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faithangel356's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vee79's review against another edition
5.0
This book’s synopsis took me for a loop, it hardly gave anything away but it still drew me in and when I started the first few chapters in Daisy’s view I was a little skeptical and intrigued because Daisy had been living with her father who was agoraphobic and only allowed her out for groceries and what not an hour per week and she decided enough was enough and left. In doing so she became this bright-eyed bushy tail young innocent and sheltered a-whole-new-world person after she left home. Then incomes Nikolai a used to be hit man for the Russian Bratva which I had never heard of in my life. Thanks google. And I’m a sucker for all the Russian words thrown in like Da. More at www.bookbesties.com
novelgoddess's review against another edition
4.0
OK, have I mentioned I love all things Russian? I even prefer Russian Mafiya to the usual Italian one...probably because Mafiya is Russian...see that logic?!?!?
I've been reading "The Professional" by Kresley Cole and it prompted me to hunt down some more Russian Mafiya stories to hold me over until next/last installment. It was during that search that I found "Last Hit" by Jessica Clare. I've been reading her "Billionaire Boys Club" series and have really enjoyed it.
Prior to reading my first Jessica Clare book, I thought she was an erotica author...but she is more than that. Don't get me wrong she does some great sex scenes but it is in addition to a story you can really sink your teeth into.
In "Last Hit" you meet Nick Anders. He's a paid assassin with scruples. He's been raised by the Bratva (Brotherhood, aka Mafiya), taken in at the tender age of 6, and taught to kill. Talk about something that would mess with your head. He is also starved for affection, and feels that because of his past he is nothing but scum...poor guy, how could you not open your heart to him.
We also met Daisy Miller, who is not named after Henry James' Daisy Miller, though both are equally tragic in some ways. Daisy has been touched by violence, at a young age, and it has left huge scars. She has been very sheltered and is as naive as a 21yo can possibly be. She is overwhelmed by Nick...he is as dark and she is light. But they fit. I totally fell for this hitman with a heart.
I loved Clare's characters...they had depth, and her attention to detail was amazing. She nailed little things like how native Russians speak English, to the point where they spoke that way during internal dialogs. It's these little things that allow me to fully immerse in a story. I am really looking forward to reading Daniel and Regan's story...that should be a doozy.
About the story...Love truly does win out in fiction and it's a close call for Daisy and Nick once she knows Nick's big secret. Clare handles that revelation and the preceding events in a way I didn't expect. Daisy also made choices I didn't expect. That is another reason I really like the author's writing style/voice. Though some choices were unexpected the characters stayed true...if that makes sense. All of it made for a very compelling read.
This book also triggered all the Russian curse words I had forgotten so long ago..."mudak" has been reinstalled into my vernacular. Plus side I can curse without offending a good portion of the population. LOL.
I've been reading "The Professional" by Kresley Cole and it prompted me to hunt down some more Russian Mafiya stories to hold me over until next/last installment. It was during that search that I found "Last Hit" by Jessica Clare. I've been reading her "Billionaire Boys Club" series and have really enjoyed it.
Prior to reading my first Jessica Clare book, I thought she was an erotica author...but she is more than that. Don't get me wrong she does some great sex scenes but it is in addition to a story you can really sink your teeth into.
In "Last Hit" you meet Nick Anders. He's a paid assassin with scruples. He's been raised by the Bratva (Brotherhood, aka Mafiya), taken in at the tender age of 6, and taught to kill. Talk about something that would mess with your head. He is also starved for affection, and feels that because of his past he is nothing but scum...poor guy, how could you not open your heart to him.
We also met Daisy Miller, who is not named after Henry James' Daisy Miller, though both are equally tragic in some ways. Daisy has been touched by violence, at a young age, and it has left huge scars. She has been very sheltered and is as naive as a 21yo can possibly be. She is overwhelmed by Nick...he is as dark and she is light. But they fit. I totally fell for this hitman with a heart.
I loved Clare's characters...they had depth, and her attention to detail was amazing. She nailed little things like how native Russians speak English, to the point where they spoke that way during internal dialogs. It's these little things that allow me to fully immerse in a story. I am really looking forward to reading Daniel and Regan's story...that should be a doozy.
About the story...Love truly does win out in fiction and it's a close call for Daisy and Nick once she knows Nick's big secret. Clare handles that revelation and the preceding events in a way I didn't expect. Daisy also made choices I didn't expect. That is another reason I really like the author's writing style/voice. Though some choices were unexpected the characters stayed true...if that makes sense. All of it made for a very compelling read.
This book also triggered all the Russian curse words I had forgotten so long ago..."mudak" has been reinstalled into my vernacular. Plus side I can curse without offending a good portion of the population. LOL.
theladyinreds's review
3.0
Take one sheltered farm girl striking out on her own in the big city add one Ukrainian ex-mob contract killer with serious stalker tendencies and you have a really smart, totally twisted, and sexually charged as hell romantic suspense novel. If the suspense plot hadn't crashed in and taken over the last 1/4 of the book it would have been aces across the board for me.
Also, Hitman POV is the best thing ever. Where else would you get throwaway lines about "a sex worker in Amsterdam who taught me how to cuddle" or an assessment of the ease with which one could repel from the building should that be required? Hitman POV 4EVA.
Also, Hitman POV is the best thing ever. Where else would you get throwaway lines about "a sex worker in Amsterdam who taught me how to cuddle" or an assessment of the ease with which one could repel from the building should that be required? Hitman POV 4EVA.
shannonmcd14's review
2.0
This story was like some weird, creepy, stalker romance turned suspense story gone wrong. Some books can have a stalker-y aspect to them and pull it off, but this one made it creepy (in a weird way) and uncomfortable. Not only that, but when he does finally meet Daisy it is so awkward, which I guess it is suppose to be but this is like watching a train wreck. While you read about Nikolai's double life and Daisy's ignorance you kind of just want to hit them both over the head because you don't really know which one is dumber. Daisy is like a baby seeing the world for the first time, IN EVERY SITUATION (which gets annoying REAL QUICK). Then there is Nikolai who is like a love sick puppy, but with a gun & has a problem with killing people. Like it just doesn't make sense! These two people shouldn't meet (I get he was stalking her but still) & even if they did they shouldn't be a couple!
And by the end (if you make it that far) you already can expect what will happen, and you already expect the happy ending. It is just one thing after the other. There were a few (& I say a FEW) good aspects of the storyline when Nikolai was alone, but that is the only good thing I can say about this book.
And by the end (if you make it that far) you already can expect what will happen, and you already expect the happy ending. It is just one thing after the other. There were a few (& I say a FEW) good aspects of the storyline when Nikolai was alone, but that is the only good thing I can say about this book.
beamasalunga's review
1.0
Finishing this book was a constant struggle for me. Last Hit was disappointing in terms of the pacing, plot, characters and romance. There is so much potential in it but the execution of the story didn't grabbed my attention.
* The Pacing - Slow pacing to the point of boredom. I put it down several times and considered not finishing it. I skimmed pages because it was excruciatingly boring and wordy. My pacing starts to pick up around 50%-60%.
* Plot - Uneventful, confusing and lacked the thrill. Categorized as romantic suspense, I expect it to be action packed and fast paced. The kind that will give you an adrenalin rush. To my disappointment, it wasn't thrilling. It took me a while to absorb what goes on the Russian mafia / Bratva. Since the hero was an independent contract killer and he has an unfinished business with his former Bratva. I guess the main problem of this book was focusing more on romance than the suspense aspect. I want more history about the Bratva.
* The Characters - Weak protagonists. Daisy Miller was sheltered throughout her life since her mother was murdred. Her father was traumatized by the incident and feared for his life and daughter. Suffocated by his overprotective daughter, she left home. She was naive, immature and at times stupid. She's prone to danger by easily trusting Nikolai. She never realize he's stalking her. As for Nick Anders / Nikolai Andrushko, I don't find him sexy at all for an assassin. He wasn't even badass.
* The Romance - Daisy and Nikolai have a bland chemistry. It was insta-lust for them. I would be more invested if they have more dialogue just to build up their romance and steam.
Will I continue the series? Possibly. It depends on my mood. Overall, this book was disappointing.
* The Pacing - Slow pacing to the point of boredom. I put it down several times and considered not finishing it. I skimmed pages because it was excruciatingly boring and wordy. My pacing starts to pick up around 50%-60%.
* Plot - Uneventful, confusing and lacked the thrill. Categorized as romantic suspense, I expect it to be action packed and fast paced. The kind that will give you an adrenalin rush. To my disappointment, it wasn't thrilling. It took me a while to absorb what goes on the Russian mafia / Bratva. Since the hero was an independent contract killer and he has an unfinished business with his former Bratva. I guess the main problem of this book was focusing more on romance than the suspense aspect. I want more history about the Bratva.
* The Characters - Weak protagonists. Daisy Miller was sheltered throughout her life since her mother was murdred. Her father was traumatized by the incident and feared for his life and daughter. Suffocated by his overprotective daughter, she left home. She was naive, immature and at times stupid. She's prone to danger by easily trusting Nikolai. She never realize he's stalking her. As for Nick Anders / Nikolai Andrushko, I don't find him sexy at all for an assassin. He wasn't even badass.
* The Romance - Daisy and Nikolai have a bland chemistry. It was insta-lust for them. I would be more invested if they have more dialogue just to build up their romance and steam.
Will I continue the series? Possibly. It depends on my mood. Overall, this book was disappointing.
nbiblioholic's review
4.0
The cover really did it for me. Dude is seriously HAWT!!
Maybe I'm a tad morbid, but what I didn't like about the book was that it wasn't graphic enough for me. Ya, I'm gross, but I had to imagine too much of the details. Other than that, this book was great. Daisy's character was naive, innocent, ignorant of proper responses (her emotional flip flops were ridiculous), anti-social, sweet, and pretty much what you'd expect from someone raised by an agoraphobe. Nikolai was amazing! I really liked his character. Saved from the streets of the Ukraine, raised to be a cold blooded assassin, he found his heart in Daisy. I liked how authentic his accent seemed to be depicted and how his character calls himself out on not conquering American linguistics. I think it was cute.
I felt bad for roomie Regan. I see the next book is about her and Daniel. I'm definitely going to read that because Daniel intrigued me in this book. How did an American become part of the Bratva??? And I need to know how he rescues Regan and what really happened to her.
Maybe I'm a tad morbid, but what I didn't like about the book was that it wasn't graphic enough for me. Ya, I'm gross, but I had to imagine too much of the details. Other than that, this book was great. Daisy's character was naive, innocent, ignorant of proper responses (her emotional flip flops were ridiculous), anti-social, sweet, and pretty much what you'd expect from someone raised by an agoraphobe. Nikolai was amazing! I really liked his character. Saved from the streets of the Ukraine, raised to be a cold blooded assassin, he found his heart in Daisy. I liked how authentic his accent seemed to be depicted and how his character calls himself out on not conquering American linguistics. I think it was cute.
I felt bad for roomie Regan. I see the next book is about her and Daniel. I'm definitely going to read that because Daniel intrigued me in this book. How did an American become part of the Bratva??? And I need to know how he rescues Regan and what really happened to her.
bookpauper's review against another edition
5.0
Round up to 5
Girl escapes her home and goes to live in the city. Hitman notices girl and commences with some creepy lurking (authorbrainwashing magic convinces me it's adorable). Both are very awkward and unsure how to fit in with the world. Somehow, all of this totally worked for me.
Like I said, Nick is a killer. He is cold and ruthless and pretty much solves his problems by killing them. But his love for Daisy is so innocent and unguarded. He gives everything he can and it's so endearing. Daisy has been sheltered in the extreme "for her own good"; a captive. She breaks free and even though she is completely over her head in the world she is determined to find joy in her life. I really admire her bravery. I'm so glad there are snippets and a novella to read.
Girl escapes her home and goes to live in the city. Hitman notices girl and commences with some creepy lurking (author
Like I said, Nick is a killer. He is cold and ruthless and pretty much solves his problems by killing them. But his love for Daisy is so innocent and unguarded. He gives everything he can and it's so endearing. Daisy has been sheltered in the extreme "for her own good"; a captive. She breaks free and even though she is completely over her head in the world she is determined to find joy in her life. I really admire her bravery. I'm so glad there are snippets and a novella to read.