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Mercenary Love #1
Twisted Rose
Sex club owner Daniel Rose has never seen anyone hotter than Detective Ian Stiller. When Ian comes to rescue a friend at his club Daniel makes his interest known but it takes a killer to finally bring the two together.
58 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2009
16 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Amber Kell
179 books1,283 followersAmber Kell has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.
When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.
During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.
Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.
She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres..
She also writes under the name Mikela Q. Chase
When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.
During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.
Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.
She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres..
She also writes under the name Mikela Q. Chase
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 18, 2014
Oh boy...so many typos. Constant mixed names (someone who's a Natalie in the first paragraph is suddenly a Claire in the second). Insta-love. Smothering protectiveness from Sinclair and Callum's brothers. They basically treat Callum like a airhead child (totally ignoring the fact that he's a successful Chef who owns one of the best restaurants in town).
They are all also very pushy specially Sinclair: "I'll do whatever I like and you'll like whatever I give you." - *eye roll*
Sudden appearance of info in the middle of the story as a given when it was never mentioned before, for example, Callum mentions Sinclair's job as a mercenary numerous times but no one ever told him what Sinclair did for a living. Ever. And one of Callum's brothers actually bugged him! Seriously! Better...Sinclair actually goes to say he won't reveal this info to Callum if they don't give him any crap. Nice. Oh and that HEA. I think it was supposed to be incredibly romantic but for me it was incredibly high-handed and tacky.
They are all also very pushy specially Sinclair: "I'll do whatever I like and you'll like whatever I give you." - *eye roll*
Sudden appearance of info in the middle of the story as a given when it was never mentioned before, for example, Callum mentions Sinclair's job as a mercenary numerous times but no one ever told him what Sinclair did for a living. Ever. And one of Callum's brothers actually bugged him! Seriously! Better...Sinclair actually goes to say he won't reveal this info to Callum if they don't give him any crap. Nice. Oh and that HEA. I think it was supposed to be incredibly romantic but for me it was incredibly high-handed and tacky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2013
Do yourself a favour and ignore the cover (of the 2013 edition). Whoever those guys are supposed to be, they certainly aren’t Sin and Callum.
Okay, to get this out of the way: this is not an amazing book; in fact it’s utterly simplistic and predictable. But damn if it isn’t cute.
Very much insta-something. Lust for sure. Love, maybe – or close enough anyway. It fits since this is not the most serious or likely story to begin with. Just plain fun.
Because pretty much every single conflict is resolved right away, there’s hardly any tension. However, it also means it’s an entirely safe read. Need to take your mind off the stress in your life? Here you go.
This is just such a nice book. Nothing complicated, nothing drawn out, lots of devotion. A really simple story with all the stereotypical elements, and yet cute and satisfying regardless.
Nothing fancy about the writing either, but perhaps there doesn’t need to be with a simple story like this.
I’m happy to say that the revised edition got rid of a lot (although not all) of the sloppy copy-editing. The first version really was atrocious in that regard (grammar, spelling, sentence fragments, slight discontinuity and even alternate names for people). So nice to see progress!
Comparing the two versions now, I see quite a bit of smoothing overall, and it definitely lifts the experience.
Callum’s a total sweetheart and Sin definitely improves by going totally gaga over him. Neither storyline nor constellation is anything new with the author but she does her thing so well that I am enjoying it anyway. Big, bossy top, getting wrapped around the surprisingly effectual bottom’s little finger. It’s fun to watch Callum whip Sin into shape.
I like how Callum doesn’t make a fuss about being protected (such a sensible guy, the opposite of TSTL), yet does not allow people to run all over him if it’s unreasonable. He’s just the perfect mix of humble and vulnerable – and his own man, efficient, smart and so very much underestimated. I adore his way of expressing affection by cooking for people.
I’ll admit that some of my amusement may have been unintentional. For example, I was entertained by the idea that the “heat” of a handshake indicates sexual interest. Am I supposed to picture elevated body temperature here or really vigorous shaking? XD
But then we have the intentional funny as well.
Sin’s not the only bloodthirsty one in this, either. Things might be interesting in the next volume, which will be new to me.
Of course, there’s a huge dollop of stupid in the fact that . XD But this isn’t a book you’d read for the, ahem, thriller plot anyway. (Thriller? What thriller?)
I could have done with a longer or less impersonally mushy ending, although I guess it matched the rest of the book. This author? Not one for dragging things out. Which is such a nice contrast sometimes. <3
On the other hand, if this story had featured more density and longer lasting conflicts in its second half, along with a little exploration of the emotional side? It might have been seriously great instead of just a comfort snack. Eh, there’s a mood for (almost) everything.
I was actually going with four stars here because the book delivers within its own parameters, but the ending really is a trifle too remote. I am not complaining about , but the way things wrap up after and in the epilogue. Too fast even for me.
Okay, on a slightly different note, I have to ask this because this is the third time I’ve come across this in maybe a week. Why put “nasally” when the word is used as an adjective, not an adverb? Is this a new thing? It’s not just a single author, or I’d just put it down to bad editing. Or maybe it’s the same editor in all those cases? I wonder.
Okay, to get this out of the way: this is not an amazing book; in fact it’s utterly simplistic and predictable. But damn if it isn’t cute.
Very much insta-something. Lust for sure. Love, maybe – or close enough anyway. It fits since this is not the most serious or likely story to begin with. Just plain fun.
Because pretty much every single conflict is resolved right away, there’s hardly any tension. However, it also means it’s an entirely safe read. Need to take your mind off the stress in your life? Here you go.
This is just such a nice book. Nothing complicated, nothing drawn out, lots of devotion. A really simple story with all the stereotypical elements, and yet cute and satisfying regardless.
Nothing fancy about the writing either, but perhaps there doesn’t need to be with a simple story like this.
I’m happy to say that the revised edition got rid of a lot (although not all) of the sloppy copy-editing. The first version really was atrocious in that regard (grammar, spelling, sentence fragments, slight discontinuity and even alternate names for people). So nice to see progress!
Comparing the two versions now, I see quite a bit of smoothing overall, and it definitely lifts the experience.
Callum’s a total sweetheart and Sin definitely improves by going totally gaga over him. Neither storyline nor constellation is anything new with the author but she does her thing so well that I am enjoying it anyway. Big, bossy top, getting wrapped around the surprisingly effectual bottom’s little finger. It’s fun to watch Callum whip Sin into shape.
I like how Callum doesn’t make a fuss about being protected (such a sensible guy, the opposite of TSTL), yet does not allow people to run all over him if it’s unreasonable. He’s just the perfect mix of humble and vulnerable – and his own man, efficient, smart and so very much underestimated. I adore his way of expressing affection by cooking for people.
I’ll admit that some of my amusement may have been unintentional. For example, I was entertained by the idea that the “heat” of a handshake indicates sexual interest. Am I supposed to picture elevated body temperature here or really vigorous shaking? XD
But then we have the intentional funny as well.
Sin thought it would be better to hunt the guy down and kill him, but Callum’s idea was probably the most socially acceptable option of the two.
Sin’s not the only bloodthirsty one in this, either. Things might be interesting in the next volume, which will be new to me.
Of course, there’s a huge dollop of stupid in the fact that . XD But this isn’t a book you’d read for the, ahem, thriller plot anyway. (Thriller? What thriller?)
I could have done with a longer or less impersonally mushy ending, although I guess it matched the rest of the book. This author? Not one for dragging things out. Which is such a nice contrast sometimes. <3
On the other hand, if this story had featured more density and longer lasting conflicts in its second half, along with a little exploration of the emotional side? It might have been seriously great instead of just a comfort snack. Eh, there’s a mood for (almost) everything.
I was actually going with four stars here because the book delivers within its own parameters, but the ending really is a trifle too remote. I am not complaining about , but the way things wrap up after and in the epilogue. Too fast even for me.
Okay, on a slightly different note, I have to ask this because this is the third time I’ve come across this in maybe a week. Why put “nasally” when the word is used as an adjective, not an adverb? Is this a new thing? It’s not just a single author, or I’d just put it down to bad editing. Or maybe it’s the same editor in all those cases? I wonder.
March 7, 2013
This book is fun, contains some good tension (from an extremely creepy stalker), and the two main characters are very hot together. From the very start, Callum isn't what Sin expects, and vice versa. Neither man really catches up with their mistaken assumptions until they're right in the middle of an increasingly hot affair and a case of a dangerous stalker who is after Callum. The protectiveness in Sin flares high enough to stifle anyone, but Callum's strategy is so ingenious, it makes the showdown between the two stubborn men almost fun. Almost!
Callum is a celebrity chef, extremely creative, and difficult to pin down; having a "schedule" that is the same every day, or even predictable at all, is abhorrent to him. I loved his personal kitchen where he experiments and tries new dishes, and the food descriptions in this book are wonderful. Callum is uncomplicated and says what he means, he is nobody's "boy". Having Sin decide to be in charge of his security is not something he enjoys!
Sin is an ex-mercenary who now runs his own security business. He's never been protective of his lovers, and is constantly surprised at all the things Callum teaches him to like: kissing, snuggling, staying over for breakfast the next morning. Mind you, with the kind of food Callum "whips up", anyone with any taste would want to stay. But, I digress. Sin has a lot of learning to do. His interpersonal skills are challenged to the max, as is the way he sees the world and his own future. It was fun to see the physically stronger man be the one to follow the "weaker" one's lead for once.
If you like stories about unusual partnerships and don't mind some insta-love, if you enjoy reading about an ex-mercenary trying to find a space in civilian life and adapting to new things because he wants happiness in his life, and if you're looking for a very hot read that has lots of moments to make you laugh, you will most probably like this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Callum is a celebrity chef, extremely creative, and difficult to pin down; having a "schedule" that is the same every day, or even predictable at all, is abhorrent to him. I loved his personal kitchen where he experiments and tries new dishes, and the food descriptions in this book are wonderful. Callum is uncomplicated and says what he means, he is nobody's "boy". Having Sin decide to be in charge of his security is not something he enjoys!
Sin is an ex-mercenary who now runs his own security business. He's never been protective of his lovers, and is constantly surprised at all the things Callum teaches him to like: kissing, snuggling, staying over for breakfast the next morning. Mind you, with the kind of food Callum "whips up", anyone with any taste would want to stay. But, I digress. Sin has a lot of learning to do. His interpersonal skills are challenged to the max, as is the way he sees the world and his own future. It was fun to see the physically stronger man be the one to follow the "weaker" one's lead for once.
If you like stories about unusual partnerships and don't mind some insta-love, if you enjoy reading about an ex-mercenary trying to find a space in civilian life and adapting to new things because he wants happiness in his life, and if you're looking for a very hot read that has lots of moments to make you laugh, you will most probably like this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 21, 2014
Tempting Sin held very little appeal for me beyond the initial premise: the characters were flat and none more so than Sin himself, there was only a token conflict to drive the plot, and the writing was only mediocre. I don't particularly care for love-at-first-sight and I like it even less when the characters behave as if their instant connection should give them access to and/or control over their partner's life because it's not only creepy, but unrealistic. Callum didn't seem to mind--and with overprotective brothers like his, I'm not surprised, but I don't find gratuitous threats or controlling, paternalistic behaviour charming or attractive. I wanted to send both Sin and Arthur to anger management; I had to grit my teeth every time either one went into "mercenary mode." But your kink is not my kink and that's okay (YKINMKATO). Unfortunately, there was nothing more to the characters or their relationship than sex, food, and possessive behaviour. The stalker plot felt tacked-on and unnecessary, but it gave Callum an opportunity to assert himself. It was a really nice change to have him take everyone else by surprise and I wish he'd had more chances to do so in his personal life. Tempting Sin wasn't my cup of tea, but if the author had focused more on character development, it probably could've been.
February 3, 2012
Typical book where one character wants to find his soulmate no matter what so he goes to a dance club (great place to find The One, by the way). He catches sight of the Lucky man (who is, according to other dancer, very picky) and it's lust at first glance. They do the nasty and, not even 24 hours later, it's all "honey" and "baby":
How dare that bastard think Callum belonged to anyone but Sin! Page 31
"How did they die?" Sinclair could sense this was a painful discussion for his lover, but he couldn't stop his need to know everything about this man.
You are seeing talking about the guy's parents death is painful, but you persist. Mmm...
A whispery voice inside Sin told him that if he ruined his chances with this gorgeous man he would never get another opportunity at happiness. Nuh-huh.
Love is in the air, bitches! I intended to keep on reading, seeing as Sin was a mercenary, but I only get to read the weekends so I won't waste my time on this.
How dare that bastard think Callum belonged to anyone but Sin! Page 31
"How did they die?" Sinclair could sense this was a painful discussion for his lover, but he couldn't stop his need to know everything about this man.
You are seeing talking about the guy's parents death is painful, but you persist. Mmm...
A whispery voice inside Sin told him that if he ruined his chances with this gorgeous man he would never get another opportunity at happiness. Nuh-huh.
Love is in the air, bitches! I intended to keep on reading, seeing as Sin was a mercenary, but I only get to read the weekends so I won't waste my time on this.
August 13, 2019
Just ok
2.75 ⭐️
Re-Read
I put this one back on my TBR pile when a friend asked me about my 2 ⭐️ rating. I couldn’t even remember the book so remembering why I gave it such a low score was impossible, but it also made me want to know if maybe I was just having a bad day when I read this one the first time.
I’ve increased the score to 2.75 but to be honest, this one wasn’t the greatest and I don’t feel the need to continue on with the series.
The guys are hit with the instalove bug early on and that starts the sappy talking throughout the book. Sin is meant to be this big bad, hard ruthless man, he was more like a marshmellow.
He did backflip after backflip to keep Callum interested and then he basically took over Callum’s life. That would have really annoyed me if I was Callum.
It wasn’t a hard read but it could have been a lot better if it wasn’t so sappy
2.75 ⭐️
Re-Read
I put this one back on my TBR pile when a friend asked me about my 2 ⭐️ rating. I couldn’t even remember the book so remembering why I gave it such a low score was impossible, but it also made me want to know if maybe I was just having a bad day when I read this one the first time.
I’ve increased the score to 2.75 but to be honest, this one wasn’t the greatest and I don’t feel the need to continue on with the series.
The guys are hit with the instalove bug early on and that starts the sappy talking throughout the book. Sin is meant to be this big bad, hard ruthless man, he was more like a marshmellow.
He did backflip after backflip to keep Callum interested and then he basically took over Callum’s life. That would have really annoyed me if I was Callum.
It wasn’t a hard read but it could have been a lot better if it wasn’t so sappy
June 23, 2012
This book was just silly. Neither of the main characters was ever believable for even one moment, and the way the whole serial killer thing was handled just baffles me.
I do have to give Ms. Kell props that the extra little twist at the end surprised me. I'd read other reviews that said that the murderer was who they'd known it was all along, so I figured I had all figured out too. That extra bit was a delightful surprise.
I also enjoyed this enough (once I was able to completely dissociate who these men were "supposed" to be with who they acted like) that I was able to finish it with a smile, so it gets 2 stars. I'll likely not read it again.
I do have to give Ms. Kell props that the extra little twist at the end surprised me. I'd read other reviews that said that the murderer was who they'd known it was all along, so I figured I had all figured out too. That extra bit was a delightful surprise.
I also enjoyed this enough (once I was able to completely dissociate who these men were "supposed" to be with who they acted like) that I was able to finish it with a smile, so it gets 2 stars. I'll likely not read it again.
January 2, 2019
Egyetlen bajom van ezzel a történettel: túl rövid. Amúgy imádtam.
Annak ellenére, hogy tőlem távol áll a BDSM, szerettem ezt a történetet. Szerencsére láttam Amber Kell oldalán, hogy ez „csak” light BDSM és így mertem belevágni. Kár lett volna, ha kihagyom.
Ian és Daniel annyira jók együtt.
Itt van nekünk ez a tüzes, vörös hajú ír származású zsarunk, Ian, aki barátját megmentendő keveredik a Twisted Rose BDSM szex klubba és nem is sejti, hogy Daniel Rose a tulaj rögtön ki is szemeli magának, mint a következő (és utolsó) sub-jának.
Szerencsére, ha már rendőr az egyik főszereplő, belecsöppenhettünk egy sorozatgyilkos utáni nyomozásba is. A könyv felénél volt két tippem a gyilkosra, aztán az egyik jelenet után már biztos voltam benne. A vége természetesen hozott izgalmat és romantikus „awwww” pillanatokat is. :D
És, bár sorozatnak van írva, lassan 10 éve nincs folytatása. Azonban ez ne riasszon el senkit, mert végül is le van zárva Daniel és Ian története. Nem hiányolom a folytatást.
Annak ellenére, hogy tőlem távol áll a BDSM, szerettem ezt a történetet. Szerencsére láttam Amber Kell oldalán, hogy ez „csak” light BDSM és így mertem belevágni. Kár lett volna, ha kihagyom.
Ian és Daniel annyira jók együtt.
Itt van nekünk ez a tüzes, vörös hajú ír származású zsarunk, Ian, aki barátját megmentendő keveredik a Twisted Rose BDSM szex klubba és nem is sejti, hogy Daniel Rose a tulaj rögtön ki is szemeli magának, mint a következő (és utolsó) sub-jának.
Szerencsére, ha már rendőr az egyik főszereplő, belecsöppenhettünk egy sorozatgyilkos utáni nyomozásba is. A könyv felénél volt két tippem a gyilkosra, aztán az egyik jelenet után már biztos voltam benne. A vége természetesen hozott izgalmat és romantikus „awwww” pillanatokat is. :D
És, bár sorozatnak van írva, lassan 10 éve nincs folytatása. Azonban ez ne riasszon el senkit, mert végül is le van zárva Daniel és Ian története. Nem hiányolom a folytatást.
July 10, 2010
I've yet to be disappointed with an Amber Kell novel. They are without fail fun, light reads that I can count on to take me away from all the stress the world can sometimes pile on. I love that they are dependably bite-sized,and just as dependably delicious...like v.expensive, v.tasty hors d'oeuvres they always make me think there must be really good champagne right around here somewhere, 'cause for sure there are hot men, and general yumminess all around. I'll buy anything with Amber's name on it. This book I'd buy twice to read once, cause I think it might be the best of all her great books!!
March 28, 2011
I don't know what exactly it was about this story that reeled me in but I loved it from start to finish. The characters were a lot of fun, especially Dave the driver and his raiding of Callum's fridge. Sin was dominant to a fault (to the point were he deserved a smack upside the head) and Callum the absentminded cook that fit him to a T.
October 18, 2012
Contrived. Much of it seemed very means-to-an-end-y and not like genuine development. I had trouble believing what happened with Ian and Daniel would be acceptable police procedure (seriously *rolls eyes). It was melodramatic and too abrupt.
Also, there were a lot of missing commas and other miscellaneous grammatical errors.
Also, there were a lot of missing commas and other miscellaneous grammatical errors.
August 15, 2011
2.5 stars. Ok, kinky m/m romance about a cop who agrees to be a bdsm club owner's sub in order to help stop a serial killer who's leaving bodies outside the club. This felt like it needed to be fleshed out a bit more... and it had a critical comma shortage.
May 16, 2010
I really really enjoy Kell's books. I just wish she would write something longer.
March 28, 2018
re read...loved this
March 8, 2012
Very cute, really enjoyed this book.
February 14, 2012
This book reminded me of the book Catching Mr Right by the same author.
Soul mates, opposites attract, grave danger, entertaining enough read.
Soul mates, opposites attract, grave danger, entertaining enough read.
March 13, 2012
Amazing book... Thrilling and enchanting - loved it
April 1, 2013
I really liked this short one by Amber Kell. The Alpha Character had major sex appeal and that sexy control thing going on...It was a truly happy ending too.
February 19, 2025
3.75 Stars for Daniel and Ian’s story, Twisted Rose (Killers & Thorns). That book title is linked to this book title??
March 25, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Callum may look sweet and innocent but he’s ready for anything Sin can dish out. Callum is a professional chef and extremely successful at work. His personal life, however, is another story. Relationships never seem to work out for Callum and he’s decided to stick to one night stands. Sinclair, an ex-mercenary, thought the same thing. Yet when these two meet, sparks fly instantly and neither man can get enough. When Callum’s number one fan comes stalking, Sin is there to stop him.
Tempting Sin is apparently a re-released story from Amber Kell. The original story was published three years ago and this edition has been re-edited with some added scenes. I didn’t read the original story but just so fans of the author know – this isn’t an original. That said it’s very similar to other Kell stories. The main characters are fun, light, and interesting enough but they’re not very three-dimensional. Sin is a big, badass ex-merc that immediately falls in love and takes over Callum’s life. His overprotective nature is a bit ridiculous but the story isn’t going for a realistic take on relationships. Likewise Callum is a magnificent chef with a heart of gold, adorable looks and deep vulnerability. He can take care of himself but doesn’t mind overbearing men in life, which is good because there are a lot.
The plot mostly consists of the two falling instantly in love with a side plot about Callum’s stalker. I’m not sure why this was added and frankly the story didn’t need it. The time and space would have been better spent developing the too-quick relationship between the main men. They fall in love, move in, declare their love, and talk marriage all within a few days. It’s lightning fast but then again I expect that kind of thing from Kell. There are a few too many cutesy affectionate names used and the sex isn’t as hot as Kell normally delivers. It’s not tame but there’s less of it than usual.
Fans of the author should know what to expect with this offering. I didn’t hate it but it’s not one of my favorites of Kell’s. The dialogue feels weaker and more sappy than usual, but the light, easy, fun feel of the story is still there. These are fun to read, never last long, and usually offer some great sex. This one feels a bit too predictable – which is sad since it has a decent set up and some eye-catching characters. I’ll probably continue with the series as I like the characters well enough and hope the next one is better. Amber Kell’s books always feel like fun, popcorn reads to me and entertain despite any problems.
Callum may look sweet and innocent but he’s ready for anything Sin can dish out. Callum is a professional chef and extremely successful at work. His personal life, however, is another story. Relationships never seem to work out for Callum and he’s decided to stick to one night stands. Sinclair, an ex-mercenary, thought the same thing. Yet when these two meet, sparks fly instantly and neither man can get enough. When Callum’s number one fan comes stalking, Sin is there to stop him.
Tempting Sin is apparently a re-released story from Amber Kell. The original story was published three years ago and this edition has been re-edited with some added scenes. I didn’t read the original story but just so fans of the author know – this isn’t an original. That said it’s very similar to other Kell stories. The main characters are fun, light, and interesting enough but they’re not very three-dimensional. Sin is a big, badass ex-merc that immediately falls in love and takes over Callum’s life. His overprotective nature is a bit ridiculous but the story isn’t going for a realistic take on relationships. Likewise Callum is a magnificent chef with a heart of gold, adorable looks and deep vulnerability. He can take care of himself but doesn’t mind overbearing men in life, which is good because there are a lot.
The plot mostly consists of the two falling instantly in love with a side plot about Callum’s stalker. I’m not sure why this was added and frankly the story didn’t need it. The time and space would have been better spent developing the too-quick relationship between the main men. They fall in love, move in, declare their love, and talk marriage all within a few days. It’s lightning fast but then again I expect that kind of thing from Kell. There are a few too many cutesy affectionate names used and the sex isn’t as hot as Kell normally delivers. It’s not tame but there’s less of it than usual.
Fans of the author should know what to expect with this offering. I didn’t hate it but it’s not one of my favorites of Kell’s. The dialogue feels weaker and more sappy than usual, but the light, easy, fun feel of the story is still there. These are fun to read, never last long, and usually offer some great sex. This one feels a bit too predictable – which is sad since it has a decent set up and some eye-catching characters. I’ll probably continue with the series as I like the characters well enough and hope the next one is better. Amber Kell’s books always feel like fun, popcorn reads to me and entertain despite any problems.
November 17, 2013
Reviewed by Patti, Book provided by Total-E-Bound Publishing, and Review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
Sinclair (Sin) Alverston has become bored with life as he knows it. He wants to find that special someone to come home to but he hasn’t found anyone who gives him the feeling he needs before he will let down his guard enough to even consider staying overnight. From the beginning I liked Sin’s strong character and his need to keep people safe. He had his flaws like everyone but I was immediately drawn to him. Callum Turner struck me right away as a sweet man with a spirit of fire. He possessed a great sense of self and a fantastic sense of humor. Callum is so willing to look for the good in people and Sin is always so willing to look for danger it can be a perfect match or way too many episodes of opposites clashing.
I really liked the way they meet and how they interact from the first moment on. It sets the tone of the whole relationship and stays relatively true throughout. I enjoyed the storyline very much even though it seemed a bit predictable at times. There needs to be something to write the story around and this fits the characters, it also sets up the series and introduces people for books to come. They have this instant sexual attraction that can’t be ignored but it quickly becomes more than that. Sin’s protective alpha instinct kicks in and he has gone from lone wolf to guard dog in a heartbeat. Callum isn’t happy about all of the alpha behavior but some of the perks are not so bad.
Throughout the story there is a constant give and take with them as they struggle to figure out how they will find a place in each other’s life. I particularly enjoyed that Callum was a chef and they use his career to interact with many of the secondary characters throughout the story to build strong relationships. Sin’s personality is more abrasive and therefore is more difficult to cozy up to but once a friendship is formed it is strong. This feeds his characters ability to have a great base of friends he can trust.
This is the first book in the Mercenary Love series and the first story from Amber Kell that I have read but I am already planning on getting the rest of the series. The others titles are Testing Arthur and Teasing Jonathan. If the other titles are as hot as this one, I will be a very happy reader. This is going in my re-read pile. Tempting Sin is going on my recommended reading list for my fellow readers.
Sinclair (Sin) Alverston has become bored with life as he knows it. He wants to find that special someone to come home to but he hasn’t found anyone who gives him the feeling he needs before he will let down his guard enough to even consider staying overnight. From the beginning I liked Sin’s strong character and his need to keep people safe. He had his flaws like everyone but I was immediately drawn to him. Callum Turner struck me right away as a sweet man with a spirit of fire. He possessed a great sense of self and a fantastic sense of humor. Callum is so willing to look for the good in people and Sin is always so willing to look for danger it can be a perfect match or way too many episodes of opposites clashing.
I really liked the way they meet and how they interact from the first moment on. It sets the tone of the whole relationship and stays relatively true throughout. I enjoyed the storyline very much even though it seemed a bit predictable at times. There needs to be something to write the story around and this fits the characters, it also sets up the series and introduces people for books to come. They have this instant sexual attraction that can’t be ignored but it quickly becomes more than that. Sin’s protective alpha instinct kicks in and he has gone from lone wolf to guard dog in a heartbeat. Callum isn’t happy about all of the alpha behavior but some of the perks are not so bad.
Throughout the story there is a constant give and take with them as they struggle to figure out how they will find a place in each other’s life. I particularly enjoyed that Callum was a chef and they use his career to interact with many of the secondary characters throughout the story to build strong relationships. Sin’s personality is more abrasive and therefore is more difficult to cozy up to but once a friendship is formed it is strong. This feeds his characters ability to have a great base of friends he can trust.
This is the first book in the Mercenary Love series and the first story from Amber Kell that I have read but I am already planning on getting the rest of the series. The others titles are Testing Arthur and Teasing Jonathan. If the other titles are as hot as this one, I will be a very happy reader. This is going in my re-read pile. Tempting Sin is going on my recommended reading list for my fellow readers.
August 3, 2013
All his life, Sinclair Alverston (Sin) had been searching for the man he would know was his one good thing—a man he could love with all his heart. Even though he was an ex-mercenary, a tough guy in ever sense of the word, inside lurked the heart of a true romantic and he hung onto the idea that there was someone out there just for him. When he spots the beautiful man across the bar, Sin thinks this will be his next one night stand. Before the night is over, Sin realizes that Callum Turner was going to be hard to say goodbye to in the morning.
Callum has known a lot of tragedy in his young life. Now a successful chef in constant demand, Callum is wary of falling in love and between fending off his ex-boyfriend Jerry and creating new recipes for his restaurant, the last thing Callum is looking for is a steady bed companion—much less a new lover. However, Sin pulls at something deep inside Cal that he thought might never spark again. After a night together the two men realize that there is a fragile bond developing and it both terrifies them and makes their hearts sing.
Tempting Sin was a tongue in cheek mystery/insta-love story that left me smiling at my kindle more often than not. Amber Kell is well known for her short, sweet love stories that pair polar opposites who are instantly attracted to one another and then fight that attraction despite their better sense. This novella delivered another successful story of just that kind. However, sometimes, I find these stories just too convenient. The pace just a bit too slick—too fast and the insta-love not always believable.
I did enjoy both the main characters—their funny quirks and tender feeling for each other made the story enjoyable. I simply wanted a bit more. I wanted there to be just a bit more hesitancy on Sin’s part when he realized that Callum was causing him to forgo all his dating rules. I wanted Callum to explore just how much Sinclair could possibly hurt him if his feelings of burgeoning lover were not returned. I wanted to see more of both Cal’s brother Arthur and Sin’s friend Patrick throw up roadblocks to this all too easy love story.
It was just all too easy—too quick and so it left me just a bit dissatisfied. Amber Kell writes a nice love story and her formula is tried and true. I just felt this one deserved a few more chapters and just a little bit more angst.
Callum has known a lot of tragedy in his young life. Now a successful chef in constant demand, Callum is wary of falling in love and between fending off his ex-boyfriend Jerry and creating new recipes for his restaurant, the last thing Callum is looking for is a steady bed companion—much less a new lover. However, Sin pulls at something deep inside Cal that he thought might never spark again. After a night together the two men realize that there is a fragile bond developing and it both terrifies them and makes their hearts sing.
Tempting Sin was a tongue in cheek mystery/insta-love story that left me smiling at my kindle more often than not. Amber Kell is well known for her short, sweet love stories that pair polar opposites who are instantly attracted to one another and then fight that attraction despite their better sense. This novella delivered another successful story of just that kind. However, sometimes, I find these stories just too convenient. The pace just a bit too slick—too fast and the insta-love not always believable.
I did enjoy both the main characters—their funny quirks and tender feeling for each other made the story enjoyable. I simply wanted a bit more. I wanted there to be just a bit more hesitancy on Sin’s part when he realized that Callum was causing him to forgo all his dating rules. I wanted Callum to explore just how much Sinclair could possibly hurt him if his feelings of burgeoning lover were not returned. I wanted to see more of both Cal’s brother Arthur and Sin’s friend Patrick throw up roadblocks to this all too easy love story.
It was just all too easy—too quick and so it left me just a bit dissatisfied. Amber Kell writes a nice love story and her formula is tried and true. I just felt this one deserved a few more chapters and just a little bit more angst.
April 30, 2011
Sin is a former mercenary who now works in security. And over protective is far short a description for him. He is also a secret romantic, sure that despite what’s he’s seen and done, he will find that one perfect person for him. He finds that “might be the one” at a bar, in the form of Callum Turner, a chef extraordinaire who may seem smaller and shyer but is no doormat. I loved Callum. Sin doesn’t kiss, just not his thing. Callum doesn’t take to that. I LOVED his response: “If we can’t connect enough to kiss, then I don’t need you inside my body.” Yes, sir, I agree!
There was an odd visual for me when Sin has a moment when “his cock was banging at his zipper and begging to come out and play.” I admit it, I was picturing a cartoon penis holding a ball and asking the neighbor to come out and play. Demented, but that’s my problem.
There is a stalker out there who wants Callum and Sin is going overboard in making sure Callum is protected. Callum is not shrinking violet. When Jonathan, a newbie at the security firm, is assigned to guard him, he sneers at Callum and acts like a jerk, calling it a babysitting assignment. Callum gives it back to him easily. Good for him.
Dave, the driver and immediate fan of Callum after eating his food, is a great character (hugging Callum so hard Callum is sure his lungs are crushed and that his kidneys are rupturing).
There is an ex-boyfriend who gets murdered and a stalker who is crazy. Sin is injured and Patrick, Sin’s business partner and friend, blames Callum. Callum’s brother Arthur is another great secondary (and come on, a story for Arthur! Please!). He is also over protective of Callum (like Sin) and it was a great thing to read, how much they all cared for him. I really liked the characters in this story and how they interacted.
It is a bit of insta-love, at least for Sin, but then again he’s been waiting his whole life for that special guy, so it’s understandable in a way. My thought was that it needed to be longer because of all that was going on, and the end wrapped up a little too fast.
There was an odd visual for me when Sin has a moment when “his cock was banging at his zipper and begging to come out and play.” I admit it, I was picturing a cartoon penis holding a ball and asking the neighbor to come out and play. Demented, but that’s my problem.
There is a stalker out there who wants Callum and Sin is going overboard in making sure Callum is protected. Callum is not shrinking violet. When Jonathan, a newbie at the security firm, is assigned to guard him, he sneers at Callum and acts like a jerk, calling it a babysitting assignment. Callum gives it back to him easily. Good for him.
Dave, the driver and immediate fan of Callum after eating his food, is a great character (hugging Callum so hard Callum is sure his lungs are crushed and that his kidneys are rupturing).
There is an ex-boyfriend who gets murdered and a stalker who is crazy. Sin is injured and Patrick, Sin’s business partner and friend, blames Callum. Callum’s brother Arthur is another great secondary (and come on, a story for Arthur! Please!). He is also over protective of Callum (like Sin) and it was a great thing to read, how much they all cared for him. I really liked the characters in this story and how they interacted.
It is a bit of insta-love, at least for Sin, but then again he’s been waiting his whole life for that special guy, so it’s understandable in a way. My thought was that it needed to be longer because of all that was going on, and the end wrapped up a little too fast.
July 5, 2012
3.5 stars.
Amber Kell has a very distinct style and that is apparent in Twisted Rose. Since I did not read the original version of the book, I cannot say how much has been revised or added, but at times the story did feel a little disjointed, which kept me from fully enjoying it.
Detective Ian Stiller has a problem. There is a killer in his town and he has been assigned to go undercover at a BDSM club as the owner’s sub to solve the murders. Daniel Rose is a Dom who knows what he wants and that’s a very cute (and submissive) Ian Stiller. As the two men explore their mutual attraction, danger lurks around every corner. Who will the killer strike at next?
What I liked about Twisted Rose was Daniel and Ian’s relationship because it pushed the plot forward and was a real delight as Ian discovered his submissive side. On the other hand, the sub-plot of the serial killer just did not work at all because some surprise twists really did come out of nowhere and made no sense, which dragged the pace of the novel down. The oh-my-God-the bad-guy-is revealed did not work on any level and unfortunately for me, pulled my rating down. Now if the book had just focused on Daniel and Ian, I would have been more than happy, but those other elements were not fully developed.
And while some aspects of the Twisted Rose did not work for me, the ones that did I enjoyed and would consider buying the second book in the series when it is published.
Dark Divas Reviews
Amber Kell has a very distinct style and that is apparent in Twisted Rose. Since I did not read the original version of the book, I cannot say how much has been revised or added, but at times the story did feel a little disjointed, which kept me from fully enjoying it.
Detective Ian Stiller has a problem. There is a killer in his town and he has been assigned to go undercover at a BDSM club as the owner’s sub to solve the murders. Daniel Rose is a Dom who knows what he wants and that’s a very cute (and submissive) Ian Stiller. As the two men explore their mutual attraction, danger lurks around every corner. Who will the killer strike at next?
What I liked about Twisted Rose was Daniel and Ian’s relationship because it pushed the plot forward and was a real delight as Ian discovered his submissive side. On the other hand, the sub-plot of the serial killer just did not work at all because some surprise twists really did come out of nowhere and made no sense, which dragged the pace of the novel down. The oh-my-God-the bad-guy-is revealed did not work on any level and unfortunately for me, pulled my rating down. Now if the book had just focused on Daniel and Ian, I would have been more than happy, but those other elements were not fully developed.
And while some aspects of the Twisted Rose did not work for me, the ones that did I enjoyed and would consider buying the second book in the series when it is published.
Dark Divas Reviews
June 7, 2018
This is one of those books that left me with very little to say. It's a short book about two men falling in love, with the added twist (see what I did there?) of it including some BDSM. I can't say that's my usual cup of tea, but I didn't mind it either. The characters, while not exactly deep, did have noticeable personalities and goals.
I do think it was rushed, both plotwise and the relationship between Ian and Daniel (I know "love at first sight" was sort of the point according for Daniel, but it still felt... silly) and could have been longer to give it more substance. The book could also have benefited from another look by an editor to get rid of the typos, add missing commas, and fix the repeated word use (I was tempted to count the number of times the words "hot" and "sexy" was included, but that would be petty of me). And I didn't really like the possessive behaviour Daniel displayed, but I know that some do.
All in all, it was what I expected and kept me entertained enough to finish it, despite it being kinda silly and kinda cringey at times. Though I expect to forget it pretty soon.
I do think it was rushed, both plotwise and the relationship between Ian and Daniel (I know "love at first sight" was sort of the point according for Daniel, but it still felt... silly) and could have been longer to give it more substance. The book could also have benefited from another look by an editor to get rid of the typos, add missing commas, and fix the repeated word use (I was tempted to count the number of times the words "hot" and "sexy" was included, but that would be petty of me). And I didn't really like the possessive behaviour Daniel displayed, but I know that some do.
All in all, it was what I expected and kept me entertained enough to finish it, despite it being kinda silly and kinda cringey at times. Though I expect to forget it pretty soon.
May 30, 2015
2014 Re-read:
I really like this book, even though the whole thing is a mix-up of other stories the author has done and some of the elements defy reason rather strongly.
The entire police business makes little sense, with the people involved failing to remember their own conclusions and tasks and generally doing anything to not solve the case; plus the love happens so fast I get whiplash.
But speed is the thing here as shown by Ian getting restless of how long he has to keep waiting after only a day or so has passed, and smiling brilliantly when a new corpse shows up. Ahem.
But what I do like is that, despite the crazy, this has a bit more emotion and relationship built in than a lot of the author’s books do (especially the newer ones). So this remains a very enjoyable read for me, despite its silliness.
I really like this book, even though the whole thing is a mix-up of other stories the author has done and some of the elements defy reason rather strongly.
The entire police business makes little sense, with the people involved failing to remember their own conclusions and tasks and generally doing anything to not solve the case; plus the love happens so fast I get whiplash.
But speed is the thing here as shown by Ian getting restless of how long he has to keep waiting after only a day or so has passed, and smiling brilliantly when a new corpse shows up. Ahem.
But what I do like is that, despite the crazy, this has a bit more emotion and relationship built in than a lot of the author’s books do (especially the newer ones). So this remains a very enjoyable read for me, despite its silliness.
August 27, 2018
What is it with all these romance books that as soon as a couple meet, the very next day they would die for each other. I'm sorry but things like that just don't happen! And I understand this is a fictional world not reality blah blah blah, but the key to a great novel is the audience's ability to suspend reality and immerse themselves in the reality of the novel. This so rarely happens with me in romance. Despite this, the story line was a great idea but the characters especially the main ones needed more development. Give them more time to realize their feelings for each other. If there's one thing I hate in fiction its instataneous love. And its not because I lack it in real life its because it just happens way too soon.
5/10
5/10
January 25, 2012
really liked this story! I'm NOT a fan of BDSM, but Daniel Rose is changing my mind :) The 'sub' Ian, who also happened to an undercover cop solving a murder mystery tying him to Rose, has never been in the BDSM lifestyle, but as I said, Rose has a way of 'changing his mind' and trying it out (for the good of the mystery, of course, but there 'are' perks ;) I liked how Ian did NOT just allow Daniel to completely dominate him (after all, he had a job to do), and I think the balance between the two men was spot on! The ONLY problems I felt were editing in nature (there were a few more punctuation problems than I would have liked, but I add them in myself, so I moved past them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2012
About 2.5 stars. This story was okay. While I liked Callum, I found that Sinclair was a bit of a strange bird. He's depicted as a badass former merc and his over possessiveness is all alpha male (and a bit annoying). But then he also disgustingly shmoopy with Callum which just doesn't feel legit to me. All the honeys and the endearments just feel strange. A badass merc saying "Poor dear"? What is he an 80 year old granny?
There were a lot of editing errors. I can usually gloss over them, but a couple of times the author mistakenly uses the wrong names. The writing was a bit choppier than Amber Kell's usual books.
There were a lot of editing errors. I can usually gloss over them, but a couple of times the author mistakenly uses the wrong names. The writing was a bit choppier than Amber Kell's usual books.
August 13, 2010
3.5 stars
Another entertaining story from Ms. Kell -- and I think the first contemporary from hers that I read. I usually read her urban fantasy ones, the stories that involve vampires or shifters. So it's a nice change. There is still that trait of possessiveness on the Alpha and the cuteness from the partner. Plus I enjoy the idea of making love through the partner through food *g*. The rest of the supporting casts are fun as well -- would love to see if Patrick and Arthur can end up being together, though.
Another entertaining story from Ms. Kell -- and I think the first contemporary from hers that I read. I usually read her urban fantasy ones, the stories that involve vampires or shifters. So it's a nice change. There is still that trait of possessiveness on the Alpha and the cuteness from the partner. Plus I enjoy the idea of making love through the partner through food *g*. The rest of the supporting casts are fun as well -- would love to see if Patrick and Arthur can end up being together, though.
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