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Ramen Assassin #1
Ramen Assassin
Ramen Book One When life gives Kuro Jenkins lemons, he wants to make ponzu to serve at his Los Angeles ramen shop.
Instead he’s dodging bullets and wondering how the hell he ended up back in the Black Ops lifestyle he left behind him. After rescuing former child star Trey Bishop from a pair of thugs in the middle of the night, he knows it’s time to pick up his gun again. But it seems trouble isn’t done with Trey, and Kuro can’t quite let go… of either the gun or Trey Bishop.
Trey Bishop never denied his life’s downward spiral was his own fault. After a few stints in rehab, he’s finally shaken off his Hollywood bad-boy lifestyle but not his reputation. The destruction of his acting career and his relationships goes deep, and no one trusts anything he says, including the LAPD. When two men dragging a dead body spot him on a late-night run and try to murder him, Trey is grateful for the tall, dark, and deadly ramen shop owner he lusts over—not just for rescuing him, but also for believing him.
Now caught in a web of murders and lies, Trey knows someone wants him dead, and the only one on his side is a man with deep, dark secrets. Trey hopes Kuro Jenkins will stick around to see what the future holds for them once the dust settles, but from the looks of things, neither of them may survive to find out.
Instead he’s dodging bullets and wondering how the hell he ended up back in the Black Ops lifestyle he left behind him. After rescuing former child star Trey Bishop from a pair of thugs in the middle of the night, he knows it’s time to pick up his gun again. But it seems trouble isn’t done with Trey, and Kuro can’t quite let go… of either the gun or Trey Bishop.
Trey Bishop never denied his life’s downward spiral was his own fault. After a few stints in rehab, he’s finally shaken off his Hollywood bad-boy lifestyle but not his reputation. The destruction of his acting career and his relationships goes deep, and no one trusts anything he says, including the LAPD. When two men dragging a dead body spot him on a late-night run and try to murder him, Trey is grateful for the tall, dark, and deadly ramen shop owner he lusts over—not just for rescuing him, but also for believing him.
Now caught in a web of murders and lies, Trey knows someone wants him dead, and the only one on his side is a man with deep, dark secrets. Trey hopes Kuro Jenkins will stick around to see what the future holds for them once the dust settles, but from the looks of things, neither of them may survive to find out.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2019
105 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Ford
79 books1,890 followersRhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist and a multiple Gold and Silver Medalist by the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards. She is published by Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications and Rogue Firebird Press.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
July 15, 2019
I keep reading Rhys Ford's suspense/mystery series hoping to get another Cole McGinnis to love, but it doesn't seem to be panning out that way for me.
I liked Ramen Assassin, even though the plot was cray cray and the romance was underwhelming. I also had a hard time staying focused on the story, and it took me a full 10 days to get through it, which isn't a good sign for me. However, despite my gripes, I actually enjoyed the book (when I focused enough to read it).
I didn't love the romance, but the action and characters were exciting. I'm not sure where the story will lead (maybe more adventures with these same two MCs?), but I probably won't be tuning it. Though the story was entertaining enough, I'm not invested enough in the romance to continue.
If you are a big Rhys Ford fan (and aren't meh about mysteries), you will probably enjoy this one. It felt very like one of her books, if you know what I mean, and that's a good thing, I think. On to the next story for me, hopefully with more romance in it.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I liked Ramen Assassin, even though the plot was cray cray and the romance was underwhelming. I also had a hard time staying focused on the story, and it took me a full 10 days to get through it, which isn't a good sign for me. However, despite my gripes, I actually enjoyed the book (when I focused enough to read it).
I didn't love the romance, but the action and characters were exciting. I'm not sure where the story will lead (maybe more adventures with these same two MCs?), but I probably won't be tuning it. Though the story was entertaining enough, I'm not invested enough in the romance to continue.
If you are a big Rhys Ford fan (and aren't meh about mysteries), you will probably enjoy this one. It felt very like one of her books, if you know what I mean, and that's a good thing, I think. On to the next story for me, hopefully with more romance in it.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
June 28, 2019
This is one of those completely OTT blockbuster/spoof spy films. Many of the characters are cartoonish, the plot doesn't make sense but you're there for the action and look of the thing. Possibly the cars. The style of film is popular, if you like them you'll enjoy this. For me it didn't work.
The main plot makes no sense, and is fairly irrelevant anyway. Dead bodies, cartoonish ex-agents and bad guys, dysfunctional families and a great (insta-insta) romance. For me it was too much; worse everyone spoke in sound-bites it was all punchy lines or deep poetic feelings, none of which seemed natural. Every character sounded the same. Couldn't bring myself to care. At one point tension is attempted with Kuro knowing something we the reader doesn't - only we'd not learnt enough for the connection to mean anything.
For me the romance aspect was too easy it didn't feel earned or deep. One glance and Kuro KNOWS to trust Trey. Leaving nothing to work towards. The insta-insta might have been ok if the plot had more tension but kinda felt there wasn't enough of either to focus on.
At one point Kuro the 'assassin' turned chef -and no clue where he learned to cook, doesn't fit what we learn of his background- visits an old colleague and it takes nearly 8pages to get from greeting to them sitting with a cup of tea. Descriptions of the chateau, the grounds, the sounds between locations. And then commentary on the tea itself!
Later Kuro and Trey find a dead body cue 5pages describing LA/Koreatown before returning to it.
The dual pov and switching scenes made the story feel episodal and at times repetitive. I didn't need to be reminded how sexy and dangerous Kuro looks every few pages.
Throughout the police are incompetent, unprofessional and often bullies. Including the relatives. But then the choppy writing style meant I had trouble keeping track of the dead bodies too.
I love Ford's Sinners, McGinnis and Gracen but sadly wont be continuing with this series. Not my choice of film genre. If it wasn't a Ford I might be splitting stars as I really struggled to keep interest.
The main plot makes no sense, and is fairly irrelevant anyway. Dead bodies, cartoonish ex-agents and bad guys, dysfunctional families and a great (insta-insta) romance. For me it was too much; worse everyone spoke in sound-bites it was all punchy lines or deep poetic feelings, none of which seemed natural. Every character sounded the same. Couldn't bring myself to care. At one point tension is attempted with Kuro knowing something we the reader doesn't - only we'd not learnt enough for the connection to mean anything.
For me the romance aspect was too easy it didn't feel earned or deep. One glance and Kuro KNOWS to trust Trey. Leaving nothing to work towards. The insta-insta might have been ok if the plot had more tension but kinda felt there wasn't enough of either to focus on.
At one point Kuro the 'assassin' turned chef -and no clue where he learned to cook, doesn't fit what we learn of his background- visits an old colleague and it takes nearly 8pages to get from greeting to them sitting with a cup of tea. Descriptions of the chateau, the grounds, the sounds between locations. And then commentary on the tea itself!
Later Kuro and Trey find a dead body cue 5pages describing LA/Koreatown before returning to it.
The dual pov and switching scenes made the story feel episodal and at times repetitive. I didn't need to be reminded how sexy and dangerous Kuro looks every few pages.
Throughout the police are incompetent, unprofessional and often bullies. Including the relatives. But then the choppy writing style meant I had trouble keeping track of the dead bodies too.
I love Ford's Sinners, McGinnis and Gracen but sadly wont be continuing with this series. Not my choice of film genre. If it wasn't a Ford I might be splitting stars as I really struggled to keep interest.
November 28, 2022
Quando peguei o nome do livro sem ler a sinopse ( imaginando que era um ramen serial killer... Provavelmente algum sabor novo de miojo que vai te dar câncer 😅)
Agora falando sério...
A ideia do livro é boa, os personagens são bons, mas a narração é chata e arrastada. Queria ter gostado mais.
Agora falando sério...
A ideia do livro é boa, os personagens são bons, mas a narração é chata e arrastada. Queria ter gostado mais.
June 11, 2019
Another awesome start to a new series from Rhys Ford...loved it. Full review to follow soonish!
Anyone who knows me will tell you...I'm a Rhys Ford fan...
So no big secret there and needless to say when 'Ramen Assassin' was offered up for review I wanted it...again no big secret there. I've read pretty much every word that Ms Ford has committed to paper...virtual, figurative and audio. I've read the 'Sinners', Cole McGinnis, '415 Ink.', 'Murder & Mayhem', 'Hellsinger', 'Halfmoon Bay' and on and on...Rhys Ford writes it and I read it and so far this has worked really, really well for me and this has not changed.
'Ramen Assassin' is the first book in a new series by Ms. Ford where were are introduced to Trey a 28 year old who's life so far has been a roller coaster of highs and lows as his career as a child actor gave him years of success that was quickly followed by a roller coaster rid of drug and alcohol abuse, numerous stays in a variety of rehab centers. Trey's life is the stuff of soap operas because along with his personal collection of bad life choices he's got the family that not only put the 'fun' in dys'fun'ctional but they sucked it right back out again as well. After his last stint in rehab Trey swore that he was going to get his act together and he's stuck to his promise to himself and that's how he came to be on Kuro Jenkins' radar.
Kuro's the sexy owner of the local Ramen shop that Trey likes to frequent and jog past when the devil on his shoulder becomes too much to deal with and Trey feels the need to wear himself out with running so that he's too tired to chase the need...the addiction that courses through his veins calling to him...tempting him. When he can't stand it anymore Trey runs and when he can Kuro watches and he may lust after the sexy young man who spends his time trying to outrun his demons and seeks sustenance in his ramen shop from time to time.
Trey's family has been through the mill with his escapades over the years and I get that really I do but honestly I can't help but wonder how much of their toxic behavior towards him hasn't contributed to his struggles. I get that ultimately Trey is responsible for Trey's behavior but addiction is an illness and having a family whose attitude seems to be that he's going to fail before he's ever really tried can't be very helpful.
But while Trey's family may have fallen short of the mark...Kuro was amazing. He believed in Trey when no one else seemed to and yet, he didn't do it blindly and for me it felt like he wanted to believe in Trey but he also knew that Trey's struggles to stay sober were ongoing and that what he was dealing with wasn't going to go away but Kuro wanted to be there for the long haul. He wanted to be that person that Trey could depend on and I'm a total sucker for second chance stories so this just worked 100% for me.
it's not until Trey finds his life in jeopardy that he and Kuro actually cross each other's paths and it's thanks to Kuro that Trey doesn't suddenly find his life ending abruptly and unexpectedly in an alley one night until Kuro who may be run a ramen restaurant now had another life and that life equipped him with the skills he needs to keep Trey alive.
I loved that Trey was sincerely working on getting his life straightened out. He wasn't trying to blame everyone else for his screw-ups rather he was taking ownership of what he'd done and trying to move on and be a better person. That Kuro was willing to believe in Trey not just because he was interested in him but because he trusted his own instincts and those instincts told him that Trey was worth the effort.
As Trey and Kuro work together to solve the mystery of who wants not only Trey dead but Kuro, we're introduced to a collection of secondary characters set against the background for a new series that promises to be every bit as entertaining as 'Cole McGinnis', 'Murder & Mayhem' or any of the other thoroughly enjoyable stories crafted by this author.
If you're a fan of Rhys Ford, this one's definitely recommended, if you've never read Rhys Ford, seriously? what are you waiting for...this is as good a time as any to start. So grab your e-reader and a bowl of ramen, curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy.
*************************
An ARC of 'Ramen Assassin' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Anyone who knows me will tell you...I'm a Rhys Ford fan...
So no big secret there and needless to say when 'Ramen Assassin' was offered up for review I wanted it...again no big secret there. I've read pretty much every word that Ms Ford has committed to paper...virtual, figurative and audio. I've read the 'Sinners', Cole McGinnis, '415 Ink.', 'Murder & Mayhem', 'Hellsinger', 'Halfmoon Bay' and on and on...Rhys Ford writes it and I read it and so far this has worked really, really well for me and this has not changed.
'Ramen Assassin' is the first book in a new series by Ms. Ford where were are introduced to Trey a 28 year old who's life so far has been a roller coaster of highs and lows as his career as a child actor gave him years of success that was quickly followed by a roller coaster rid of drug and alcohol abuse, numerous stays in a variety of rehab centers. Trey's life is the stuff of soap operas because along with his personal collection of bad life choices he's got the family that not only put the 'fun' in dys'fun'ctional but they sucked it right back out again as well. After his last stint in rehab Trey swore that he was going to get his act together and he's stuck to his promise to himself and that's how he came to be on Kuro Jenkins' radar.
Kuro's the sexy owner of the local Ramen shop that Trey likes to frequent and jog past when the devil on his shoulder becomes too much to deal with and Trey feels the need to wear himself out with running so that he's too tired to chase the need...the addiction that courses through his veins calling to him...tempting him. When he can't stand it anymore Trey runs and when he can Kuro watches and he may lust after the sexy young man who spends his time trying to outrun his demons and seeks sustenance in his ramen shop from time to time.
Trey's family has been through the mill with his escapades over the years and I get that really I do but honestly I can't help but wonder how much of their toxic behavior towards him hasn't contributed to his struggles. I get that ultimately Trey is responsible for Trey's behavior but addiction is an illness and having a family whose attitude seems to be that he's going to fail before he's ever really tried can't be very helpful.
But while Trey's family may have fallen short of the mark...Kuro was amazing. He believed in Trey when no one else seemed to and yet, he didn't do it blindly and for me it felt like he wanted to believe in Trey but he also knew that Trey's struggles to stay sober were ongoing and that what he was dealing with wasn't going to go away but Kuro wanted to be there for the long haul. He wanted to be that person that Trey could depend on and I'm a total sucker for second chance stories so this just worked 100% for me.
it's not until Trey finds his life in jeopardy that he and Kuro actually cross each other's paths and it's thanks to Kuro that Trey doesn't suddenly find his life ending abruptly and unexpectedly in an alley one night until Kuro who may be run a ramen restaurant now had another life and that life equipped him with the skills he needs to keep Trey alive.
I loved that Trey was sincerely working on getting his life straightened out. He wasn't trying to blame everyone else for his screw-ups rather he was taking ownership of what he'd done and trying to move on and be a better person. That Kuro was willing to believe in Trey not just because he was interested in him but because he trusted his own instincts and those instincts told him that Trey was worth the effort.
As Trey and Kuro work together to solve the mystery of who wants not only Trey dead but Kuro, we're introduced to a collection of secondary characters set against the background for a new series that promises to be every bit as entertaining as 'Cole McGinnis', 'Murder & Mayhem' or any of the other thoroughly enjoyable stories crafted by this author.
If you're a fan of Rhys Ford, this one's definitely recommended, if you've never read Rhys Ford, seriously? what are you waiting for...this is as good a time as any to start. So grab your e-reader and a bowl of ramen, curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy.
*************************
An ARC of 'Ramen Assassin' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2019
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.75 Stars
Story - 3.75 Stars
June 25, 2019
This one began really well! Like REALLY well! The beginning was exciting! And I was entertained with the writing and the story. It was close to being a new Rhys Ford-favourite (along with Murder and Mayhem), until all of the family stuff got dragged into it.
Trey was a fuck-up, no doubt about that! And he definitely had some amends to make, BUT his family (the sister Kimber and the father) made me want to throw things. I did not enjoy, or like, the way that they never redeemed themselves.
Kimber was an obnoxious ass, and blamed Trey for everything… It was disheartening, to say the least, and very unhealthy in regards to Trey’s life.
I mean if she had been an ex-girlfriend that kept calling him a liar, verbally abusing him, blaming him for everything, we would have told him to run fast and to run far, but because it’s his sister….
Naaaah, I’m not buying that.
As for the rest of the story, it was Rhys Ford, but a more toned-down Rhys Ford. The metaphors were there, but not as liberally sprinkled, as they normally are.
I liked Kuro, and I liked the tapestry of characters, though the mystery got a wee bit confusing at one point. I think the mystery could have been more… Comprehensive?! But if nothing else, I am looking forward to the next book in this series, I think Trey and Kuro make a very interesting team!
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Trey was a fuck-up, no doubt about that! And he definitely had some amends to make, BUT his family (the sister Kimber and the father) made me want to throw things. I did not enjoy, or like, the way that they never redeemed themselves.
Kimber was an obnoxious ass, and blamed Trey for everything… It was disheartening, to say the least, and very unhealthy in regards to Trey’s life.
I mean if she had been an ex-girlfriend that kept calling him a liar, verbally abusing him, blaming him for everything, we would have told him to run fast and to run far, but because it’s his sister….
Naaaah, I’m not buying that.
As for the rest of the story, it was Rhys Ford, but a more toned-down Rhys Ford. The metaphors were there, but not as liberally sprinkled, as they normally are.
I liked Kuro, and I liked the tapestry of characters, though the mystery got a wee bit confusing at one point. I think the mystery could have been more… Comprehensive?! But if nothing else, I am looking forward to the next book in this series, I think Trey and Kuro make a very interesting team!
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
June 6, 2019
4.5 happily given stars!
I think Rhys Ford is at her best when she's writing suspense and crime with her romance. My favorite books by this author have been the Murder and Mayhem series, and this follows along that route.
Although neither Trey or Kuro are cops, cops are involved in this and crime is happening around them.
Trey is a washed up child actor who was a drug addict and alcoholic and has had many stints in rehab, except the last time at the start of this was two years prior, so he's been committed to staying clean more than he ever was before.
Kuro is a former black ops officer - we aren't told, but I guess he worked for the CIA? - who has to retire when his latest mission puts his face all over the news, and thus blows his cover. So, now retired, he moves to LA and opens up a ramen shop, pretty dedicated to living the normal life now.
For months, Trey has been coming to his shop, and while they haven't talked, there's been a connection.
But one late night, Trey is running through LA at night to shake off intense cravings for drugs and alcohol, a habit he's come into to be doing something when his cravings get too intense. Unfortunately, while he's running near the ramen shop, he runs into two thugs caring something very large...that turns out to be a body....that Trey recognizes.
But he doesn't have much time to think about it before the two thugs are shooting at him, and as he's being shot at outside the ramen shop, Kuro steps out of the shop in the alley and shoots at the men while protecting Trey.
Everything changes for them, not only romantically but in other parts of their life as whoever is behind the death of the man tries to kill Trey because of what he saw.
I found it a tad far-fetched that Trey ran into a crime that was connected to him - beyond them gunning for him after he sees the body - even at 3 in the morning in LA, and that that crime was happening not that far from the ramen shop, but for the story I can mostly let it go.
Because I really enjoyed Trey and Kuro together, I loved their connection and they had great chemistry. I wish we had gotten to see the full sex scene between them (we get the penetration, but it skips over mutual blowjobs and most of Kuro fingering Trey) but from what we did get it was really good. It was the only sex scene, so I wish we had gotten more, although at the same time I get that they had to establish a connection and so much shit was going on...but hey, I'm greedy ;)
The secondary characters were interesting, although Trey's older half-sister pissed me off. But then she redeemed herself at the end...but for the majority of this I wasn't feeling sympathetic toward her, even though logically I could understand her hesitance, what with Trey's past addictions and probably all he put his family through. Still, just giving her brother the tiniest chance and compassion would have been nice. (It comes near the end, but...it almost felt too little, too late.)
Overall, this was a wonderful start to this series, and I really enjoyed Trey and Kuro together, so much so I already want more. Wonder when that second installment will come out? *wink wink, nudge nudge*
I highly recommend this, and while the story and characters are different, the crime angle felt similar to Murder and Mayhem to me, so if you've enjoyed that series, then I definitely recommend this, it's worth a read.
Two thumbs up from me!
***ARC generously provided by the Alpha Book Club in exchange for an honest review***
I think Rhys Ford is at her best when she's writing suspense and crime with her romance. My favorite books by this author have been the Murder and Mayhem series, and this follows along that route.
Although neither Trey or Kuro are cops, cops are involved in this and crime is happening around them.
Trey is a washed up child actor who was a drug addict and alcoholic and has had many stints in rehab, except the last time at the start of this was two years prior, so he's been committed to staying clean more than he ever was before.
Kuro is a former black ops officer - we aren't told, but I guess he worked for the CIA? - who has to retire when his latest mission puts his face all over the news, and thus blows his cover. So, now retired, he moves to LA and opens up a ramen shop, pretty dedicated to living the normal life now.
For months, Trey has been coming to his shop, and while they haven't talked, there's been a connection.
But one late night, Trey is running through LA at night to shake off intense cravings for drugs and alcohol, a habit he's come into to be doing something when his cravings get too intense. Unfortunately, while he's running near the ramen shop, he runs into two thugs caring something very large...that turns out to be a body....that Trey recognizes.
But he doesn't have much time to think about it before the two thugs are shooting at him, and as he's being shot at outside the ramen shop, Kuro steps out of the shop in the alley and shoots at the men while protecting Trey.
Everything changes for them, not only romantically but in other parts of their life as whoever is behind the death of the man tries to kill Trey because of what he saw.
I found it a tad far-fetched that Trey ran into a crime that was connected to him - beyond them gunning for him after he sees the body - even at 3 in the morning in LA, and that that crime was happening not that far from the ramen shop, but for the story I can mostly let it go.
Because I really enjoyed Trey and Kuro together, I loved their connection and they had great chemistry. I wish we had gotten to see the full sex scene between them (we get the penetration, but it skips over mutual blowjobs and most of Kuro fingering Trey) but from what we did get it was really good. It was the only sex scene, so I wish we had gotten more, although at the same time I get that they had to establish a connection and so much shit was going on...but hey, I'm greedy ;)
The secondary characters were interesting, although Trey's older half-sister pissed me off. But then she redeemed herself at the end...but for the majority of this I wasn't feeling sympathetic toward her, even though logically I could understand her hesitance, what with Trey's past addictions and probably all he put his family through. Still, just giving her brother the tiniest chance and compassion would have been nice. (It comes near the end, but...it almost felt too little, too late.)
Overall, this was a wonderful start to this series, and I really enjoyed Trey and Kuro together, so much so I already want more. Wonder when that second installment will come out? *wink wink, nudge nudge*
I highly recommend this, and while the story and characters are different, the crime angle felt similar to Murder and Mayhem to me, so if you've enjoyed that series, then I definitely recommend this, it's worth a read.
Two thumbs up from me!
***ARC generously provided by the Alpha Book Club in exchange for an honest review***
June 18, 2019
Kuro and Trey are beyond perfect...for each other.
I love how Rhys Ford creates these characters who fit so well together, like missing puzzle pieces. Even though Trey is pretty damaged, Kuro knows the best ways to shore him up and support him.
Ramen Assassin is a dual POV, action-packed, romance with a twisty, interesting plot, some humor, a little heat later on, and a happy ending.
Fans of Rhys Ford's will surely be entertained.
I eagerly await the next book in the series as I'm really curious where Rhys is going to take these characters.
3.5 stars
title="Advanced Review copy of Ramen Assassin provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review insulin cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I love how Rhys Ford creates these characters who fit so well together, like missing puzzle pieces. Even though Trey is pretty damaged, Kuro knows the best ways to shore him up and support him.
“I’m not asking you to forget where you’ve been, but look forward to where you’re going to go. And most of all, let me celebrate where you are.”
Ramen Assassin is a dual POV, action-packed, romance with a twisty, interesting plot, some humor, a little heat later on, and a happy ending.
Fans of Rhys Ford's will surely be entertained.
I eagerly await the next book in the series as I'm really curious where Rhys is going to take these characters.
3.5 stars
title="Advanced Review copy of Ramen Assassin provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review insulin cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
June 30, 2019
As with all books by Ms Ford that I've read, she creates imperfect quirky characters that you can't help but love. The city of Los Angeles comes alive with all its smells, tastes and colors. I couldn't help but fall in love with Kuro Jenkins - fiercely protective yet oh so caring assassin turned ramen shop chef. He projected calm and steadied Trey. Despite all the rumors about Trey, he saw something worth saving and caring for in the young man who didn't see any value himself. There should be more men like Kuro who stand by their words and prove them furthermore with actions. Plus all the delicious noodle recipes made me salivate!
Trey Bishop is a child film star who burned too bright and has fallen too hard. After so many setbacks he is finally picking up the pieces of his life, when being in the wrong place at the wrong time sets a target on his back. Trey needed somebody to believe in him when his fledgling self-confidence was taking a beating from all sides. I had mixed feelings about Trey. His downward spiral was horrendous described through short flashbacks - rich talented boy with everything handed to him and throwing it away. But when I looked at his family: uncaring self-serving mother and despot of a father, I figured that Trey sought attention and affection from his TV show family and crew, only finding acceptance of the wrong kind - at the bottom of the bottle and every possible addictive substance known to man. But in the present I admired his will not to succumb to the craving.
I enjoyed the mystery which was both unorthodox and a bit bizarre. This book is very fast-paced, and is more focused on men as individuals as if setting the stage for the future relationship. The initial strong feelings develop fast, and both men are ready to discover if what they feel will last. The family dynamics also show both Kuro and Trey in different light. I enjoyed this new series beginning, and I can't wait to read Kuro and Trey's shenanigans! I highly recommend it!
Trey Bishop is a child film star who burned too bright and has fallen too hard. After so many setbacks he is finally picking up the pieces of his life, when being in the wrong place at the wrong time sets a target on his back. Trey needed somebody to believe in him when his fledgling self-confidence was taking a beating from all sides. I had mixed feelings about Trey. His downward spiral was horrendous described through short flashbacks - rich talented boy with everything handed to him and throwing it away. But when I looked at his family: uncaring self-serving mother and despot of a father, I figured that Trey sought attention and affection from his TV show family and crew, only finding acceptance of the wrong kind - at the bottom of the bottle and every possible addictive substance known to man. But in the present I admired his will not to succumb to the craving.
I enjoyed the mystery which was both unorthodox and a bit bizarre. This book is very fast-paced, and is more focused on men as individuals as if setting the stage for the future relationship. The initial strong feelings develop fast, and both men are ready to discover if what they feel will last. The family dynamics also show both Kuro and Trey in different light. I enjoyed this new series beginning, and I can't wait to read Kuro and Trey's shenanigans! I highly recommend it!
October 26, 2019
3.5 Stars
Ramen Assassin is a pretty good start to Rhys Ford's new series. Let's see, what do we have here:
MC's I can't help but root for ✅
Food ✅
Cool Cat ✅
Murder ✅✅✅
Trey Bishop has led a life of privilege, in the public eye. Being thrust into the spotlight as a child actor didn't do him any favors. Addiction, scandals, rehab, Trey has lived life in the fast lane. He's been sober for a couple years, now, but he's still trying to make amends for being such a bad brother and son. He's not close to his family, at all, and his only support system is his best friend Sera, who used to be his father's mistress. Trey is floundering, not knowing what he wants to do with his life, now. Well, life is just about to get real, Trey, so be sure to fasten your seat belt!
Kuro Jenkins is a ramen chef with one hell of a past. A former black-ops operative, he just wants to live his life in peace and make ramen and maybe get to know this cute guy that keeps coming into the restaurant... and so it went until one night Kuro is thrust right in the middle of a couple of goons trying to kill that cute guy.
Ramen Assassin is action, suspense, and romance, all rolled up into one. There are gun fights, explosions, car chases, and it's pretty fast paced. I enjoyed Trey and Kuro's chemistry, but I could have done with just a smidge of relationship angst. Everything was just so perfect between them. A little too perfect. But, I suppose when you're running for your life, priorities are just a little different. Trey and Kuro are just getting started, though, so there is hope yet.
I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to this new series continuing. I think we're off to a good start!
--------------------------
ARC of Ramen Assassin was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
Ramen Assassin is a pretty good start to Rhys Ford's new series. Let's see, what do we have here:
MC's I can't help but root for ✅
Food ✅
Cool Cat ✅
Murder ✅✅✅
Trey Bishop has led a life of privilege, in the public eye. Being thrust into the spotlight as a child actor didn't do him any favors. Addiction, scandals, rehab, Trey has lived life in the fast lane. He's been sober for a couple years, now, but he's still trying to make amends for being such a bad brother and son. He's not close to his family, at all, and his only support system is his best friend Sera, who used to be his father's mistress. Trey is floundering, not knowing what he wants to do with his life, now. Well, life is just about to get real, Trey, so be sure to fasten your seat belt!
Kuro Jenkins is a ramen chef with one hell of a past. A former black-ops operative, he just wants to live his life in peace and make ramen and maybe get to know this cute guy that keeps coming into the restaurant... and so it went until one night Kuro is thrust right in the middle of a couple of goons trying to kill that cute guy.
Ramen Assassin is action, suspense, and romance, all rolled up into one. There are gun fights, explosions, car chases, and it's pretty fast paced. I enjoyed Trey and Kuro's chemistry, but I could have done with just a smidge of relationship angst. Everything was just so perfect between them. A little too perfect. But, I suppose when you're running for your life, priorities are just a little different. Trey and Kuro are just getting started, though, so there is hope yet.
I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to this new series continuing. I think we're off to a good start!
--------------------------
ARC of Ramen Assassin was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2019
This is classic Rhys Ford, everything I look for in one of her books, and I loved everything about the story. I loved how Trey wasn't broken but very vulnerable and his addiction issues were dealt with realistically. I adored Kuro and how he wanted to help Trey, but not "fix" him...that was for Trey to do himself and Kuro only offered to be the support system he so very much needed given that family Trey grew up in.
The side characters were interesting as all hell, too. But I expect nothing less from Rhys. People aren't just peppered into her stories for no reason. They all have roles important to the tale, to the characters, to the action or plot. I hope we get to see more of Holly & Boom Boom, especially. (Kimber, eh, not so much; what Kuro said about her bitterness and inability to move on was SPOT ON and it made her an unlikable character.)
The solitary sex scene was so romantic (and super hot) and melted my heart. I think I sprained my neck nodding so hard agreeing with Kuro's assessment of how (western) society has trained men out of touching each other...and loved it as much as he did when Trey simply asked to be held.
And every time I look at the title I chuckle a bit because - as bad as they are for me - I eat a ton of ramen...so much so that my kid has frequently called me a Ramen Assassin when I tend to finish them off before anyone else gets to them. (In my defense, I do add frozen vegetables and other seasonings, also throwing out the flavor packet to make them slightly more healthy.)
I cannot wait until we get a new installment in this series. There's so much in Kuro's past that could come back to haunt him and I am eager to see what happens...
(Also, I hope this comes out on audio because I can totally hear Greg in my head killing the narration with his awesome accent & performance skills.)
The side characters were interesting as all hell, too. But I expect nothing less from Rhys. People aren't just peppered into her stories for no reason. They all have roles important to the tale, to the characters, to the action or plot. I hope we get to see more of Holly & Boom Boom, especially. (Kimber, eh, not so much; what Kuro said about her bitterness and inability to move on was SPOT ON and it made her an unlikable character.)
The solitary sex scene was so romantic (and super hot) and melted my heart. I think I sprained my neck nodding so hard agreeing with Kuro's assessment of how (western) society has trained men out of touching each other...and loved it as much as he did when Trey simply asked to be held.
And every time I look at the title I chuckle a bit because - as bad as they are for me - I eat a ton of ramen...so much so that my kid has frequently called me a Ramen Assassin when I tend to finish them off before anyone else gets to them. (In my defense, I do add frozen vegetables and other seasonings, also throwing out the flavor packet to make them slightly more healthy.)
I cannot wait until we get a new installment in this series. There's so much in Kuro's past that could come back to haunt him and I am eager to see what happens...
(Also, I hope this comes out on audio because I can totally hear Greg in my head killing the narration with his awesome accent & performance skills.)
no-trey-no-way
June 18, 2019I'm torn.
On the one hand, this is Rhys Ford and there has never been a book written by her that I haven't absolutely loved.
On the other, one of the MCs is named Trey. My oldest son's name is Trey. I just... dunno if I can do it.
It's Rhys Ford, you guys. Rhys Ford. I have to read everything she writes because I'll feel like my life is incomplete if I don't.
But... But... his name is Trey.
Gah! Life is so unfair.
June 25, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Ramen Assassin is the first book in a new series by Rhys Ford, and like so many of her books, it starts with a bang and just keeps going from there. From the moment this one began, I was totally drawn in to the suspense and excitement. Not only are things high octane, but the story is twisty and clever and every time it seemed like I knew where things were going, there was another surprise. Ford is so good at mystery/suspense stories and Ramen Assassin is so exciting and clever, I really found myself engrossed in the action.
Trey and Kuro are quite sweet together as a couple. They are sort of thrown together by dire circumstances, but there is a tenderness between them amidst all the chaos. Trey is a man who let his life get spectacularly out of control to the point he destroyed pretty much everything he had. Now he has gotten himself back together, but the scars are still there in so many parts of his life, including his relationship with his family. I think there is a nice balance here of Kuro being Trey’s defender and caretaker, as he is much more familiar with this dark world into which Trey has been dragged. But at the same time, we see strength in Trey as he has learned to get control over his life, which I think is really critical for their relationship. So I liked these guys together a lot and they feel like a good fit.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Ramen Assassin is the first book in a new series by Rhys Ford, and like so many of her books, it starts with a bang and just keeps going from there. From the moment this one began, I was totally drawn in to the suspense and excitement. Not only are things high octane, but the story is twisty and clever and every time it seemed like I knew where things were going, there was another surprise. Ford is so good at mystery/suspense stories and Ramen Assassin is so exciting and clever, I really found myself engrossed in the action.
Trey and Kuro are quite sweet together as a couple. They are sort of thrown together by dire circumstances, but there is a tenderness between them amidst all the chaos. Trey is a man who let his life get spectacularly out of control to the point he destroyed pretty much everything he had. Now he has gotten himself back together, but the scars are still there in so many parts of his life, including his relationship with his family. I think there is a nice balance here of Kuro being Trey’s defender and caretaker, as he is much more familiar with this dark world into which Trey has been dragged. But at the same time, we see strength in Trey as he has learned to get control over his life, which I think is really critical for their relationship. So I liked these guys together a lot and they feel like a good fit.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
dnf
July 2, 2019DNF 19%
Substance abuse/recovery. Insta-love. Verbose, over-descriptive prose. Just... nope.
Substance abuse/recovery. Insta-love. Verbose, over-descriptive prose. Just... nope.
August 9, 2020
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/10/16/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars – that place between like and love
Rating: 3.5 Stars – that place between like and love
June 14, 2019
Stayed up late reading this into the morning hours. Rhys's work is really powerful and I enjoyed so many things about this book. However, there were also little things that niggled at me. Twice Kuro is riding in a "bullet-ridden" van. This phrase yanked me out of the narrative both times I came upon it. Deciding it was supposed to be "bullet-riddled", I happily jumped back in, but, obviously (because I am mentioning it here), the oddity stuck with me.
As to characters: I liked Kurotsuki a lot. TBC
As to characters: I liked Kurotsuki a lot. TBC
February 26, 2019
Leaving this here to anchor. Will remove once pubbed.
January 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this ... I know it was predictable but it had a sense of fun to it. An easy read and was certainly delicious !
June 25, 2019
Originally published at Reading Reality
This book will make you hungry. For some good ramen. (The author has even sent a recipe to get you started!) And for more of this series and these characters. Consider yourself warned!
I want to say that the opening of Ramen Assassin reminds me more than a bit of Sinner’s Gin. But that’s not strictly true. What the initial scenes really remind me of is the opening of a James Bond movie, the part before the opening credits where Bond finds himself unexpectedly in the middle of a firefight and has to kill someone whose death seems coincidental but turns out to be critical to the main story.
And that is the way that Ramen Assassin opens. Kuro Jenkins is a covert (US) government agent, and he enters the story rescuing a bunch of kidnapped children, tearing up the streets in a bullet-riddled van only to crash through the gates of the American Embassy and smack dab into a crowd of international reporters covering a garden party.
With his cover completely, totally and utterly blown, and his body nearly as full of bullets as that van, Kuro hangs up his secret identity and opens a tiny noodle shop in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.
Just because he’s hung up his secret identity doesn’t mean that he’s put away all the tools of his former trade. That turns out to be a good thing for washed-up former child star Trey Bishop, when Trey races past his closed shop in the middle of the night, chased by armed goons for no reason that Trey knows.
Except that he witnessed those goons transporting a very dead body – an act they clearly don’t want any witnesses for – whether those witnesses will be believed or not.
And this is the point where the opening starts reminding me of Sinner’s Gin. Because Trey needs protection – not just from the goons, but from his sister-the-cop, the dysfunctional rich family that he has disappointed at every turn, and his own demons.
In protecting Trey, Kuro discovers that he’s never lost the taste for the adrenaline rush of his old job – and hasn’t lost many of his skills either. He’ll need to be back on his A game to protect Trey from whoever is out to get him – because that dead guy was not the figment of Trey’s formerly drug-addled mind as the police in general and his sister in particular want to believe it was.
Someone is out to get Trey, and Kuro is the only thing standing in their way. If he’ll stick. Something that neither Trey nor Kuro have much practice in. But the goon squad is playing for keeps – and it turns out, so is Kuro. And surprising everyone who knows him, so is Trey.
If Kuro can keep both of them alive long enough to figure it all out.
Escape Rating A-: It’s not just that the relationship between Kuro and Trey reminds me more than a bit of the relationship between Miki St. John and Kane Morgan in Sinner’s Gin – although it does. It’s also that we discover very early on that Trey is a fan of Miki’s – so this is the same world and it’s possible they might overlap at some point.
I hope so, it’s always good to see how old friends are doing – and for many, many readers, the cast of the Sinner’s series have become very good friends indeed. However, the connection is extremely loose and there’s no NEED to read the Sinner’s series before Ramen Assassin, but if you like this you’ll like that and vice versa.
But back to Ramen Assassin, which has to be one of the great titles. It’s completely apt, brings a smile to the reader’s face, intrigues one to read more to figure it out – and it’s absolutely apropos. Kuro may not have exactly been an assassin, but he was a government agent with the proverbial license to kill, and he is currently a ramen shop owner and chef.
Ramen Assassin is romantic suspense, at least it’s that more than it’s any other genre. As romantic suspense, that means there are two primary plot threads, one is the budding romantic relationship between Kuro and Trey, and the second is figuring out who is after Trey and why so that our heroes can figure out whether they have a future together – after they deal with whoever is trying to prevent them from having a future at all.
Watching Kuro and Trey hesitantly work towards a relationship is beautifully torturous. They sorta/kinda knew each other before the alley shootout. They live in the same neighborhood, Kuro lives above his shop, and Trey is a semi-regular customer. They’ve been eyeing each other for a while, but they both have cases of the “I’m not worthys”, albeit coming from entirely different perspectives.
Kuro’s former occupation did not exactly lend itself to long-term relationships, as evidenced by any spy thriller or cop series where the operative has to remain unknown and undercover. Having to lie about who you are, what you do and where you go is not exactly conducive to any relationship longer than a brief fling.
Kuro’s just inexperienced and out of practice – not that he ever had much – at relationships. Trey, however, has a metric buttload of baggage dragging behind him. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of a relationship or capable of being part of one because he hasn’t been. He was a spoiled, indulged child star who descended into booze, drugs and entirely too many self-induced near-death experiences. He’s lied, cheated and stolen to get his next fix, and his family are the people he’s lied to the most. Hence his sister-the-cop’s complete distrust of anything he says or does.
But Trey’s been clean and sober for two years now – and beginning to be fed up with continuing to pay for his mistakes. Not that there weren’t plenty of them and not that he didn’t deserve to pay and pay plenty. But there has to be a point where the hard work that he’s done in the past two years earns him at least a tiny bit of “trust but verify” instead of suspicion and derision and only suspicion and derision.
With Kuro, Trey has a clean slate. Building a relationship is hard – it’s hard for both of them. But watching them work towards it is terrific. They earn their chance at happy.
The suspense plot starts with a bang. Honestly, lots of bangs. Initially, it seems very simple – two goons are transporting a dead body and try to clean up the only witness – Trey. But that simple beginning spirals out of control in every possible direction. The goons go after Kuro directly – big mistake. More goons come after Trey. That initial dead body is somehow tied to Trey’s uber-rich daddy and his very successful business. The cops are fixed in their belief that everything must be Trey’s fault. And it kind of is, but not anything like the way they think it is.
In the end, the mess goes into (I really want to say “goos” into, because it’s a big sploogy mess), some of the shadier parts of Kuro’s past and some of the murkier places of not Trey’s past but his dad’s. And finally explodes in a direction that felt like it came a bit out of left field – at least for this reader.
I loved Ramen Assassin. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Kuro and Trey, the beginnings of Trey’s redemption with his highly dysfunctional family, and peeks into Kuro’s secret history.
I’m hungry for more. Soon, please!
This book will make you hungry. For some good ramen. (The author has even sent a recipe to get you started!) And for more of this series and these characters. Consider yourself warned!
I want to say that the opening of Ramen Assassin reminds me more than a bit of Sinner’s Gin. But that’s not strictly true. What the initial scenes really remind me of is the opening of a James Bond movie, the part before the opening credits where Bond finds himself unexpectedly in the middle of a firefight and has to kill someone whose death seems coincidental but turns out to be critical to the main story.
And that is the way that Ramen Assassin opens. Kuro Jenkins is a covert (US) government agent, and he enters the story rescuing a bunch of kidnapped children, tearing up the streets in a bullet-riddled van only to crash through the gates of the American Embassy and smack dab into a crowd of international reporters covering a garden party.
With his cover completely, totally and utterly blown, and his body nearly as full of bullets as that van, Kuro hangs up his secret identity and opens a tiny noodle shop in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.
Just because he’s hung up his secret identity doesn’t mean that he’s put away all the tools of his former trade. That turns out to be a good thing for washed-up former child star Trey Bishop, when Trey races past his closed shop in the middle of the night, chased by armed goons for no reason that Trey knows.
Except that he witnessed those goons transporting a very dead body – an act they clearly don’t want any witnesses for – whether those witnesses will be believed or not.
And this is the point where the opening starts reminding me of Sinner’s Gin. Because Trey needs protection – not just from the goons, but from his sister-the-cop, the dysfunctional rich family that he has disappointed at every turn, and his own demons.
In protecting Trey, Kuro discovers that he’s never lost the taste for the adrenaline rush of his old job – and hasn’t lost many of his skills either. He’ll need to be back on his A game to protect Trey from whoever is out to get him – because that dead guy was not the figment of Trey’s formerly drug-addled mind as the police in general and his sister in particular want to believe it was.
Someone is out to get Trey, and Kuro is the only thing standing in their way. If he’ll stick. Something that neither Trey nor Kuro have much practice in. But the goon squad is playing for keeps – and it turns out, so is Kuro. And surprising everyone who knows him, so is Trey.
If Kuro can keep both of them alive long enough to figure it all out.
Escape Rating A-: It’s not just that the relationship between Kuro and Trey reminds me more than a bit of the relationship between Miki St. John and Kane Morgan in Sinner’s Gin – although it does. It’s also that we discover very early on that Trey is a fan of Miki’s – so this is the same world and it’s possible they might overlap at some point.
I hope so, it’s always good to see how old friends are doing – and for many, many readers, the cast of the Sinner’s series have become very good friends indeed. However, the connection is extremely loose and there’s no NEED to read the Sinner’s series before Ramen Assassin, but if you like this you’ll like that and vice versa.
But back to Ramen Assassin, which has to be one of the great titles. It’s completely apt, brings a smile to the reader’s face, intrigues one to read more to figure it out – and it’s absolutely apropos. Kuro may not have exactly been an assassin, but he was a government agent with the proverbial license to kill, and he is currently a ramen shop owner and chef.
Ramen Assassin is romantic suspense, at least it’s that more than it’s any other genre. As romantic suspense, that means there are two primary plot threads, one is the budding romantic relationship between Kuro and Trey, and the second is figuring out who is after Trey and why so that our heroes can figure out whether they have a future together – after they deal with whoever is trying to prevent them from having a future at all.
Watching Kuro and Trey hesitantly work towards a relationship is beautifully torturous. They sorta/kinda knew each other before the alley shootout. They live in the same neighborhood, Kuro lives above his shop, and Trey is a semi-regular customer. They’ve been eyeing each other for a while, but they both have cases of the “I’m not worthys”, albeit coming from entirely different perspectives.
Kuro’s former occupation did not exactly lend itself to long-term relationships, as evidenced by any spy thriller or cop series where the operative has to remain unknown and undercover. Having to lie about who you are, what you do and where you go is not exactly conducive to any relationship longer than a brief fling.
Kuro’s just inexperienced and out of practice – not that he ever had much – at relationships. Trey, however, has a metric buttload of baggage dragging behind him. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of a relationship or capable of being part of one because he hasn’t been. He was a spoiled, indulged child star who descended into booze, drugs and entirely too many self-induced near-death experiences. He’s lied, cheated and stolen to get his next fix, and his family are the people he’s lied to the most. Hence his sister-the-cop’s complete distrust of anything he says or does.
But Trey’s been clean and sober for two years now – and beginning to be fed up with continuing to pay for his mistakes. Not that there weren’t plenty of them and not that he didn’t deserve to pay and pay plenty. But there has to be a point where the hard work that he’s done in the past two years earns him at least a tiny bit of “trust but verify” instead of suspicion and derision and only suspicion and derision.
With Kuro, Trey has a clean slate. Building a relationship is hard – it’s hard for both of them. But watching them work towards it is terrific. They earn their chance at happy.
The suspense plot starts with a bang. Honestly, lots of bangs. Initially, it seems very simple – two goons are transporting a dead body and try to clean up the only witness – Trey. But that simple beginning spirals out of control in every possible direction. The goons go after Kuro directly – big mistake. More goons come after Trey. That initial dead body is somehow tied to Trey’s uber-rich daddy and his very successful business. The cops are fixed in their belief that everything must be Trey’s fault. And it kind of is, but not anything like the way they think it is.
In the end, the mess goes into (I really want to say “goos” into, because it’s a big sploogy mess), some of the shadier parts of Kuro’s past and some of the murkier places of not Trey’s past but his dad’s. And finally explodes in a direction that felt like it came a bit out of left field – at least for this reader.
I loved Ramen Assassin. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Kuro and Trey, the beginnings of Trey’s redemption with his highly dysfunctional family, and peeks into Kuro’s secret history.
I’m hungry for more. Soon, please!
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1636739475i%2F5520447._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 1, 2019
4 stars!
*
Ramen Assassin is a fun novel with lots of action and a fast-moving romance. The premise is pretty creative and the execution of the plot is well done and surprising, if a bit convoluted, and the characters are all layered and intriguing. This is a pretty good set up for a new series and super entertaining.
Rhys Ford is back with another new and dangerous world. The narrative is engaging and the story moves at a fast pace. The dual POVs are also really well written, if a bit too focused on monologues and descriptions, and builds up the tension and its breaking point in delightful ways.
This was fun! I picked this one up on a whim and quite enjoyed it. The plot captures your attention right away and the way Ford introduces and develops the characters and the main conflict in the novel is really well done. There’s action right off the bat and things only pick up as the story progresses.
Kuro and Trey are great narrative voices, even if Ford does focus a bit too much on descriptions and their internal monologues. They have very distinct voices and their interactions are wonderful. The secondary characters are also well developed, even when the story focuses on their biggest flaws.
There is some romance, which I guess falls into the instalust/instalove category. It doesn’t take anything away from the narrative, though, and it does work with the pace and story Ford has set up and is telling. There’s some steam, but the focus is very much on figuring out the murders that have been going on.
Overall Ramen Assassin is a fun and entertaining read with a fast pace, lots of action, and lovely characters. The story hooks you in right from the opening scene and things only get better from there. Recommend it to all M/M fans looking for a fast paced novel with lots of gun fights!
*
Series: #1 in the Ramen Assassin series.
POV: Told from Kuro and Trey’s POV.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: Light steam!
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: TBA.
*
“...you’re my particularly favorite brand of trouble.”
Ramen Assassin is a fun novel with lots of action and a fast-moving romance. The premise is pretty creative and the execution of the plot is well done and surprising, if a bit convoluted, and the characters are all layered and intriguing. This is a pretty good set up for a new series and super entertaining.
Rhys Ford is back with another new and dangerous world. The narrative is engaging and the story moves at a fast pace. The dual POVs are also really well written, if a bit too focused on monologues and descriptions, and builds up the tension and its breaking point in delightful ways.
This was fun! I picked this one up on a whim and quite enjoyed it. The plot captures your attention right away and the way Ford introduces and develops the characters and the main conflict in the novel is really well done. There’s action right off the bat and things only pick up as the story progresses.
Kuro and Trey are great narrative voices, even if Ford does focus a bit too much on descriptions and their internal monologues. They have very distinct voices and their interactions are wonderful. The secondary characters are also well developed, even when the story focuses on their biggest flaws.
There is some romance, which I guess falls into the instalust/instalove category. It doesn’t take anything away from the narrative, though, and it does work with the pace and story Ford has set up and is telling. There’s some steam, but the focus is very much on figuring out the murders that have been going on.
Overall Ramen Assassin is a fun and entertaining read with a fast pace, lots of action, and lovely characters. The story hooks you in right from the opening scene and things only get better from there. Recommend it to all M/M fans looking for a fast paced novel with lots of gun fights!
*
Series: #1 in the Ramen Assassin series.
POV: Told from Kuro and Trey’s POV.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: Light steam!
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: TBA.
July 13, 2019
There's nothing I like better than another new series from one of my favorite authors! Great start, characters I really liked, lots of action and lovely romance, everything I love in Rhys Ford's stories.
The investigative part was exciting and well done and I loved the idea of a retired covert operative running a ramen shop. I loved that Trey was trying so hard to clean his life up against the odds after failing so spectacularly for so long. I really loved both him and Kuro and loved them together, loved Kuro's tender, protective vibe *and enjoyed the hell out of him telling Kimber off*.
The only thing I did miss was the electric chemistry and strong connection between the MCs that's usually a part of this authors books. Trey and Kuro were easy and natural together, given that they'd spent so long each fantasizing about the other. *Even though the weapons and ass-kicking Kuro dealt did give Trey a moment or two, LOL* It didn't feel insta-love but neither was it passionate and intense. Honestly, it was understandable, given all that Trey had gone through and was going through, and Kuro's determination to not take advantage of his vulnerability.
I very much enjoyed this and am looking forward to seeing where they go from here!
The investigative part was exciting and well done and I loved the idea of a retired covert operative running a ramen shop. I loved that Trey was trying so hard to clean his life up against the odds after failing so spectacularly for so long. I really loved both him and Kuro and loved them together, loved Kuro's tender, protective vibe *and enjoyed the hell out of him telling Kimber off*.
The only thing I did miss was the electric chemistry and strong connection between the MCs that's usually a part of this authors books. Trey and Kuro were easy and natural together, given that they'd spent so long each fantasizing about the other. *Even though the weapons and ass-kicking Kuro dealt did give Trey a moment or two, LOL* It didn't feel insta-love but neither was it passionate and intense. Honestly, it was understandable, given all that Trey had gone through and was going through, and Kuro's determination to not take advantage of his vulnerability.
I very much enjoyed this and am looking forward to seeing where they go from here!
November 9, 2019
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Poor Trey has had it rough and most of that has been heaped on himself through his own doing. Now he's been shot at and seen a dead body and even his own sister doesn't believe him. He's gone down too many drug binges for people to believe he's telling the truth now. Kuro has been intrigued by the hot guy who sits at his ramen bar and eats his food, but trying to have a normal life after the one he's lead isn't that easy. Taking a shot at the guys chasing Trey is the easy part.
I liked watching these two dance around each other and learn to trust someone new. Kuro's had quite the adventurous life and he totally came across as the alpha badass super spy, but yet he's so sweet with his cat and his patience with Trey. This was a fun intro books and I really want to know more about what's going to happen next. Feels like there are plans a-brewin'.
I liked watching these two dance around each other and learn to trust someone new. Kuro's had quite the adventurous life and he totally came across as the alpha badass super spy, but yet he's so sweet with his cat and his patience with Trey. This was a fun intro books and I really want to know more about what's going to happen next. Feels like there are plans a-brewin'.
September 14, 2019
I went book shopping and found this and seriously...Rhys Ford +Kale Williams...who am I to resist. It was fun to revisit this story and I definitely enjoyed it every bit as much as when I read it the first time. Mr. Williams did an awesome job with the narration. If you liked the book and you enjoy audio books you might want to check this one out...definitely recommended.
July 12, 2019
Not bad but not a fave. A little too heavy on the insta-love. But if you like food, angsty boys, and gunfights check this one out.
August 12, 2019
A fast and fun romp, completely Rhys Ford and just the way I like it! This was a great open to a new series and I can't wait to see how their romance develops in the next story. But, GOD!! Trey's family was so frustrating!
May 2, 2020
High octane action and I loved every minute! Great mystery, sizzling chemistry, and I want to have more of Kuro and Trey. Even the side characters were awesome, including the “naked mole rat of a cat” Yuki. Here is a story of two guys rebuilding their lives, both have past they want to bury. Yet they come from to extreme directions of life, only to have fate bring them together in a ramen shop. I think this is one of Rhys Ford’s finest. Well done!
August 11, 2020
The audio improved this one. Perhaps a bit too much action at times - felt a bit unreal (It reminded me of the Half Moon Bay series) - because the realism factor was toned down to low. I really loved Kuru and Trey though and there was definitely chemistry and a lot of heat between them. The whole mystery thing was just a bit strange and Trey's family was just so odd at times. BUT man I just didn't want to stop listening because it kept me totally engaged and immersed so more than 4 stars it is
June 27, 2019
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Reading Rhys Ford books are always a unique and enjoyable experience for me. I feel like Rhys's voice is unique in the mm romance genre and even though this review is supposed to be about the book itself, I have to mention the writing style. I've read a lot of mystery/thriller books in mm romance and while I love most of what I read, there is a grittier feel to Rhys's books. I am not one for graphic violence and sometimes that is what I get with this author, but everything is so powerfully written. I am brought more into the story and can feel how the characters feel. Like the stopping of time while the action occurs, the stark notice of an insignificant detail because they are so in the moment. Everything is surreal and vivid all at once. I haven't read any author who is able to create those same feelings in me as this one.
And that's not to mention the fun pop culture references from movies, television, and other books. There are cross over characters from her other series, and some from other authors that I also love to read. Rhys also writes with a lot of similes and metaphors. In this book there are references to Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and Hans Christian Anderson tales. I definitely get a little giddy when I know or recognize the references because I'm a fangirl of the author and trivia in general. Needless to say, I am a big fan of the author and her writing. There is so much more going on besides the murder mystery, and the romance that I just felt it needed to be mentioned.
So, on to the book. I'm so glad this is going to be a series, because I fell in love with Kuro almost as soon as I met him. I'm not sure how to best describe his job. We first meet him rescuing children from prominent families from their kidnappers. He's somewhat of a gun for hire, but he has honor and a conscience. He has killed people but he's not an assassin, despite the title of the book. Trying to settle into a normal life after age and injury made his job more difficult, he opens a ramen restaurant where he serves Trey food, but hasn't talked to him. Not until Trey runs past the back of the store when Kuro just happened to be out, and two men with guns follow. Kuro is a stand up guy whose description sure makes him sound sexy, but the way he carries himself with confidence and capability makes him even more so.
Trey is not a character that I necessarily fell in love with, but I could definitely feel for him. He's kind of a washed up actor after childhood fame and drugs took their toll on him. He a little aimless and still fighting the pull of drugs when he goes for a run in the wee hours of morning and happens to see two men putting a body in a truck. It's even more unfortunate that he recognizes the body. The show he used to star in was about gangsters and violence but it doesn't prepare him for the danger that enters his real life. What I most feel bad about for him is the way his family treats him. I can't say that I know what it feels like to have a drug addict in the family. I don't know how it feels to see someone do harmful things to themselves over and over. I can imagine that it gets tiring and and sometimes for their own health people have to let that loved one go. Not that Trey ever really felt familial love, and his family hasn't really let him go, they only sit in judgement refusing to see how much Trey is really trying to stay clean and sober.
This is definitely an action packed book with a lot of suspects in the multiple attempts on Trey's life. I didn't really have a clue who was responsible though I found a few people very suspicious. In this case, I was completely off the mark. I loved the pairing of Kuro and Trey, though it felt like Kuro really carried Trey for most of the book. It wasn't that Trey was spineless or useless, but years of feeling inadequate and not feeling validation from the ones he cared about, wouldn't just go away as soon as he met Kuro. And Kuro wasn't caring for a man who would never get his act together, but he realized that for the time being Trey just needed to be taken care of so that he would have that chance to figure out who he was. It's a sweet love story with Rhys Ford's usual gritty mystery and I loved it. I can't wait to see what is next for this series.
Reading Rhys Ford books are always a unique and enjoyable experience for me. I feel like Rhys's voice is unique in the mm romance genre and even though this review is supposed to be about the book itself, I have to mention the writing style. I've read a lot of mystery/thriller books in mm romance and while I love most of what I read, there is a grittier feel to Rhys's books. I am not one for graphic violence and sometimes that is what I get with this author, but everything is so powerfully written. I am brought more into the story and can feel how the characters feel. Like the stopping of time while the action occurs, the stark notice of an insignificant detail because they are so in the moment. Everything is surreal and vivid all at once. I haven't read any author who is able to create those same feelings in me as this one.
And that's not to mention the fun pop culture references from movies, television, and other books. There are cross over characters from her other series, and some from other authors that I also love to read. Rhys also writes with a lot of similes and metaphors. In this book there are references to Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and Hans Christian Anderson tales. I definitely get a little giddy when I know or recognize the references because I'm a fangirl of the author and trivia in general. Needless to say, I am a big fan of the author and her writing. There is so much more going on besides the murder mystery, and the romance that I just felt it needed to be mentioned.
So, on to the book. I'm so glad this is going to be a series, because I fell in love with Kuro almost as soon as I met him. I'm not sure how to best describe his job. We first meet him rescuing children from prominent families from their kidnappers. He's somewhat of a gun for hire, but he has honor and a conscience. He has killed people but he's not an assassin, despite the title of the book. Trying to settle into a normal life after age and injury made his job more difficult, he opens a ramen restaurant where he serves Trey food, but hasn't talked to him. Not until Trey runs past the back of the store when Kuro just happened to be out, and two men with guns follow. Kuro is a stand up guy whose description sure makes him sound sexy, but the way he carries himself with confidence and capability makes him even more so.
Trey is not a character that I necessarily fell in love with, but I could definitely feel for him. He's kind of a washed up actor after childhood fame and drugs took their toll on him. He a little aimless and still fighting the pull of drugs when he goes for a run in the wee hours of morning and happens to see two men putting a body in a truck. It's even more unfortunate that he recognizes the body. The show he used to star in was about gangsters and violence but it doesn't prepare him for the danger that enters his real life. What I most feel bad about for him is the way his family treats him. I can't say that I know what it feels like to have a drug addict in the family. I don't know how it feels to see someone do harmful things to themselves over and over. I can imagine that it gets tiring and and sometimes for their own health people have to let that loved one go. Not that Trey ever really felt familial love, and his family hasn't really let him go, they only sit in judgement refusing to see how much Trey is really trying to stay clean and sober.
This is definitely an action packed book with a lot of suspects in the multiple attempts on Trey's life. I didn't really have a clue who was responsible though I found a few people very suspicious. In this case, I was completely off the mark. I loved the pairing of Kuro and Trey, though it felt like Kuro really carried Trey for most of the book. It wasn't that Trey was spineless or useless, but years of feeling inadequate and not feeling validation from the ones he cared about, wouldn't just go away as soon as he met Kuro. And Kuro wasn't caring for a man who would never get his act together, but he realized that for the time being Trey just needed to be taken care of so that he would have that chance to figure out who he was. It's a sweet love story with Rhys Ford's usual gritty mystery and I loved it. I can't wait to see what is next for this series.
June 7, 2019
More accurately, it's 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Trey Bishop comes from a rich but dysfunctional family. Pushed by an over-ambitious mother into a TV-show career when he was 8, he has become a drug-addicted and jobless Hollywood bad-boy and, after an umpteenth stay in rehab, is currently struggling to sort out his life, all the while trying to steer clear of his egocentric family. What he does whenever he feels the mad craving for drugs pulsing in his veins is to go for a run, whatever the time of day (or night). That’s how, one night, he stumbles upon a couple of suspect guys moving a heavy package around a dark back-alley in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. As he stares at them, they let the bundle fall… and a strangely familiar-looking corpse grins at Trey. He tries to flee, but the men run after him and try to shoot him. He’s rescued by Kuro Jenkins, the handsome Asian owner of the ramen shop where Trey likes to eat out from time to time, who shows up just in time, gun in hand, and chases the bad guys off.
What Trey doesn’t know is that Kuro has a shady past. After having been groomed as a master thug by a major player of the Los Angeles underworld, Kuro has become a Black Ops agent for the government. More than once, he’s been involved in questionable rescue missions, but ever since his cover has been blown during one of those, he has retired despite his young age and has opened his little restaurant, content to do what he always loved to do: cook Asian meals. Never would he have dreamed that the handsome but distant and sad-looking young customer he frequently sees in his shop would turn his newly found quiet life upside-down once again.
Because of course, both of them feel an instant mutual attraction. They’ve been ogling each other for months, but each one having issues to sort out, they haven’t dared make the first move. Now, as it becomes clearer and clearer someone wants to violently prevent Trey from talking about the nightly incident and the body he’s seen, Kuro feels an unexplainable need to protect the tormented young man. To do so means to investigate who’s after Trey and why. Therefore, they spend quite a lot of time together and finally admit to each other that they’re rather rapidly falling in love.
This book was rather a mixed bag for me. The crime plot grabbed my attention at once (nothing beats a thrilling whodunnit, right?), and the main characters were endearing and interesting. I admit the insta-love-thread was a bit too abrupt for my taste, and the careful use of editing “scissors” would have tightened up the story (do we need to know in detail how Kuro’s former boss’s chateau looks like?). Some dialogues felt a bit off, too—hardly anybody really spills out their feelings quite as openly as the two guys did after having known each other for only a couple of days. And of course, if you’re allergic to shootings and killings, you should not pick up this book. I’m not a huge fan of either, yet felt this was fiction, and the more violent scenes were not gratuitous, but rather fit in with the story-line, so it was okay for me. The writing style was sometimes a bit odd, too (another author seemingly loath to use past perfect tense), but when I closed the book, the overall impression was positive. Yep, despite some quibbles, I did like this book. Lovers of crime fiction, this one’s definitely for you.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Trey Bishop comes from a rich but dysfunctional family. Pushed by an over-ambitious mother into a TV-show career when he was 8, he has become a drug-addicted and jobless Hollywood bad-boy and, after an umpteenth stay in rehab, is currently struggling to sort out his life, all the while trying to steer clear of his egocentric family. What he does whenever he feels the mad craving for drugs pulsing in his veins is to go for a run, whatever the time of day (or night). That’s how, one night, he stumbles upon a couple of suspect guys moving a heavy package around a dark back-alley in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. As he stares at them, they let the bundle fall… and a strangely familiar-looking corpse grins at Trey. He tries to flee, but the men run after him and try to shoot him. He’s rescued by Kuro Jenkins, the handsome Asian owner of the ramen shop where Trey likes to eat out from time to time, who shows up just in time, gun in hand, and chases the bad guys off.
What Trey doesn’t know is that Kuro has a shady past. After having been groomed as a master thug by a major player of the Los Angeles underworld, Kuro has become a Black Ops agent for the government. More than once, he’s been involved in questionable rescue missions, but ever since his cover has been blown during one of those, he has retired despite his young age and has opened his little restaurant, content to do what he always loved to do: cook Asian meals. Never would he have dreamed that the handsome but distant and sad-looking young customer he frequently sees in his shop would turn his newly found quiet life upside-down once again.
Because of course, both of them feel an instant mutual attraction. They’ve been ogling each other for months, but each one having issues to sort out, they haven’t dared make the first move. Now, as it becomes clearer and clearer someone wants to violently prevent Trey from talking about the nightly incident and the body he’s seen, Kuro feels an unexplainable need to protect the tormented young man. To do so means to investigate who’s after Trey and why. Therefore, they spend quite a lot of time together and finally admit to each other that they’re rather rapidly falling in love.
This book was rather a mixed bag for me. The crime plot grabbed my attention at once (nothing beats a thrilling whodunnit, right?), and the main characters were endearing and interesting. I admit the insta-love-thread was a bit too abrupt for my taste, and the careful use of editing “scissors” would have tightened up the story (do we need to know in detail how Kuro’s former boss’s chateau looks like?). Some dialogues felt a bit off, too—hardly anybody really spills out their feelings quite as openly as the two guys did after having known each other for only a couple of days. And of course, if you’re allergic to shootings and killings, you should not pick up this book. I’m not a huge fan of either, yet felt this was fiction, and the more violent scenes were not gratuitous, but rather fit in with the story-line, so it was okay for me. The writing style was sometimes a bit odd, too (another author seemingly loath to use past perfect tense), but when I closed the book, the overall impression was positive. Yep, despite some quibbles, I did like this book. Lovers of crime fiction, this one’s definitely for you.
June 27, 2019
Rhys Ford is an auto-buy author for me and the brains behind several of my all-time favorite couples, and I'm pretty sure I can add Kuro and Trey to that list.
I really enjoyed this book (the first in a new series. YAY!) - the beginnings of a new relationship, action, intrigue, sexy times, family, and friendship all perfectly balanced that had me reading this book in one sitting. I didn't want to put it down. Plus all the delicious dishes Kuro cooked - I've never been more hungry for ramen in my life!
I fell in love with both characters - former child star Trey, fighting hard for his sobriety after a brutal crash and burn, who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and now people are trying to kill him. Former operative/spy now ramen restaurateur Kuro, who found himself in the wrong place at the right time stepped in to protect Trey and now has people after him. The two of them work together to find out who is after them and what is going on. Their chemistry explodes off the page and kept me turning them.
I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and I definitely cannot wait to watch Kuro and Trey's relationship progress. Do yourself a favor and buy this book!
(If this is a new to you author, it's a great place to start, and I recommend then devouring everything else she has written. You won't regret it!)
I really enjoyed this book (the first in a new series. YAY!) - the beginnings of a new relationship, action, intrigue, sexy times, family, and friendship all perfectly balanced that had me reading this book in one sitting. I didn't want to put it down. Plus all the delicious dishes Kuro cooked - I've never been more hungry for ramen in my life!
I fell in love with both characters - former child star Trey, fighting hard for his sobriety after a brutal crash and burn, who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and now people are trying to kill him. Former operative/spy now ramen restaurateur Kuro, who found himself in the wrong place at the right time stepped in to protect Trey and now has people after him. The two of them work together to find out who is after them and what is going on. Their chemistry explodes off the page and kept me turning them.
I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and I definitely cannot wait to watch Kuro and Trey's relationship progress. Do yourself a favor and buy this book!
(If this is a new to you author, it's a great place to start, and I recommend then devouring everything else she has written. You won't regret it!)
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