Killer

by Heather C. Leigh

Ten years ago, a teenage boy makes a mistake that leaves his family in tattered ruins. Across town, a young girl is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite the distance, a single even leaves their lives shattered.

Britt must overcome grievous injuries, while Keller deems himself the KILLER that has to live with his selfish actions, and the path of death and misery left in his destructive wake.

Two people. One incident. This is the story of the aftermath of a school shooting. KILLER effortlessly weaves the lives of two damaged souls, chance circumstances bringing them together in ways they don't quite understand and a traumatic background neither of them knows they share.  


***

Keller Keating—
"The fact I feel anything should let me know I’m headed in the wrong direction, headed down a path of darkness, destruction, and failure. A path that will dig out memories so painful I’ve created an entire persona to avoid dealing with them. Yet I know—I’m going down that path headfirst no questions asked, no matter the outcome.
I might be a monster, but I’m a selfish one."

Britton Reeves—
"When his strength envelops me, every wrong becomes right, every anxiety melts away, every doubt disappears. I feel calm, safe, whole. The spark of life that’s been missing inside me burns bright, lighting me up like a solar flare, sizzling white-hot through my veins. Keller brings me out of the darkness and into the light."

Genres: Romance, Erotica, Sports, Dark Romance, Dark, Tragedy, Suspense

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2016

About the author

Heather C. Leigh is the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. She likes to write about the 'dark' side of fame. The part that the public doesn't get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.

Heather was born and raised in New England and after spending 15 years in Atlanta, GA, currently lives north of Houston, TX with her husband, 2 kids, and French Bulldog, Shelby.

Heather loves the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything chocolate (but not white chocolate, everyone knows it's not real chocolate so it doesn't count) and has left explicit instructions in her will to have her ashes snuck into Fenway Park and sneakily sprinkled all over while her family enjoys beer, hot dogs, and a wicked good time.

My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Ken Follett, and Stephen King.

Happy reading!


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Reviews

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars!!



The story starts off with Keller, our hero who is about to start his senior year. Trying to escape his home situation with an uncaring father and a prescription drug abusing, alcoholic mother all he knows is how to party, get drunk, get high and have meaningless sex. The only person who is worth coming home to is his sister Kinsey. Keller’s life is about to change when his ignorance becomes too much. Britton ‘Britt’ is a fourteen years old girl whose life changes in a blink of an eye one afternoon when she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

For the past ten years both Keller and Britt barely existed. Both of them are tormented, neither of them forgetting the events that change everything in their lives. Keller, known as ‘Killer’ is preparing to become the newest fighter for the FLA. He hides under his hoodies, ink and intimidating scowl so no one can see the ‘killer’ inside him. He believes he’s soulless, that he’s worthless. Britt is the gym’s sports therapist where Killer trains. The events that occurred ten years ago left her not only with several health issues, but also broken. She lives in fear even if she doesn’t remember exactly the horrific events that left her so traumatized.

Even if he looks dangerous, Britt is not afraid of Killer. He sees him, really sees him and she’s drawn to him from the start. To her he’s a mystery and all she wants is to find more about him, to get to know him. That’s something about Britt that makes Killer believe that she has the power to tear down every wall he had built. While he tries to stay away from her because he thinks he’s not good enough for her, he can’t deny the strong connection between them.

This was just an ok read for me. I liked it for the most part, but unfortunately nothing stood out. The story had a lot of potential even if the premise is nothing new. My main issue with this one was the plot which IMO it was underdeveloped. The story was a little too fast-paced for my liking and I really would have wanted the emotional aspect to be more developed. While I sympathize with these characters, their story didn’t touch me like I would have wanted. So the author failed…a little to make me feel…something.

Both main characters were ok. Britt was portrayed as a sweet, naïve, yet strong heroine and overall she was a likeable character. What I didn’t like was the way she dealt for ten years with her “issues”. Killer is an alpha male who’s ready to do anything to protect Britt. Despite his tough exterior he’s a sweet, caring man. I enjoyed his protectiveness and the way he was with our heroine.

To be honest there was something between these two characters that looked a lot like insta-lust. I wasn’t bothered by this aspect here because I thought it was done pretty well. The chemistry between them was my favorite aspect of this book. It was really well done, off the charts hot and I loved it.

The whole situation between Killer and Britt – the fact that he managed to break down all her defenses felt a little unbelievable to me. Not because I don’t think is possible for someone to do that, but because I felt everything between them happened too fast.

That being said, I liked this one, but I didn’t love it. Overall, a good enough read!

[S.M. West · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

This was my first book by this author and I went in blind. I like to try at least one new author a month and the title's what caught my eye. Sometimes it pays off as was the case with this one.



This story is about Keller (Killer) and Britton (Britt), two people broken by one unimaginable and unforgettable act that ripped their lives apart. Neither are aware that they share this act, it connects them forever. Britt is a petite and quiet woman in a man's world as a sports therapist and Killer is a MMA fighter with the attitude and brooding rage to match his name.



It's this connection that neither are aware of that builds as the sparks of undeniable attraction go off between these two. Have you ever wondered how sometimes life just puts what you need right in front of you? This is kind of like that.



Britt and Killer are sizzling together and the sex is beyond hot!

This was a fast and engaging read and look forward to more from this author.

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.**

For more reviews and blog posts.

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author
Heather C. Leigh in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!





TITLE: Killer
AUTHOR: Heather C. Leigh
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: March 15th 2016

MY RATING


Intense, Intriguing, Intimidating, in the end a very enjoyable read

Not really sure what to expect with this book, the synopsis doesn't really give much away, I've also not read anything by this author before, got to say though, that the guy on the cover is HOT..



So KILLER is a bit of a party hoe boy, he's out doing what he does best without a care in the world, partying, getting drunk, getting high, having sex.

MEAN WHILE it's Friday afternoon schools let out and a girl with silver eyes and Britt are waiting for their rides to pick them up, both are late..Screeching of car tyres, and they notice a guy welding guns and make a run back into the school and hide out, they hear pops, screams, see the guys shoes stop where they are hiding.

The smell of gunpowder, the trickle of sweat down my back, the arms of another girl around me as we shiver with fear.

Killer wakes up from the hard core partying, jumps in his car, makes it home, and parks out the back of the property, he doesn't notice the numerous missed calls on his cell phone or the police car parked out the front.

The girl his sister was with BRITT was a survivor but didn't come away unscathed..KILLERS family has fallen apart, he's left with an absent father..

(TEN YEARS LATER)

BRITT is a sports therapist and has been informed that a new guy is coming in to train..
He hides himself under a hoody, hiding his eyes, face so no one can see the killer within..
When she looks into his soulless intimidating grey eyes it's like she's looking deep into his being and can see the goodness he tried to hide from the world..

The only time I feel at all is when I fight. In the cage I receive the pain and suffering I deserve.



Britt is my weakness, my kryptonite. If I’m not careful, she’ll burrow under my skin, break down my meticulously crafted defenses, and reduce me to a weak, emotional mess.



MY THOUGHTS
In the very beginning of the book I struggled with the swapping of characters, scenes, short chapters, most of the important scenes are glossed over, (which makes sense further on in the book) they aren't in full detail it's like I was trying to work on a 50 sized puzzle but I only have 20 pieces..Trying to make all those pieces fit in a complete puzzle made this for a confusing read..

But then as soon as I reached chapter three (ten years later> I got used to the authors writing style, it flows better, the chapters are longer, and doesn't swap and rush scenes, I'm connected with the story more than I did in the beginning.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer is a story about survival. A horrifying tale that we have seen prominently in the news. Heather Leigh has taken these tragedies and made it about the victims. The path they travel to regaining a semblance of their selves. The journey is what matters the most. In Killer, I was able to see two torn and broken individuals, who both thought they had their entire lives ahead of them. However, in an instant, dreams are shattered, bodies are damaged, minds are destroyed and the heart turns black. I can't put my finger on why I loved this story so much. It made me feel. I felt so much pain and grief. The anger was fierce and determined. The hatred was so palpable. With all these emotions unfolding page by page, it became clear, that sometimes, life deals you a crappy hand. And, all you need to do is fight to stay on top. Human beings basic instinct is survival. Keller and Britton, they ,b>SURVIVED.

Ten years into the past, an unthinkable tragedy shatters the community and the lives of two young adults. Keller was well on his way to drowning himself in alcohol and ignorance. The ultimate party bad boy. While fourteen year old Britton, was simply lusting after the most popular boy in the school. Neither knew at that moment, both their lives would change forever. Neither realized how close to breaking each other they would get.

Keller and Britt both lived ten years in their own self proclaimed purgatory. Each fighting their own inner demons and those nuances around them. Small reminders of the past; the grief of love and lose. The disappointment of self indulgence and the ultimate toll that had to be paid.

Britton works at an MMA gym, where she is the Physical Therapist, in charge of monitoring the fighters and studying their fighting styles, to ensure there isn't any wrong moves made that could cause harm. Britt lives in constant fear, succumbing to panic attacks and memory lapses. She is skittish and hates when people sneak up on her. She pledged her life to helping others, in lieu of her own devastating past.

When the gym starts to train, Killer, a new up and coming MMA fighter, with an enigmatic personality, Britt becomes flustered. From the start, Killer and Britt had this sizzling chemistry. It burned the pages a I read.

I was ruined long before Keller Bishop came into my life. The only thing he did was show me I could live a different way. Without fear, without being numb without succumbing to the tidal waves of anxiety.

Killer's undeniable rage coupled with his grief, has turned him into a stone cold, fighting machine. But when he sees Britt for the first time, something inside him melts. He wants to be her protector, his fierce need to keep her safe, and her constant staring at him, slowly breaks down his defences.

Britt is my weakness, my kryptonite.
I don't do angelic. I don't do sweet. And I sure as fuck don't do innocent.

There is an undeniable connection, something I believe in as faith. Thrown together, to help each other heal. It wasn't an easy path traveled, even their romance was difficult. There was so much that was unknown. Each hiding their demons from the other. It was only when they truly shared their pasts, that we see the true meaning of survival. It's never easy to admit defeat, or to accept your own weaknesses. It's even harder to admit them out loud to others.

Ruined by a madman's bullet tearing through my skull. Ruined by a brain that refuses to keep the memories buried, showing them to me one by one, haunting me twenty-four hours a day. Ruined by the pressure from my mother to be someone I'm not. Ruined by my inability to feel safe, to stop the panic attacks, to not lose myself to fear whenever I'm alone.

Ruined.

Heather C. Leigh has truly put me in a tailspin with this story. It's one I have spoken about, cried about and felt too and soo much about. My heart and my prayers go out to all survivors.

*ARC provided by TRSOR on behalf of the author for an honest review*

[Dilek VT · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

This book was different from what I expected but it was still good. Only, it had the potential to be much better but in my opinion, the last 20% of the book and the ending wasn’t satisfactory enough and the plot twist was an unnecessary and unconvincing one, which devalued the whole book all of a sudden. I would have given it 5 stars easily if it had reached its potential.


Have you ever looked death in the eye? Felt the icy chill of it crawling over your skin until you taste it?
No?
I have, and sometimes I think death would be preferable to living with that knowledge. Thankfully, I can’t remember.

Britton



Have you ever wished for death? Hoped it would strike you down and end your pathetic existence?
No?
I have. I’ve thought of a hundred different ways I should die. None of them are painful enough for what I deserve, so I continue to live.

Keller

KILLER is the story of two damaged people. Britton is the sole survivor of a school shooting incident and Keller is the brother of one of the victims of the same incident. We know their connection but they don’t. Britton had a strong crush on him when they were at school but he didn’t know her. She now doesn’t remember weeks before and after the incident, thus she doesn’t remember him. She only develops the same sudden and strong crush on him when they meet 10 years later, Keller being an MMA fighter, having the nickname Killer and Britton being the physical therapist. Even if she does not remember who he is, she feels something familiar, something like a “déjà vu”…

“Those eyes... I can’t put my finger on it but they remind me of… of something. Something just out of reach, but I’m not sure what it is. It’s like déjà vu but not quite. Without thinking, I raise my hand to touch his face, desperate to understand, desperate for physical contact, desperate to see if K can give me the serenity I crave.”

Keller couldn’t get over the guilt of not saving or protecting his sister, thus feeling like the killer of his sister. Britton, on the other hand, has suffered from both serious physical and psychological trauma. She still has a lot of health problems.

They are both lost and damaged. Can they give each other what they need even when they themselves do not know what they need?

“You won’t ruin me, K. I’m stronger than I look. I just need… I don’t know what I need. I’ve been looking and can’t find it. Whatever it is, I think you can give it to me.”

***

“It’s as if before we met I was suffocating, and now, when I’m near her, my lungs are filled with precious oxygen, allowing me to breathe easy for the first time in a decade. … Her bright blue eyes and sweet face send another bolt of lightning to my blackened heart, this sweet, innocent angel trying to resuscitate a soul that died a long time ago. I don’t do angelic. I don’t do sweet. And I sure as fuck don’t do innocent. I can’t ruin her.”

***

“On the floor in my trainer’s office, lying half under a desk, a tiny shard of my black soul becomes human again.”



Their connection & chemistry was strong; the sex was rough, which is something I generally don’t like but here in this content, it seemed to be necessary, so I tried not to bother too much.

My criticisms are as follows:

In my opinion, Britton’s sudden crush on him now as in 10 years before without remembering him at all was something interesting for me and I liked it. All along the novel, I waited for her to remember the past and confess to Keller that she had these strong feelings and attraction for him even 10 years before while he didn’t know about her existence. I was really looking forward to that scene, wondering his reaction etc…. The thing is it never happened. She did remember but there was no confession scene, which was a huge disappointment for me.

My second problem is with the last 20% of the book, namely the plot twist and the ending. The plot twist was unnecessary and unconvincing. It was also a cliché. I knew it was going to happen in some way or other but not in this exaggerated form. Another MMA fighter Max, who has been friends with Britton for two years turns into a stalker, kidnapper and a total psycho as soon as Keller comes into the scene and steals Britton’s heart. I expected some jealousy or even a fight between these two guys but not this over the top incident as if Britton hasn’t suffered enough

Finally, the ending didn’t satisfy me. I expected more emotions, more confessions of love etc. as I always do. The book lacked in this part in my opinion. And the epilogue sounds as if it was there just for the sake of the names of the children. I would have liked to read about their near future, not 10 years later.

So, overall, it is kind of 3,5 points for me and I have rounded it up to 4.

[Michelle]

Another DNF for me at 52%. I didn't care for either Britt or Killer.
Brit dresses frumpy so she doesn't confuse any of the fighters at her work. She will not date a fighter. But yet Killer comes in and instantly she's drenched and bla bla bla.
Killer doesn't do relationships he only has dirty sex. But of course he sees Britt and she has him thinking he wants more.
Their thoughts are nothing but how they want to screw each other.
Every guy at the training facility is a wimp except Killer. I hate his name being Killer because he's not really a killer.
I hate that they had rough sex already and she doesn't even know his real name.
This one isn't working out for me and I'm moving on:))

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ I received an ARC via TRSOR PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆



This read was so much more than what I had expected. By reading the synopsis blurb, I didn't know what to expect since it really didn't give much off. So, after waiting for some reviews to come in, and some very interesting feedback, I'd decided to take the plunge. ... And I'm so glad that I did.



Killer is about how such violent, traumatic events can impact and change the course of the lives affected around it...The guilt, the fear, the helplessness... It's life changing, a waste of life, and something so fragile and forever alternating for the victims and their families.

I've never cared for the motivations and circumstances following such harrowing and heinous acts experienced by Britt and Killer and I still stand by that after reading Killer. What that individual and individuals that commit such hateful acts is unforgivable and one of the most evil acts on earth that anyone can ever succumb to. It's careless, destructive, and impotent. Those involved take no responsibility at all and gain absolutely nothing with it..



Witnessing Keller and Britt's journey was a magical one but also a heart wrenching one as well. Watching their worlds fall apart and seeing them break down and try to put themselves together again was beautiful as it was tragic. They are one another's calm to their storm but also the key to both of their unraveling.

I really believe that readers who are contemplating on picking this book up should urgently pick this one up!! As one of those initially dancing around even taking it on to read, I implore you, that it is most certainly a poignant and meaningful standalone that circles around real life individuals, real life situations and its harsh realities and after effects...and how it can be the game changer to everything you've ever known.

#One-click this baby now!!

[Bookadmirer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killer is a story about two victims who overcome their trauma and finally move on.



What I liked:

➜The emotional depth and character development between the protagonists. They both understood each other and helped each other to move on.

➜The romance is hot, steamy, and sensual.



➜Even though this book focuses on trauma and surviving, it wasn't to the extreme level. Which is good because this gives the idea of hope. I hate it when authors just throw the protagonists into the gutter to make the book sadder which ruins the book for me. This book is an exception in that case and I loved it.

What I didn't liked:

➜The last 30% if the book. It was too cliche and predictable

➜When Britt's memory comes back, the scene was very flat. it's supposed to be very gut-wrenching scene but it just didn't have the explosion I thought it would have.

➜Every guy in the MMA fighting center that the Britt worked on had a crush on her. That's too much crush on one person.

Overall it wasn't that bad, but the ending was abrupt and there's an epilogue of them which is sweet. If the last part wasn't that cliche I would have probably enjoyed it more.

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the theme of the book. It explored with a unique way the trauma of a school shooting.
Britton was a happy teenager when suddenly everything changed. A killer tore through their school and she suffered a very serious head trauma. The bullet that tore through her skull left her deaf from one ear and it took years of therapy for her to walk again.
Keller was a teenager who wanted to have fun. One reckless decision caused the death of his beloved sister and since then he hasn't forgiven himself.
Years later, he wants to become a professional MMA fighter. His new name? Killer. When he joins an MMA team, he meets Britton, the gym's sports therapist.
The attraction is immediate. She isn't intimidated by his rough looks. She sees him when no one else does.
Britton knows how to hide her disability well, but Killer is able to break down all her defenses.

My god, he's not simple stunning-he's both an angel and a devil at the same time-near hypnotizing to observe.



Killer warns her time and time again that she should stay away. But can she?

"No. Make no mistake. I'm not sweet. I am a killer."

They have no idea who the other is. They do not know that they are connected. When they will find out, will they be able to move past everything that threatens to tear them apart?

I enjoyed the book, but I struggled with a couple of subplots. I didn't like how all the men at the gym wanted Britton and she had no idea; especially when it came to Max.
Also, I do think that the 'incident' as Britton calls the shooting was bypassed quickly. I wanted to know more about it since it had such an impact on both characters' lives. I know the author tells us that she wanted to focus on the victims but I think a lot of the healing process was overlooked. I wanted to know more about Keller and what happened while he was away. And I wanted Britton to deal with her PTSD instead of hiding it. Her health depended on it. The lack of development of that bit left me a bit unsatisfied and I didn't invest on the characters as much as I had hoped.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the pace of the book. The chemistry between our couple was scorching and despite its theme, the book was easy to read.
I recommend it.
✴✴✴ 3.75 Stars✴✴✴

[Romance Readers Retreat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to know where to start this review and how to put into words how brilliant I thought this book was. So I'll start by saying that to some people the cover of a book is important. I'm not one to have put too much thought into this and I usually don't pay much attention to the cover. However, on this occasion, I just couldn't connect the cover to the synopsis of this book. As a result, I've got to be honest and admit that I did "judge the book by the cover".

How wrong I was!!!!

This is a tragic tale of two separate lives, converging in the most frightful way. A story of two souls, drifting aimlessly, not quit living but merely surviving and keeping their true selves hidden from all around them. Secrets abound and without the means or strength to come clean, all seems lost.

Killer is an all encompassing character. The description of his silvery, soulless eyes drawing you in until his dark, mean character just engulfs you. As if this isn't enough to get your mouth pooling with desire, his rough, hair-pulling, alpha dominance will ignite those delicious twinges in your gut.

Britt is a great character and you can't help but sympathise with her and all she's been through. She's strong and independent, even though she can't connect with her own past.

I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough. I read it in just over a couple of hours....I just couldn't put it down. It drew me in and I found my breath hitching on more than one occasion.
Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!

[K. Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Heather C. Leigh because she so graciously offered me an ARC and let me just say, it certainly won't be my last. From page one, I was hooked. This story was intriguing, intense, suspenseful, and crazy sexy. In other words, right up my alley.

Britt and Killer have amazing chemistry right from the start. He's all scary and tough but broken on the inside. She's clearly broken but quite tough on the inside. A perfect match. From the get-go, they're on fire for each other and I was just squirming in my seat waiting for an explosion.

"The words pierce right through my barrier, the tough outer shell I've kept in place for the last ten years. They act like a defibrillator, zapping my black, soulless heart into beating again, and I know right then and there, I can never, ever go back."

Do yourself a favor and buy this book. It's gripping and one helluva thrill ride. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over again.

Heather C. Leigh, you nailed it with this one!

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

KILLER is a case of where the blurb had me putting off reading this. For some reason, I had one impression of the hero of this book, but the whole book was so much more than I was expecting.

Keller Keating and Britton Reeves didn't know each other but one random act of violence at their private high school changed their lives forever. For Keller, that meant shedding the person he'd been to become a shell of a man who was only good in the middle of an MMA ring. Britt drew from her strength to prove to her parents and doctors that she could live a fulfilling life, even if the only place she felt safe was in a gym full of muscle-bound men.

Keller and Britt are survivors and what Heather C. Leigh gives us in a birds eye view on what these two survivors had to do in order to move forward with their lives. It's not pretty, but these two scrape together a way to live with what they went through. But it isn't until they find each other that the walls they had built start to come down and they begin to learn to rely on someone else.

This is one of those books that a reader truly needs to experience for themselves. Although categorized as a dark romance, I think it's a story of recovery. Given what these two went through, there were dark overtones. But I don't think it was really dark, but rather learning how to accept what happened, forgive what they can and move on. KILLER isn't a light-hearted read, but it definitely one I think readers should consider and pick up.

[Melinda Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of KILLER, and being a fan of Heather's work, I knew I would love it. However, I had no idea how much.
In my honest opinion, this is unlike anything she's ever written. The pace is perfect. The emotional roller coaster ride starts on page one, and I don't think I took another breath until I read "The End". And the characters...the author had me by the heart strings the entire time with these two leads - both beautifully tortured souls, hiding their scars. I was so invested in their story, in their pain, that I couldn't put it down until I knew they would be okay.
I will say that when the author says this is a "dark romance", she means it. This story is not all hearts and flowers. The plot is heavy and riddled with twists and turns that will most definitely keep you on your toes. But the reactions are real and true to life, which is why I was able to experience all of those incredible "feels" right along with them.
I loved it. I truly did. It's a beautiful story, full of hope and heartbreak, love and life, and the message sticks with you in the best possible way. I think people will be talking about this one for a long, long time.

[Lindsey King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes! This was my first book by Heather, and now I am hooked! I loved her writing and the way the story flowed. It was phenomenal. LOVED IT!!! The story was dark and mysterious and pulled me in from the start. SO GOOD I could not put it down. Keller and Britton have some serious demons that they are both fighting. At some points during the book I even got a little misty eyed. Couldn't help but want to just hug them both. Keller is a bad ass. For real. Hes a fighter and a damn good one at that. Britt is a physical therapist at a gym that trains fighters and of course they are bound to crash into each other. As they say the rest is history. Only its not easy for them by any means. I loved this book and the characters! DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS READ!

[Heather / Obsessed With Myshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book and gasped a sigh when it was over. Their hearts are the strongest parts of them and the hardest part to heal. Nothing is sugarcoated and everything is flayed open, letting you see the guilt, misery, despair....and love that swirls between the characters. Heather killed it. 5 stars.

full review to come!

[Jos · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars GREAT read!!!!

I LOVED both of these characters and the storyline was unique and kept me glued from start until finish!

[Melissa Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title:Killer
Author: Heather C. Leigh
Series:
Publisher: Shelbyville Publishing
Release Date: March 15, 2016
Genre(s): Dark Romance
Page Count: 285
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

UnthinKable. UnimagInable. UndeniabLe. UnforgivabLe. SalvageablE. Redeemable.

Ten years ago, their lives shattered to pieces...
And he's the KILLER that has to live with it.

Two people. One incident. Interwoven between two damaged souls in ways they don't understand.



***

"The fact I feel anything should let me know I’m headed in the wrong direction, headed down a path of darkness, destruction, and failure. A path that will dig out memories so painful I’ve created an entire persona to avoid dealing with them. Yet I know—I’m going down that path headfirst no questions asked, no matter the outcome.
I might be a monster, but I’m a selfish one."—Keller Keating

"When his strength envelops me, every wrong becomes right, every anxiety melts away, every doubt disappears. I feel calm, safe, whole. The spark of life that’s been missing inside burns bright, lighting me up like a solar flare, sizzling white-hot through my veins. Keller brings me out of the darkness and into the light."—Britton Reeves

“This is the only woman I’ve ever met who isn’t instantly and irrevocably afraid of me, and the only one who has me tempted into thinking I could have more.”

5 Killer stars!! Dark, sexy and beautifully dramatic!

Britt and Keller’s lives are forever changed when a madman comes in and starts shooting at their school. While Britt managed to survive, Keller’s sister wasn’t so lucky. Flash forward ten years later, Britt is still dealing with the aftermath, she can’t hear from one ear and she has brain trauma, but she refuses to let that stop her, not to mention she doesn’t let anyone know of her “disability.” She’s a physiologist at an MMA facility, the only place she feels safe. And while she’s content with her job, she wants a man who won’t treat her like she’s a piece of fragile glass ready to break. Killer shows up at the gym to start training and when he meets Britt, he’s surprised to find she’s not scared of him, like most people. After the drama he’s faced he doesn’t let anyone close to him, so he’s confused when all he wants to do is be near Britt. But he has a dark past, he’s not so willing to share. The chemistry between these two is electric, but is it too much for both of these two to bear? What happens when Britt finds out who Killer really is?



OMG I think this is by far one of my favorite books of the year! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I was sucked in and couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen. This book deal with sensitive subjects, but it’s handled so well. Killer, where do I even start with that man. He’s dark, brooding, but oh so sexy….it’s hard not to fall in love with that man! Britt is a perfect female lead, yes she has a disablitly, but she doesn’t let that stop her from doing what she wants and going after what she wants, ahem….Killer. I don’t reread books often, but I know that this is one book I’d read a million times over…..just to get more Killer!


ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

With “Killer” by Heather C. Leigh I finally came across one of THOSE books again. One of those books that stay a long time with you after you finished reading them.

But at first I have to share of my internal struggle with you. I read the blurb and I knew I had to read the book – but then I came across the cover and I was like … wait WHAT ?... – and after receiving it as an ARC I was pushing it around on my kindle for some time – because all I could see was this cover every time and somehow …

My problem is that this book is paying a lot of attention on the eyes of the lead “Killer/Keller” (AND YES I HAVE A THING FOR EYES) and you can see that the author choose a cover to fit that purpose. But something is totally off with the eyebrows of that cover model – either there was Photoshop all the way or they plugged them to something I do not want to find words for but it is wrong very wrong. I could have overlooked that smirk that does not fit “Killer/Keller” that much but sorry those eyebrows - -- Ahm NO !….

And anybody disagreeing with me – please just read the descriptions of “Killer/Keller” and try to imagine the description with that picture – it is not working.

Coming back to the story … wow… where to start.

Maybe with the one tiny tiny thing I disliked … I felt for the whole picture that was created of “Killer/Keller” – his attraction to Britt was to “Instant” for a guy like him – it was too much.

His struggle was portrayed very believable but I feel a slower approach with building up an attraction would have only added a few pages and made the story more real.

Britt’s attraction to him on the other hand was described wonderful and due to her background story it was totally believable and I really loved the approach the author used to explain WHY a person like her would be attracted to a guy like him.

Great move in the plot.

Some stuff was predictable to me yes – but that did not disturb the plot at all at least not for me. I really liked that the story was basically carried by two people whose characters were developed to perfection and the secondary characters were only adding up on those two without having a life of their own. You only hear enough about them to continue the flow of the actual story.

As for the reasons why those two broken souls are the way they are – well – It makes you think about the small decisions you make every day that in normal situations you would never rethink.

But what if one tiny decision – like choosing to wait a few minutes to see something or going earlier than you are supposed to - changes the course of YOUR whole life – or even worse … changes the life of others?

AGAIN wow … what a read…

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer
5 stars
Heather C. Leigh

Keller Keating is an arrogant wealthy senior in HS. We meet him partying from the get go on page one and I wanted to slap him. Out partying on Friday, Keller finally makes his way home in the wee hours of the morning to the house he hates. The only reason he keeps coming back there is his baby sister. Arriving at his house not noticing the police car … Killer is born.

Britton has been best friends since second grade with Reece Fielding. Both of their fathers are executives at the same Fortune 500 company in Atlanta and both are good girls. Taking off down the hall after goodbyes Britt is determined to see her Friday eye candy; Keller Keating. Missing Keller she accidentally bumps into a girl she hasn’t ever seen before; Kinsey. Chatting, while waiting for their rides, a van fishtails into the parking lot and out steps the worst possible nightmare you can imagine. The girls need to run and run now.

Wowza right … you know it. This book is intense. The first few chapters may seem somewhat confusing but you will get the reasons behind them being implemented as they are as soon as you hit Chapter 3. There is so much tragedy in the first two chapters you are going to find yourself thinking what the hell else can happen to these two characters.

Chapter 3 takes us to ten years later. And you will have to read to find out the rest. I just cannot tell you how fantastic of a story is woven on these pages. Wrecked, damaged, traumatized … all of these words describe the wounds you will feel in yourself as you continue to flip the pages.

Heather Leigh is a new author to me and I am so happy to have read Killer. Brilliant writing … I will say the “incident” somewhat had my stomach churning due to my Profession (which I cant tell you or that to me would be a spoiler of what happens – my every day job I should say). But you will understand once you click it up. It’s the worst imaginable event you would fear that we have seen happen numerous times already.

I look forward to reading more from Heather. I hope that we hear more about Reece, Britton's best friend eventually. I'm also going to need a story on Sawyer North and Jackson Wolfe! Yup! Thank you for the ARC! Great writing.

Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.

[April Symes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me enthralled from page one until the very last word on the last page of this book by this author. I couldn’t believe the pain the characters went thru , the angst, the deep wounds or the connection, the passion and the chance for happiness again… there is so much here that makes you root for the MC and I loved this book.

We have Keller (Killer) and Britton (Britt), two people whose lives were completed ripped apart by one senseless act. They are unaware that they , through this act, are tied together. It took forever for Britt to get back on her feet but she is there now and isn’t going to let the past get her down. She works in a MMA gym where there are strong men there –there is symbolism in this (hint hint). She is just a tiny thing and she sweet. She works as a sports therapist for the men there and that is where she meets “Killer”. Awww Killer- he is so delicious, I really would love to have a man like him on my side. He is rough, full of rage at times and with this kick a&& attitude. When they meet, its like an instant connection but they do not understand it. There is this electric connection, chemistry and oh my , is it hot. These are two wounded souls who fix what is wrong in each other and do it in such a way that is beautiful and sexy/passionate all at the same time. Not saying it is all unicorns and rainbows because it is not, but what it is , it is angsty and passionate and beautiful all at the same time.
There is some dramatic moments in this story that Killer is there for Britt and he shows her how committed he is for her. There are some HUGE twists and turns throughout. You will see why Killer is such an alpha male and why Britt loves him. Her sweet soul needed his light and light her up he did. There were moments that had me in tears but everything written was so awe inspiring and the ending was fantastic. This was one book that I can say is going to be a contender for best book of 2016.

My rating: 5.0 stars *****


**I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review***

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.

Note: This ARC was provided by TRSoR Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

This book went into directions I did not expect. The school shooting isn't the main focus of the story. It is merely the event that sets into motion the drastic changes that occur in the lives of the two lead characters, Britt and Keller. I've decided not to give too much more regarding the actual story line because I think it's enough that you go into knowing that Britt and Keller play certain roles in the school shooting. What those roles are should be discoveries you make while reading the book and you'll understand why Keller is called Killer and why Britt is still alive even after being shot in the head. In hindsight, I realized that one look at the cover and I see what I missed, but it's not really anything of importance since I quite enjoyed the book.

Britt and Keller have a connection from the very beginning, and it's a connection that neither one can fully sever, no matter how many times they wish they could or attempt to do so. Their relationships with their families also play important parts in why they've made certain decisions in their lives. These are two broken people who I believe needed to meet one another in order to even begin to try and move forward. Overall, the story was refreshingly different from the usual dark romance fare, and while I knew what the connection was between Britt and Keller, I was itching to find out when they'd realize that they're actually connected. This may be the first but certainly won't be my last Heather C. Leigh read. Killer gets 4.5 stars, rounded off to five stars. ♥

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unthinkable happens to Britton and Keller that will leave their lives intertwined for the rest of their lives and they don't even know it. I was very surprised with what the author wrote in the beginning. I wasn't expecting that and she pulled me right into the terror that Britton experiences. 10 years later she still suffers from it and I can totally understand that. Keller experiences it in a different aspect but no less frightening. 10 years later, he is still suffers. They meet and the attraction explodes all over these pages. You can feel it to the intense stares to the steamiest sex scenes where Keller dominates Britton in the only way he knows how and this is how he feels alive, besides fighting. Their common ground at the work place (she is a therapist and he is an mma fighter) bring them closer together while Keller tries to keep them apart. He doesn't deserve happiness. She wants to feel whole. But what happens once they find out how their lives intertwine because honestly you know it will happen. You will feel the utter devastation they feel. Will they be able to overcome it?

Trust me, this is a story that will give you all the feels. The characters are very versatile and have so much depth that you cannot help but feel for them. The story added well with what happened in the past but does overshadows their future. Other obstacles will bring danger to Britton and Keller will have to protect her. Just an overall good story and I am glad that I had the pleasure to read this!

Story 5
Sex 5
Overall 5

Reviewed by Shay from Mommys a Book Whore

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer by Heather C Leigh

Two girls running a little late after school both waiting for their rides home are in the wrong place at the wrong time, when a gunman comes to school and starts to fire.
They get to the office and cling to eachother for comfort as people get gunned down around them. Only the gunman finds them, one loses her life, the other has brain damage and after awakening from a coma now has to learn how to do all of the little stuff that we take for granted all over again.
Despite all of this she manages to get herself a good job and moves out of her parents house to live on her own. Even though terrifies she can no longer bare to love worn her mother and wants to be strong and independent.
One day a new boxer ‘Killer’ comes to the gym where she works and the attraction between them is instant and very strong.
Little do they know that they are both connected to the shooting from ten years earlier.
They start to fall in love but will the events from the past catch up with them and destroy everything they have come to love and depend on.
I loved this book! I read it in one day, not being able to put it down for more than a few moments at a time. The story is fast paced and keeps you on edge, never knowing when and if the other will find out the others secrets and whether they will carry on living each other when they find out. I found myself shouting at the characters when they said or did something stupid, they really pull you into their lives.
Five stars.

[Gökçe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bu ara bir türlü güzel ve "hah işte bu yaa" diyebileceğim kitaba denk gelemiyorum ne yazık ki :( Bu kitap bunları veremediği gibi bir de deli etti.

Çocuk daha 17-18 yaşındayken bir partide olduğundan kız kardeşini okuldan almayı unutuyor, o gün de okulda massive shooting oluyor ve kardeşi ölüyor. Sonra bu oğlan başlıyor "ben katilim, kardeşimi öldürdüm" Adını 'Killer' yapıyor falan, hakikaten inanıyor yani bu manyak buna. Suçluluk duygusu hissetmesi normaldir ama bu abartıyor sürekli gerçekten kardeşini kendi eliyle öldürmüş gibi konuluyor falan, inanılmaz sinir bozucuydu. Bir de içindeki canavardan falan bahsediyor. Daha güzel yazılsaydı sevebileceğim bir konsept bu; ben ki Dexter'ı seven insanım. Ama bununki üzerine çok saçma durmuştu. Olmamıştı yani. Killer diye kendinden 3. tekil kişiyle bahsetmesi zaten evlere şenlik.

Kızın tek sorunu sürrrrekli birileri yüzünden yaralanmasıydı. Gelen giden çarpıyor kıza ya :D Kapıyı açıyorlar yüzüne değiyor, milletin dirseği çarpıyor falan sürekli hasta ve zayıftı kız.

Ama en önemlisi aralarındaki aşkın samimi ve gerçek olmamasıydı. Bu karakterler doğru düzgün karşılıklı oturup iki laf konuşmadılar. Kafalarının içinde konuştular ama birbirleriyle sadece seks yaptılar. Haliyle araya aşk kelimesi girdiğinde iğreti durdu. Özetle, sevmedim.

[Jodie Squelch · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH WOW... I have no words to express the awesomeness of this book, this story will work its way into your heart no matter how black said heart may be... and you will fall in love...

Killer and Britt... are both broken, maybe even beyond repair... both suffering from the same trauma but just not knowing it... each bring out feelings in each other... could they be each other's saver??

"He's a mystery I intend to solve." ~ Britt

I don't want to give anything away but I really was taken on a fast paced, action packed, hot and emotional ride... that I really didn't want to get off...

I loved this story and it is something which will stay with me... This book is not one to be missed, as you will all fall in love ... just like my black harden heart did ...

[Maria Angie Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do. Not. Let the title of this incredible read mislead you! This intense, gritty emotional story is soooo worth the read! This is a beautiful story of the power of love and survival.
A terrible tragedy event 10 years ago prior affected Brett and Killer in very different ways. When they meet and hit it off, little did they know that they were directly linked with that very same tragic event 10 years ago. An event that Killer was trying to forget and Brett was trying to remember. When they come face to face with the realization that they were both affected by the same tragedy,but hey realize they must put closure on their past so they can move forward.

[Robin H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omfg!!!

1- read this book!!!
2- don't look into Killer's eyes.
3- read this book!
4- tissues/wine may be needed
5- did I mention...read this book?!?!?!

[Diana's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow..

[Nadia Debowska-Stephens (Obsessed by Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An obsession. One with the potential to either save me or destroy me. The question is, do I want either?"

Victims of a senseless tragedy that irrevocably changed the course of their lives Britt and Keller are brought back together unknowingly by fate. Almost ten years after a shooter opened fired at their school leaving his sister dead and Britt near dead Keller has returned to America to further his MMA career. She is the team physio, surrounding herself with strong alpha males as a coping mechanism to appease the constant fear she lives with. Something about the new fighters eyes draws her in but the memory whispers, teasing at the edge of her conscious thoughts. The sparks fly between them drawn to the brokenness reflected in each other's eyes. She is not fearful of the beast he keeps caged within. Is she strong enough to accept everything he has to give? Burying his emotions since the death of his sister as he feels responsible as he was selfish, having forgotten to pick her up after school, Keller no longer exists and in his place is Killer. A fighting machine that shows no mercy. Yet the fragile blonde unleashes a seed of hope in his chest, that maybe just maybe he can be loved. Unaware that their shared pain that shattered them ten years previously is the same can they help each other to over the demons that haunt them?

This is a journey of strength, recovery and survival. Not accepting defeat and embracing the possibility of tomorrow. Britt is brave and awe inspiring as she strives to be her own person without a label, without the perceived motion she is just a victim. Keller, lost to his own guilt, is drawn to her light and is slowly brought back to life. Recognising he has run from the pain in an attempt to forget Britt makes him a better man, a stronger man and enables him to face up to the past. With twists and turns and the will they won't they feel to the story I felt this was a wonderfully written story. Dealing with sensitive issues it was handled really well and although classed as dark romance the passion between them is raw and a thing of beauty. I loved the focus on the journey they both experienced and how they each independently handled things.

A four and a half star Max deserved to be crushed read!

~*~ Obsessed by Books copy given in exchange for an honest review ~*~

[Felicia Eddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEWER FOR BLOGGIN’ WITH M. BRENNAN.

I first have to say I am a fan of this author, her writing style and how she can weave a story is fantastic. I am very happy to say this story doesnt disappoint.

Imagine going through the most horrific tragedy imaginable, surviving but have no memory of it. This is exactly what happened to Britt. She survived but the aftermath follows her 10 years later. She has set herself up to feel as safe as possible and by working with AFL fighters she feels safe. Then she meets Killer who is familiar to her and she is not sure why and he also does things to her and makes her feel more than anyone has in 10 years.

Imaging blaming yourself for the worst act imaginable and then living with the guilt. That is what Keller has been doing for 10 long years. Reinventing himself as Killer he becomes the monster he believes himself to be. That all changes though when he comes home to start training at the gym Britt works at - when he meets her his whole world is rocked and he starts to feel again. Something he didnt think was possible.

One of the things I love about this author is the backstory she can weave - there is more than meets the eye with her characters. I loved that this story was about surviving and doesnt dwell on the immediate aftermath of the tragic events but rather how do Britt and Keller learn to deal with their tragedies. Told in dual POV's you as the reader definitely get the sense of their pain and ultimately how they feel for each other when they didnt realize they had it in them. If I have 1 concern I did find some parts to be repetitive; that being said it was just 1 or 2 instances and it certainly doesnt take away from the overall book which I love.

Overall I highly recommend this story about survival and what happens on the other side of tragedy.