Intrepid

Vigilantes #3

by Keri Lake

STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

In the corner house of an empty street, there is a boy inside a box. In that boy, there lives a secret, one so dark, it’s sealed with locks.

Nearly ten years have passed since the night I was captured. Tricked and betrayed, I suffered the hours of brutal torment with death’s cold whisper across my skin. And when the nameless faces that haunted my nightmares took everything and everyone I loved, I feared I’d never be free of the darkness.
But that's the thing about fear. Over time, it breeds anger, and when anger fills the box, vengeance bleeds out.
It's been almost a decade since I escaped their hell, staying in the shadows, hiding my demons, and God help them now that I've tasted retribution and crave more of it.
Blood is the price for pain, and I vow to take everything and everyone they love. I’m no longer a frightened boy, but the intrepid vigilante, a ruthless executioner, who will stop at nothing to punish the depraved few that stole my life and walked free.
The plan is perfect, except for her. The one woman I'm forbidden to have, whose soothing touch settles my fractured mind. My angel of mercy sent to silence the voices. Yet, not even she can save me from the black void wherein my skeletons lie buried beneath the truth. Because in order to feed my thirst for revenge, I have to destroy the very thing that gives me purpose.
Tooth for a tooth, heart for a heart.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense, Abuse, Romantic Suspense, Thriller

438 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2018

About the author

Author of gothic romance who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists.

I love connecting with readers, so feel free to join my reading group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thego...

Reviews

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➦Ok, so FIRST OF ALL. I'm seriously obsessed with this cover. I'm a big sucker for a pretty face. And this guy is trying to look menacing but I'm not quite sure he's pulling it of. Either way, I am experiencing urges to lick the screen.


➦Secondly, I can't believe more people aren't reading Keri Lake's books because her stuff is amazing! So well written, with though-out characters. For the fans of dark romance, this one is a must. You will definitely enjoy the heck out of this mysterious, tortured hero and a revenge driven plot.


➦I'm looking forward to reading more from Keri Lake in the future and am definitely planning on picking up her books from the Vigilantes series. <3 Sealing this one as approved. Get it!

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG

Keri Lake is an incredible mastermind of plotting out books. The possibilities in her stories are vast and you never know where they will take you. Intrepid is set in the Vigilante world, a bleak Detroit, saturated with crime, underground and above. It's where we meet Sera, a Criminal Justice student who lost her mother at a young age.

What I love about Keri Lake's heroines is that they are never doormats. Ever. They aren't innocent, naive flowers. These heroines come with a truckload of heartbreak and sorrow. When they fall in love they submit sexually but never emotionally until the man they love is deserving of it. Sera has fire and spirit, is feisty and has seen the dark side of people one too many times. When she meets Ty she is cautious yet can't fight the strong and unwelcome attraction. His mystery and charisma have her thoughts in a tangled mess.

I’d come to trust people by how much pain their eyes held, and his bore the endless depths of sorrow.

Ty is an enigma but soon it's obvious that something's not quite right with this boy. He can be quite infuriating and in the next moment almost sweet. He runs hot and cold on Sera, and keeps a big part of him from her. And here's the thing: while this young man frustrated the hell out me with his push and pull, appalled me with the things he did, he also made me feel compassion and made me understand.

Sera and Ty's obsession with one another isn't healthy but it's brutally honest and raw. They'd lay their lives down for each other and set the world on fire. Between the bleak and violent picture Keri Lake draws are spots of brilliant colors, scenes that make the heartache, fear, despair worth it.

Sera and I shouldn’t have been what we’d become anyway. Like light and dark, fire and water, the moon and the sun trying to come together. We didn’t mix.

The villains in the Vigilante series make the anti-heroes look like choir boys and this right there is probably the reason why you can actually come to love a morally questionable character. The author makes the contrast between them so stark that there will be little doubt left whether the hero had any other options but violence left.

Once more, Ms Lake has proven why she is one of my favorite authors. She has this gift to keep up the suspense through an entire story even when you suspect how things might play out, because you never know if there isn't be a twist along the way. This book is an awesome and incredible mindfuck.

If you've read Ricochet (still my top favorite by Keri) make sure you read the bonus content that includes a scene with Aubree and Nick, that will also give you a little insight into the showdown in Intrepid. It was super-cool and definitely provided some gasps-filled enlightenment. Also, it'll make you crave Dax's book.

Intrepid takes you on a fascinating, suspenseful journey with a fierce, courageous heroine and a broody, enigmatic anti-hero who was dealt a horrific hand. You'll fall in love with both of them, despite...or maybe because of their many flaws.

I hated the way I wanted him. I was sick for craving the fire in my belly, the thrill of pissing him off just so I could touch the scalding flame inside, like a child reaching out for a hot stove.

You will realize that good people sometimes are forced to do bad things because authorities and systems failed them. Life isn't just black or white. There are so many shades of grey and the author shows us all of them. Dark and raw interactions between the main protagonists, action-filled scenes that will give you adrenaline spikes and will leave you breathless are the main ingredients of Intrepid, but also sheer beauty in the face of an unapologetic, inevitable love.

I was drawn to her light. Her purity and innocence, as if I’d been buried alive in a cold dark tomb for too long, before being given one breath, one moment of warmth on my skin.

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★4.5★

"Everything had to be perfect. One kill at a time."

Intrepid is a contemporary romance with heart-stopping action and suspense. With complex characters and smoking hot passion, this Vigilantes Spinoff certainly aims to please!

"Everything was coming together perfectly."

Ty is a man on a mission. After experiencing great loss in his life, the only way for him to find peace is to seek revenge. Sera Kutscher is a young student who is desperate to break away from her father and the criminal world he lives in. When Sera and Ty's paths cross both are quite taken with each other. Although Sera is hesitant to accept Ty's advances, she eventually surrenders to the consuming force of Ty. As their relationship continues to grow, Ty feels conflicted over his desire to be with Sera and his desire to complete his quest for revenge.

"The game had changed before my eyes."

Told in dual POV, Intrepid is a suspenseful read full of numerous twists and turns. The plot is complex and the stakes are high for these characters to get what they want. The connection between Ty and Sera is intense and as the truth is revealed both struggle with the ability to trust each other. The tempo of the writing flows fluidly and at a rapid pace as the conflict continues to intensify. Although some of the choices of both of the main characters made were somewhat surprising, I was happy to overlook my frustrations and enjoy the ride!



Overall, I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful contemporary romance with a complex plot and non-stop action! I have long been a fan of Keri Lake's work. She always creates a world that captivates me completely and I look forward to more Vigilantes greatness to come!

***A Vigilantes Spinoff***


*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!

For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Type: Standalone (Vigilante Spin-Off)
POV: First Person Dual
Rating:




Serafina (Sera) Kutscher was finally free of the shackles that prevented her to live her life on her own rules. But a newfound freedom in a dangerous city could be short-lived especially if she didn't protect her heart.

For the past few years Ty's life had been fueled by revenge. Vowed to right the wrongs, he was willing to do anything to find closure. But fate had a way to throw in a wrench and he must decide the kind of future he wanted.

No home, no family, no consequences, and as far as the world was concerned, I didn’t exist. I couldn’t decide if that was a blessing, or a punishment.

I love Ty right from the beginning. The dark, mysterious kind never failed to make me pant. And the more I learned about his past, the more I felt for his broken soul.

I could almost hear the tearing sounds of Sera peeling back the layers on her face, the porcelain façade she wore, so well, that even I couldn’t see what was beneath. There was so much more to her, so much deeper than the surface.

Sera was the poor little rich girl that never felt like she belong. I like her compassion and her determination even though there were times she made questionable decisions.

The truth was, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, either, but being with him was like riding a roller coaster in pitch-blackness. Sure, it was exciting, as long as it didn’t throw me off somewhere along the way.

I've always love urban dereliction setting both in real life and in books. Reading this book felt like walking into my kind of art gallery. The storyline was dark and gritty just the way I like it. However, my irrevocable depravity craved more of the "bad parts" lol!



I enjoyed the engaging storyline and putting together the pieces from the past and present, and how it all came together at the end. The push and pull between the characters was good and the sex scenes were hot and intense.

That one single moment turned an innocent boy into a monster.

Intrepid is a story of revenge and acceptance. It would appeal to readers looking for an edgy, suspenseful romance.

Note 1:
This book makes me want to do some urbexing. But I'd stick to abandoned buildings instead of skyscrapers roof and tower cranes lol!

Note 2:
I'm hoping there'd be a hero who practices parkour in future books.



💥 🏗 💥 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC, Loyda & Liz . . . 💥 🏗 💥





For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: 4.5 'No Regrets' Hearts!! <3



Intrepid is another darkly intoxicating addition to the Vigilantes series, each chapter nonchalantly making way for fear and panic to sink their razor-sharp claws into our minds before giving us a tantalizing taste of romantic clemency.

Ty is an outstanding protagonist, his transformation from an innocent boy to an angry and hardened man with revenge as his primary calling card is impeccably depicted. As Ty narrates his past, the innumerable injustices and horrors inflicted punch us in the gut and knock the wind from our lungs as we suffer with him, and given his struggles we read Ty’s story quietly seething with anger and condoning his relentless pursuit of vengeance and every morally reprehensible action in the present.

My little blue fairy. The only thing capable of restoring life inside the hollow shell of the man I’d become.

Sera is a feisty-spirited heroine, her will to survive and courage in the face of her fears causing us to fall a little more in love with her each page, but we are also granted quiet moments with her where the tears flow and her strength finally wanes, and it’s these moments that has us hoping Ty comes riding to her rescue in all of his anti-hero-on-a-bike glory. The two of them together are a delicious amalgamation of hypnotic chemistry and raw, unbridled passion.

Like a suicidal moth to a wildfire, he kept pulling me into his heat. Luring me with the promise of something exquisite. Both frightening and exhilarating.

Part of the reason this tale is outstanding is the way Ms. Lake always masterfully and stunningly captures humanity in all of its subtle complexities while casting light onto the shadows of a world where human decency is shredded with the ease of a precision blade until nothing is left behind but the tattered, unrecognizable remains of morality; cruelty and depravity reigning master.

Overall, Intrepid is fast-paced—thrilling suspense mixed in with romance—and entirely enthralling in all of its iniquity, leaving readers craving more of Ms. Lake’s dark tales.




~Arc generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review~



Posted: April 9, 2018

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!



Ty is a man fueled by pain and vengeance. Vowing to uphold his promise, Ty begins to exact his carefully constructed plan and hopes to silence his inner demons. However, he is challenged in an unforeseen way and must balance the need for justice versus destruction.

“Because although that first kill was sloppy and terrifying, there was also something deeply satisfying about silencing the screams.”

Serafina “Sera” Kutscher is a college student trying to break away from her controlling father. Since experiencing a deep loss, Sera believes she should live without regrets but she can’t escape the scars of her past. With a standoffish attitude and innate insecurities, Sera begins to slowly trust but she is surrounded by deception and lies.

“I’d come to trust people by how much pain their eyes held, and his bore the endless depths of sorrow.”

From the first page, Ty’s point of view is conveyed in a gritty and compelling manner that underscores his need to act as a vigilante. Hardened to the point where survival is instinctual, Ty learns how to be a predator yet his spirit is still vulnerable and broken. For Sera, she seems to be her own worst enemy at times and makes some bad decisions based on her need to be accepted. While Ty and Sera share a certain push/pull relationship, this tension starts to affect each of them differently causing doubts about moving forward yet they can’t stay apart.

“You’re the knife in my skin tonight. The temporary pain that’ll make me forget everything else. I’m going to fuck you, Sera. I’m going to fuck you so hard that every time I think back to this night, I’ll feel the pain over and over like a scar across my memories.”

With suspense of the unknown continually building as Ty attempts to achieve his goals, I kept rooting for him to succeed in his gruesome necessity to exact an eye for an eye. While on the outside he seems impenetrable, Ty also tries to quiet the voices from his past and those moments were deeply moving. Though Sera’s behavior provided a challenge for me at times, she remained true and ultimately persevered to the next level which was admirable.

Those familiar with Keri Lake’s writing know that she doesn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries and the plot takes a few pivots and twists revealing a multi-layered story showing thoughtful character dimension. Additionally, it feels like the city of Detroit is a character in that the overall tone of abandonment and suffering further emphasizes the plight felt by Ty and Sera.

Intrepid is an adrenaline-charged plot steeped in a dark underworld full of shadowy players. This book would appeal to those who enjoy an edgy, romantic suspense.



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


*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey, Liz and Loyda!*


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Alex ♈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 -4 stars

It was my 1st book by this author.
Fabulous writing. It’s always a pleasure to discover a really talented author.

Dark is not my preferred genre, but if it’s dark on a good side (where they don’t romanize abuse/rape etc), I can and do read it.
The darkness of this book was definitely on the good side – they killed 4 pedophiles. What can be better?! Only if the killed more/all of these disgusting fuckers!

I love vengeance trope!
Justice & law is good and all; but some crimes, especially when they abuse children, need a hard punishment.
You may call me a sick f*ck *lol*, but I enjoyed all torture and murder scenes, when the hero killed those fuckers -> human garbage. I wish the last one would have been tortured through many chapters, but he got the easiest death…

But at the same time the scenes, when the kids were abused and hurt, were too long. No exact details, but it was more than enough. This part almost killed me.
When they cut young boy’s tongue out… or how they ‘disposed’ of the body…

The romance part was good. I liked the heroine, she was mature and strong. I didn’t support all her decisions, but overall she was a tough girl.
The hero wasn’t perfect, but after all things he suffered in the past, I can’t bring myself to dwell on his character.

Safety: He stalked her for years, they met ‘officially’ in the beginning of the book. I’m not sure, if he was celibate after he met her… His words the day he kissed her/some weeks after they met: “It pissed me off that she had any effect on me, and that I’d had to drown it all in a bottle of liquor when I’d left the club, because I’d refused to blow all that pent up tension on another nameless face, like so many nights before.” No real OW-drama. The h saw him dancing with a girl; this OW just disappeared after. Both celibate during 2-months separation. The h wasn’t a virgin.

HNF. I needed more…

Many stars for killing the villains…

I wish to every single child abuser crucifyingly long and excruciating death!

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was part of my April Ultimate Reading Challenge: read books with one word title.

Oh and yes it was hyped so why not?

 

4 “I expected more but don’t know what” stars.

Warning: kind of odd sheep review here compared with all the 5 stars 😉

 

I’ve read Ricochet by Keri Lake and really loved it. So when Intrepid was advertised and surrounded by a big hype I was really excited to read it.

The cover was just beautiful in black and grey, focus on a man with piercing light eyes and cheeks so high they could cut diamonds.

I even asked who the model was because Dang! he is just gorgeous. If you are interested he is Oliver Buendia and he is really worth following on IG because he is an adrenaline junkie and always jumps from planes, climb skyscrapers etc.

 

In this aspect Lexi could have modeled Ty on Oliver. Maybe she did? Or looked after the perfect model to impersonate Ty inside out? I don’t know but it’s striking.

 

Intrepid has an uncanny similarity in the big plot lines and theme as Ricochet.

Ty is hell bent on avenging him and his friends after really horrific events happening nine years ago.

Be warned this book is a DARK read full with triggers and scenes that could shock you. I even confessed to my friend Angy that I skimmed one or two scenes as they were too hard for me to read in details.

So the revenge or avenging others is the first common theme with Ricochet but that’s to be expected as this series title is “Vigilantes”.

 

Second recurring theme: a big part of their revenge is targeting a woman they think is dear to the abuser’s heart.

Sera is Ty’s target and we don’t know exactly why before some time so I won’t go into specifics as to not spoil the story. Of course Ty has been stalking her for a long time, another recurring trope and will try to charm her pants off. And he can because he is just dreamy, broody and mysterious.

Only…Sera is relly closed off and distrusting for good reasons linked to her past.

She is drawn to Ty but she does not trust him completely. I would say her lie detector and her instincts are spot on.

 

As Ty is slowly making the abusers pay you’ll get some gore and grueling scenes. Again this is a dark read not some Harlequin romance. You’ve been warned.

 

All ingredients seemed presents to make me adore this story. If I enjoyed my read, if the writing is not at fault I still did not fall completely in love with it.

 

First thing preventing me to really fall head over heels in love with this: the hot and cold relationship. The constant push and pull.

One moment Ty was charming and hot, pursuing Sera the other he was pulling out and closed like a vault in Bank of America. As he kept to himself he also kept me at arm’s length.

“The push and pull with him had officially become exhausting. He reminded me of a child, begging for my toy, and the moment he’d earned enough sympathy from me to hand it over, he shoved it away.”

Second some inconsistencies.

At one moment in the book Sera explains that she craves that kind of relationship. That she gets high on it and has in the past. Only…her past does not show anything like that and one of the two boyfriends that she had and was toxic wasn’t an enjoyable experience for her, far from it. So what?

 

Third: some used trope.

If it’s probably true that artists create better when they hurt I don’t think they all consciously seek pain. Using this line to justify recklessness and look after pain bothered me. I would rather have appreciated the philosophy “better than truly live and take risks to be hurt than being sheltered never hurt but never really feeling”. But hey that’s me being petty here.



Fourth: their love

Yes they were drawn to each other but I was not convinced they really loved each other. Or at least not before a looong time. Probably once more because they are both mistrusting people. Never allowing the other completely in? Yet many felt the real love so that must be a cas of “it’s not me it’s you.”.



Now that this is out of the way I can get to the good parts of this book.

 

Sera was a really interesting character and she had some secrets that will be unearthed really late into the story. She was far from the pampered rich chick. Even if her father had money she never was snob or spoiled. She would have preferred having a real family, loving and crazy than have all that money. She also was selfless as she made choices to help others even if it went against her own dreams.

She also has sass and that’s the second thing I loved in the book: the sarcasm.

 

Keri Lake can write sarcasm and I was really happy to read the banter between Sera and others.

Here are some of my favorite sarcastic quotes:

“Probably high as a giraffe’s ass right then.”

Some handy new vernacular: “He biccuped—burped and hiccupped—"

Lovely visual LOL: “There were places in the city we didn’t belong, where we’d stick out like chopped tuna in a pool of pitiless sharks.”



The plotline or rather the horrific but real topic broached in this story.

Even if I skimmed some scenes hard to stomach the author did a fantastic job describing the horror and extreme depravity of these abusers. It is unfortunately right and that’s why I could not read it. It felt so real and true. So congrats to Keri here! I bet she had a hard time writing some scenes.

 

In his own way Ty was also wise. Teetering on the brink of insanity sometimes, plagued with nightmares and hallucinations he often needed to climb high to get some perspective on life.

“So, why do you really come up here?” I asked, ignoring his question. “I know it’s not to sit and think about me all day.” Tipping away just enough to coil my stomach, he looked down the side of the building and back. “Perspective.”

Sera became his anchor. The one to chase his demons away.

 

Now recommend it?

If you are a fan of dark and twisted romance certainly!
Have you read any other books by Keri Lake?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie


 
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[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS


Dark, gritty, unapologetic, and everything I've come to expect from the genius twisted mind that is Keri Lake. This latest installment in her Vigilantes series is one dark and thrilling ride and it's not for the faint of heart. With just the right touch of sexy, Intrepid was brimming with violence and overflowing with passion. I loved every deliciously depraved page of it.

beta read

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[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

There are not enough words to describe this book. I feet tormented by the vividness of this book. Of the raw emotion that comes off the page that jumps out to you and of all the things you read and although you may want to stop you can’t help but continue reading.

The one thing that truly bothers me is that I feel as if I shouldn’t love the book, but I can’t but help it. No matter how bone chilling it is.

This is not for the faint of heart, you have been warned.

The Characters.

Sera has finally managed to escape her father’s clutches after eight long years and is now part of the real world but being stuck in a cage has made her naïve to the world. She gave up her dream for something more important. But things have been set in motion she won’t be able to stop. She didn’t want perfection anymore. She wanted passion, love she needed the emotional pain of living with no regrets.

I really liked Sera she was open and warm and pure. She is strong she has had to have been. She is overall one kickarse heroine.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And holy shite Ty is one cold BAMF.

Ty has been planning and plotting he has a job to do and he is nearly at the end. He is after The Joker, The Pawn, The Fox and the The John. But he didn’t plan on Sera being a good person.

Everything he thought he knew will change and at the end the unexpected will save him. He comes to a crossroad and it is time to make a choice. But there is the poison he can’t quite let go of because of the obsession he has developed.

Ty is a product of circumstances he isn’t a born psychopath, but he is a psychopath. I loved him. I don’t even consider him to be a monster.

The Chemistry.

“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

Right from the beginning there was a connection between them. They gravitated towards one another even though they didn’t want to. I saw them ending in disaster and was biting my nails hoping it wouldn’t but with their demons being laid bare they grew together more and more and truly had something raw and emotional.

The sexual chemistry between these two was steaming. It is rough, raw and downright filthy.
Admittedly Ty did screw-up, but they got it all back together again. There was blood and there was gore but hey it all worked out.

The Writing & Plot.

The writing is impeccable. Never in my wildest dreams had I expected something so exceptional. Holy shite the pace has rivaled all books I have read. There are so many intricate layers that weave in and out of one another. So dark it was nearly pitch black

“Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings -- always darker, emptier and simpler.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

The book takes place in the past (nine years ago) and in the present. The flashbacks of the past where the worst for me. If I had known beforehand I might not have read it. But her other series is on par with this, so I shouldn’t have expected any less here. Lies, betrayal and revenge all get in the way.

I felt so much when I read this book. Desolation, anger, pain, sickening. It flayed me but with its rawness, grittiness and edginess it still had a spark of hope to it. Many readers won’t see that there is more to the book than meets the eye that it is in a way philosophical read and one of morals.

The Verdict

I was so far out of my comfort zone here which let’s face it I personally need that once in a while. So much that I was squirming. I was filled to the brim with emotion. Emotions I didn’t want and emotions I did want. I just couldn't stop reading.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

If you want to read something truly beautifully disturbing, then this is the book for you. Not all of you will like it I have written the reasons below.

There is no o/w drama, but the following is in the book:
- Child abuse
- Emotional/physical abuse
- Rape
- Murder (very inventive if do say so myself)
- Torture

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[~Stéphanie~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!!! https://amzn.to/2qmwdox

Have you ever read a book written by Keri Lake ? If the answer is no and if you are a reader not only a romance reader but someone who loves reading in general, you should consider it right now.
Keri Lake is not only a wonderful storyteller, she’s a writer who will take you into her world, who will not only gives you characters but a whole journey, a whole new meaning to a story. She will go deep in details and you’ll feel every breath, every emotions. You’ll witness all the buzz surrounding what’s happening in the book, you’ll see in front of your eyes the city she’s describing.



All this is even more true with Intrepid because you see the guy on the cover? To some extent, he could be Ty, the lead character in this story. Go look at Oliver Buendia on Instagram and youtube. Look at the pictures and videos and then start reading Intrepid. It’s magical how Keri Lake does her research and how everything has a real and true meaning with what she writes.



From the start I was enthralled by cranes, by Detroit and by a daredevil guy who doesn’t even exist. I was excited with the prospect of reading more in the vigilantes series, yet if you haven’t read Ricochet or Backfire, you can still start from here. Intrepid is a spin-off and It would make you want the first two books even more so you would be on board for Dax’s story.

Now you may think, when will I be talking about the book itself? Well I’m sorry to say I won’t go into many details because if you are not only convinced by what I said and by the blurb, what do you want me to add? Do you want to know that both Ty and Sera are gripping characters who will broke your heart? The story is dark and gritty and certainly not for everyone. Ty is man on the hunt for blood. He has suffered the worse and now it’s time for others to pay. Sera is on his path but when lust and feeling are involved, it complicates everything he imagined.



Intrepid is a thrilling and intense page-turner and your mind won’t rest until the very end as always with Keri’s books. The push and pull between Ty & Sera just confirmed the fine line there’s between love and hate and between lust and love. Once again Keri Lake gives another meaning to vengeance and you’ll be all wrong to not see for yourself.

~I voluntary read a copy of this book provided by the author ~

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★★★★Stars

Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Type:  Standalone (Vigilante Spin-Off)
POV:  First Person - Dual

Serafina (Sera) Kutscher wanted nothing more than her freedom.   She grew up in a privileged home but that didn't mean her life was happy.  Sera defies her father by finally moving to a new city; a dangerous one which wasn't her greatest choices but it sure was something she wouldn't regret as long as she didn't follow her father's rules.

❝ There was something oddly cathartic about immersing oneself in fear, letting go of the thin and fragile line that held an illusion of safety...Fear was like sex. Terrifying at times, yet exquisitely addictive .❞

Ty had a great childhood until one horrible day it completely changed him.  After all the horror he went through he wanted nothing else but revenge.  All the choices he made now was towards a new goal; the search for vengeance was bigger than anything he could ever wanted until her.

❝ That one single moment turned an innocent boy into a monster.❞

When Sara meets Ty she finds herself conflicted with the feelings she develops towards him.  Ty was dark and mysterious and something about him called to Sera.  I absolutely loved him; his past gave me chills I wanted to protect him.

❝ Ty had a way of consuming me whenever he was around. The world, my worries, none of it seemed to exist when I was with him, as if we lived inside our own little bubble.❞

This story was brilliant; the chemistry was on point and the plot was incredible. There were some choices Sera made that had me a bit upset however; the author made me understand her and Ty.  All the pieces came together at the end.   

❝ Sera and I shouldn't have been what we'd become anyway. Like light and dark, fire and water, the moon and the sun trying to come together. We didn't mix.❞

Intrepid was a suspenseful romantic story that had me on the edge of my bed.  Once I started it I had to know how it ended.  The book was written on dual point of view for a better understanding of each sides of the story and it goes back to the past of events.  I found myself shocked to hear some stuff that had me biting my nails the entire time.  I absolutely loved that obviously.  This book will be appealing to readers who enjoy a good  dark romantic suspense story. 

 


This was a F(BR) with War, Cc & Liz
Book Info:





For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

 

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

YAyy :) review to come!!



 

  

[FMABookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

❝I found it ironic that the very thing I'd once sought to destroy was the only thing that could save me in the end.❞

Keri Lake you destroy me!

My mind is the steel to your welder. With your words, you burn images in my mind. You are a relentless and unforgiving storyteller and for that I thank you.

Of all the stories I've read from you, this was the most difficult to read.

My heart was in my throat and tears were in my eyes about 80% of the time. I had to take breaks because there were moments too painful to read in one go. And once again, you wrote about a subject matter that I choose to not read. My number one trigger, you not only wrote about it, you embraced its horror and forced me to not look away.

You destroyed evil and built beautiful.

There was almost a poetic way in which you wrote about vengeance, but it was also violent and unforgiving. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and a battle of morals.

You took a broken and forgotten man and tenderly and reverently brought love into his life, you changed his trajectory. You took a strong woman and by tapping into her passion and her sense of justice, you made her stronger.

And while it wasn't hearts and flowers, the romance was passionate, intense and filled with desire.

You cleverly created a world where bad can also be good.

Intrepid was unforgiving and passionate, violent, and tender. It was a struggle of morals and a precarious balance of good and evil. It was a story of a lost boy and his little blue fairy.

**I was provided a review copy by the author. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.**

[Mimiorphee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woohoo what a ride! Hop onto that crazy train for a thrill that's going to leave you in a puddle on the floor!

I'm utterly in love (and love is putting it mildly)  with Keri Lake's work. Her characters, her storyline, her writing style and last but definitely not least the atmosphere of Interpid, once again blew my mind.

Sera and Ty are fantastic. So easy to relate to, although they have such complex and damaged personalities. 
Sera, is endearing: innocent, strong and smart,  she is a resilient young woman who stands up for herself and braves her deepest fears in order to help those she cares for. She is caught in the middle of a revenge war she has no idea about, and Ty, the only person to make her feel alive and who offers her the distraction she so badly needs, might also be the only person who's going to ruin her.
"Like light and dark, fire and water, the moon and the sun trying to come together. We didn’t mix."
He is ruthless, really, does Sera even have a choice when it comes to Ty? His game is merciless, his charming ways and his intrepid activities certainly caught Sera off gard. The mystery that surrounds him is intriguing!  I felt and fell for him, moved by demons that haunt him.
“You’re the knife in my skin tonight. The temporary pain that’ll make me forget everything else."

Dark, raw, sad, sometimes chilling, the story is perfectly balanced with sweet and exciting moments; Intrepid is about love, promises, and more than that, family.  It's a whirlwind of emotions, leaping from hot to cold, a play of pull and push that's wonderfully addicting and send you reeling out of your comfort zone. 

I'd like to finish by telling you how magnificent the Detroit Keri depicts in her books is. I probably will never visit it (well except for it's airport in a few weeks but I digress) but that I've come to love it thanks to the artistic vision of the author. She has a gift for taking the readers to places (usually decaying places) that exist and for making you feel their souls, for making you see the beautiful in the broken, usually thanks to extreme activities, (that you definitely need to research as well)! The feeling of being immersed into her world and her words is strong. You not only read a splendid story but you feel like you're a part of it. Thank you for the experience, it's one one the best feelings ever!!!!

I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 No Regrets Stars!

"We were fated to hate each other. I’d known that from the beginning."

It's official...when it comes to Keri Lake:



I honestly don't have any words. There is nothing I can sit here and say that will convey the way this book made me feel or do it one bit of justice. The way it chewed me up and spit me out. The way it sunk its claws into me and didn't let go until I'd gobbled up every word...and I still don't feel like I'm done or ready to move on from this story.

Pretty much from the moment I hit the 30% mark, I was unable to put it down. The beginning is a bit lighter and slower paced...and enjoy that time because, GOOD GOD, you will need your big girl panties for the rest of this book. I cannot stress this enough! Trigger warning: Child abuse and molestation.

The story is told in a dual POV, but it flips between the past and the present. The past story line is told entirely in Ty's POV and it. BROKE. ME. There's dark and then there's this book. What happens to Ty and a secondary character in the book was one of the hardest things I've ever read. And in the brilliant way in which it is told--alternating between the past and the present--every time the book flipped to the past, I found myself cringing because it kept getting worse and worse and more and more terrifying. And you know where things end up for Ty in the "present" so you know that what's coming ain't gonna be good.

Let's just say, I was as hungry for blood and revenge as Ty was!

"No home, no family, no consequences, and as far as the world was concerned, I didn’t exist. I couldn’t decide if that was a blessing, or a punishment."

Ty is a hardened, no nonsense character and I adored him. He's on a mission and all he sees is the endgame of his plan. He's tough, ruthless, flawed, and completely broken. Not only is he out for revenge, but he's emotionally stuck in his past. He gave up on any good coming out of life a long time ago.



But what he isn't ready for - is Serafina.

"I couldn’t stand to look at her. Couldn’t stand to breathe. Everything I wanted, everything I’d fantasized about, was wrapped up in the woman whose name had long paved the path for vengeance."

Of course I'm trying to be vague here in order to not give anything away...but the transition that Ty goes through, from what he'd assumed Sera was to him learning who and what she actually is, was absolutely beautiful.

“Have you ever hated someone you were supposed to love, and loved someone you were supposed to hate?”

And I loved Sera as a heroine. She's rebellious, having just left Daddy's mansion to face her fears and brave the world of Detroit all on her own for college. She has NO idea what she's in for when she meets Ty. She has her own demons too, but for the most part, she just bored with life. She's tough but compassionate and never backs down from all of Ty's MANY demons.

“It is temporary. Everything is temporary, Sera. Homes. Life. Love. What’s the point of getting attached to anything, if it all ends the same?”

I'm not gonna lie, this story has SO MUCH heartbreak in it. Yes, it is an HEA, but I have to admit, at the end, there was still a huge part of me that was very sad. They went through THAT much both individually and together. This book just broke my heart. I would be all for a second installment of just all happy smuttiness for these characters because, God damn, they deserve it.

"His kiss wasn’t sweet, or reverent, but fervent and greedy. It felt forbidden, as if we shouldn’t, for a hundred different reasons—not a single one of which came to mind in that moment."

When it comes to the steam, it was a bit of a slow burn, which totally worked and fit the story. But OMG, have no fear, because when it finally goes down, it was OFF THE CHARTS explosive!!!

“You feel that? The urgency and excitement building inside of you? All that pressure in your muscles and the need to fucking rip something apart? That’s how I feel every time I’m around you."

“Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction.” His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re going to destroy me, angel.”

The scene where she wanted to draw him while doing a certain...um...act? HAWT. AS. HELL!!!

“I want to take care of you, Ty.” I sank my fingers into his hair and slid my hand down his cheek, kissing him again, wishing I could slip beneath his skin and stay there.

“Why?” His hands spread the thin layer of sweat over my body as he swept them over every inch, as if he didn’t want to stop touching me.

“Because I think you need it. I think you need someone to take care of you.”

“You’re my little blue fairy. My most perfect thing.”

And just when I thought I had things figured out, another layer would reveal itself, another twist, another piece of the puzzle. This was just brilliant story telling. And let me just tell you, if the first 90% of the book doesn't give you an ulcer and having you drinking an entire bottle of tequila, the ending FOR SURE will!

"See, you might have connections in high places. But I have connections in very low places. Very dark places.”

This book is real and raw. It isn't a book that starts out as dark and then goes fluffy. It's a book that plunges you into the dark side of Detroit that is all too dark and scary, and what happens beneath it. I loved the practice of parkour, even though I personally am afraid of heights, so Ty hanging off of skyscrapers and cranes about gave me a heart attack!

"My heart was a canvas, an empty slate, upon which, he’d sketched his darkest desires. And no one would ever erase it, or draw over the parts he’d already claimed."

My only issue was that this book REALLY needed an epilogue. I feel like these characters endured SOOOOOO much that I just needed to read more of their happiness like to the core of my being. I was not ready to say goodbye to them whatsoever. And that ending with Eli's presence in Ty's life and how Eli's ghost says goodbye to him... I will never recover from that scene. Eli will forever hold a special place in my heart. Their connection moved me. I like to think that Eli brought Ty to Sera to watch over her when he couldn't.

"I’d been to the highest points in the city and faced off with some of its most dangerous criminals, but nothing scared the shit out of me like the thought of never seeing her again."

“I want you to know, after everything that happened, I never regretted a moment with you.”
“I never regretted it, either.”

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrepid was an awesome read from beginning to end. It was dark, gritty and I spent most of my time reading it on edge, it's definitely not an easy read. What was done to Jameson and Eli was heartbreaking and sickening. I loved Ty and Sera together, they had amazing chemistry. They both have secrets and are full of pain and guilt. Sera to me is a lost soul searching for a place to have the love she once knew. Ty is full of hate and vengeance. He is definitely not stable but Sera makes him almost normal. If I had one complaint it would be that I wish there was an Epilogue, I would have loved to know what happened to them. Although even without it I loved this read and I can't wait for more.

***ARC provided by Author***

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fucking ride!

Until I finished reading Intrepid, I didn't realize how much I had missed Keri's beautifully depraved writing style. She needs to release a book every month to fix my addiction to her words.

Intrepid is EVERYTHING you'd expect from Keri Lake and more! Her words are the best kind of torture. Ty and Sera's story had my heart-pounding in more ways than one. For two nights, sleep was not an option. It was as if my life depended on every word, every sentence I read.

A highly engaging page-turner that is much more than a simple romantic suspense. This story is dark, gritty, disturbing, but with hope, one that makes the characters determined to survive and keep going.

Like when fire meets gasoline, the moment Ty and Sera connect is explosive. All-consuming. If they had to, they would burn together, that's the kind of intensity I'm talking about here. But of course, their journey wasn't easy and nothing was exactly as it seems to them. The twists had me gasping, the trips to the past had my heart in pieces. I wouldn't change a thing about this book, I would just ask for more. More, more, more.!

A pulse-pounding ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you've read romantic suspense or are new to the genre, this is a book you need to read. This a book that will have your heart beating over the story and the characters long after you've finished reading it. A top read for this year.



You can find me here: INSTAGRAM

[Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***** 4 Stars *****

Can be read as a standalone.

Intrepid knocked my socks off. It's dark, suspenseful, and edgy. The main characters were imperfectly perfect.

Seriously... Keri Lake! Amazing!

If you haven't read her other books, this is a good place to start.

But if you have been following the Vigilantes series, the ending will leave you giddy for the next book!

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ ♥ ♥4.25 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction." His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. "You're going to destroy me, angel."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Ty is a man hardened by an event that ruined his life completely. At such a long age he lost his best friend and practically his brother, Eli, along with his father in such tragic ways. Now, Ty is ready to exact his vicious revenge that has been years in the making. He promised he would destroy those that took his only family away from him. Now, is the time for those men to suffer, eye for an eye.

Sera Kutscher is the daughter of a powerful man. She is wealthy but has never felt like she fit in those circles. Now that she is off to college she wants to be as far away from all the niceties she was brought up in. Most of all, she wants nothing to do with her control freak of a father, not that he'd even care. Sera is trying to embrace her freedom in the world, but this proves to be difficult in the dangerous side of the city where she seems to need to watch her back at all times.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

'I was drawn to her light. Her purity and innocence, as if I’d been buried alive in a cold dark tomb for too long, before being given one breath, one moment of warmth on my skin. I craved her as much as the air and the heat I needed to feel alive again.'

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Ty has been preparing for this for so long that he has mastered the skills he needs to be undetected and a fierce hunter. This book started off dark from the very start. It hooked me in from the beginning and was quite painful to read at some parts. But the writing was absolutely superb as I've come to expect from every Keri Lake book. Ty saves Sera after she is left behind at a party. Sera is very hesitant to trust him or anyone really for that matter due to the marks her past has left imprinted on her. Slowly, Ty wears her down and she begins to drop the walls around herself and her heart. The chemistry between Sera and Ty was absolutely palpable. I loved every freaking moment of it.

This book was so gritty and in such a seedy setting that worked so well. I could not put this book down because I just needed to know what Ty would do next. He was a great character, just perfect for the Vigilante series. Sera was also tough and would go any lengths for the people she loves. These two just made for a very interesting love story, one that was full of sexy passion. I absolutely loved that we were slowly given the events of the past by the timeline going back and forth. Slowly but surely, Ty's and Sera's storylines started to unfold and come together into one big picture. There are a few twists and some gruesome parts that are definitely not for everyone. However, I still think this a great dark read that you need to read for yourself.



***WARNING: Contains scenes of child abuse, rape, and graphic violence.***

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Revengeful Stars!

Keri Lake has once again delivered readers a tortured anti-hero and a heroine that is his kryptonite in Intrepid! A man filled with so much rage and gaping emotional wounds, his only focus in life is revenge. Revenge for all the pain and suffering his childhood friend, his family, and he, himself, endured. It’s a game of chess and each pawn will be eliminated.

Intrepid takes place where darkness is almost synonymous to its name- Detroit, Michigan. Crime-riddled, drugs, violence, abandoned homes...desolation. You name it. It’s a perfect place to hide in its trenches and systematically take down the group of men that ruined his childhood... his life. Ty just didn’t realize the daughter of the Kingpin pawn happens to be his biggest challenge. A challenge to withstand her draw, her palpable heart...her untold story.

”I found it ironic that the very thing I'd once sought to destroy was the only thing that could save me in the end.”

Something about the push and pull of these type of stories- where the heart battles the brain to the death. Where all bets are off at the expense of that undeniable chemistry between two people incredibly ill-suited yet so perfect for each other at the same time, characters. Together, they’re the perfect balm for all that ails their broken spirits...dreams. Sera was that for Ty and, remarkably, he was that for her as well. Where everyone has their own secrets, their own scars hidden from the world to see until they meet that one person that can possibly give them the second chance at life and love.

”You’re the knife in my skin tonight. The temporary pain that’ll make me forget everything else.”

Looking forward to more from Keri Lake and the Vigilantes Series!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Dark and twisted, this spinoff series from the Vigilantes series, boldly carries the theme of justified payback.

This book starts off in a seemingly innocent way, with two strangers meeting at a party and relying on each other to escape danger. But nothing is as it seems, and perhaps, nothing is a coincidence.

From the get go, I was a little leery of Ty. His random run ins with Sera quickly didn't seem so random. Dare I say stalkerish? The question became, is he there to protect her, or is it more sinister? The answer didn't take long to discover.

As the two main narrators, it was interesting to get into both Ty and Sera's heads. For Ty, the struggle to stay on path war with his attraction to Sera. Under that attraction is a deep hatred for her and everything she represents. Which is particularly interesting because Sera truly seems like a good person.

"Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction." His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. "You're going to destroy me, angel."

Sera does her best to escape the clutches of her father, who is a huge dickhead, on top of being ruthlessly corrupt. And as the chapters reveal more of her home life, it only gets worse. I really liked how Sera did her best to cut those ties to her dad and do what is right for the people who she cared about, tying to the third POV from Jonathan.

Of the three POVs, this one is the most disturbing, but for a while, I couldn't figure out his connection to the story. When I put it together, and the revelation confirmed by assumption, the story and the cause for vengeance becomes obvious. I was worried how far Ty would take his plan to hurt Sera, but thankfully, with some well-timed history sharing, Sera changes everything.

There are some dark elements to this story, particularly in Ty's executions. However, the interactions between Ty and Sera are more on the sweet side as he tries to win her over.

This spinoff definitely satisfied my anti-hero craving with two characters who have suffered for years, getting the revenge they deserve. Another great addition to the series! Looking forward to Dax's story next.

*An ARC was received for an honest review.

For more reviews, visit

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5 Stars

Intrepid was a wild ride that I couldn't get enough of. My heart was in my throat along with a ball of dread that sat in my stomach for a significant portion of the book. Neither of those things took away from the experience instead they enhanced it, keeping me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would happen next.

This book isn't for the faint hearted because of the nature of the topics it deals with but it's a great story, one that I highly recommend. I loved going on this journey with these characters and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I loved the bonus scene at the end, it's everything! Loved catching up with Nick and Pistol lips!


ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Have you ever hated someone you were supposed to love, and loved someone you were supposed to hate?”

Keri Lake has a flair for delivering a dark, gritty, uncompromising story, and possesses a true talent for making us feel as though we’re experiencing her words from the very unsettling streets of Detroit she writes about. Her stories feel believable, exhilarating and completely engrossing. In fact, Keri Lake writes about these surroundings so well, we’re starting to fear for her safety! Haha

‘I’d learned from watching too many cartoons that redemption was only given when you’d proven yourself worthy, and I was too far gone for that…’

Intrepid is a spinoff from the one of our favourite gritty series, The Vigilante’s series, and if you love a dark read and haven’t picked up Ricochetor Backfire as yet, stop what you’re doing and 1Click these now! Trust us, these books will make your head spin, and whilst it’s not necessary to have read either of these books to follow Ty and Sera’s story in Intrepid, we’d still recommend grabbing them, because we got a little taste of Ballistic (Vigilantes #3, yet to be released) and OMG! We need that book in our lives and can’t wait for Dax’s story in Ballistic, which is interwoven in Intrepid.

“Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction.” His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re going to destroy me, Angel.”

To the outside world Serafina (Sera) Kutscher appears to be the privileged daughter of ruthless criminal lawyer, Karl Kutscher, a man who represents the most loathed criminals in the city. However, as we scratch beneath the surface we find her life was anything but. In fact, Sera is a mere pawn in his her father’s sadistic world.

Sera escapes her father’s clutches by attending college, giving her the freedom and breathing space she craves. On a night out with her roommate and friend, she meets Ty, a menacing, handsome guy who eventually gets under her skin. Ty is emotionally closed off and mysterious, keeping his life and feelings vaulted shut.

‘For a moment, I thought I’d caught a glimpse of Ty’s heart, but it turned out, I was still scratching at his skin.’

By way of flashbacks, Ty’s story is uncovered and in true Keri Lake style, Ty’s past is traumatic, brutal, grim and heartbreaking. His overwhelming feeling of guilt is tragic. His quest for revenge is gripping, nail biting edge of your seat reading.

‘I was already on God’s shit list, so why not sweeten the ride to hell.’

As Sera and Ty’s feelings develop, and guards are dropped, we learn the secrets each is hiding, and the way in which their worlds intertwine. Keri Lake torments us, enthrals us and taunts us with Ty and Sera’s past and present. She grips us with the searing aggressive and unrelenting passion between Ty and Sera, while at the same time, invading our hearts with the loneliness, wanting and longing between these two damaged and lost souls.

“….I hate you, Sera. I fucking hate you for these things you do to me. I hate that I want you again, after I’ve already had a taste. But what I fucking hate most is that I’ll want you tomorrow, too.”

As Intrepid drew to its exhilarating conclusion, with hearts beating, we could only hold on for the ride!

‘A man who feared nothing had either never stared into the black void of his future, or had and accepted what they saw there.’

INTREPID is available to purchase below
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[Tatianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrepid gripped me from the first page and I did not want to put it down! Keri Lake's Vigilantes books are like a diamond in the rough that is dark romantic suspense — I think I will be forever be on the hunt for new books in this sub-genre that can match this level of intrigue, mystery, grit, action, heartbreak and emotional intensity.

This is technically a spinoff from the three main Vigilantes novels (Ricochet, Backfire and Ballistic), but the recommended reading order is between book two and three in order to align with the timeline of events from the overarching Vigilantes plot. Reading this one first would spoil some details — especially the bonus chapters included at the end which focus on the couple from Ricochet.

Potential triggers: abduction and captivity, child physical, sexual, psychological abuse, forced substance use, violence and gore, grief and loss, PTSD, mental illness, substance abuse, self harm, suicide, human trafficking and organized crime.

"What if the victim wasn't a victim at all? What if the killer was actually doing the world a favor?"

In this story we follow Ty and Sera, two people from very different walks of life that share one thing in common: pain. Ty is a young ironworker in Detroit who is quietly plotting and enacting vengeance on four men that shattered his world in his teenage years. Sera is a young artistic soul that grew up privileged in many ways, but has been dealt her own hand of shitty cards. She's recently moved to Detroit to go to college, finally escaping the suffocating grip of her controlling father. Little does she know, she is about to get caught in the crosshairs of Ty's revenge plot. What begins as just another step in his carefully calculated plan quickly becomes a passionate tango that threatens to derail everything he's working towards.

"Monsters did exist. And they did horrible, unimaginable things."

The plot for this story is captivating and has many layers and twists that kept me hooked and desperate for answers. I devoured this book. Lake's plotting skills are unmatched, and I have to applaud her for continuing to surprise me and hold my interest through multiple storylines that have similar themes and circumstances. The pain within these pages is unique to each character that carries its burden. Her storytelling is poetic, as always, and struck me right in the heart.

"I'd come to trust people by how much pain their eyes held, and his bore the endless depths of sorrow."

All of Lake's vigilantes are tortured souls, but Ty is his own breed. His backstory is so tragic and horrific, and the fact that his trauma occurred when he was just a boy really twisted the knife. My heart was racing and breaking for him when his flashbacks unraveled his past. His story will stay with me. It had me asking the question, how can one truly move on from such pain? I could deeply empathize with him. I understood his agenda and celebrated each bloody step his vengeful plan in hopes that it might bring him peace.

Though he's tortured and struggling in many ways, he is no beta male. This man is suave, cunning, possessive and swoon-worthy. He has survived his pain by clinging to the idea of revenge and it has molded him into a force that will stop at nothing to succeed. Oh yeah, he also drives a Ducati.

"I was drawn to her light. Her purity and innocence, as if I’d been buried alive in a cold dark tomb for too long, before being given one breath, one moment of warmth on my skin."

Sera surprised me, because I tend to struggle to connect with female protagonists when they are under 20 years old. Despite Sera's young age, she's a very introspective character and I could relate so much to her inner thoughts, her quest for passion and proclivity for feeling deeply:

"I had an affinity for pain. Not the physical variety, but the deep-seated emotional shit that left a person a sobbing pile of self-destruction afterward. My mother called it passion ... She'd told me it was the curse of being an artist, always seeking inspiration, absorbing heartache and tragedy like a lovesick sponge in order to create beauty."

She has seen the dark side of humanity too many times for such a young woman. She is resilient, fiesty, and capable — something I have come to appreciate and respect about Lake's heroines. Her growth in this story is incredible.

The emotional intensity and angst between these two characters had me so invested in their romance! The way Ty pushes Sera in the beginning took my breath away, and the way Sera pushes back creates addictive chemistry and tension between them. Both are beautifully flawed, emotionally vulnerable and side-swept by the passion they feel for each other.

"I hated the way I wanted him. I was sick for craving the fire in my belly, the thrill of pissing him off just so I could touch the scalding flame inside, like a child reaching out for a hot stove."

Once again I've been enamoured by this dark and disturbing world and rambled on way too long for this review. I think I've reached fanatic status. I can't wait to jump into Ballistic next, but I am already saddened to know that I am so close to completing the series. Lake could write one million spinoffs and I would happily devour them all.

I would recommend this series to anyone that likes intense dark romance, trauma-heavy and high-stress plot points, passionate romance, poetic love stories, suspenseful crime stories, and gritty vigilante stories with capable heroines, scarred and swoon-worthy anti-heroes and truly disturbing villains.

[Amber- Leave Me Alone I’m Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the Vigilantes series! Hot, broken heroes who are lethal killers? YES, PLEASE!! Guys, I love these twisted books! Keri Lake just has a magical way of doing these gruesome, amazing climaxes that will blow. you. away.
Intrepid had me on the edge of my seat and completely losing my shit for the entire book. If you like books that are HOT, smart, twisty, and brutal, this series is definitely for you!

[Karen Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

”If it’s meant to be, it’s gonna happen.”

HOLY HELL!!! I’m shouting my EXCITEMENT and I can’t stop!!! What another WILD RIDE from the MASTERMIND and MASTERFUL STORYTELLER, Keri Lake!!! What a rush!!! What a read!!! Deliciously dark and passionately poignant, INTREPID is a rush of a read that engulfs you in its words, stealing every bit of your breath and every beat of your heart, as every word crashes into you like lightning: frenzied, forceful, and full of feels. Intrepid is EVERYTHING!!!

Everything had to be perfect. One kill at a time.

A complex and criminally-infused storyline, a vigilante seeking redemption, a ticking clock, twists and turns, and a romance that wasn’t meant to be will light every feel on fire as you scramble to piece together this powerful puzzle. I was UTTERLY ENRAPTURED with the terrifyingly smart story of anti-hero, Ty, and heroine, Sera, both broken beauties forged together by fate and trying to find light in the darkness. Ty is so broken ... so brave ... so bold ... so devastatingly beautiful ... so intense ... so everything! Sera is perfectly imperfect, smart, brave, and gorgeous inside and out. Together they MELTED!!!

”Have you ever hated someone you were supposed to love, and loved someone you were supposed to hate?”

Dark sees dark ...
Broken sees broken ...
Soulmates see each other.

���I’m going to feed off you until I’m no longer hungry.”

A delightfully dark foray into the blood-soaked saga of secrets and vengeance, Intrepid is a RELENTLESS PAGE-TURNER of a tale chock full of twists and turns. I was UNGLUED!!! Bomb after bomb dropped on me, detonating the pages, detonating me, twisting around words as my emotions struggled to get free.

”You’re going to destroy me, angel.”

Keri Lake has a knack when it comes to exploring ugly, uncomfortable, and tough topics and the various psychological aspects that accompany them while evoking truly emotional responses. Some parts of Intrepid were ugly ... shocking ... saddening ... and so hard to read. Keri Lake shines a heartbreaking light on scary monsters in the dark—like child abuse—while generating optimism when all looks lost.

He breathed life into me, while drowning me at the same time, filling my lungs as he’d pulled me under the surface.

In Intrepid and in her other dark sensations, Keri Lake plunges you into the depths of darkness—baring every bit of blistering pain in the chilling quest for vengeance. That darkness is so ugly that you’ll want to shield yourself and take cover—yet you’ll have to take the terrifying but satisfying walk into the flames that hold pieces of the intricate plot puzzle Keri Lake masterfully weaves. You can’t help but inhale every word and every story this amazing author brings to life. Keri Lake’s words brandish you to the dark, stamping your soul with broken beauty, where you don’t ever want to leave.

We were fated to hate each other. I’d known that from the beginning.

I feel like a ravenous monster only satisfied by the darkness that the DARK ROMANCE SLAYER, Keri Lake, can feed me. Intrepid sank me into the dark so deeply that I saw the broken firsthand but then I slowly basked in the most beautiful of light. Intrepid is an INCREDIBLY INTENSE and ACHINGLY ADDICTIVE adventure I didn’t want to end. I’m still in the biggest state of BOOK BLISS. I’m still REELING from this riveting roller coaster of a romance’s aftermath. I can’t love this story enough! NO REGRETS. ALL THE FEELS!!! ALL THE LOVE!!!

”You belong to me.”

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ’no regrets’ brokenly beautiful stars

A MUST-MEET delight of a dark romance!

➡️ https://amzn.to/2He1ggH



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[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Oh, Keri Lake, you have taken us on another dark and gritty ride that is shocking, exciting and dangerously sexy, with the story of a ruthless-yet-tormented man seeking vengeance, and the woman that he needs but shouldn’t want.

This book is a spin-off from the Vigilantes series. It is set in the same desperate, crime-riddled Detroit, giving us a gruesome and horrifying look at the criminal underground, but separate from other books in the series and can easily standalone.

Ty is a man driven by his need for revenge. As a teenager he was subjected to unthinkable trauma – which is revealed in horrifying flashbacks – and he lost everything dear to him, leaving him shattered, scarred and desperate for retribution. For years he has plotted his revenge, and his plan is finally underway as he takes out the people responsible for his loss and misery.

Sera is young girl who is looking to escape her life. After the death of her mother, she lived under the controlling hand of her father, and she has at last rebelled, leaving home and attending College in the dangerous city. Her father does retain an element of control over her life through the fate of a loved one, but for the most part she is revelling in her new freedom and keen to live her own life.

Ty and Sera meet at a party and sparks fly. As much as they try to ignore their attraction, they are drawn to each other and unable to stay away. Sera recognises Ty as the dangerous, mysterious man that he is, and Ty knows that getting involved with Sera could derail his carefully considered plans. It’s an intense situation, but neither of them can stop the force of their attraction, setting the stage for a sexy, exciting and suspenseful journey for them both.

I’d tried to deny my attraction to Ty, to hold tight to what little self-control I could muster around him, but something about the guy drew me in. Like a suicidal moth to a wildfire, he kept pulling me into his heat. Luring me with the promise of something exquisite. Both frightening and exhilarating.

I could feel the pull between these two. Their flirting and banter is hot with a sense of easy fun and teasing. They want each other so much, and their passion for each other is intense, becoming almost out of control when they finally give in to it.

I’d rather have one moment with him than not at all. Even if it wasn’t beautiful and perfect. I’d date the ugly and messy just to feel it. To feel everything.

“There is no other woman for me, Sera. It’s only you … Like a fucking addiction I can’t shake.”
I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could hear the quaver in his voice, the unstable sound of a man on the edge.
“I’ll never be good enough. Not for you. But tonight, I’m going to make you feel good.”

And more than just sex, there is a connection between them that neither of them can deny, and the intensity of it all sucked me right in to everything they were feeling.

“Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction.” His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re going to destroy me, angel.”

The story twists and turns we see all that Ty has been through, and his plan for revenge reaches its pinnacle. There are secrets and reveals, and a whole lot of blood as he wreaks his vengeance across the city, but there’s also a surprising but beautifully written emotional element that had me tearing up as we truly get to the heart of the seemingly ruthless killer. He is a broken man with a hidden vulnerability beneath his harsh exterior, and I loved the complexity of his character – especially as we see him falling under the spell of Sera in a way that he never saw coming.

I was drawn to her light. Her purity and innocence, as if I’d been buried alive in a cold dark tomb for too long, before being given one breath, one moment of warmth on my skin. I craved her as much as the air and the heat I needed to feel alive again.

The urban setting is eerily but wonderfully depicted, showing the dark and dangerous world that these characters inhabit. It felt like I was there with them, in the broken down buildings, and the exhilarating moments as they survey their city from above. But that darkness also comes with some hard to read scenes, and there is a whole lot of nastiness in this book – scenes of torture, sexual assault, rape and murder are written in detail with little held back, and though they are sometimes hard to get through, they add to the feel of the story and give the details that truly allow us to get inside these character’s heads, understand their motivation and experience the story right alongside them.

But at the heart of it all is a gorgeous love story that is passionate, heartfelt and redemptive, and I loved watching these two find something so special in the midst of the darkness.

Having her in my arms made me feel invincible. Stronger. It made me realize the risks I was willing to take for her, to be able to stare into my future again without flinching.
She made me reckless. Fearless.
Intrepid.

Fans of the series will be excited by the bonus scene featuring Nick and Aubree from Ricochet, and with hints dropped for Dax’s book up next, I can’t wait for the series to continue.

4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[LoveMyAuthors · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story obliterated my heart, I have no idea how a person comes back from, let alone survives, the horrors Ty suffered.

Ty and his friend/brother Eli are stolen, imprisoned, abused, tormented and forced to endure and do the unspeakable and only one lives on to right the wrong. But there is corruption, and there is coercion and threats, and there is complete destruction and loss. A burden heavy enough to make a grown man crumble, let alone a boy, but now everyone he loves is gone. A decade of healing isn't nearly long enough to bleed out all of the hate and heartbreak. The promises of vengeance made to the ever present specter of the friend he lost, sets Ty on a path of vigilante justice that won't be swayed.

Until her.
Until Sera.
Until he discovers the focus of his obsession isn't at all what he thought she was.

"You can turn the most broken thing into something beautiful again."

He shouldn't have gotten so close.
He should have stayed away.
He promised.

If you haven't read anything by Keri Lake, trust me, you're missing out. Not only are the stories dark and gritty, but they are engaging and original and thought provoking. I would encourage you to brace yourself for a very haunting journey.

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Have you ever hated someone you were supposed to love, and loved someone you were supposed to hate?”

Keri Lake has a flair for delivering a dark, gritty, uncompromising story, and possesses a true talent for making us feel as though we’re experiencing her words from the very unsettling streets of Detroit she writes about. Her stories feel believable, exhilarating and completely engrossing. In fact, Keri Lake writes about these surroundings so well, we’re starting to fear for her safety! Haha

‘I’d learned from watching too many cartoons that redemption was only given when you’d proven yourself worthy, and I was too far gone for that…’

Intrepid is a spinoff from the one of our favourite gritty series, The Vigilante’s series, and if you love a dark read and haven’t picked up Ricochetor Backfire as yet, stop what you’re doing and 1Click these now! Trust us, these books will make your head spin, and whilst it’s not necessary to have read either of these books to follow Ty and Sera’s story in Intrepid, we’d still recommend grabbing them, because we got a little taste of Ballistic (Vigilantes #3, yet to be released) and OMG! We need that book in our lives and can’t wait for Dax’s story in Ballistic, which is interwoven in Intrepid.

“Every minute of this is a piece of my destruction.” His ragged voice sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re going to destroy me, Angel.”

To the outside world Serafina (Sera) Kutscher appears to be the privileged daughter of ruthless criminal lawyer, Karl Kutscher, a man who represents the most loathed criminals in the city. However, as we scratch beneath the surface we find her life was anything but. In fact, Sera is a mere pawn in his her father’s sadistic world.

Sera escapes her father’s clutches by attending college, giving her the freedom and breathing space she craves. On a night out with her roommate and friend, she meets Ty, a menacing, handsome guy who eventually gets under her skin. Ty is emotionally closed off and mysterious, keeping his life and feelings vaulted shut.

‘For a moment, I thought I’d caught a glimpse of Ty’s heart, but it turned out, I was still scratching at his skin.’

By way of flashbacks, Ty’s story is uncovered and in true Keri Lake style, Ty’s past is traumatic, brutal, grim and heartbreaking. His overwhelming feeling of guilt is tragic. His quest for revenge is gripping, nail biting edge of your seat reading.

‘I was already on God’s shit list, so why not sweeten the ride to hell.’

As Sera and Ty’s feelings develop, and guards are dropped, we learn the secrets each is hiding, and the way in which their worlds intertwine. Keri Lake torments us, enthrals us and taunts us with Ty and Sera’s past and present. She grips us with the searing aggressive and unrelenting passion between Ty and Sera, while at the same time, invading our hearts with the loneliness, wanting and longing between these two damaged and lost souls.

“….I hate you, Sera. I fucking hate you for these things you do to me. I hate that I want you again, after I’ve already had a taste. But what I fucking hate most is that I’ll want you tomorrow, too.”

As Intrepid drew to its exhilarating conclusion, with hearts beating, we could only hold on for the ride!

‘A man who feared nothing had either never stared into the black void of his future, or had and accepted what they saw there.’

INTREPID is available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
See our Keri Lake Recommendations

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