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rosetyper9's review against another edition
1.0
I read this book for The Book Vixen. My review can be found here:
http://www.thebookvixen.com/2014/10/book-review-keep-me-safe-by-maya-banks.html#.VFRPmvnF_kU
http://www.thebookvixen.com/2014/10/book-review-keep-me-safe-by-maya-banks.html#.VFRPmvnF_kU
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
3.0
Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 3.25
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.25
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
NOTE: Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks was an excellent thriller but the romance really got in the way.
I have put off writing this review because quite simply I didn't know how to say what I felt about the story. So I am going to make a list:
1: The thriller part of the story was very strong! Even though the pacing was a bit off (more on that in number 2), the "case" was solid.
2: The romance kept getting in the way. I hate to say that about a romance book but this one would have been stronger without it. It slowed the story down.
My Biggest Problem:
All of that being said, I like dark thrillers and this was solid on that front. Rating was hard: I liked the book (can ignore the romance) and gave it a 3. If I was rating it as a romance it would have been a 2 but I don't rate based on genre. However, for full disclosure that would have happened if I did.
Audio Thoughts:
This was my first book narrated by Jeffrey Kafer and he was probably the reason it ended up with a 3 instead of a 2. He brought edge to the story and added emotion just where it was needed. I was really impressed! I will listen to him again!
Final Thoughts: I will continue this series because honestly I want to see what happens!
Overall Rating: 3.25
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.25
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
NOTE: Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks was an excellent thriller but the romance really got in the way.
I have put off writing this review because quite simply I didn't know how to say what I felt about the story. So I am going to make a list:
1: The thriller part of the story was very strong! Even though the pacing was a bit off (more on that in number 2), the "case" was solid.
2: The romance kept getting in the way. I hate to say that about a romance book but this one would have been stronger without it. It slowed the story down.
My Biggest Problem:
Spoiler
My biggest problem with Keep Me Safe was a scene that happened at the end of the book. Oddly enough if this was a Fringe thriller and that scene was there to prove the "reach" of the bad guy (he basically took over Caleb and made him almost kill her)---it would have worked. However, that scene was two-fold in that it was used to prove the reach/control of the bad guy and then BOOM we are at "I love you". This to me, was the biggest example of how the romance just did not work. Especially after what happened at the beginning of the book, the pacing and placement of "romance" just felt forced because it was supposed to be there. I felt if you wanted to solidify the romance, it should have been separated.All of that being said, I like dark thrillers and this was solid on that front. Rating was hard: I liked the book (can ignore the romance) and gave it a 3. If I was rating it as a romance it would have been a 2 but I don't rate based on genre. However, for full disclosure that would have happened if I did.
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Jeffrey Kafer / Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
This was my first book narrated by Jeffrey Kafer and he was probably the reason it ended up with a 3 instead of a 2. He brought edge to the story and added emotion just where it was needed. I was really impressed! I will listen to him again!
Final Thoughts: I will continue this series because honestly I want to see what happens!
myzanm's review against another edition
1.0
This really was slow.
I didn't like the main characters. Or Caleb's family. And the villain turned out to, while being utterly evil, also being ridiculous!
The second half drove me nuts. Why on earth mix in more psychic stuff? And why did we never find out anything more than sketchy details about the kidnapping where Ramie first encountered her stalker psycho?
And what was the reason for recounting Ramie's childhood trauma? It just felt pointless since we already knew part of her background and we never really got a conclusion to the story. What happened to the foster family? Where did she end up? Better or worse? What about the "blackmailing" cop? What happened to him?
I could go on with the questions because there were plenty of holes...
And then there was a lot of facts being repeated through out the book, like how Caleb blamed himself for causing Ramie pain. How Ramie was all alone in the world. How the whole family (except Caleb) despised Ramie. How Ramie never could be angry or hate Caleb, because she would have done the same if, - surprise, surprise - she hadn't been all alone in the world.
And I didn't like the change of character POV. I could probably take Caleb and Ramie sharing the spot light, but mixing in Tori and her psychic gift was just a nose dive. And then adding the Villain... Just didn't need to go there. That part could have been a nice part if it had provided snipets throughout the book, Now it felt like the author gave up on driving the story like she first intended.
I didn't like the main characters. Or Caleb's family. And the villain turned out to, while being utterly evil, also being ridiculous!
The second half drove me nuts. Why on earth mix in more psychic stuff? And why did we never find out anything more than sketchy details about the kidnapping where Ramie first encountered her stalker psycho?
And what was the reason for recounting Ramie's childhood trauma? It just felt pointless since we already knew part of her background and we never really got a conclusion to the story. What happened to the foster family? Where did she end up? Better or worse? What about the "blackmailing" cop? What happened to him?
I could go on with the questions because there were plenty of holes...
And then there was a lot of facts being repeated through out the book, like how Caleb blamed himself for causing Ramie pain. How Ramie was all alone in the world. How the whole family (except Caleb) despised Ramie. How Ramie never could be angry or hate Caleb, because she would have done the same if, - surprise, surprise - she hadn't been all alone in the world.
And I didn't like the change of character POV. I could probably take Caleb and Ramie sharing the spot light, but mixing in Tori and her psychic gift was just a nose dive. And then adding the Villain... Just didn't need to go there. That part could have been a nice part if it had provided snipets throughout the book, Now it felt like the author gave up on driving the story like she first intended.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks Wicked Reads for a free book to read and review. This book is truly unlike what I've read from this author so far, so I was a bit surprised where this storyline went. When Caleb's sister is stolen and at the mercy of a madman he will do anything to get her back. Even put another woman through the terror of a psychic vision to find her. In reality though this storyline was all harder than fiction, and world building didn't suck me in. I would definitely read from this author again but I'm pretty sure I won't continue with this series. It just didn't appeal to me although I read it's entirety. Overall entertainment was three stars.
lululovesbooks77's review
3.0
Ok…. Not going to lie… it took me a few tries to get into this book. Nit was only after i read a historical romance series by Maya that I finally came back to it. The plot was good…. I just felt the execution was…… meh….
I get that because Caleb spent a year trying to find her thats why he fell in love with her… but Ramie falling so hard so fast….. meh…..
The ending was great… but im not going to write spoilers…
I probably wont read the rest of this series….
I get that because Caleb spent a year trying to find her thats why he fell in love with her… but Ramie falling so hard so fast….. meh…..
The ending was great… but im not going to write spoilers…
I probably wont read the rest of this series….
michellesantiago's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5 stars
It was okay. I kept reading because I wanted to see how they will catch the serial killer but I had a lot of issues with this book. Full review to come.
It was okay. I kept reading because I wanted to see how they will catch the serial killer but I had a lot of issues with this book. Full review to come.
cadence26's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
littleprefect's review against another edition
4.0
Typical of most romance novels but since that is EXACTLY what I was after this delivered. Wasn't looking to be invested in the characters, just wanted something to read. The spooky twist was refreshing, however. :)
smitch29's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
The beginning of this book is what really did it in for me. The ending was actually really unique and well written. However, the ending felt slow and repetitive. I felt like the story would dwell on every minute detail that the characters were feeling and then bring it up about twenty times too many. I understood what they were thinking and their motives the first time. The heroine, Ramie has some psychic abilities that never quite felt well defined and thus it didn't feel as real. I just overall had trouble connecting with this story.
Also, I felt like this was a huge case of unfounded, inst-love. It just seemed like all of the sudden the characters loved each other with barely any time passing together or any real interaction, and most of it was highly emotional moments. Like high emotion bordering on hysteria, not anything like lust.
The ending really was good, though. Maya Banks knows how to structure a great finale to make it absolutely captivating and unpredictable.
I'll have to check out the reviews of the next book in the series before I decide about reading it.
The beginning of this book is what really did it in for me. The ending was actually really unique and well written. However, the ending felt slow and repetitive. I felt like the story would dwell on every minute detail that the characters were feeling and then bring it up about twenty times too many. I understood what they were thinking and their motives the first time. The heroine, Ramie has some psychic abilities that never quite felt well defined and thus it didn't feel as real. I just overall had trouble connecting with this story.
Also, I felt like this was a huge case of unfounded, inst-love. It just seemed like all of the sudden the characters loved each other with barely any time passing together or any real interaction, and most of it was highly emotional moments. Like high emotion bordering on hysteria, not anything like lust.
The ending really was good, though. Maya Banks knows how to structure a great finale to make it absolutely captivating and unpredictable.
I'll have to check out the reviews of the next book in the series before I decide about reading it.