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Hunter #1
Ripper
A New Heroine Rises...
Kelsey Atwood is a private detective with a problem. She came from a family of hunters, growing up on the wrong side of the supernatural world. Tracking down bail jumpers and deadbeat dads may not make her a lot of friends, but it’s a lot safer than the life she turned her back on. She was hoping to escape from the nightmares of her past, but her latest case has brought them right back to her door.
A young woman has gone missing, and she didn’t go willingly. When Kelsey discovers that the girl is actually a shifter, she knows she should drop the case and walk away. But this shifter was a sweet kid, and she’s in serious trouble. More females are missing and the evidence points to a legendary killer. Bodies are piling up, and her case is becoming center stage for a conflict that could shatter the fragile peace between wolves and vampires.
As the hunt intensifies, she finds herself trapped between two men—Gray, a magnetic half-demon lawman, and the ancient vampire Marcus Vorenus. Both men call to her, but when a shocking secret about Kelsey’s family is revealed, it could ruin them all. To stop the killer, she will have to embrace the truth about who—and what—she truly is.
Kelsey Atwood is a private detective with a problem. She came from a family of hunters, growing up on the wrong side of the supernatural world. Tracking down bail jumpers and deadbeat dads may not make her a lot of friends, but it’s a lot safer than the life she turned her back on. She was hoping to escape from the nightmares of her past, but her latest case has brought them right back to her door.
A young woman has gone missing, and she didn’t go willingly. When Kelsey discovers that the girl is actually a shifter, she knows she should drop the case and walk away. But this shifter was a sweet kid, and she’s in serious trouble. More females are missing and the evidence points to a legendary killer. Bodies are piling up, and her case is becoming center stage for a conflict that could shatter the fragile peace between wolves and vampires.
As the hunt intensifies, she finds herself trapped between two men—Gray, a magnetic half-demon lawman, and the ancient vampire Marcus Vorenus. Both men call to her, but when a shocking secret about Kelsey’s family is revealed, it could ruin them all. To stop the killer, she will have to embrace the truth about who—and what—she truly is.
324 pages, ebook
First published January 20, 2015
226 people are currently reading
2276 people want to read
About the author
Lexi Blake
183 books6,371 followersNY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is releasing this April.
In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. There are eight full-length novels and four novellas available now, with more coming in 2015.
In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first five are available now, with Ripper, a spin-off to the series, coming in 2015.
Sign up for Lexi's newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#new....
For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).
Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is releasing this April.
In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. There are eight full-length novels and four novellas available now, with more coming in 2015.
In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first five are available now, with Ripper, a spin-off to the series, coming in 2015.
Sign up for Lexi's newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#new....
For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 163 reviews
December 19, 2016
3.5 stars
If only the romance aspect of this book was just a bit better, this would've been, without a doubt, a 4 or a 4.5 stars review. I loved the plot and completely got into Kelsey and her myserious case of a missing doe. Kelsey seemed like such a cool, interesting and definitely a relatable character. I was honestly simply sucked into the story. And here enters the male... Honestly, I think Kelsey can kick both Marcus's and Gray's ass and send them both to hell (yup, that was a pun for those who read the book) because I don't think either one of them is a match for her. Gray's too aggressively jealous and possessive and, honestly, after she met these two I felt like her own character went dowhill - where did my kick-ass cutie pie went? Why is she replaced with a submissive-I long to be loved-chick?
I also felt like the plot got a bit jubbly in the end, mostly because the author introduced us to, like, a hundred new characters who are all connected somehow. I will definitely read the sequel since I want to find out what happens next, but if it turns into a paranormal erotica, I'm leaving this train of death.
If only the romance aspect of this book was just a bit better, this would've been, without a doubt, a 4 or a 4.5 stars review. I loved the plot and completely got into Kelsey and her myserious case of a missing doe. Kelsey seemed like such a cool, interesting and definitely a relatable character. I was honestly simply sucked into the story. And here enters the male... Honestly, I think Kelsey can kick both Marcus's and Gray's ass and send them both to hell (yup, that was a pun for those who read the book) because I don't think either one of them is a match for her. Gray's too aggressively jealous and possessive and, honestly, after she met these two I felt like her own character went dowhill - where did my kick-ass cutie pie went? Why is she replaced with a submissive-I long to be loved-chick?
I also felt like the plot got a bit jubbly in the end, mostly because the author introduced us to, like, a hundred new characters who are all connected somehow. I will definitely read the sequel since I want to find out what happens next, but if it turns into a paranormal erotica, I'm leaving this train of death.
October 27, 2016
Read this ages ago, loved it!
November 14, 2018
Ripper is the first book in Lexi Blake's Hunter series, it's set in the same world as her Thieves books with reappearances from some of the original characters so to be honest I think it's best read as a continuation of the original series rather than being used as a starting point but I'm enjoying getting to know a new main character and looking forward to seeing how Kelsey's journey continues.
Kelsey is a character that we've not met before but I thought it was really fun to eventually find out how she tied back to the original group we grew to love in the Thieves books. She was raised by her father to believe all supernatural characters were evil and he used her abilities to help him hunt werewolves and shapeshifters to murder. She was horrified when she realised how wrong he was and she's never forgiven herself for the part she played in his killing spree, even though she was only a child at the time, so has tried to avoid the supernatural world as much as possible since then.
She focuses on her job as a private detective tracking down cheating husbands or bail jumpers but won't touch a case if it involves the supernatural. Until a desperate woman begs for her help to find her missing daughter, a shapeshifter who has vanished in mysterious circumstances. Kelsey is reluctant to get involved but she knows her skills put her in a unique position to help and she finds it really difficult to say no to a desperate mother. As Kelsey starts to investigate she realises that there has been a spate of abductions recently and they all seem to tie back to a local vampire club. It looks like this case won't be as easy as she first assumed and it's going to drag her right back into a world she hoped she'd left behind forever.
After loving the Thieves series I had really high hopes for this spin off and I do think it has a lot of potential but there were a couple of big issues I had with this first book. Firstly was the pace of the relationship that develops between Kelsey and the half-demon Gray. He is a friend of her brother's who has apparently been interested in her for a long time but things between them move at a ridiculously fast pace so we miss out on all the build up that is usually half the fun of a romance story. There were reasons for this that were revealed later on in the book but I still didn't like it and Gray's overbearing possessiveness was a bit of a sticking point. I don't dislike his character but I'm not at the point where I'm rooting for him so he's going to have to change his attitude if he wants to win me around. It's clear that vampire Marcus (who I already loved from the original books) also has an interest in Kelsey so I don't think the romance side of the story is sorted yet, I'm kind of hoping for a menage relationship like we got with Zoey, Danny & Dev but I'm not sure if either Gray or Marcus would be up for that.
The other thing that really upset me about this was how badly everyone treats Kelsey, nearly everyone in her life is keeping secrets from her, using her in some way or manipulating her to do what they want her to do. By the end of the story I was angry with pretty much everyone but especially at Danny and Dev which was really upsetting because I've always loved those two in the past. I couldn't believe the way Danny treated Kelsey, it ruined my opinion of him and kind of spoiled all the happy feelings I'd been having at seeing some of my favourite characters make a reappearance. You know Danny is behaving badly when even Zack, who has always his followed orders without question, and Marcus, who has been his number one supporter from day one, go against him!
I am going to continue reading the series but in the next book I REALLY need to see an attitude adjustment from Danny, he's got some serious making up to do after this book. I'd also like whatever relationship Kelsey decides to embark on to be with a man who can respect her without trying to control her in any way. There needs to be some proper slow-build romance for her and if that's with Gray he's going to have to work hard to earn her trust back. What I'm most looking forward to is seeing Kelsey come to terms with the revelations about who and what she is, she's going to have to learn how her abilities work and then I want to see her take back control of her own fate and not let Danny get away with using her like he's currently trying to.
Kelsey is a character that we've not met before but I thought it was really fun to eventually find out how she tied back to the original group we grew to love in the Thieves books. She was raised by her father to believe all supernatural characters were evil and he used her abilities to help him hunt werewolves and shapeshifters to murder. She was horrified when she realised how wrong he was and she's never forgiven herself for the part she played in his killing spree, even though she was only a child at the time, so has tried to avoid the supernatural world as much as possible since then.
She focuses on her job as a private detective tracking down cheating husbands or bail jumpers but won't touch a case if it involves the supernatural. Until a desperate woman begs for her help to find her missing daughter, a shapeshifter who has vanished in mysterious circumstances. Kelsey is reluctant to get involved but she knows her skills put her in a unique position to help and she finds it really difficult to say no to a desperate mother. As Kelsey starts to investigate she realises that there has been a spate of abductions recently and they all seem to tie back to a local vampire club. It looks like this case won't be as easy as she first assumed and it's going to drag her right back into a world she hoped she'd left behind forever.
After loving the Thieves series I had really high hopes for this spin off and I do think it has a lot of potential but there were a couple of big issues I had with this first book. Firstly was the pace of the relationship that develops between Kelsey and the half-demon Gray. He is a friend of her brother's who has apparently been interested in her for a long time but things between them move at a ridiculously fast pace so we miss out on all the build up that is usually half the fun of a romance story. There were reasons for this that were revealed later on in the book but I still didn't like it and Gray's overbearing possessiveness was a bit of a sticking point. I don't dislike his character but I'm not at the point where I'm rooting for him so he's going to have to change his attitude if he wants to win me around. It's clear that vampire Marcus (who I already loved from the original books) also has an interest in Kelsey so I don't think the romance side of the story is sorted yet, I'm kind of hoping for a menage relationship like we got with Zoey, Danny & Dev but I'm not sure if either Gray or Marcus would be up for that.
The other thing that really upset me about this was how badly everyone treats Kelsey, nearly everyone in her life is keeping secrets from her, using her in some way or manipulating her to do what they want her to do. By the end of the story I was angry with pretty much everyone but especially at Danny and Dev which was really upsetting because I've always loved those two in the past. I couldn't believe the way Danny treated Kelsey, it ruined my opinion of him and kind of spoiled all the happy feelings I'd been having at seeing some of my favourite characters make a reappearance. You know Danny is behaving badly when even Zack, who has always his followed orders without question, and Marcus, who has been his number one supporter from day one, go against him!
I am going to continue reading the series but in the next book I REALLY need to see an attitude adjustment from Danny, he's got some serious making up to do after this book. I'd also like whatever relationship Kelsey decides to embark on to be with a man who can respect her without trying to control her in any way. There needs to be some proper slow-build romance for her and if that's with Gray he's going to have to work hard to earn her trust back. What I'm most looking forward to is seeing Kelsey come to terms with the revelations about who and what she is, she's going to have to learn how her abilities work and then I want to see her take back control of her own fate and not let Danny get away with using her like he's currently trying to.
January 27, 2015
Why you should read it: This is the first book in Lexi's new Hunter series and the sixth book in her Thieves series. And Kelsey is awesome! She is a very smart, sassy and strong heroine who is between a sexy half-demon and a steamy vampire. I'm team ménage, but really it's a great love triangle. There is so much suspense and action that I can't wait for the next Hunter series … also, because it ends on a dang cliffhanger! Lexi Blake writes excellent ménage books as Sophie Oak, which means that there is no lack of steam in Ripper. Yes, there is soooo much action, but the steam coming off of Gray and Marcus nearly melted my Kindle. If you're in the mood for a really hot love triangle, two heroes who belong in your book harem, and of course, a lot of plot, I recommend picking up Ripper.
Head over to the HEA Blog to see what Lexi is working on next!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Head over to the HEA Blog to see what Lexi is working on next!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
January 23, 2015
There are some small things that I would change, but 99% was amazing! I can't wait to see what happens next, with everyone!
PS: I knew the peppermint was evil.
PS: I knew the peppermint was evil.
July 23, 2020
3 Stars
Review:
I got sucked into this series with Steal the Light. I loved the original Thieves series and read through the whole thing in five days straight. I wasn't crazy about the idea of new main characters, but not continuing was simply not an option.
For one thing, I wanted to see what Dev, Daniel, and Zoey were up to, their children, how the Council and supernatural world changed, etc. And I was pleased that they were included.
But the main reason I was so excited for this book, despite the new protag, was because Marcus is one of my favorite characters ever.
#TeamMarcus #DoingItForMarcus
Can I just spend my entire review talking about him? Better yet, can I just... can I just have him?
When the series ended, I was literally thinking about how he’s one of the few vampires who treats his companions well and how I really want him to find someone he loves who loves him back. How could I not be excited for this book when that was what it was going to be about?!
Well, I ended up disappointed. The description made it sound like he'd have a huge part, but he didn't. Instead it was mostly about Grayson, and I didn't like him.
But I am not without my reasons! Grayson was just too controlling and possessive for me, not only in the bedroom but everywhere. Some people like alpha males. I do not. Daniel and Dev are my limit. This book also had more of a BDSM flavor than the other books. So if you like those things, you'll likely love Grayson.
I was especially bothered though by the lack of consent that seemed to be going on in one of the sex scenes. *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Then there was Daniel. *Sigh* I have had this love/hate relationship with him since Book 1. See, I was always Team Daniel. Sometimes he's my perfect, favorite type of character. Sometimes he's brooding and sad and unsure of himself and sees himself as a monster, but the one thing he's always sure of is his love for Zoey. Sometimes he says the most emotional, heart-warming and heart-wrenching all at once things. But other times he's so very NOT perfect. I love that he's flawed, TRULY flawed. But he let me down big time in this book with how he treated Kelsey. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
The only male characters I was happy with were Marcus and Jamie, but the characters were all still three-dimensional and well-developed nonetheless.
Overall I did enjoy the book, just not quite as much as the original Thieves books.
*This is a spin-off series, and I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with Steal the Light. The original characters have a heavy presence, and I don't think this spin-off series will be as enjoyable if you haven't read the original one.*
Recommended For:
Fans of Lexi Blake's Thieves series. Anyone who likes laugh-out-loud hilarity, heart-wrenching emotion, complex and flawed but still lovable characters, action, heists, sex, supernatural creatures (especially vampires), and lots of adorable relationships of all kinds (Thieves). Anyone who likes alpha males, menages, and paranormal/urban fantasy with significant romance and sex (Hunter). Anyone who likes feisty heroines, lovable characters, polyamorous romances, and complex, long-game plots (overall series).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
I got sucked into this series with Steal the Light. I loved the original Thieves series and read through the whole thing in five days straight. I wasn't crazy about the idea of new main characters, but not continuing was simply not an option.
For one thing, I wanted to see what Dev, Daniel, and Zoey were up to, their children, how the Council and supernatural world changed, etc. And I was pleased that they were included.
But the main reason I was so excited for this book, despite the new protag, was because Marcus is one of my favorite characters ever.
#TeamMarcus #DoingItForMarcus
Can I just spend my entire review talking about him? Better yet, can I just... can I just have him?
When the series ended, I was literally thinking about how he’s one of the few vampires who treats his companions well and how I really want him to find someone he loves who loves him back. How could I not be excited for this book when that was what it was going to be about?!
Well, I ended up disappointed. The description made it sound like he'd have a huge part, but he didn't. Instead it was mostly about Grayson, and I didn't like him.
But I am not without my reasons! Grayson was just too controlling and possessive for me, not only in the bedroom but everywhere. Some people like alpha males. I do not. Daniel and Dev are my limit. This book also had more of a BDSM flavor than the other books. So if you like those things, you'll likely love Grayson.
I was especially bothered though by the lack of consent that seemed to be going on in one of the sex scenes. *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Then there was Daniel. *Sigh* I have had this love/hate relationship with him since Book 1. See, I was always Team Daniel. Sometimes he's my perfect, favorite type of character. Sometimes he's brooding and sad and unsure of himself and sees himself as a monster, but the one thing he's always sure of is his love for Zoey. Sometimes he says the most emotional, heart-warming and heart-wrenching all at once things. But other times he's so very NOT perfect. I love that he's flawed, TRULY flawed. But he let me down big time in this book with how he treated Kelsey. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
The only male characters I was happy with were Marcus and Jamie, but the characters were all still three-dimensional and well-developed nonetheless.
Overall I did enjoy the book, just not quite as much as the original Thieves books.
*This is a spin-off series, and I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with Steal the Light. The original characters have a heavy presence, and I don't think this spin-off series will be as enjoyable if you haven't read the original one.*
Recommended For:
Fans of Lexi Blake's Thieves series. Anyone who likes laugh-out-loud hilarity, heart-wrenching emotion, complex and flawed but still lovable characters, action, heists, sex, supernatural creatures (especially vampires), and lots of adorable relationships of all kinds (Thieves). Anyone who likes alpha males, menages, and paranormal/urban fantasy with significant romance and sex (Hunter). Anyone who likes feisty heroines, lovable characters, polyamorous romances, and complex, long-game plots (overall series).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
January 25, 2015
Being a PI has it's ups and downs. Getting the low down on deadbeat parents, cheating spouses, and surveillance services is lucrative and rewarding though boring but much safer than her family's legacy of hunting destructive evil paranormal entities.
When a young female college student goes missing Kelsey is hired by her mother when law enforcement hits a dead end. What should have been a straightforward missing person's case turns out to be so much more when Kelsey finds out the girl is a shifter and likely victim of a paranormal serial killer. Nightmares from the past should be enough of a reminder for Kelsey to bow out until she meets demon hybrid Detective Grayson Sloane & vampire Marcus Vorenus. Could they be involved or manipulating circumstances to hide a different agenda.
Either way Kelsey will have to embrace her past if she wants to solve this new threat and in the process learn more about herself and her family's legacy than she needs or wants to.
* * * * *
This new spin off series utilizes a re-purposed formula from the highly successful "Theives" series. By that I mean that there are three central characters with the option of a love triangle or menage outcome who have ties to the paranormal world. The details and body are different but for me the parallel similarities stood out. Can't go into why I felt that way as it would be spoiler info. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this installment. Just wish the author would have changed up things to keep the surprise/suspense/twist & turns fresh and unpredictable which is why I love this author so very much - expect the unexpected.
While this is a spin off and therefore can be read as a standalone, characters from the Thieves series make appearances. For me this was like going home to catch up with everyone and find out what they're up to. It also has me cautioning potential new reader fan base. You know when you hear a good joke that's funny and all that? Certain people seem to laugh much harder than others for some reason and you wonder why as it was funny but not that funny. Come to find out that there's inside information that only those in the know understand which is why the joke was so hilarious. It's the same here. Insider information that only those who read the Thieves series will understand the significance/importance of. Won't detract from your reading experience but will add depth and understanding if you already read 'Thieves.'
As for the positives. Duh. This is a Lexi Blake book. Do I really need to say more? I'm talking action-adventure, angst, snark, humor, danger, suspense, mystery, intrigue, sexual tension, paranormal-urban fantasy and so so so much more. Her books provide the reader with the full experience including mouth watering HAWT adult content scenes that will melt ice cubes on a cold winter day. I also want to add that these scenes do tease at BDSM play, of the sugarkink persuasion, but not to the degree I felt that tag was appropriate for this book. Yup. Lexi's on my auto buy list for those reasons ... and more. The one bummer is that there were a number of editorial and spelling errors which is highly unusual for this author. Not to any significant degree that I down rated, just enough that I noticed.
I really loved this book and will be anxiously waiting for the next installment Addict which I don't see a scheduled release date yet. The teaser (at the end of Ripper) had me all the more excited. I'm thrilled about Marcus but on the fence regarding Kelsey and Sloane. Guess this is when I'll say... we'll see as author Lexi Blake hasn't let me down yet.
When a young female college student goes missing Kelsey is hired by her mother when law enforcement hits a dead end. What should have been a straightforward missing person's case turns out to be so much more when Kelsey finds out the girl is a shifter and likely victim of a paranormal serial killer. Nightmares from the past should be enough of a reminder for Kelsey to bow out until she meets demon hybrid Detective Grayson Sloane & vampire Marcus Vorenus. Could they be involved or manipulating circumstances to hide a different agenda.
Either way Kelsey will have to embrace her past if she wants to solve this new threat and in the process learn more about herself and her family's legacy than she needs or wants to.
* * * * *
This new spin off series utilizes a re-purposed formula from the highly successful "Theives" series. By that I mean that there are three central characters with the option of a love triangle or menage outcome who have ties to the paranormal world. The details and body are different but for me the parallel similarities stood out. Can't go into why I felt that way as it would be spoiler info. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this installment. Just wish the author would have changed up things to keep the surprise/suspense/twist & turns fresh and unpredictable which is why I love this author so very much - expect the unexpected.
While this is a spin off and therefore can be read as a standalone, characters from the Thieves series make appearances. For me this was like going home to catch up with everyone and find out what they're up to. It also has me cautioning potential new reader fan base. You know when you hear a good joke that's funny and all that? Certain people seem to laugh much harder than others for some reason and you wonder why as it was funny but not that funny. Come to find out that there's inside information that only those in the know understand which is why the joke was so hilarious. It's the same here. Insider information that only those who read the Thieves series will understand the significance/importance of. Won't detract from your reading experience but will add depth and understanding if you already read 'Thieves.'
As for the positives. Duh. This is a Lexi Blake book. Do I really need to say more? I'm talking action-adventure, angst, snark, humor, danger, suspense, mystery, intrigue, sexual tension, paranormal-urban fantasy and so so so much more. Her books provide the reader with the full experience including mouth watering HAWT adult content scenes that will melt ice cubes on a cold winter day. I also want to add that these scenes do tease at BDSM play, of the sugarkink persuasion, but not to the degree I felt that tag was appropriate for this book. Yup. Lexi's on my auto buy list for those reasons ... and more. The one bummer is that there were a number of editorial and spelling errors which is highly unusual for this author. Not to any significant degree that I down rated, just enough that I noticed.
I really loved this book and will be anxiously waiting for the next installment Addict which I don't see a scheduled release date yet. The teaser (at the end of Ripper) had me all the more excited. I'm thrilled about Marcus but on the fence regarding Kelsey and Sloane. Guess this is when I'll say... we'll see as author Lexi Blake hasn't let me down yet.
August 20, 2017
I'm a big fan of Lexi Blake's M&M series, but I'd never read any of her paranormal series. I wasn't sure if I'd be lost starting Ripper without having read the first five books in her Thieves series, but I didn't have any problems. Based on their descriptions, I see they introduce you to other characters seen in this book, so I may go back and read them.
Ripper was a good introduction to Blake's world filled with vampires, various types of shifters, demons, fae and witches. Kelsey Atwood has been a private investigator for a short period of time when a case is brought to her by a friend. Seems a female doe shifter has gone missing and Liv, Kelsey's best friend, convinces her it's important that she take the case. Kelsey's been trying to stay out of the paranormal world. Her father was a Hunter - a hunter who killed without discretion or care of retribution. Despite her reluctance, Kelsey takes the case and begins investigating the girl's disappearance.
I liked the world Lexi created and enjoyed its mix of supernaturals. I should've read the entire blurb before starting it though; I'm not a fan of love triangles. That said, I do like all of the characters - some more than others - and I'll most likely continue on with the series now that Kelsey's facing some major changes in her life.
(✮✮✮½)
Re-Read (Aug 2017) after reading Thieves #1-5:
Rating for this installment remains the same, but now that I'm familiar with all of the characters I'm even more excited to continue on with the books in Blake's Hunter series.
Ripper was a good introduction to Blake's world filled with vampires, various types of shifters, demons, fae and witches. Kelsey Atwood has been a private investigator for a short period of time when a case is brought to her by a friend. Seems a female doe shifter has gone missing and Liv, Kelsey's best friend, convinces her it's important that she take the case. Kelsey's been trying to stay out of the paranormal world. Her father was a Hunter - a hunter who killed without discretion or care of retribution. Despite her reluctance, Kelsey takes the case and begins investigating the girl's disappearance.
I liked the world Lexi created and enjoyed its mix of supernaturals. I should've read the entire blurb before starting it though; I'm not a fan of love triangles. That said, I do like all of the characters - some more than others - and I'll most likely continue on with the series now that Kelsey's facing some major changes in her life.
(✮✮✮½)
Re-Read (Aug 2017) after reading Thieves #1-5:
Rating for this installment remains the same, but now that I'm familiar with all of the characters I'm even more excited to continue on with the books in Blake's Hunter series.
April 27, 2015
Send it back after 70 pages, but honestly I shouldn't have bought it in the first place. I was totally unconvinced by the sample, but I let myself be swayed by GR reviews.
I found the heroine revoltingly unappealing, she lacks any serious pride, she's unprofessional, and let the world treat her like shit out of "love". If I had friends or family like those, I'd change continent. :)
It may be a good book, I'm sure it is. But if you promise me a baddass heroine both in blurb and cover, you better deliver or you may get an unfair review due to expectations.
I found the heroine revoltingly unappealing, she lacks any serious pride, she's unprofessional, and let the world treat her like shit out of "love". If I had friends or family like those, I'd change continent. :)
It may be a good book, I'm sure it is. But if you promise me a baddass heroine both in blurb and cover, you better deliver or you may get an unfair review due to expectations.
February 20, 2016
So the Hunters series is a bit of a spinoff, still in the same world as the Thieves, but focusing more on characters who were previously secondary. (Except our heroine, she is brand new.) It has been so long since I read the first five Thieves books, that it really took me to the start of Addict to remember exactly what happened in the earlier stories.
Ripper takes place about 10 years after Steal the Night, and the triad of Daniel/Zoey/Dev now have three thriving mischievous children. Daniel Donovan is still the king of vampires, and Dev still runs the night club, Ether. Zoey played a bit of a backseat in this installment, but we did get a peak at Bris, the fertility god sharing Dev's body.
The new heroine emerging is Kelsey Atwood, who is somewhat in hiding as a private investigator. When I say she is in hiding, I mean she is in hiding from the reputation of her father, who hunted shapeshifters. Kelsey did not have a good childhood with this cold and brutal man, but luckily she has a very close relationship with her two brothers and mother. When Kelsey is pulled into an investigation into a missing doe shifter, instincts that she has been suppressing for ten years.
Kelsey runs head first (literally) into sexy Texas Ranger, Grayson Sloane, who also happens to be her brother's best friend. Something between the pair feels natural and right, and it seems their investigations are going in the same direction. Sloane was certainly an appealing hero, but there was an inkling that something wasn't quite right and it kept me from connecting with him fully. He was not a big player in previous books, so this is really our first look at his character. However Kelsey also feels a very strong draw to ancient vampire, Marcus Vorenus. Marcus is a favorite of mine since early on in the series, so I naturally felt a bigger draw to his character. Something about his loneliness and somewhat bleak outlook on his future struck a note with me and I really wanted him to find his HEA.
It was interesting to see Daniel come off as kind of the bad guy in this installment after all the hero-worship of him I was doing in earlier books. The action was steady and interesting, and tied into the previous storyline well. The situation between Sloane and Kelsey was a bit heartbreaking, and I was left at odds at the end of the story, not knowing how to feel. This caused me to go off my reading schedule and jump right into the next book, Addict.
5 stars / 3 flames. Reviewed in conjunction with Addict. Reviews will be posted at Bambi Unbridled on Feb. 27, 2016.
Ripper takes place about 10 years after Steal the Night, and the triad of Daniel/Zoey/Dev now have three thriving mischievous children. Daniel Donovan is still the king of vampires, and Dev still runs the night club, Ether. Zoey played a bit of a backseat in this installment, but we did get a peak at Bris, the fertility god sharing Dev's body.
The new heroine emerging is Kelsey Atwood, who is somewhat in hiding as a private investigator. When I say she is in hiding, I mean she is in hiding from the reputation of her father, who hunted shapeshifters. Kelsey did not have a good childhood with this cold and brutal man, but luckily she has a very close relationship with her two brothers and mother. When Kelsey is pulled into an investigation into a missing doe shifter, instincts that she has been suppressing for ten years.
Kelsey runs head first (literally) into sexy Texas Ranger, Grayson Sloane, who also happens to be her brother's best friend. Something between the pair feels natural and right, and it seems their investigations are going in the same direction. Sloane was certainly an appealing hero, but there was an inkling that something wasn't quite right and it kept me from connecting with him fully. He was not a big player in previous books, so this is really our first look at his character. However Kelsey also feels a very strong draw to ancient vampire, Marcus Vorenus. Marcus is a favorite of mine since early on in the series, so I naturally felt a bigger draw to his character. Something about his loneliness and somewhat bleak outlook on his future struck a note with me and I really wanted him to find his HEA.
It was interesting to see Daniel come off as kind of the bad guy in this installment after all the hero-worship of him I was doing in earlier books. The action was steady and interesting, and tied into the previous storyline well. The situation between Sloane and Kelsey was a bit heartbreaking, and I was left at odds at the end of the story, not knowing how to feel. This caused me to go off my reading schedule and jump right into the next book, Addict.
5 stars / 3 flames. Reviewed in conjunction with Addict. Reviews will be posted at Bambi Unbridled on Feb. 27, 2016.
August 1, 2021
I came in expecting a cool urban fantasy about a female PI solving cases and that was, at first, what I seemed to be getting. But then ... then ... I started to notice that I was completely wrong in my assumptions about what kind of book this was supposed to be.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind books with detailed sex scenes or a female lead swooning over her "soulmate" or just "mate" (or whatever), but when the focus of the book seems to be primarily on the romantic dynamics between a very dominant male and a suddenly very meek and submissive female lead - that previously seemed feisty and kickass - theeeeen I'm out.
I mentally DNF:ed this book pretty early on - and then a few times over. When the main character started changing her behaviour completely to please The Dominant Male™ I rolled my eyes (yes, I actually do this - a lot). However, the narrator was very good so I kept listening, but without any kind of relish.
To be honest, I think I could have enjoyed this book if the sex had been good. But I found it utterly unsexy. The possessive alpha male is so not my kink. It makes me more nauseated than anything else so that really didn't work for me. At. All.
I tried to focus on the mystery plodding along in the background instead. But that didn't work because it turned out to be a mere back-drop for the "romance" and very long, unsexy sex scenes.
When the explanation for our poor main character's behaviour became known towards the end it was too little, too late. I felt completely detached from her by then.
The whole thing with one female having two male partners isn't my kind of kink either so ... No. Really not a book written for any of my tastes.
So ... Sorry about the low rating, but I came looking for a female type of Harry Dresden, not 50 Shades of Supernatural Grey, pun intended.
I won't be listening to more of this series.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind books with detailed sex scenes or a female lead swooning over her "soulmate" or just "mate" (or whatever), but when the focus of the book seems to be primarily on the romantic dynamics between a very dominant male and a suddenly very meek and submissive female lead - that previously seemed feisty and kickass - theeeeen I'm out.
I mentally DNF:ed this book pretty early on - and then a few times over. When the main character started changing her behaviour completely to please The Dominant Male™ I rolled my eyes (yes, I actually do this - a lot). However, the narrator was very good so I kept listening, but without any kind of relish.
To be honest, I think I could have enjoyed this book if the sex had been good. But I found it utterly unsexy. The possessive alpha male is so not my kink. It makes me more nauseated than anything else so that really didn't work for me. At. All.
I tried to focus on the mystery plodding along in the background instead. But that didn't work because it turned out to be a mere back-drop for the "romance" and very long, unsexy sex scenes.
When the explanation for our poor main character's behaviour became known towards the end it was too little, too late. I felt completely detached from her by then.
The whole thing with one female having two male partners isn't my kind of kink either so ... No. Really not a book written for any of my tastes.
So ... Sorry about the low rating, but I came looking for a female type of Harry Dresden, not 50 Shades of Supernatural Grey, pun intended.
I won't be listening to more of this series.
December 2, 2018
No review, Just my thoughts:
Kelsey I liked. I related to aspects of her behaviour, not all of them but I understood her. However, if she put herself down one more time I was going to throw the Kindle. If she told us how she had a fast metabolism again I was going to throw the Kindle. I got it the first few times. I'm really not good on repetition.
Gray. Wow, he was way too OTT - I'm going to marry you because I had a dream about you and I love you and have for ages. Okay, I'd be leaving very quickly if that came out of a guy's mouth after not really knowing more than he was my brother's good friend. He was so damn possessive. Yes, I know he's a Halfling demon but just...wow. Also, hassling and hustling over the wedding. Telling Kelsey that her job was done now. No more working on this investigation. We're not talking about it, I'm telling you to go to our home and wait for me. Gray has spoken - I'm totally paraphrasing but that's what it was in a nutshell. Add an implied old fashioned ending of 'little lady' to everything he says. No, he doesn't say that, I just felt it in my bones. He does seem so much older using the endearment 'sweetheart', and very quickly too, and then he switches to the contemporary 'babe' as a term of affection. It was weird.
Is Gray completely heinous? No. There are things about him with potential but he has to tone it down. I'm guessing he'll redeem himself in the next book. His behaviour is because he's part demon. It's also because he's a victim of a shitty demon father and their painful demon contracts, and just plain circumstance. Still, he should have come clean on a major omission. If you're going to be marrying someone in three days it's nice to have a possible transfer to daddy's plane on the table for your partner to know about.
I had a book discussion with a GR friend about how I felt there was s shift in personality of Devinshea and Daniel. They felt different to me. That is one of the things about reading, we see some things differently. I found myself at arms length with them. This is Kelsey's book, she rightly needs to take centre stage. But Daniel and Devinshea are an important part of this book too, and I'm assuming it will build and flow into the next. The vampire near the beginning, Daniel, who answered Kelsey's question as to how he has children - because I opened myself up to possibilities - was not the guy who did some shitty things to her and Marcus later on. The Devinshea who talked about his wife, his partner, and had his children with him while talking to Kelsey in the beginning also did not fit the person later in the book. Or some of the things that were dropped throughout the investigation Kelsey undertook. Devinshea's childish spat with Marcus made no sense to me at this point, and Dev seemed like a dick. I'm not saying they didn't have their man-baby moments in Thieves 1-5, because they sure did, but they were just so infuriating this time around and I do not like to see that with characters I have loved, I want some consideration of the attachment readers form.
I do know Ms Blake has a habit of writing people a certain way and changing them up for emotion's sake, and as part of her overall plotting. Let's see what happens in Addict and what character and behaviour shows for all, and why.
I had my ups and downs with this book. I liked the paranormal aspects better than the romance. The mystery was good. The time in the arena was good. Kelsey discovering what was going on with the beast within was pretty good too. I wanted some more backstory on Gray and Kelsey but I have enough, I guess.
I don't know how I feel about the romance side of this book, other than it's the weakest link. I don't know how I feel about Marcus in the middle of this, at the moment I feel like he may be the loser in it all because Kelsey makes it clear that Gray is her love.
I studied the man beside me and wondered what would happen between us. I wanted to open myself to him, but I hesitated and I knew why. The drugs were out of my system. I was no longer under the influence of any spell.
I still loved Grayson Sloane.
I'd hate to see Marcus hurt because he's always been a gentleman. Maybe there will be another ménage, I don't know, I guess I'll find out when I read Addict.
Kelsey I liked. I related to aspects of her behaviour, not all of them but I understood her. However, if she put herself down one more time I was going to throw the Kindle. If she told us how she had a fast metabolism again I was going to throw the Kindle. I got it the first few times. I'm really not good on repetition.
Gray. Wow, he was way too OTT - I'm going to marry you because I had a dream about you and I love you and have for ages. Okay, I'd be leaving very quickly if that came out of a guy's mouth after not really knowing more than he was my brother's good friend. He was so damn possessive. Yes, I know he's a Halfling demon but just...wow. Also, hassling and hustling over the wedding. Telling Kelsey that her job was done now. No more working on this investigation. We're not talking about it, I'm telling you to go to our home and wait for me. Gray has spoken - I'm totally paraphrasing but that's what it was in a nutshell. Add an implied old fashioned ending of 'little lady' to everything he says. No, he doesn't say that, I just felt it in my bones. He does seem so much older using the endearment 'sweetheart', and very quickly too, and then he switches to the contemporary 'babe' as a term of affection. It was weird.
Is Gray completely heinous? No. There are things about him with potential but he has to tone it down. I'm guessing he'll redeem himself in the next book. His behaviour is because he's part demon. It's also because he's a victim of a shitty demon father and their painful demon contracts, and just plain circumstance. Still, he should have come clean on a major omission. If you're going to be marrying someone in three days it's nice to have a possible transfer to daddy's plane on the table for your partner to know about.
I had a book discussion with a GR friend about how I felt there was s shift in personality of Devinshea and Daniel. They felt different to me. That is one of the things about reading, we see some things differently. I found myself at arms length with them. This is Kelsey's book, she rightly needs to take centre stage. But Daniel and Devinshea are an important part of this book too, and I'm assuming it will build and flow into the next. The vampire near the beginning, Daniel, who answered Kelsey's question as to how he has children - because I opened myself up to possibilities - was not the guy who did some shitty things to her and Marcus later on. The Devinshea who talked about his wife, his partner, and had his children with him while talking to Kelsey in the beginning also did not fit the person later in the book. Or some of the things that were dropped throughout the investigation Kelsey undertook. Devinshea's childish spat with Marcus made no sense to me at this point, and Dev seemed like a dick. I'm not saying they didn't have their man-baby moments in Thieves 1-5, because they sure did, but they were just so infuriating this time around and I do not like to see that with characters I have loved, I want some consideration of the attachment readers form.
I do know Ms Blake has a habit of writing people a certain way and changing them up for emotion's sake, and as part of her overall plotting. Let's see what happens in Addict and what character and behaviour shows for all, and why.
I had my ups and downs with this book. I liked the paranormal aspects better than the romance. The mystery was good. The time in the arena was good. Kelsey discovering what was going on with the beast within was pretty good too. I wanted some more backstory on Gray and Kelsey but I have enough, I guess.
I don't know how I feel about the romance side of this book, other than it's the weakest link. I don't know how I feel about Marcus in the middle of this, at the moment I feel like he may be the loser in it all because Kelsey makes it clear that Gray is her love.
I studied the man beside me and wondered what would happen between us. I wanted to open myself to him, but I hesitated and I knew why. The drugs were out of my system. I was no longer under the influence of any spell.
I still loved Grayson Sloane.
I'd hate to see Marcus hurt because he's always been a gentleman. Maybe there will be another ménage, I don't know, I guess I'll find out when I read Addict.
January 27, 2015
3.5 stars.Contradictions. I wrestled with how I wanted to review this, but the word contradictions kept running through my mind, not only after I was finished, but all the way through the read. I liked it, I loved it, and at times I truly didn’t care for it. Ultimately, that means at times I was wondering where the story was going, because I wasn’t totally invested, and at other times, I couldn’t put it down.
Kelsey is a private investigator who, although she is very aware of the supernatural world, has stayed as far away from it as she can for years. She does have her reasons. She has one friend in this world, Liv, a witch. When Liv gets Kelsey involved in a missing girl case, she gets yanked back into the world she never wanted to be part of.
Throughout the first half of the book, I really enjoyed myself. I thought Kelsey was a really different sort of character, really liked Liv due to her warmhearted caring attitude towards Kelsey, and even liked Kelsey’s, at times, overbearing brothers. When Kelsey starts falling for her brother’s friend, Gray, I had problems with how fast, a closed off character that Kelsey ultimately is, falls in love, and it just didn’t ring true with me. And when the first sex scene began, that’s when I really didn’t like the book. I have nothing against a good sex scene, but I am just not into the whole tying someone up(and don’t get me started on the use of the p word for a part of the female anatomy!). Had I known, I would never have picked up this book. I know a lot of people don’t mind this, and that’s perfectly fine. Just my personal preference. Gray is a half demon, and I just really didn’t like him that much. Now to the character that I loved. Marcus is the oldest living vampire in the world, and he’s a supernatural counsel member. When Kelsey meets him, he’s pretty bored with his life, but perks up considerably when he realizes what Kelsey is, and actually becomes enamored with her.
Okay so what is Kelsey? I am so not telling. That’s the fun part of this book, and became the part of the book that I loved. In fact the whole last maybe thirty five percent of the book, I was on the edge of my seat with all the suspense and action involved-due in large part to what Kelsey is. So yes, the last part of the book was the part I loved. It also is the reason I will be reading the next book, because I am so intrigued with Kelsey, and with Marcus as well.
Early on, you realize that many of the supernatural characters that Kelsey comes into contact with in her investigation, have been in a book series of their own. This was my first book by this author, but I don’t think I was lost by not knowing any of these characters back story. I am sure the author’s fans of that series will gobble this book up. I think readers that like supernatural characters of all types, or that like books featuring gory murders(involving shifters), will enjoy this read as well. Maybe I should mention that it’s not a feel good read, although Kelsey does have a lot of snark, which I always enjoy in a main character, and certainly added some much needed levity to the read.
If it seems like this review is all over the place, that might be because I was all over the place while reading it. I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this read, and if bondage doesn’t bother you, then I do recommend it.
Side note-I had a horrible time rating this-I wish there was a 3.75, I just couldn’t give it 4, but I do think it’s better then a 3.5. (RabidReads.com)
Kelsey is a private investigator who, although she is very aware of the supernatural world, has stayed as far away from it as she can for years. She does have her reasons. She has one friend in this world, Liv, a witch. When Liv gets Kelsey involved in a missing girl case, she gets yanked back into the world she never wanted to be part of.
Throughout the first half of the book, I really enjoyed myself. I thought Kelsey was a really different sort of character, really liked Liv due to her warmhearted caring attitude towards Kelsey, and even liked Kelsey’s, at times, overbearing brothers. When Kelsey starts falling for her brother’s friend, Gray, I had problems with how fast, a closed off character that Kelsey ultimately is, falls in love, and it just didn’t ring true with me. And when the first sex scene began, that’s when I really didn’t like the book. I have nothing against a good sex scene, but I am just not into the whole tying someone up(and don’t get me started on the use of the p word for a part of the female anatomy!). Had I known, I would never have picked up this book. I know a lot of people don’t mind this, and that’s perfectly fine. Just my personal preference. Gray is a half demon, and I just really didn’t like him that much. Now to the character that I loved. Marcus is the oldest living vampire in the world, and he’s a supernatural counsel member. When Kelsey meets him, he’s pretty bored with his life, but perks up considerably when he realizes what Kelsey is, and actually becomes enamored with her.
Okay so what is Kelsey? I am so not telling. That’s the fun part of this book, and became the part of the book that I loved. In fact the whole last maybe thirty five percent of the book, I was on the edge of my seat with all the suspense and action involved-due in large part to what Kelsey is. So yes, the last part of the book was the part I loved. It also is the reason I will be reading the next book, because I am so intrigued with Kelsey, and with Marcus as well.
Early on, you realize that many of the supernatural characters that Kelsey comes into contact with in her investigation, have been in a book series of their own. This was my first book by this author, but I don’t think I was lost by not knowing any of these characters back story. I am sure the author’s fans of that series will gobble this book up. I think readers that like supernatural characters of all types, or that like books featuring gory murders(involving shifters), will enjoy this read as well. Maybe I should mention that it’s not a feel good read, although Kelsey does have a lot of snark, which I always enjoy in a main character, and certainly added some much needed levity to the read.
If it seems like this review is all over the place, that might be because I was all over the place while reading it. I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this read, and if bondage doesn’t bother you, then I do recommend it.
Side note-I had a horrible time rating this-I wish there was a 3.75, I just couldn’t give it 4, but I do think it’s better then a 3.5. (RabidReads.com)
January 20, 2015
RIPPER by Lexi Blake was an AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, SEXY, and SUSPENSEFUL treat! I absolutely adore this paranormal side of the incredibly talented Ms. Blake. She feeds my need for everything paranormal just like great authors like Nalini Singh and Kresley Cole. Just like all of the series before this, absolutely EVERYTHING the author has goes into a story like this. It has so much heart, so much depth and emotion. I don't just read the book, I EXPERIENCE it on every single level possible. And the joy I get from having the characters from Ms. Blake's THIEVES novels pop up in this story is just insurmountable.
Time and time again, this author thrusts me into a world I never want to escape. I want to live, breathe, live her characters and her storylines. I want to delve into the mind of Ms. Blake and get lost in the depth of emotion she brings out in all of her beautiful characters. With out of this world descriptive writing, sexy and nail-biting plot twists, and such an emotional pull from each and every word, it's no wonder Lexi Blake is one of my all time favorite authors. There is no sign that this woman is slowing down, and THANK GOD for that.
Are you guys ready for a brand new, kick-ass, smart-mouth heroine? I thought so!
Kelsey Atwood brings so much to the table in RIPPER. I enjoyed this female lead so much. I was able to connect with this character almost instantly. And ladies, I know you will appreciate the incredibly sexy half-demon and the ever so alluring ancient vampire who are vying for Kelsey's attention and affection, all the while trying to keep her stubborn ass safe. The sexual chemistry between Kelsey and Gray is magnetic, exciting, and intense. But there is also the emotional and mind-driven connection between Kelsey and Marcus that will keep you guessing, wondering if anything will every come from it. With so much suspense, and enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, it is no wonder why RIPPER is such a page-turner. The passion and suspense on this level cannot be replicated, and that is why Lexi's books constantly end up on my Top Pick lists. Paranormal fans, romance fans, suspense junkies, this is the book for you. New to this author? I urge you to take a leap of faith on this one. You will not be disappointed.
Read more of my reviews at Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads!
*Gifted copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
November 17, 2015
Where or where has my Ms. Oaks gone? A total fan of Ms. Sophie Oak, I finally succumbed and checked out her Lexi Blake books. I tried a novella in her kinky Master series and it flopped for me. Then I read this book and I'm over the moon. The writing in this book has me devouring the book wanting to read all of the books in this series. After reading about Kesley, I bought the next book in this series and then went and purchased the entire set of the Thieves.
Kelsey is a woman who has some disassociate rage issues. She hulks out sometimes and she has problems relating to people. Honestly, if you had my job, you'd totally understand Kelsey and cheer her on. I didn't like how Kelsey was ganged up on and how she was betrayed by loved ones. They "always" say that they know better and they were doing for your own good. Who made them god? What gives people the right to make these decisions without at least discussing it with the person?
It burns me that Kelsey was placed in the situation she was put in. To be fair, I don't know if Kelsey would have handle any rational discussions. She isn't always able to take in what people say. So I'm mixed. Still, I loved the world building in here and I am really intrigued by the characters. I had no idea Ms. Oak could write stories like this and I'm only regretfully it took me so long to read it. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who enjoy kick ass women who are not afraid of killing.
Kelsey is a woman who has some disassociate rage issues. She hulks out sometimes and she has problems relating to people. Honestly, if you had my job, you'd totally understand Kelsey and cheer her on. I didn't like how Kelsey was ganged up on and how she was betrayed by loved ones. They "always" say that they know better and they were doing for your own good. Who made them god? What gives people the right to make these decisions without at least discussing it with the person?
It burns me that Kelsey was placed in the situation she was put in. To be fair, I don't know if Kelsey would have handle any rational discussions. She isn't always able to take in what people say. So I'm mixed. Still, I loved the world building in here and I am really intrigued by the characters. I had no idea Ms. Oak could write stories like this and I'm only regretfully it took me so long to read it. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who enjoy kick ass women who are not afraid of killing.
October 1, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I’ve got a new girl crush! A little bit Jessica Jones and a little bit Anita Blake, Kelsey Atwood is a fabulous new urban fantasy heroine. I love her slightly dystopian Dallas and the mix of human and supernatural beings who share her world.
This first book starts with Kelsey reluctantly investigating a fairly ordinary missing persons case. Slowly, the case drags her further and further into the supernatural world she’s been determined not to engage with. Kelsey soon finds herself unable to hide or even control her own supernatural abilities as she tries to find a place for herself within a frightening world she doesn’t quite understand.
Paranormal romance fans won’t enjoy this story as much as urban fantasy fans will. There is some romance but Kelsey is fierce and easy HEAs are for much simpler women. I found myself equally intrigued by and suspicious of both the men in Kelsey’s life. Her relationship with Gray is a little bit too easy and it is difficult to know whether Marcus is attracted to Kelsey for herself or for her Hunter abilities.
We’ve all read too many vampire/supe/human triads before but thankfully, this is much darker and grittier than Twilight. Kelsey isn’t Bella. She’s a sarcastic, bitchy and powerful loner who enjoys her sex and doesn’t always handle her alcohol too well. She is also fierce and ruthless when she needs to be. The story concludes with an incredibly brutal fight scene and I loved every second of Kelsey’s gladiatorial battle.
This was a single sitting read for me and I read the second one straight after. I’m completely hooked on this series. I loved Kelsey. I loved the wonderful mix of human and supernatural characters and I enjoyed the complicated alliances and power structures in Kelsey’s new supernatural world.
I’ve got a new girl crush! A little bit Jessica Jones and a little bit Anita Blake, Kelsey Atwood is a fabulous new urban fantasy heroine. I love her slightly dystopian Dallas and the mix of human and supernatural beings who share her world.
This first book starts with Kelsey reluctantly investigating a fairly ordinary missing persons case. Slowly, the case drags her further and further into the supernatural world she’s been determined not to engage with. Kelsey soon finds herself unable to hide or even control her own supernatural abilities as she tries to find a place for herself within a frightening world she doesn’t quite understand.
Paranormal romance fans won’t enjoy this story as much as urban fantasy fans will. There is some romance but Kelsey is fierce and easy HEAs are for much simpler women. I found myself equally intrigued by and suspicious of both the men in Kelsey’s life. Her relationship with Gray is a little bit too easy and it is difficult to know whether Marcus is attracted to Kelsey for herself or for her Hunter abilities.
We’ve all read too many vampire/supe/human triads before but thankfully, this is much darker and grittier than Twilight. Kelsey isn’t Bella. She’s a sarcastic, bitchy and powerful loner who enjoys her sex and doesn’t always handle her alcohol too well. She is also fierce and ruthless when she needs to be. The story concludes with an incredibly brutal fight scene and I loved every second of Kelsey’s gladiatorial battle.
This was a single sitting read for me and I read the second one straight after. I’m completely hooked on this series. I loved Kelsey. I loved the wonderful mix of human and supernatural characters and I enjoyed the complicated alliances and power structures in Kelsey’s new supernatural world.
September 26, 2017
Ripper (Hunter #1) by Lexi Blake
4.5 stars
M/F Shifter Romance, Mystery
Triggers: Murder, kidnapping, abuse (parent to child), very light BDSM
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is not what I was expecting, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I really didn't know what to expect, but this was a complex story about finding yourself and sacrifice.
Grayson Sloane is a demon on borrowed time. He also has knowledge that he is destined to be with Kelsey. While he wants to spend the rest of his time above with Kelsey, there are forces beyond his control that conspire against him.
Kelsey is just now learning that she isn't what she believed she was. I loved her character - she didn't really care what people thought of her. If things didn't go her way, she found a way around. She is amazing at her job because she has a unique ability to find anything. I really liked that despite her overprotective brothers and best friend sometimes thinking they knew best, she stands her ground.
When Kelsey and Grayson have to face some hard facts, it's the question of who will be there for each of them. Can they both survive with each other and conversely, the question of whether or not they can survive without each other - to protect each other. Despite their amazing chemistry and lust for each other, should they really end up together?
I really enjoyed this story - it had twists and turns, espionage and sabotage as well as a deep love.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
4.5 stars
M/F Shifter Romance, Mystery
Triggers: Murder, kidnapping, abuse (parent to child), very light BDSM
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is not what I was expecting, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I really didn't know what to expect, but this was a complex story about finding yourself and sacrifice.
Grayson Sloane is a demon on borrowed time. He also has knowledge that he is destined to be with Kelsey. While he wants to spend the rest of his time above with Kelsey, there are forces beyond his control that conspire against him.
Kelsey is just now learning that she isn't what she believed she was. I loved her character - she didn't really care what people thought of her. If things didn't go her way, she found a way around. She is amazing at her job because she has a unique ability to find anything. I really liked that despite her overprotective brothers and best friend sometimes thinking they knew best, she stands her ground.
When Kelsey and Grayson have to face some hard facts, it's the question of who will be there for each of them. Can they both survive with each other and conversely, the question of whether or not they can survive without each other - to protect each other. Despite their amazing chemistry and lust for each other, should they really end up together?
I really enjoyed this story - it had twists and turns, espionage and sabotage as well as a deep love.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
March 17, 2022
This book is raw perfection. And there’s only one more out in audio and on my shelf. Shit. What am I gonna do?!
Nobody touch me.
I need this menage with my entire soul, do you understand me?
Nobody touch me.
I need this menage with my entire soul, do you understand me?
October 18, 2017
Riveting
A new author to me, a new series, a new world. All brought to life skillfully. I recommend you read this one.
A new author to me, a new series, a new world. All brought to life skillfully. I recommend you read this one.
March 20, 2015
Yes. there is sex. Yes there are hot hot masculine men wanting to bang, and yes the heroine is a complex, complicated, imperfectly badass woman. And yes, there is blood, and murder, and death, and a whole lot of kickassery. All the makings of an entertaining read.But what makes this book go from a two or three star to a four to five is that though this book is for 'mature readers' due to it's sexual content and some abrasive scenes and languages, that is not all the book is about.
Usually when I pick up a book like this it's sex and innuendo with a side of plot. If that. Ripper is not that.
Sure this is a book full of hotness, muscles, and swoony eyes, and yes, there are two guys for our wonderful badass chick, but such conflict and sexual tension is not the center of the whole book, is not the center of our heroine's life. No. She is all bout her job and her life, and her past, her complexities in a plot that is equally as messy and tangled in the best of ways.
Ripper is funny, and heart breaking, exciting and a worthy read. I recommend.
Usually when I pick up a book like this it's sex and innuendo with a side of plot. If that. Ripper is not that.
Sure this is a book full of hotness, muscles, and swoony eyes, and yes, there are two guys for our wonderful badass chick, but such conflict and sexual tension is not the center of the whole book, is not the center of our heroine's life. No. She is all bout her job and her life, and her past, her complexities in a plot that is equally as messy and tangled in the best of ways.
Ripper is funny, and heart breaking, exciting and a worthy read. I recommend.
March 1, 2015
Lately I'm having a hard time sticking with romance books, Mainly because they disappoint me so early on that I lose the desire to continue reading.
Unfortunately it was the same with this book. So predictable. Is it really so much to ask that I get a romance book that doesn't make me want to puke? People don't fall in love instantly and I loathe any plot that has insta-love.
I just, I wanted to love this book. The main character was relatable, I liked that she was imperfect and she knew it. She wasn't a try hard or a goodie two shoes, And that made me happy. But the male love interests ruined this book so entirely that a plot worth 4 stars gets downgraded to 2.
DNF.
Unfortunately it was the same with this book. So predictable. Is it really so much to ask that I get a romance book that doesn't make me want to puke? People don't fall in love instantly and I loathe any plot that has insta-love.
I just, I wanted to love this book. The main character was relatable, I liked that she was imperfect and she knew it. She wasn't a try hard or a goodie two shoes, And that made me happy. But the male love interests ruined this book so entirely that a plot worth 4 stars gets downgraded to 2.
DNF.
September 28, 2017
Growing up in a family of Hunters doesn’t leave you with very many supernatural friends. The life that is expected for Kelsey Atwood is different from the path she chose for herself. Arresting deadbeat parents and the occasional bail jumper isn’t quite the future one would have envisioned. It is better than the path that her father tried to push her into. Memories that plague Kelsey are rearing their head, and bringing her back to the world she once turned her back on.
When a standard missing person’s case lands on Kelsey’s desk, she finds herself drawn into the paranormal world that she thought was left behind. While hot on the trail of the missing shifter, Kelsey crosses paths with the half demon detective Grayson Sloane. To add more twists to the crime that Kelsey quickly finds herself in the middle of, the hunter crosses paths with the vampire Marcus Vorenus.
With so many possibilities swirling around missing girls, Kelsey finds herself dreaming about the past. Memories that she can’t quite make sense of, but are troubling non the less. It’s an investigation that pushes Kelsey towards two men who have different appealing qualities. As the plot deepens, Kelsey finds herself pushed into a world that is as foreign to her as having a ‘normal’ childhood. Where will the trail lead? Only time will tell how deep the mystery spreads….
Well….well….it is no secret that I am in love with all things in the Thieves Series!! Ripper is the first book that is a spin-off from that wildly popular series. With paranormal characters lurking around every corner, Kelsey finds her work as an investigator cut out for her. Missing girls, mysterious clubs, and other strange occurrences lend an unknown element to the mystery surrounding the missing girls in town.
Another strong point to the plot is the romantic possibilities for Kelsey. Who wouldn’t love a man in ‘uniform’? Gray is as interesting as he is hot!! A character that draws you in with the secrets surrounding his family. As luck would have it, Kelsey has another intriguing man in her life…..Marcus Vorenus. As one of the oldest vampires around, Marcus knows a lot about Kelsey’s past. Each man offering different qualities that appeal to the investigator. It makes it pretty hard to choose which man is ‘better’ relationship material. For me personally….I say choose them both!!
Fans of the Thieves Series will get a glimpse at some old favorites. There are peeks into the lives of Danny, Zoey, and Dev that will please any fan of the trio. There will also be a deeper view of Danny as the role of the King of the Vampires. Hold on to your hat….this ride is just getting started and the result will leave you wanting more!!
When a standard missing person’s case lands on Kelsey’s desk, she finds herself drawn into the paranormal world that she thought was left behind. While hot on the trail of the missing shifter, Kelsey crosses paths with the half demon detective Grayson Sloane. To add more twists to the crime that Kelsey quickly finds herself in the middle of, the hunter crosses paths with the vampire Marcus Vorenus.
With so many possibilities swirling around missing girls, Kelsey finds herself dreaming about the past. Memories that she can’t quite make sense of, but are troubling non the less. It’s an investigation that pushes Kelsey towards two men who have different appealing qualities. As the plot deepens, Kelsey finds herself pushed into a world that is as foreign to her as having a ‘normal’ childhood. Where will the trail lead? Only time will tell how deep the mystery spreads….
Well….well….it is no secret that I am in love with all things in the Thieves Series!! Ripper is the first book that is a spin-off from that wildly popular series. With paranormal characters lurking around every corner, Kelsey finds her work as an investigator cut out for her. Missing girls, mysterious clubs, and other strange occurrences lend an unknown element to the mystery surrounding the missing girls in town.
Another strong point to the plot is the romantic possibilities for Kelsey. Who wouldn’t love a man in ‘uniform’? Gray is as interesting as he is hot!! A character that draws you in with the secrets surrounding his family. As luck would have it, Kelsey has another intriguing man in her life…..Marcus Vorenus. As one of the oldest vampires around, Marcus knows a lot about Kelsey’s past. Each man offering different qualities that appeal to the investigator. It makes it pretty hard to choose which man is ‘better’ relationship material. For me personally….I say choose them both!!
Fans of the Thieves Series will get a glimpse at some old favorites. There are peeks into the lives of Danny, Zoey, and Dev that will please any fan of the trio. There will also be a deeper view of Danny as the role of the King of the Vampires. Hold on to your hat….this ride is just getting started and the result will leave you wanting more!!
March 17, 2017
I absolutely hated this book. The heroine has no respect for herself and let's a bunch of people, including her best friend and brother, use her and treat her like a damn dog. The main crush is sadistic and a controlling abusive asshole, but that's ok bc she loves him....HELL NO!
I only kept reading cause I thought surly there was a reason there was so much disgusting behavior and treatment...like a spell. There was, but only on the fucking girl and she was ok with it. Think 50 shades of grey but with supernaturals only worse...which I didn't think was possible.
Don't know how this book got rated so high. Don't believe the reviews. There was nothing funny or good about this book.
I only kept reading cause I thought surly there was a reason there was so much disgusting behavior and treatment...like a spell. There was, but only on the fucking girl and she was ok with it. Think 50 shades of grey but with supernaturals only worse...which I didn't think was possible.
Don't know how this book got rated so high. Don't believe the reviews. There was nothing funny or good about this book.
May 7, 2018
Oh crap, crap, crap. *insert much more swearing*
If there was a way for Daniel and Dev to screw this up, they sure found it. I know they aren't the protagonists of this book, but it was all set in motion by their machinations, their plotting. Zoey had the right idea, but noooooo, they had to play James Bond and go super secretive about it. Well, Kelsey and her happy middle finger showed them where to stuff all their royal orders.
I liked Kelsey, her battle with herself, and most of all I like the way she reacted when she finally knew the truth about herself. I bet Daniel expected her to be horrified by her "condition", to absolutely want to control it, to bend to his will with a graceful little bow and say "oh Your Highness, thank you for not leaving me to be a death machine."
Instead she just didn't care. Her entire world was turned upside down and she went cold, uncaring, numb. It was awesome. It was real. I wanted to hug her so much when that happened!
And then she fled with Marcus, ahahahah, good girl!
Marcus. Oh, how I love Marcus. It looks like Dev's hatred for him reached epic proportions (probably because he knows one of his daughters is "destined" to him) and he wants to get rid of him. When Marcus declared himself Kelsey's patron, I wondered if Dev was willing to sacrifice Kelsey to get rid of Marcus. Who knows. He's ruthless enough to do it (and yes, I love Devinshea, but I'm not blind to his flaws).
Marcus was the calm through the storm, the one who balanced Kelsey. I know they aren't meant to be, not if what Jacob told Marcus is true, but still, I like them together. And now that Marcus is back in his natural element, Venice, I'm curious to know more about him.
Grayson... the halfling. I do believe he's really in love with Kelsey and he really think she's meant to be his wife. I do believe he didn't have anything to do with the drugs... he left wondering if Kelsey ever really loved him, or if it was just an illusion. I pity him, poor boy. Yes, he was willing to trick her, but I really believe he would have never hurt her, never forced her to go to Hell with him, and he would have always tried to find a way out of his predicament. I sure hope he killed Syl though.
Oh and let's not forget about his half-brother... yeah, I noticed that. I'm willing to bet his human name starts with S, and he has a wicked obsession for a certain wolf. I hope he resurfaces because I think Neil needs his revenge (and I want to know what happened to him in Steal the Night!!!)
So, awesome start for the new series: Daniel and Dev screwed up (again), I hope Zoey went back to giving Daniel blood in a bag and kicked the both of them out of her bed for at least a year, we have a badass new heroine (Lee would be so proud of her), we will know more about Marcus and we have a halfling demon to save. What can I wish more?
***
I'll add this:
I actually really appreciated seeing Dev and Daniel from an outside perspective: it's easy to love them when you have an inner knowledge of their thought processes and the reason they make certain decisions, it's much harder when you look at it from the perspective of someone who "suffers" their decisions.
In my opinion they screwed up, but they did it in pure Dev and Daniel style: trying to accomplish something good because they are actually good guys. I could almost hear their thoughts while they were delivering the truth bombs and they took no pleasure in it. They knew they would piss off Zoey but in their mind they were protecting both her and Kesley: Kesley is a danger both for herself and for others, she's a bomb ready to explode. She's also Lee's daughter and I bet both Dev and Daniel feel an obligation toward her.
I'm pretty sure Daniel realized he was going to use her as Louis had used him only when Marcus told him to call her "Nex Apparatus". In his mind, until that moment, she was really just someone he wanted to train so she would be safe and, at the same time, his family would be safe around her: Zoey would want to be with her, she would want her children around Kesley and Daniel couldn't allow it until he knew for sure that Kesley wasn't a danger. That's the reason he was so ruthless with her, not allowing her a single chance to escape the decisions he took for her future.
And he sure intended to ask her to deal some justice but in his mind it was completely different from what Louis did to him, it wasn't that sort of slavery. When he realized how his actions were seen from the outside, I bet he felt sick.
So yes, I liked that part, because I know both Devinshea and Daniel. And it will be nice to keep seeing them from Kesley's point of view and see how they are going to gain her trust and, I'm sure, eventually her loyalty and love.
If there was a way for Daniel and Dev to screw this up, they sure found it. I know they aren't the protagonists of this book, but it was all set in motion by their machinations, their plotting. Zoey had the right idea, but noooooo, they had to play James Bond and go super secretive about it. Well, Kelsey and her happy middle finger showed them where to stuff all their royal orders.
I liked Kelsey, her battle with herself, and most of all I like the way she reacted when she finally knew the truth about herself. I bet Daniel expected her to be horrified by her "condition", to absolutely want to control it, to bend to his will with a graceful little bow and say "oh Your Highness, thank you for not leaving me to be a death machine."
Instead she just didn't care. Her entire world was turned upside down and she went cold, uncaring, numb. It was awesome. It was real. I wanted to hug her so much when that happened!
And then she fled with Marcus, ahahahah, good girl!
Marcus. Oh, how I love Marcus. It looks like Dev's hatred for him reached epic proportions (probably because he knows one of his daughters is "destined" to him) and he wants to get rid of him. When Marcus declared himself Kelsey's patron, I wondered if Dev was willing to sacrifice Kelsey to get rid of Marcus. Who knows. He's ruthless enough to do it (and yes, I love Devinshea, but I'm not blind to his flaws).
Marcus was the calm through the storm, the one who balanced Kelsey. I know they aren't meant to be, not if what Jacob told Marcus is true, but still, I like them together. And now that Marcus is back in his natural element, Venice, I'm curious to know more about him.
Grayson... the halfling. I do believe he's really in love with Kelsey and he really think she's meant to be his wife. I do believe he didn't have anything to do with the drugs... he left wondering if Kelsey ever really loved him, or if it was just an illusion. I pity him, poor boy. Yes, he was willing to trick her, but I really believe he would have never hurt her, never forced her to go to Hell with him, and he would have always tried to find a way out of his predicament. I sure hope he killed Syl though.
Oh and let's not forget about his half-brother... yeah, I noticed that. I'm willing to bet his human name starts with S, and he has a wicked obsession for a certain wolf. I hope he resurfaces because I think Neil needs his revenge (and I want to know what happened to him in Steal the Night!!!)
So, awesome start for the new series: Daniel and Dev screwed up (again), I hope Zoey went back to giving Daniel blood in a bag and kicked the both of them out of her bed for at least a year, we have a badass new heroine (Lee would be so proud of her), we will know more about Marcus and we have a halfling demon to save. What can I wish more?
***
I'll add this:
I actually really appreciated seeing Dev and Daniel from an outside perspective: it's easy to love them when you have an inner knowledge of their thought processes and the reason they make certain decisions, it's much harder when you look at it from the perspective of someone who "suffers" their decisions.
In my opinion they screwed up, but they did it in pure Dev and Daniel style: trying to accomplish something good because they are actually good guys. I could almost hear their thoughts while they were delivering the truth bombs and they took no pleasure in it. They knew they would piss off Zoey but in their mind they were protecting both her and Kesley: Kesley is a danger both for herself and for others, she's a bomb ready to explode. She's also Lee's daughter and I bet both Dev and Daniel feel an obligation toward her.
I'm pretty sure Daniel realized he was going to use her as Louis had used him only when Marcus told him to call her "Nex Apparatus". In his mind, until that moment, she was really just someone he wanted to train so she would be safe and, at the same time, his family would be safe around her: Zoey would want to be with her, she would want her children around Kesley and Daniel couldn't allow it until he knew for sure that Kesley wasn't a danger. That's the reason he was so ruthless with her, not allowing her a single chance to escape the decisions he took for her future.
And he sure intended to ask her to deal some justice but in his mind it was completely different from what Louis did to him, it wasn't that sort of slavery. When he realized how his actions were seen from the outside, I bet he felt sick.
So yes, I liked that part, because I know both Devinshea and Daniel. And it will be nice to keep seeing them from Kesley's point of view and see how they are going to gain her trust and, I'm sure, eventually her loyalty and love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
Oh boy. It took me over twelve days to finish this book. I usually can read one book about a day and a half- I’m a slow reader. But I had to seriously stop and take chunks out of this book at a time. There are do many things that irritated me about this book, the first starting with the unanswered questions still out there from the first five book. From Merlan to Neil’s new sybol tatoo. Itks tenn years past and webarr only piece mealed the information.
The second issue came with Greyson Sloane. I did not like him one bit. He had more emotional swings than a woman on PMS. The relationship was so fast that they met, said I love yous, and were getting married in less that seven days. He was domineering, controling, and had nothing but old fashion ideas. His behavior was the main reason it became hard to read. The only thing that made me move forward was the fact old characters were showing themselves regularly in the story. The sex I just completely skipped over because I just couldn’t stand Greyson enough to want to be present for the whole thing.
It wasn’t until around the 80% mark that the pieces finally came into place. Had I not had the will to scamper on I would have been happy to have left it unfinished. That being said, I figured out the bad guy at about th 64% mark and knew mostly how this would end. I’m going to read the next book, but only because my curiosity and the lack favorable possibilty that I will find another book I will enjoy for many more months. My record lately has been depressing, but not for the lack of trying.
Hopefully, I finally find myself out of this rut/slump soon.
The second issue came with Greyson Sloane. I did not like him one bit. He had more emotional swings than a woman on PMS. The relationship was so fast that they met, said I love yous, and were getting married in less that seven days. He was domineering, controling, and had nothing but old fashion ideas. His behavior was the main reason it became hard to read. The only thing that made me move forward was the fact old characters were showing themselves regularly in the story. The sex I just completely skipped over because I just couldn’t stand Greyson enough to want to be present for the whole thing.
It wasn’t until around the 80% mark that the pieces finally came into place. Had I not had the will to scamper on I would have been happy to have left it unfinished. That being said, I figured out the bad guy at about th 64% mark and knew mostly how this would end. I’m going to read the next book, but only because my curiosity and the lack favorable possibilty that I will find another book I will enjoy for many more months. My record lately has been depressing, but not for the lack of trying.
Hopefully, I finally find myself out of this rut/slump soon.
January 26, 2015
Couldn't put it down!
I had read only read the first of Blake's "Thieves" series, and although I'm not generally a fan of PR, figured I would give "Ripper" a try.
Kelsey's been hired to find the missing daughter of a shifter -- she'd been trying to leave the supernatural world behind, but she agrees to try and locate the missing girl. Grayson Sloane, a friend of Kelsey's brother and a Texas Ranger, offers to get involved -- and Kelsey's dazzled by their mutual attraction. But when Kelsey discovers the truth about her heritage, and what she really is, she is forced to turn to Marcus Vorenus, an ancient vampire for guidance.
Kelsey's an interesting heroine. It's easy to feel sorry for this girl, but she's not necessarily an easy character to like. Never feeling fully accepted, she's grown this razor-sharp exterior to shield herself from being hurt -- so she's abrasive, in-your-face, and contrary. But she really tugs at your heart as she falls for Gray, only to be devastated when he leaves her.
So Ripper sets up a triangle - similar to the Daniel/Zoe/Dev triangle - with Kelsey being deeply attracted to both Gray and Marcus. It will be interesting to see where she takes these characters in subsequent installments.
Everything's a little over the top, but Blake writes great action/suspense as well as snarky dialogue, so it's an entertaining read. If I could, I'd go with a 3.5, but I'm rounding up to a 4 on the strength of the overall story.
I had read only read the first of Blake's "Thieves" series, and although I'm not generally a fan of PR, figured I would give "Ripper" a try.
Kelsey's been hired to find the missing daughter of a shifter -- she'd been trying to leave the supernatural world behind, but she agrees to try and locate the missing girl. Grayson Sloane, a friend of Kelsey's brother and a Texas Ranger, offers to get involved -- and Kelsey's dazzled by their mutual attraction. But when Kelsey discovers the truth about her heritage, and what she really is, she is forced to turn to Marcus Vorenus, an ancient vampire for guidance.
Kelsey's an interesting heroine. It's easy to feel sorry for this girl, but she's not necessarily an easy character to like. Never feeling fully accepted, she's grown this razor-sharp exterior to shield herself from being hurt -- so she's abrasive, in-your-face, and contrary. But she really tugs at your heart as she falls for Gray, only to be devastated when he leaves her.
So Ripper sets up a triangle - similar to the Daniel/Zoe/Dev triangle - with Kelsey being deeply attracted to both Gray and Marcus. It will be interesting to see where she takes these characters in subsequent installments.
Everything's a little over the top, but Blake writes great action/suspense as well as snarky dialogue, so it's an entertaining read. If I could, I'd go with a 3.5, but I'm rounding up to a 4 on the strength of the overall story.
November 3, 2016
Rating: 3.5
I was originally going to take supreme contempt against the this book. But I'll get into that later. I'll say this, I very much enjoyed this book despite the pessimistic sarcastic (and slightly suicidal) female lead. The book started off the same, a female lead with a shadowed pass with powers she did not want to acknowledge and the usual quest to help bring her powers to forefront, pretty standard stuff. In comes the male lead, (though I don't believe he really was or deserved to be for that matter) Gray Sloane. To make a long story short, he was hinky from the beginning. I mean, they have known each other for all of two days (TWO DAYS!) and he was throwing around "I love you's" like your grandmother handing out her famous pie on Thanksgiving. And he trapped her in much the same way a good piece of pie would too. I did not like the relationship and I am glad that it was resolved (at least to some degree because it's obvious that he still will have some influence in her story later on). I personally like Marcus and hope their relationship will be able to flourish.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this story, the action was great and I liked the world that it took place. I am anxious to see what happens next and see what else unfolds and what other mystery Kelsey will stumble onto.
I was originally going to take supreme contempt against the this book. But I'll get into that later. I'll say this, I very much enjoyed this book despite the pessimistic sarcastic (and slightly suicidal) female lead. The book started off the same, a female lead with a shadowed pass with powers she did not want to acknowledge and the usual quest to help bring her powers to forefront, pretty standard stuff. In comes the male lead, (though I don't believe he really was or deserved to be for that matter) Gray Sloane. To make a long story short, he was hinky from the beginning. I mean, they have known each other for all of two days (TWO DAYS!) and he was throwing around "I love you's" like your grandmother handing out her famous pie on Thanksgiving. And he trapped her in much the same way a good piece of pie would too. I did not like the relationship and I am glad that it was resolved (at least to some degree because it's obvious that he still will have some influence in her story later on). I personally like Marcus and hope their relationship will be able to flourish.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this story, the action was great and I liked the world that it took place. I am anxious to see what happens next and see what else unfolds and what other mystery Kelsey will stumble onto.
January 21, 2015
This was a great start to the new series. I need book two to be released ASAP!!!
You could probably get away with reading this book without reading the Thieves series but I would recommend reading it first b/c
a.) it's really good
b.) certain things in this book will have more of an impact if you've read the previous series.
That being said I HATED
I'm leery about
This book made me cry. Just like every book in the Thieves series.
ETA - there is no happy ending here. Just FYI. It's not a stand-alone story. That's why I really want/need the next book to come out and the next and the next.
You could probably get away with reading this book without reading the Thieves series but I would recommend reading it first b/c
a.) it's really good
b.) certain things in this book will have more of an impact if you've read the previous series.
That being said I HATED
I'm leery about
This book made me cry. Just like every book in the Thieves series.
ETA - there is no happy ending here. Just FYI. It's not a stand-alone story. That's why I really want/need the next book to come out and the next and the next.
September 8, 2020
I read a lot of RH. "Thieves" (books 1-5) is probably the best series I have read that truly show how fluid attraction and sexuality is. I truly loved all the characters in the series (minus the antagonists). I become emotionally invested with the characters to the point of sobbing during part of book 5 (very rare for me).
This book adds to the original "Thieves" story line. I usually hate spin offs with very few exceptions. Since it was adding to the original series and not just a spinoff I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad that I did. I really liked being able to delve back into the world of Dev. Daniel and Zoey and see them from a different perspective.
I didn't really enjoy the over the top and instantaneous relationship between Sloane and Kelsey. I would have liked to have more buildup between the two. The relationship between the two seemed rushed and therefore insubstantial. Especially considering Kelsey had never really had a relationship. Yet this relationship is something I think will be part of the plots of future books in the series.
This book adds to the original "Thieves" story line. I usually hate spin offs with very few exceptions. Since it was adding to the original series and not just a spinoff I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad that I did. I really liked being able to delve back into the world of Dev. Daniel and Zoey and see them from a different perspective.
I didn't really enjoy the over the top and instantaneous relationship between Sloane and Kelsey. I would have liked to have more buildup between the two. The relationship between the two seemed rushed and therefore insubstantial. Especially considering Kelsey had never really had a relationship. Yet this relationship is something I think will be part of the plots of future books in the series.
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