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The Redemption Saga #2
A Heart of Shame
Sawyer Matthews is a retired and presumed-dead assassin. Ripped from her life of shadows and secrets, she’s decided to gamble it all and accept a new chapter in her life—one that may lead to a brighter future.
New beginnings come with new problems, though, and she’s always lived by the belief that she doesn’t deserve of redemption—a painful truth Sawyer has held in her heart for years.
Their first case takes the team to Texas, where members are confronted with more than just Sawyer’s painful past. The team is sent to deal with a series of suspicious deaths, but end up dealing with the community’s entrenched prejudices, an unregistered Magi at its heart. Nothing is what it seems as the killer enacts a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and the team is sucked into a case even more sinister than they thought.
Can Sawyer’s first case with the International Magi Police Organization help her to realize she’s deserving of the redemption offered? And what about her heart? Will she overcome its core of shame to learn she deserves even more than redemption?
*This is an Urban Fantasy reverse harem series of full length novels where the leading lady doesn’t have to choose from her romantic interests. This series will have M/M content.
These books are rated for mature audiences, 18+ due to violence, language, and sexual themes.
This series deals with several triggering topics including, but not limited to, suicide, child abuse, rape, and PTSD.*
New beginnings come with new problems, though, and she’s always lived by the belief that she doesn’t deserve of redemption—a painful truth Sawyer has held in her heart for years.
Their first case takes the team to Texas, where members are confronted with more than just Sawyer’s painful past. The team is sent to deal with a series of suspicious deaths, but end up dealing with the community’s entrenched prejudices, an unregistered Magi at its heart. Nothing is what it seems as the killer enacts a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and the team is sucked into a case even more sinister than they thought.
Can Sawyer’s first case with the International Magi Police Organization help her to realize she’s deserving of the redemption offered? And what about her heart? Will she overcome its core of shame to learn she deserves even more than redemption?
*This is an Urban Fantasy reverse harem series of full length novels where the leading lady doesn’t have to choose from her romantic interests. This series will have M/M content.
These books are rated for mature audiences, 18+ due to violence, language, and sexual themes.
This series deals with several triggering topics including, but not limited to, suicide, child abuse, rape, and PTSD.*
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
716 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Banet
27 books1,394 followersKristen Banet has a Diet Coke problem and smokes too much. She curses like a sailor (though, she used to be one, so she uses that as an excuse) and finds that many people don’t know how to handle that. She loves to read, and before finally sitting to try her hand at writing, she had your normal kind of work history. From tattoo parlors, to the U.S. Navy, and freelance illustration, she’s stumbled through her adult years and somehow, is still kicking.
She loves to read books that make people cry. She likes to write books that make people cry (and she wants to hear about it). She’s a firm believer that nothing and no one in this world is perfect, and she enjoys exploring those imperfections—trying to make the characters seem real on the page and not just in her head.
She might just be crazy, though. Her characters think so, but this can’t be confirmed.
Check out her social media to catch what's going on in the worlds inside her head. She drops teasers, new covers, and opens ARC reader slots through her Facebook group, The Banet Pride.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kristenbanet...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBa...
She loves to read books that make people cry. She likes to write books that make people cry (and she wants to hear about it). She’s a firm believer that nothing and no one in this world is perfect, and she enjoys exploring those imperfections—trying to make the characters seem real on the page and not just in her head.
She might just be crazy, though. Her characters think so, but this can’t be confirmed.
Check out her social media to catch what's going on in the worlds inside her head. She drops teasers, new covers, and opens ARC reader slots through her Facebook group, The Banet Pride.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kristenbanet...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
March 13, 2019
Something was definitely off/missing in this one.
A Heart of Shame definitely made me feel like I took a long ass time diving into it. Mostly because I couldn't remember a thing from book 1. So, I kind of just went with everything while probably forming endless questions that would've been answered if I had remembered anything.
Now I like the characters and getting to know them more through the chapters. I do have a couple of favorite POV's that I would love to have more of. Plus less of others. Mostly because certain characters are now piquing my interest. I want to know more about them so that I can fall even more in love with them. It's a long process that I can't wait to take part in.
Other than all of that, I definitely felt like something was missing in this. As to what that actually is - I have no idea. I did, however, really enjoy reading it. Overall, I hope to continue on with this series and end up liking it more and more with each book.
A Heart of Shame definitely made me feel like I took a long ass time diving into it. Mostly because I couldn't remember a thing from book 1. So, I kind of just went with everything while probably forming endless questions that would've been answered if I had remembered anything.
Now I like the characters and getting to know them more through the chapters. I do have a couple of favorite POV's that I would love to have more of. Plus less of others. Mostly because certain characters are now piquing my interest. I want to know more about them so that I can fall even more in love with them. It's a long process that I can't wait to take part in.
Other than all of that, I definitely felt like something was missing in this. As to what that actually is - I have no idea. I did, however, really enjoy reading it. Overall, I hope to continue on with this series and end up liking it more and more with each book.
March 5, 2019
At the end of book one, Sawyer makes a deal to become an agent of the IMPO and joins the team officially. The first half of the book is about how she starts to fit in and how they are each flirting with her and hoping for more - basically, a bunch of character building as she and the guys get to know each other better. Around the halfway point, the team is sent to Texas to investigate a string of murders.
I wish I had gone back and read the last few chapters of book one because I couldn't remember exactly where Sawyer was in relation to the connections she is forging with the guys on the team. I was just a little lost as this is not a series that recapped everything in the first chapter. No biggie, I may go back and do that before I move on to book 3.
All that character building in the first half of the book reminded me that one of the things I liked best about this series, is that some of the characters are different than your typical RH - specifically Quinn and Elijah and their relationship together. I'm interested to see how things develop with them in the mix. Based on the epilogue, it looks like Quinn will be a focus in the next book, so I'm eager to get into it.
I was a little surprised that the plot of the book didn't really start until the middle of the book and it was a little underwhelming. The author actually explained (to Sawyer) that not every resolution of a case is going to have explosive action. This one certainly didn't, but I think I actually appreciated that a little. It made it more realistic in some ways. This installment of the series served more as a character builder than a progression of the big picture plot. Smut factor was a 3 out of 5. The first book just had a couple of kisses; this one has more!
I wish I had gone back and read the last few chapters of book one because I couldn't remember exactly where Sawyer was in relation to the connections she is forging with the guys on the team. I was just a little lost as this is not a series that recapped everything in the first chapter. No biggie, I may go back and do that before I move on to book 3.
All that character building in the first half of the book reminded me that one of the things I liked best about this series, is that some of the characters are different than your typical RH - specifically Quinn and Elijah and their relationship together. I'm interested to see how things develop with them in the mix. Based on the epilogue, it looks like Quinn will be a focus in the next book, so I'm eager to get into it.
I was a little surprised that the plot of the book didn't really start until the middle of the book and it was a little underwhelming. The author actually explained (to Sawyer) that not every resolution of a case is going to have explosive action. This one certainly didn't, but I think I actually appreciated that a little. It made it more realistic in some ways. This installment of the series served more as a character builder than a progression of the big picture plot. Smut factor was a 3 out of 5. The first book just had a couple of kisses; this one has more!
May 17, 2018
A really good second book.
4.5 Stars
——RHR Buddy Read——
I’m still processing this, but I can honestly say that I really enjoy this series. Sawyer is such a strong MC and her harem is one of the best. This book tackles a lot and that’s mostly what needs digesting. There’s a lot of dealing with bigotry and hate and religion. It’s not all heavy though.
We learn more about the characters in this and definitely make some headway in the harem department (I’ll never tell who gets there first-read and find out. 😉). Looking forward to the next case and hearing more of Sawyer’s and her guys’ stories (and what case comes up next!).
4.5 Stars
——RHR Buddy Read——
I’m still processing this, but I can honestly say that I really enjoy this series. Sawyer is such a strong MC and her harem is one of the best. This book tackles a lot and that’s mostly what needs digesting. There’s a lot of dealing with bigotry and hate and religion. It’s not all heavy though.
We learn more about the characters in this and definitely make some headway in the harem department (I’ll never tell who gets there first-read and find out. 😉). Looking forward to the next case and hearing more of Sawyer’s and her guys’ stories (and what case comes up next!).
May 18, 2018
I liked it but i didn't love it.
I like the fact that the characters deal with a lot of their emotional issues in this , than waiting for it to happen later in the series.
The characters are realistic and it makes the story more relatable for me.
There wasn't much action in this book and I kept waiting for something more.
I like the fact that the characters deal with a lot of their emotional issues in this , than waiting for it to happen later in the series.
The characters are realistic and it makes the story more relatable for me.
There wasn't much action in this book and I kept waiting for something more.
May 19, 2019
I rate this book 16 out of 5 sighs. The story itself wasn't terrible, but I couldn't get into it because the character dialogue was so bad, and there's a lot of it. The author uses really off-putting ways of describing it, using four different words: said, whisper/whispered, sigh/sighed, or groaned. But nobody GROANS an entire paragraph of dialogue, nor do they sigh that much dialogue, either. It constantly took me out of what I was reading.
I had to index how many times the words were said, because it was so weird:
"Said" 217 times; "whisper"/"whispered" 133 times; "Sigh"/"sighed" 195 TIMES! "Groan"/"groaned" 129 times.
There are so many characters in every scene and a shifting point of view so you can't get away with an obvious back-and-forth conversation. Instead, you get entire paragraphs of dialogue groaned out or sighed out. Everyone is constantly sighing out dialogue, or heaving heavy sighs.
Also, all the characters are offensively bad at their jobs. Ever heard of bugging an office for surveillance? Ever heard of taking potential victims into protective custody? You'd think, because that was literally the biggest plot point of the previous book. But nooope, the characters' obliviousness causes innocent people to die, without even their slight awareness of their culpability.
I had to index how many times the words were said, because it was so weird:
"Said" 217 times; "whisper"/"whispered" 133 times; "Sigh"/"sighed" 195 TIMES! "Groan"/"groaned" 129 times.
There are so many characters in every scene and a shifting point of view so you can't get away with an obvious back-and-forth conversation. Instead, you get entire paragraphs of dialogue groaned out or sighed out. Everyone is constantly sighing out dialogue, or heaving heavy sighs.
Also, all the characters are offensively bad at their jobs. Ever heard of bugging an office for surveillance? Ever heard of taking potential victims into protective custody? You'd think, because that was literally the biggest plot point of the previous book. But nooope, the characters' obliviousness causes innocent people to die, without even their slight awareness of their culpability.
September 23, 2019
Still feel like something is missing. It just didn’t made me love it. Yet.
I’ll continue anyway, just to see where it will take me.
I’ll continue anyway, just to see where it will take me.
December 7, 2023
2.5 ⭐️ Must be read in order. B1 was better, don’t know about B3 yet.
So, originally I was planning on calling it quits after this book.
Honestly, this was a total cluster. All over the place, with typos, grammatical errors, continuity issues, character contradictions, plot holes, and just some weak ass story development.
While I still liked many of the characters, the world building, and the story idea in general, it was just all too hard to find amongst the rubbish.
Plus, I was so furious and over one of the MMC’s [not the one you’re probably expecting].
Best thing about this. All the characters are distinct individuals, easily separated, even when they are not sticking to the characteristics assigned to them [I believe this is because they’ve been given complex personalities].
More urban fantasy than romance, with heavy emphasis on emotional drama and angst, not dark themes, or action.
So why am I planning to continue..?
Druids and Quinn. 😍😍
I’m probably going to regret it, but 🤷♀️
Ehh, I’ll swear at myself later.
Spoiler Alert 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
First half is waffle, setting up characters lives, dramas, whines, whatever. In B1 it was info dumping.
Now, that’s mostly done, yet the author still doesn’t get into the story’s plot until halfway [?🤨?].
B1 - Elijah comments how he doesn’t have to worry about speeding tickets cause of his badge.
B2 - FMC gets ticket first time on road despite badge.
B1 - FMC loves the thrill of B&E, though she’s more vigilant than criminal in her actions and choice of clients.
B2 - she’s ashamed when asked to use her skills to help on a case.
FMC knows so much about Magi cops and how they work, until she needs to whine about who and what she was. Now she suddenly doesn’t know how similar some of their skills and actions are.
All characters are smart and observant, until it might cause the book to end too quickly, despite making thee answers embarrassingly obvious!!
The mystery is shallowly plotted out, bare in details or setup, and easily solved.
70% of the book was drama and angst. Much of it saying the same stuff over and over.
Yes she has guilt, insecurities, relationship drama, and nightmares. But we don’t need to rehash the same stuff, to the exclusion of the actual story, it’s pacing, and all the setup established in B1.
She’s the expert on B&E, is asked to take the lead, but next paragraph one of the guys is detailing how, when, why.
In B1 she waffles about preparation and how it’s key to survival and she’ll spend a month or more on it, no short cuts, total perfectionist and control freak.
B2, she leaves everything to the guys and waits to be informed while doing the job. 🤔😳
Plus, one of top 5 Worst Tropes.
She has PTSD, but doesn’t need therapy, cause she’s oh so special and strong. 🤮🤮 she got through it before, and can do so again, just takes perseverance and one step at a time [😱 are you f@cking kidding me!!! 🤬😡🤬. Way to make people feel ashamed of therapy and their struggles with PTSD and other illnesses. 🤯🤬🤯] And yes, she’s even more the Mary Sue of Assassin’s, despite the guys taking over more often than not.
Jasper is presented as B&W morality, and as if this makes him a better individual,
more decent [golden boy 🤮].
It totally ignores the FMC’s issues with the failures of the law, and all those who are harmed because of it.
It ignores her beliefs that e very thing can’t always be solved peacefully, or that circumstances should decide right from wrong, not absolutes.
I get that her insecurities and trauma mean she doesn’t apply to herself. But to present him as perfect, when his choices would fail to protect those she loves!?!
Goes against her character.
Just as the others ignoring what his judgements are doing to her, or simply being oblivious to them [some trained observers they are].
On 2 seperate occasions, by 2 different guys, they say how she’s not a monster, doesn’t deserve to be judged differently to them, and if any try to make her feel or believe differently, let them know, they’ll kick ass.
Ummm, helllllloooooo… Jasper! Has straight out said to her and others he has a problem with her past. Judges her for it, finds it offensive and disgusting. 🤨
Sure he gets his shit together by the end, but never really apologises.
Just states because of an action he took part in, they are now the same, and he no longer has the right to judge 😳😵
[Anybody else reading that as WRONG!?!]
So many other points, but I’m gonna run outta space eventually..
So, I love Elijah and Quinn. Don’t mind Vincent, the FMC…ehh, hard to say amongst the focus on all the drama and inconsistencies. Zander is too immature and isn’t believable with his backstory and current role.
I loath Jasper and his holier then thou attitude, his judgemental hypocrisy, and his belief that he knows better than any other what is right and what is wrong!
I particularly hate how he is set up as the kindest, sweetest.
How can you be those things while judging and hurting the very ones you’re supposed to support and accept the most?
So, originally I was planning on calling it quits after this book.
Honestly, this was a total cluster. All over the place, with typos, grammatical errors, continuity issues, character contradictions, plot holes, and just some weak ass story development.
While I still liked many of the characters, the world building, and the story idea in general, it was just all too hard to find amongst the rubbish.
Plus, I was so furious and over one of the MMC’s [not the one you’re probably expecting].
Best thing about this. All the characters are distinct individuals, easily separated, even when they are not sticking to the characteristics assigned to them [I believe this is because they’ve been given complex personalities].
More urban fantasy than romance, with heavy emphasis on emotional drama and angst, not dark themes, or action.
So why am I planning to continue..?
Druids and Quinn. 😍😍
I’m probably going to regret it, but 🤷♀️
Ehh, I’ll swear at myself later.
Spoiler Alert 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
First half is waffle, setting up characters lives, dramas, whines, whatever. In B1 it was info dumping.
Now, that’s mostly done, yet the author still doesn’t get into the story’s plot until halfway [?🤨?].
B1 - Elijah comments how he doesn’t have to worry about speeding tickets cause of his badge.
B2 - FMC gets ticket first time on road despite badge.
B1 - FMC loves the thrill of B&E, though she’s more vigilant than criminal in her actions and choice of clients.
B2 - she’s ashamed when asked to use her skills to help on a case.
FMC knows so much about Magi cops and how they work, until she needs to whine about who and what she was. Now she suddenly doesn’t know how similar some of their skills and actions are.
All characters are smart and observant, until it might cause the book to end too quickly, despite making thee answers embarrassingly obvious!!
The mystery is shallowly plotted out, bare in details or setup, and easily solved.
70% of the book was drama and angst. Much of it saying the same stuff over and over.
Yes she has guilt, insecurities, relationship drama, and nightmares. But we don’t need to rehash the same stuff, to the exclusion of the actual story, it’s pacing, and all the setup established in B1.
She’s the expert on B&E, is asked to take the lead, but next paragraph one of the guys is detailing how, when, why.
In B1 she waffles about preparation and how it’s key to survival and she’ll spend a month or more on it, no short cuts, total perfectionist and control freak.
B2, she leaves everything to the guys and waits to be informed while doing the job. 🤔😳
Plus, one of top 5 Worst Tropes.
She has PTSD, but doesn’t need therapy, cause she’s oh so special and strong. 🤮🤮 she got through it before, and can do so again, just takes perseverance and one step at a time [😱 are you f@cking kidding me!!! 🤬😡🤬. Way to make people feel ashamed of therapy and their struggles with PTSD and other illnesses. 🤯🤬🤯] And yes, she’s even more the Mary Sue of Assassin’s, despite the guys taking over more often than not.
Jasper is presented as B&W morality, and as if this makes him a better individual,
more decent [golden boy 🤮].
It totally ignores the FMC’s issues with the failures of the law, and all those who are harmed because of it.
It ignores her beliefs that e very thing can’t always be solved peacefully, or that circumstances should decide right from wrong, not absolutes.
I get that her insecurities and trauma mean she doesn’t apply to herself. But to present him as perfect, when his choices would fail to protect those she loves!?!
Goes against her character.
Just as the others ignoring what his judgements are doing to her, or simply being oblivious to them [some trained observers they are].
On 2 seperate occasions, by 2 different guys, they say how she’s not a monster, doesn’t deserve to be judged differently to them, and if any try to make her feel or believe differently, let them know, they’ll kick ass.
Ummm, helllllloooooo… Jasper! Has straight out said to her and others he has a problem with her past. Judges her for it, finds it offensive and disgusting. 🤨
Sure he gets his shit together by the end, but never really apologises.
Just states because of an action he took part in, they are now the same, and he no longer has the right to judge 😳😵
[Anybody else reading that as WRONG!?!]
So many other points, but I’m gonna run outta space eventually..
So, I love Elijah and Quinn. Don’t mind Vincent, the FMC…ehh, hard to say amongst the focus on all the drama and inconsistencies. Zander is too immature and isn’t believable with his backstory and current role.
I loath Jasper and his holier then thou attitude, his judgemental hypocrisy, and his belief that he knows better than any other what is right and what is wrong!
I particularly hate how he is set up as the kindest, sweetest.
How can you be those things while judging and hurting the very ones you’re supposed to support and accept the most?
March 10, 2023
Weaker than book #1
June 7, 2019
I have nothing to really say... I'm still enjoying this series so far... Onto book #3...
Overall rating:
4*~ A Good Read!
Overall rating:
4*~ A Good Read!
May 14, 2018
4.5 stars
Where A LIFE OF SHADOWS was a mile-a-minute freight train that bowled me over, A HEART OF SHAME was a more contemplative, introspective, and emotional journey. It allows the reader the space to get to the know the characters, and for the characters to come to grips with everything that happened in the high-octane first book.
A HEART OF SHAME explores the developing relationship between Sawyer and the guys, as well as exposes more of their histories and quirks. The evolution of Sawyer and the guys’ relationships was both sweet and satisfying, and there was just enough mystery and excitement to keep it from stagnating.
I loved how, at least from the perspective of the guys, the possible dynamic of the relationship was carefully contemplated and discussed in advance. They were mature and thoughtful about it and each knew what they wanted - and were willing to compromise to get it. That was a delightful and unusual surprise that I found thoroughly refreshing.
Sawyer’s personal growth was wonderful and very believable. Her dynamic with each of the guys… all the feels! There were some wonderful scenes. Even Jasper grew so much as a character that, by the end, I was wholly on his side. While A HEART OF SHAME did not spend as much time with Quinn (one of my all-time favorite characters), it is clear that his story is coming, and we did learn quite a lot about him as well. I suspect his history is more complex than any of the other characters in REDEMPTION SAGA, and certainly the most unique and intriguing. And of course, leaving so much unresolved with Quinn just means that his progress as a character will be even more anticipated and satisfying when it comes! (and it looks like that may be the focus of book three)
Truly, Sawyer, Quinn, Elijah, Vincent, Zander and Jasper make up one of my favorite reverse harems. They remain the strength of the series with their flaws and weaknesses and insecurities making for very believable, three-dimensional characters. Kristen Banet does a beautiful job of letting us into their heads – and with letting their relationships develop at a pace that feels real. Compelling, interesting, strong, and downright sexy.
And the world of the Magis is fascinating. I am liking the International Magi Police Organization (IMPO) angle to this series. The way there has been a different criminal organization investigated in each book has allowed for a wide variety of issues to be explored, adding depth to REDEMPTION SAGA. And I love the Urban Fantasy genre in general, so there is a lot of appeal. It remains to be seen if these seemingly disparate investigations later tie together in some sort of overarching plot, or whether the thread that ties the series together is the characters and their relationships.
All of the character development does not mean A HEART OF SHAME doesn’t have its own mystery and tension. It definitely does. However, that aspect of this book felt a bit weak in comparison to A LIFE OF SHADOWS. It felt a little underdeveloped and somehow a little too easy. It was one of my only issues with this book. As serious as the problems were that they faced, it all felt tied up into too clean a bow - I would have liked to see a bit more difficulty resolving the case. (Which was why I found it quite funny when Sawyer said precisely that near the end.)
Kristen Banet has a deft touch with social commentary about bigotry and racism here, illustrating it using both Magi versus normal humans, and real-world issues of racism – especially in rural America. It was an integral part of the story. There was nothing gratuitously added to make a point or to hit the reader over the head. I appreciated that immensely. I also have enjoyed the theme of redemption and that self-doubt, negativity and shame inhibit personal growth - and can sabotage relationships. It all added gravitas to an already compelling story.
All in all, REDEMPTION SAGA is a series well worth reading, and A HEART OF SHAME was a wonderful addition.
Side note that is more about book 1 than it is book 2:
Also, still a lot of dark and potentially triggering content. So be warned.
UPDATE PROGRESS NOTES: Putting in tags, just in case...
Where A LIFE OF SHADOWS was a mile-a-minute freight train that bowled me over, A HEART OF SHAME was a more contemplative, introspective, and emotional journey. It allows the reader the space to get to the know the characters, and for the characters to come to grips with everything that happened in the high-octane first book.
A HEART OF SHAME explores the developing relationship between Sawyer and the guys, as well as exposes more of their histories and quirks. The evolution of Sawyer and the guys’ relationships was both sweet and satisfying, and there was just enough mystery and excitement to keep it from stagnating.
I loved how, at least from the perspective of the guys, the possible dynamic of the relationship was carefully contemplated and discussed in advance. They were mature and thoughtful about it and each knew what they wanted - and were willing to compromise to get it. That was a delightful and unusual surprise that I found thoroughly refreshing.
Sawyer’s personal growth was wonderful and very believable. Her dynamic with each of the guys… all the feels! There were some wonderful scenes. Even Jasper grew so much as a character that, by the end, I was wholly on his side. While A HEART OF SHAME did not spend as much time with Quinn (one of my all-time favorite characters), it is clear that his story is coming, and we did learn quite a lot about him as well. I suspect his history is more complex than any of the other characters in REDEMPTION SAGA, and certainly the most unique and intriguing. And of course, leaving so much unresolved with Quinn just means that his progress as a character will be even more anticipated and satisfying when it comes! (and it looks like that may be the focus of book three)
Truly, Sawyer, Quinn, Elijah, Vincent, Zander and Jasper make up one of my favorite reverse harems. They remain the strength of the series with their flaws and weaknesses and insecurities making for very believable, three-dimensional characters. Kristen Banet does a beautiful job of letting us into their heads – and with letting their relationships develop at a pace that feels real. Compelling, interesting, strong, and downright sexy.
And the world of the Magis is fascinating. I am liking the International Magi Police Organization (IMPO) angle to this series. The way there has been a different criminal organization investigated in each book has allowed for a wide variety of issues to be explored, adding depth to REDEMPTION SAGA. And I love the Urban Fantasy genre in general, so there is a lot of appeal. It remains to be seen if these seemingly disparate investigations later tie together in some sort of overarching plot, or whether the thread that ties the series together is the characters and their relationships.
All of the character development does not mean A HEART OF SHAME doesn’t have its own mystery and tension. It definitely does. However, that aspect of this book felt a bit weak in comparison to A LIFE OF SHADOWS. It felt a little underdeveloped and somehow a little too easy. It was one of my only issues with this book. As serious as the problems were that they faced, it all felt tied up into too clean a bow - I would have liked to see a bit more difficulty resolving the case. (Which was why I found it quite funny when Sawyer said precisely that near the end.)
Kristen Banet has a deft touch with social commentary about bigotry and racism here, illustrating it using both Magi versus normal humans, and real-world issues of racism – especially in rural America. It was an integral part of the story. There was nothing gratuitously added to make a point or to hit the reader over the head. I appreciated that immensely. I also have enjoyed the theme of redemption and that self-doubt, negativity and shame inhibit personal growth - and can sabotage relationships. It all added gravitas to an already compelling story.
All in all, REDEMPTION SAGA is a series well worth reading, and A HEART OF SHAME was a wonderful addition.
Side note that is more about book 1 than it is book 2:
Also, still a lot of dark and potentially triggering content. So be warned.
UPDATE PROGRESS NOTES: Putting in tags, just in case...
May 22, 2020
Aside from Quinn, I just think all the guys are douchebags. And her acceptance of it ... and general self-loathing ... it is getting tired. They treat her like crap, the world treats her like crap, the WMC is just as corrupt as the mob boss she used to work for, and yet still they judge her.
It grates on me.
It particularly grates on me when Jasper keeps getting held up as this angelic beacon of goodness when he's actually a naive, hypocritical, self-righteous douchebag. Looking at the world in black and white as it applies to others (but not to him - as an agent laws don't really apply to him) doesn't make him a good guy. It makes him an asshole.
Also, for elite agents, these guys are fucking dumb. Firstly, they bash and judge Sawyer for using the Dark Web to gather info repeatedly, which I honestly just do not understand. Why wouldn't agents use any source of info they can get? They act like it's a disease they can catch, and it makes them look like morons. Secondly, they bash and judge her but happily use her skills. They use her like she's their own personal thief and muscle. The missions they are having her do aren't actually different than she was doing herself as a thief, but man do they treat her like shit about it. And lastly, they miss really obvious crap. I mean, the bad guy in this book was OOOOOOBVIOUS. How are these people a supposedly elite team of agents?
I don't know. I'm continuing on, but if this doesn't start changing, I'm going to shitcan it.
It grates on me.
It particularly grates on me when Jasper keeps getting held up as this angelic beacon of goodness when he's actually a naive, hypocritical, self-righteous douchebag. Looking at the world in black and white as it applies to others (but not to him - as an agent laws don't really apply to him) doesn't make him a good guy. It makes him an asshole.
Also, for elite agents, these guys are fucking dumb. Firstly, they bash and judge Sawyer for using the Dark Web to gather info repeatedly, which I honestly just do not understand. Why wouldn't agents use any source of info they can get? They act like it's a disease they can catch, and it makes them look like morons. Secondly, they bash and judge her but happily use her skills. They use her like she's their own personal thief and muscle. The missions they are having her do aren't actually different than she was doing herself as a thief, but man do they treat her like shit about it. And lastly, they miss really obvious crap. I mean, the bad guy in this book was OOOOOOBVIOUS. How are these people a supposedly elite team of agents?
I don't know. I'm continuing on, but if this doesn't start changing, I'm going to shitcan it.
July 13, 2022
So its taken me 3 days but that is just because work has been keeping me busy (how dare it)
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't too sure 30% in the first story took a while to come back to me but once I remembered what happened previously I found myself enjoying this.
I do love a reverse harem. Its a guilty pleasure and I'm not so sure I'd admit to liking it if I was asked in person. This one is subtle, there isn't a group sex scene but I almost hope there will be eventually.
I like Sawyer. Quinn is my favourite of course. The dark brooding misunderstood was obviously going to win me over. Elijah second, then Vincent and jointly Zander and Jasper.
Excited to read on.
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't too sure 30% in the first story took a while to come back to me but once I remembered what happened previously I found myself enjoying this.
I do love a reverse harem. Its a guilty pleasure and I'm not so sure I'd admit to liking it if I was asked in person. This one is subtle, there isn't a group sex scene but I almost hope there will be eventually.
I like Sawyer. Quinn is my favourite of course. The dark brooding misunderstood was obviously going to win me over. Elijah second, then Vincent and jointly Zander and Jasper.
Excited to read on.
November 28, 2018
So I’ve figured out that each book is its own problem- thus far. Since book one was about Axel and book 2 was about Texas, y’all.
I have to say I grew up in Dallas and have driven in Texas and either:
A) the author has never driven through Texas highways
B) the distances were wrong
C) those Range Rovers FLEW
Because how in the hell did this crew travel so fast??? It takes like 3 hours to navigate DFW traffic WITHIN DFW alone????? And the speed limit is like 65.
I know this is fiction y’all. But still.
So we see more of Elijah in this book and I was a fan.
I like him much better.
The hat can stay.
I’m also very excited to see Quinn + Elijah + Sawyer.
Vincent is now my fave. It’s because he was first.
There was just something about this book that didn’t completely engage me.
The first book was certainly better.
Nonetheless I’m still reading the next book.
They are now like the Scooby Doo gang. Hopping around in their high dollar Mystery Van (read: Range Rovers) with their doggies (read: wolves) solving crimes and bringing justice!
How exciting. Let’s go book 3.
I have to say I grew up in Dallas and have driven in Texas and either:
A) the author has never driven through Texas highways
B) the distances were wrong
C) those Range Rovers FLEW
Because how in the hell did this crew travel so fast??? It takes like 3 hours to navigate DFW traffic WITHIN DFW alone????? And the speed limit is like 65.
I know this is fiction y’all. But still.
So we see more of Elijah in this book and I was a fan.
I like him much better.
The hat can stay.
I’m also very excited to see Quinn + Elijah + Sawyer.
Vincent is now my fave. It’s because he was first.
There was just something about this book that didn’t completely engage me.
The first book was certainly better.
Nonetheless I’m still reading the next book.
They are now like the Scooby Doo gang. Hopping around in their high dollar Mystery Van (read: Range Rovers) with their doggies (read: wolves) solving crimes and bringing justice!
How exciting. Let’s go book 3.
May 8, 2018
The second installment of Sawyer’s story starts hours after the first book ended. The continuity was perfect for what it needed to be - Sawyer’s reaction to events of the previous book, reaction to her new predicament, and everyone in the house dealing as well.
This is the second book the series needs - a little bit of a low key “getting to know you” and “this is how things work here” kind of thing. Zander and Jasper working on their feelings, Vincent coming to terms with having a nephew he’ll never meet and finally being done with his brother, and more. Unlike so many reverse harem books, Banet’s boys tend to be fully fleshed out characters, to the point where if they had their own book they could pull it off.
Not that I want them to. I’m trying to figure out how to propose to Sawyer.
After the rough and tumble ride that was book one, A Heart of Shame feels like a smoother ride, which is really misleading. There’s some serious emotional work going on here, Sawyer dealing with her old life and regrets, learning to live with the team in a push and pull of dominance and logic and frustration - namely what she’ll accept and what she will not. There are some truly silly, deliciously sexy, and heartbreakingly real scenes that have just made me fall in love even more with the characters. Quinn baby, I’m lookin at you.
Basic point is this: if you’re looking to continue following Sawyer on her journey to redemption, have at it and enjoy. If you’re looking for quick sex and a quick read, you probably won’t enjoy this. The trigger warnings are real, the subject matter true to life and no punches pulled, and you may not be happy with some of it. Intentionally.
Quinn Spoiler:
This is the second book the series needs - a little bit of a low key “getting to know you” and “this is how things work here” kind of thing. Zander and Jasper working on their feelings, Vincent coming to terms with having a nephew he’ll never meet and finally being done with his brother, and more. Unlike so many reverse harem books, Banet’s boys tend to be fully fleshed out characters, to the point where if they had their own book they could pull it off.
Not that I want them to. I’m trying to figure out how to propose to Sawyer.
After the rough and tumble ride that was book one, A Heart of Shame feels like a smoother ride, which is really misleading. There’s some serious emotional work going on here, Sawyer dealing with her old life and regrets, learning to live with the team in a push and pull of dominance and logic and frustration - namely what she’ll accept and what she will not. There are some truly silly, deliciously sexy, and heartbreakingly real scenes that have just made me fall in love even more with the characters. Quinn baby, I’m lookin at you.
Basic point is this: if you’re looking to continue following Sawyer on her journey to redemption, have at it and enjoy. If you’re looking for quick sex and a quick read, you probably won’t enjoy this. The trigger warnings are real, the subject matter true to life and no punches pulled, and you may not be happy with some of it. Intentionally.
Quinn Spoiler:
September 14, 2019
This is really good.
We get to see what happens with Sawyer and the team only a few days from where we last leave off in the previous book. We get to see the aftermath of how they act now that they know who and what Sawyer is. In this book we also explore the feelings and talk about the whole harem where she shouldn’t have to choose.
But who I love the most so far in this series and who made me love him in this book is Quinn. I’m so pulling for him. Like for real, I can not wait for the book to go there. But I’m concerned about what happened at the end of the book and what it can mean. And how it’ll affect the team.
There was also some foreshadowing about them having to go back to New York, and I feel like...that’s not going to go well. Like maybe it is a set up to say Sawyer did something wrong, or stepped out of line. I feel like that’s gunna happen at some point too.
But I’m in this for the binge haul so get ready because I’m going to the next one now too.
We get to see what happens with Sawyer and the team only a few days from where we last leave off in the previous book. We get to see the aftermath of how they act now that they know who and what Sawyer is. In this book we also explore the feelings and talk about the whole harem where she shouldn’t have to choose.
But who I love the most so far in this series and who made me love him in this book is Quinn. I’m so pulling for him. Like for real, I can not wait for the book to go there. But I’m concerned about what happened at the end of the book and what it can mean. And how it’ll affect the team.
There was also some foreshadowing about them having to go back to New York, and I feel like...that’s not going to go well. Like maybe it is a set up to say Sawyer did something wrong, or stepped out of line. I feel like that’s gunna happen at some point too.
But I’m in this for the binge haul so get ready because I’m going to the next one now too.
June 23, 2022
3.5 stars
Forewarning, part of this may be a me, not the novel thing, so be aware. This is a hard review for me. On one hand, although I didn't love the story line, I did like it. When writing about bigotry there is a fine line between showing bigotry and hammering it home, I think. For it to be believable for me, Everything can not be completely evil/negative because real life doesn't work that way. Everyone in a single location is not evil. This novel did a poor job of relaying that. Every single interaction with the locals with the exception of the children was negative. It is dangerous painting everyone in a location with such a broad brush. And honestly, maybe I may not have noticed if it didn't hit so close to home for me. Fact is, I've lived in both San Angelo and Abilene TX. I have friends from Albany, and I can guarantee that in all three of these places, there are some great people. Like everywhere else, there are some not so great people too. It is a rural area and a two hour drive from San Angelo to Albany, over 120 miles. Unless he is infamous, which he may have been, there was not really a reason for Elijah's history to be readily known by the locals. It just felt like the author had heard enough about Texas that she closed her eyes and picked a town on the map to use without even knowing anything about it. Maybe that wouldn't have bothered me if I didn't know the area, but it was very distracting for me, at least.
I will also say that it is ironic to me that the homophobia that lead to murder involving Elijah happened in one of the cities that has one of the largest LGBTQ populations in West Texas.
And we really don't say "howdy."
Forewarning, part of this may be a me, not the novel thing, so be aware. This is a hard review for me. On one hand, although I didn't love the story line, I did like it. When writing about bigotry there is a fine line between showing bigotry and hammering it home, I think. For it to be believable for me, Everything can not be completely evil/negative because real life doesn't work that way. Everyone in a single location is not evil. This novel did a poor job of relaying that. Every single interaction with the locals with the exception of the children was negative. It is dangerous painting everyone in a location with such a broad brush. And honestly, maybe I may not have noticed if it didn't hit so close to home for me. Fact is, I've lived in both San Angelo and Abilene TX. I have friends from Albany, and I can guarantee that in all three of these places, there are some great people. Like everywhere else, there are some not so great people too. It is a rural area and a two hour drive from San Angelo to Albany, over 120 miles. Unless he is infamous, which he may have been, there was not really a reason for Elijah's history to be readily known by the locals. It just felt like the author had heard enough about Texas that she closed her eyes and picked a town on the map to use without even knowing anything about it. Maybe that wouldn't have bothered me if I didn't know the area, but it was very distracting for me, at least.
I will also say that it is ironic to me that the homophobia that lead to murder involving Elijah happened in one of the cities that has one of the largest LGBTQ populations in West Texas.
And we really don't say "howdy."
March 8, 2021
3+
I really enjoy these characters, they have more depth than one might imagine. But there were things that just didn't ring for me in this installment.
For example, I figured out who the murderer was when they were introduced to the story. It was that easy. Still, none of these "professional cops" could see it staring them right in the face. Makes no sense and makes it hard for me to completely buy-in.
I also have to admit that I'm rarely swayed by the "but he's so hot" excuse, and there's a lot of that in this series. Finally, I'm hopeful that the heartstrings and violins over kids will finally come to an end and the story can move on a bit. Two books in a row in which it's the (usually tormented) kids that are the excuse for anything and everything, which is fine but I'd like to see something else motivate these folks now.
Finally, the copy editing is worse in this one than it was in the first. It's still not enough to make you want to throw your reader/book, but it became a bit distraction in this addition to the series.
All that said, the characters are easy to empathize with and root for, and I'm going to continue to series.
Oh yeah, and the reason that I rated down to 3 instead of up to 4 was because it ends on a hook. It's not a cliff hanger, but it is a hook and I really hate that shit.
I really enjoy these characters, they have more depth than one might imagine. But there were things that just didn't ring for me in this installment.
For example, I figured out who the murderer was when they were introduced to the story. It was that easy. Still, none of these "professional cops" could see it staring them right in the face. Makes no sense and makes it hard for me to completely buy-in.
I also have to admit that I'm rarely swayed by the "but he's so hot" excuse, and there's a lot of that in this series. Finally, I'm hopeful that the heartstrings and violins over kids will finally come to an end and the story can move on a bit. Two books in a row in which it's the (usually tormented) kids that are the excuse for anything and everything, which is fine but I'd like to see something else motivate these folks now.
Finally, the copy editing is worse in this one than it was in the first. It's still not enough to make you want to throw your reader/book, but it became a bit distraction in this addition to the series.
All that said, the characters are easy to empathize with and root for, and I'm going to continue to series.
Oh yeah, and the reason that I rated down to 3 instead of up to 4 was because it ends on a hook. It's not a cliff hanger, but it is a hook and I really hate that shit.
Want to read
February 2, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/2/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
Sawyer Matthews is a retired and presumed-dead assassin. Ripped from her life of shadows and secrets, she’s decided to gamble it all and accept a new chapter in her life—one that may lead to a brighter future.
New beginnings come with new problems, though, and she’s always lived by the belief that she doesn’t deserve of redemption—a painful truth Sawyer has held in her heart for years.
Their first case takes the team to Texas, where members are confronted with more than just Sawyer’s painful past. The team is sent to deal with a series of suspicious deaths, but end up dealing with the community’s entrenched prejudices, an unregistered Magi at its heart. Nothing is what it seems as the killer enacts a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and the team is sucked into a case even more sinister than they thought.
Can Sawyer’s first case with the International Magi Police Organization help her to realize she’s deserving of the redemption offered? And what about her heart? Will she overcome its core of shame to learn she deserves even more than redemption?
Blurb:
Sawyer Matthews is a retired and presumed-dead assassin. Ripped from her life of shadows and secrets, she’s decided to gamble it all and accept a new chapter in her life—one that may lead to a brighter future.
New beginnings come with new problems, though, and she’s always lived by the belief that she doesn’t deserve of redemption—a painful truth Sawyer has held in her heart for years.
Their first case takes the team to Texas, where members are confronted with more than just Sawyer’s painful past. The team is sent to deal with a series of suspicious deaths, but end up dealing with the community’s entrenched prejudices, an unregistered Magi at its heart. Nothing is what it seems as the killer enacts a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and the team is sucked into a case even more sinister than they thought.
Can Sawyer’s first case with the International Magi Police Organization help her to realize she’s deserving of the redemption offered? And what about her heart? Will she overcome its core of shame to learn she deserves even more than redemption?
May 17, 2018
4,5 ish stars
Oh my god, where should i start? It was so many emotions and feelings in this book! I love love love sawyer, i prefer her over the guys, lol. I really like sawyer she is such a strong independent badass woman who takes no (bull) shit from others. And also broken af
I like that she makes not rash decisions or brag to much and does not jump into "dangerous situations" ( which a lot of MC females do) she knows her shit and thinks before she does something
I also love that all the banter keeps it light enough so you don't get bogged down in the intensity , it's so easy to get cought up in all the messy , dark feelings
At the beginning i didn't like the guys, none of them but now i like Quinn & Vincent
Oh my god, where should i start? It was so many emotions and feelings in this book! I love love love sawyer, i prefer her over the guys, lol. I really like sawyer she is such a strong independent badass woman who takes no (bull) shit from others. And also broken af
I like that she makes not rash decisions or brag to much and does not jump into "dangerous situations" ( which a lot of MC females do) she knows her shit and thinks before she does something
I also love that all the banter keeps it light enough so you don't get bogged down in the intensity , it's so easy to get cought up in all the messy , dark feelings
At the beginning i didn't like the guys, none of them but now i like Quinn & Vincent
December 27, 2018
Love it
The plot:
As with the previous book, well-paced and super engaging.
The sex:
Can we say slow-burn?
The characters:
I love them. Thoughtfully developed with unique backstories that the story takes time to flesh out.
Tl;dr:
Awesome story with lovable characters and a cool female lead, not lessened by the fact that this is the slowest burn ‘smut’ series I’ve ever read.
The plot:
As with the previous book, well-paced and super engaging.
The sex:
Can we say slow-burn?
The characters:
I love them. Thoughtfully developed with unique backstories that the story takes time to flesh out.
Tl;dr:
Awesome story with lovable characters and a cool female lead, not lessened by the fact that this is the slowest burn ‘smut’ series I’ve ever read.
May 16, 2018
So good!
Kristen Banet just keeps getting better! I love that the characters aren’t perfect cookie cutter types...they have flaws and show us that we are all redeemable.
Now to suffer through my book hangover waiting on #3...
Kristen Banet just keeps getting better! I love that the characters aren’t perfect cookie cutter types...they have flaws and show us that we are all redeemable.
Now to suffer through my book hangover waiting on #3...
July 6, 2020
3.5 stars
July 9, 2024
3.75-4 stars.
Audiobook narrator not my favorite- had to speed up her voice to tolerate.
I really liked the FMC in the first book. In this one she spends a lot of the time mentally processing her shame, guilt, and feelings of unworthiness. It gets repetitive- especially when some of the dialogue with the guys was spent on them trying to reassure her of her worth. That said, given her past trauma, youth, and current situation, the self-reflection, wallowing, insecurity, need for validation, and inner turmoil makes sense in her personal development. It’s like her mental state fighting to try and get in as good of a place as her physical state - and it takes time and perseverance. Understandable for a person - but as a reader, sometimes I was like… stop your whining girl and get on with the plot. Thankfully, the plot line of the story was interesting and the relationship development with the guys was thoughtful and deep.
Also while the plot was interesting, I found some of the reactions by the characters to be odd… sometimes they seemed to be exaggerated and over the top. Like, one of the MCs gets physically ill by something and laments how sick and twisted it is…. And while awful to consider, it seems like an odd overreaction- especially from a guy who’s essentially in a law enforcement type job and has seen awful things already. But, I think the author might be building to something that will take place over the series. I guess I’ll see how things progress in the next book because I still like and am invested in the characters and the personal and relationship development.
Audiobook narrator not my favorite- had to speed up her voice to tolerate.
I really liked the FMC in the first book. In this one she spends a lot of the time mentally processing her shame, guilt, and feelings of unworthiness. It gets repetitive- especially when some of the dialogue with the guys was spent on them trying to reassure her of her worth. That said, given her past trauma, youth, and current situation, the self-reflection, wallowing, insecurity, need for validation, and inner turmoil makes sense in her personal development. It’s like her mental state fighting to try and get in as good of a place as her physical state - and it takes time and perseverance. Understandable for a person - but as a reader, sometimes I was like… stop your whining girl and get on with the plot. Thankfully, the plot line of the story was interesting and the relationship development with the guys was thoughtful and deep.
Also while the plot was interesting, I found some of the reactions by the characters to be odd… sometimes they seemed to be exaggerated and over the top. Like, one of the MCs gets physically ill by something and laments how sick and twisted it is…. And while awful to consider, it seems like an odd overreaction- especially from a guy who’s essentially in a law enforcement type job and has seen awful things already. But, I think the author might be building to something that will take place over the series. I guess I’ll see how things progress in the next book because I still like and am invested in the characters and the personal and relationship development.
May 19, 2018
I don't remember my exact feeling while reading the first book, but I remember that it was a heavy one. The second book, though? It was more. It was focused more on the characters' feelings and their connection to one another.
Sawyer had to adjust to working on the "right" side of the law, while simultaneously battling her ever present shame over her past actions and the insecurities about what set of skills she could possibly provide for her new team. And it's definitely not helping that the guys are all pretty insistent on piling up their feelings and hopes on Sawyer, while also dealing with their own shit.
Jasper with his rigid set of morals about what is right and what is wrong. Zander with his jealousy and explosive personality. Vincent with his past demons and guilt over the nephew he couldn't save. Elijah had to take a long and painful trip down the memory lane, uncovering his past.
And Quinn. I love Quinn the most out of all of them. It's always the dark, peculiar and nearly feral ones that get my attention the most, for some reason.
In terms of action, a lot and at the same time not nearly enough has happened here. Some shit went down and we saw IMPO in action, but overall, the second book was about emotional aspect more than anything else. And I loved it. But now I have zero idea about the direction the story will take.
Sawyer had to adjust to working on the "right" side of the law, while simultaneously battling her ever present shame over her past actions and the insecurities about what set of skills she could possibly provide for her new team. And it's definitely not helping that the guys are all pretty insistent on piling up their feelings and hopes on Sawyer, while also dealing with their own shit.
Jasper with his rigid set of morals about what is right and what is wrong. Zander with his jealousy and explosive personality. Vincent with his past demons and guilt over the nephew he couldn't save. Elijah had to take a long and painful trip down the memory lane, uncovering his past.
And Quinn. I love Quinn the most out of all of them. It's always the dark, peculiar and nearly feral ones that get my attention the most, for some reason.
In terms of action, a lot and at the same time not nearly enough has happened here. Some shit went down and we saw IMPO in action, but overall, the second book was about emotional aspect more than anything else. And I loved it. But now I have zero idea about the direction the story will take.
May 17, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
This book was just awesome!! the character development and the emotional issues that are addressed just blew my mind. The depths that were involved in this writing make it necessary to give mad props to the writer for not only going there but dealing with in a normal manner that is so easy to relate to using the characters we all got attached to in book one. The case they go on ensures some nonstop suspenseful action that really carries the book through all the other important pieces of the building the team into a unit. Sawyer is now my favorite leading lady showing how strong a truly remarkable can be when she chooses to. I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you enjoy action packed suspenseful reverse harem romance novels then you so have to read this book/series. i absolutely loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
This book was just awesome!! the character development and the emotional issues that are addressed just blew my mind. The depths that were involved in this writing make it necessary to give mad props to the writer for not only going there but dealing with in a normal manner that is so easy to relate to using the characters we all got attached to in book one. The case they go on ensures some nonstop suspenseful action that really carries the book through all the other important pieces of the building the team into a unit. Sawyer is now my favorite leading lady showing how strong a truly remarkable can be when she chooses to. I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you enjoy action packed suspenseful reverse harem romance novels then you so have to read this book/series. i absolutely loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
May 2, 2022
4/5 stars
I again really liked this book. We got an even closer look into the group dynamic and it makes me like them even more.
I like how there was a slight mystery aspect to this book and how we were trying to figure it out. I had guessed quite a lot of this book, but it was still a little surprising.
I’m was a little scared that this book was going to get worse, but I honestly think it got better.
Is it awful that I have a rating system of the guys? It includes Quinn at the top if that says something about me... I don’t even care at this point. I LOVE HIM!!
I am scared to get to the third book. I’m at a weird point where I want to finish this series and get it done, but also draw it out and not finish it... Soooo, I don’t really know!
Anyway I’m going to start the third book. Hopefully it only gets better!
I again really liked this book. We got an even closer look into the group dynamic and it makes me like them even more.
I like how there was a slight mystery aspect to this book and how we were trying to figure it out. I had guessed quite a lot of this book, but it was still a little surprising.
I’m was a little scared that this book was going to get worse, but I honestly think it got better.
Is it awful that I have a rating system of the guys? It includes Quinn at the top if that says something about me... I don’t even care at this point. I LOVE HIM!!
I am scared to get to the third book. I’m at a weird point where I want to finish this series and get it done, but also draw it out and not finish it... Soooo, I don’t really know!
Anyway I’m going to start the third book. Hopefully it only gets better!
May 5, 2025
3.5⭐️’s - while I enjoyed this book, I kinda felt like things dragged quite a bit more than it should have. The internal monologue seemed long-winded if not repetitive.
I also must mention that I am not a fan of third-person perspective… and on top of a single narrator for the audiobook, I might have started mentally drifting off because of that.
I think I’m going to put this series on hold for the time being. I might pick it up later.
I also must mention that I am not a fan of third-person perspective… and on top of a single narrator for the audiobook, I might have started mentally drifting off because of that.
I think I’m going to put this series on hold for the time being. I might pick it up later.
April 15, 2025
The characters are all fun and unique. I love the world building. The plot is super interesting. The sex scenes are great. The boys talk about their feelings waaaaay too much.
March 26, 2019
Aww
I like how it's evolving. I didn't expect a harem type situation but it's a.new.take. The magic is still there but more minor. Gotta.admit I'm sucked in.
I like how it's evolving. I didn't expect a harem type situation but it's a.new.take. The magic is still there but more minor. Gotta.admit I'm sucked in.
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