadn’t thought to look beneath the blood-soaked sheet draped across the bottom shelf of the operating table. Mr. Blevins had been dead for over an hour, but Robyn hadn’t been able to perform the last few necessary steps to dispose of his remains. She pulled back the corner of the
sheet and admired her work. The skin around the corpse’s lips had turned from simply pale to a ghostly blue, and the scent of death hung heavily, almost tangibly, around it. Robyn pulled a pit bull size cadaver bag from a closet in the corner of the room and eyed it dubiously. There was no way that Blevins would fit inside, not with his gut. She tossed the bag back into the closet and bent over to get a larger one. The smile that creased Robyn’s face as she prepared to dismember Blevins would have chilled the blood of anyone unfortunate enough to witness it.’
A mark of a successful horror story is the wise use of romantic asides that allow the reader’s attention breathing room, space away from the blood bath for realism and relief – and when that space is also laced with quality humor and apropos language then the novel is a bona fide winner. That is exactly what Arsht and Hawker have accomplished – a challenging story about animal abuse, a no-holds-barred female veterinarian whose mission to exact revenge by appropriate vivisection and disposal of the perpetrator, and an introduction of a love interest n the form of a new client with an injured Corgi, the client just happens to be a detective with his own problems! The manner in which this set up proceeds to a decision between the veterinarian’s compulsion to destroy a psychopathic dog fight promoter or turn the other cheek and succumb to a law abiding detective provides one terrific challenging romance. There is as much philosophy about human need – good and bad – wrapped tightly into this web as you’re likely to find in any other book. A strangely bizarre and richly rewarding novel
December 14, 2016
She Bites: by Roger Arsht & Caitlin Hawker
She Bites by Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker will have you thinking twice next time when she says "don't worry I don't bite." Compassion is a weakness or is it? Well sadly for those who cross Dr. Robyn Sparks, the only compassion she has is for the furry kind not for the human kind.
To better understand Dr. Robyn Sparks you must understand her passion is protecting and caring for those who trust and love unconditionally their human owners. Dr. Robyn Sparks is a compassionate veterinarian and takes what she does very seriously and believes that any and all who mistreat their pets should have more than a fine or jail. More than what the courts can hand out. They should suffer the ultimate punishment. Equivalent to the deed they committed and more. Her disillusioned, divisive, methods leave plenty to be talked about. No one can say though, "message not received." At the same can't help but smile, even as questionable the methods someone is fighting for those who can't defend themselves.
This vet with a mission, her techniques will have vampires salivating. With her utter detailed and deadly work, and the torture she inflicts on her victims. She just may be the modern day Ripper, respectable, low profile, someone you least expect until it's to late. Fighting for the rights of animals one at a time. It will leave all those abusers salvating for the day when PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and a hefty fine was all they had to worry about.
Then you have the detective Jack Williams, he has a therapy corgi dog Lizzie that helps him with his traumatized story that developed from a serial child killer.
This story is written with great depth, both characters suffering from inner demons, but one enjoys it better than chocolate luscious. This thriller, horror and brutality of animal within is not for the squeamish. With also the horror of dog fights, and the results that come from it.
This has graphic abuse of animals and a vigilante that takes the dog fighting society on full board. There is not just a dark tale of terror but it does have light in it also tweet Robyn and Jack. I enjoy a book that keeps me staying up and need to turn the page for more. As an animal lover, it's nice to see Dr. Sparks speaks for the animals when they couldn't.
She Bites by Roger Arsht and Caitlin Hawker will have you thinking twice next time when she says "don't worry I don't bite." Compassion is a weakness or is it? Well sadly for those who cross Dr. Robyn Sparks, the only compassion she has is for the furry kind not for the human kind.
To better understand Dr. Robyn Sparks you must understand her passion is protecting and caring for those who trust and love unconditionally their human owners. Dr. Robyn Sparks is a compassionate veterinarian and takes what she does very seriously and believes that any and all who mistreat their pets should have more than a fine or jail. More than what the courts can hand out. They should suffer the ultimate punishment. Equivalent to the deed they committed and more. Her disillusioned, divisive, methods leave plenty to be talked about. No one can say though, "message not received." At the same can't help but smile, even as questionable the methods someone is fighting for those who can't defend themselves.
This vet with a mission, her techniques will have vampires salivating. With her utter detailed and deadly work, and the torture she inflicts on her victims. She just may be the modern day Ripper, respectable, low profile, someone you least expect until it's to late. Fighting for the rights of animals one at a time. It will leave all those abusers salvating for the day when PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and a hefty fine was all they had to worry about.
Then you have the detective Jack Williams, he has a therapy corgi dog Lizzie that helps him with his traumatized story that developed from a serial child killer.
This story is written with great depth, both characters suffering from inner demons, but one enjoys it better than chocolate luscious. This thriller, horror and brutality of animal within is not for the squeamish. With also the horror of dog fights, and the results that come from it.
This has graphic abuse of animals and a vigilante that takes the dog fighting society on full board. There is not just a dark tale of terror but it does have light in it also tweet Robyn and Jack. I enjoy a book that keeps me staying up and need to turn the page for more. As an animal lover, it's nice to see Dr. Sparks speaks for the animals when they couldn't.
May 29, 2016
Being an animal lover I immediately warmed to the lead character in this fast paced psychological murder mystery, what a woman! However I have to say at the beginning that this is no soppy animal story, it enters the horrific dog fighting world and some of the scenes and stories in it are very graphically written.
Robyn is a veterinarian, passionate about animals and angered and appalled at the poor dogs who are bought in to her, maimed and worse, sometimes by the perpetrators of the crime. Vile characters with no compassion, or thought for life, either human or animal. However the face she puts on at the surgery is a mask. Behind it lies another Robyn a woman whose past has made her the way she is, angry, deadly, passionate and vengeful.
Jack Williams is a police detective who has been put on leave following a horrific case. He has no memory of the details, the event was so traumatic that for his sanity his brain has blocking it out.
Then there is Lizzie, the Corgi, Jacks therapy dog who he takes to Robyn’s surgery for treatment.
As the friendship between Jack and Robyn develops he soon realises that she has a hidden side, one which she can’t always control – sometimes it comes to the surface, and when it does…
The characters both major and minor are very well written. From the colourful and haughty Ms. Smyth-Anders, to poor Doctor Oliver, a therapist with his own problems. As the story evolves we witness the day to day life at the veterinary surgery and police station, and behind the scenes in the shady world of dog fighting.
This book is like no other I have read, in some parts fascinating in a horrific way, yet there is also compassion and love. The plot is very cleverly written by its two talented authors and contains some very clever twists. Definitely for the reader who wants something different and very fast paced.
Robyn is a veterinarian, passionate about animals and angered and appalled at the poor dogs who are bought in to her, maimed and worse, sometimes by the perpetrators of the crime. Vile characters with no compassion, or thought for life, either human or animal. However the face she puts on at the surgery is a mask. Behind it lies another Robyn a woman whose past has made her the way she is, angry, deadly, passionate and vengeful.
Jack Williams is a police detective who has been put on leave following a horrific case. He has no memory of the details, the event was so traumatic that for his sanity his brain has blocking it out.
Then there is Lizzie, the Corgi, Jacks therapy dog who he takes to Robyn’s surgery for treatment.
As the friendship between Jack and Robyn develops he soon realises that she has a hidden side, one which she can’t always control – sometimes it comes to the surface, and when it does…
The characters both major and minor are very well written. From the colourful and haughty Ms. Smyth-Anders, to poor Doctor Oliver, a therapist with his own problems. As the story evolves we witness the day to day life at the veterinary surgery and police station, and behind the scenes in the shady world of dog fighting.
This book is like no other I have read, in some parts fascinating in a horrific way, yet there is also compassion and love. The plot is very cleverly written by its two talented authors and contains some very clever twists. Definitely for the reader who wants something different and very fast paced.
October 22, 2015
Surprisingly fun read for such dark subject matter
A good read for anyone who enjoys thrillers or detective fiction. Some of it is slightly twisted (and I think the authors would agree) but the lighthearted tone makes it fun. I read it through in a single session.
A good read for anyone who enjoys thrillers or detective fiction. Some of it is slightly twisted (and I think the authors would agree) but the lighthearted tone makes it fun. I read it through in a single session.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews