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4.5 stars!!

Kill Game is a book whose plot (serial killer!), characters (a homicide detective -- who can do Krav Maga by the way -- and a bail enforcement agent), chemistry (sizzles), action (fast-paced!), and romantic development (strong and steady; the sex near the end is pretty hot too) is RIGHT up my alley! It definitely is one of my favorite reads of the year...

This is only my second book of Cordelia Kingsbridge and I seriously wonder why I haven't read more of hers. Maybe because I'm not really into reading free online fiction *lol*. Anyway, I requested this ARC because of the first two words of the blurb: homicide detective. Other readers have their love towards firemen, or hockey players, or military officers ...

Me? Homicide detective is one of my weaknesses. I didn't even read the whole blurb completely; I saw that and I was intrigued.

What a ride this one turned out for me!! I couldn't put this down. Kill Game is a thrilling page-turner and everything I enjoy from mystery/romance...

First, a vigilante SERIAL KILLER. Yes, The Seven of Spades only kills people who commit crime and walk away from jail time. I enjoy reading about serial killer whose victims are not exactly innocent. The moral question on whether the victims "get what they deserve" makes the story EXCITING.

Then we have the relationship dynamic between Levi (the detective) and Dominic (the bail enforcement agent). Levi thinks that Dominic is NOT his type at all. Dominic is too big, too muscular... As for Dominic, Levi is a bit too prickly. But boy, they have delicious chemistry. They work REALLY well together too; even if Dominic is not part of the Las Vegas Police Department. I think it's because they respect each other and they are good at what they do. I also loved them individually; I especially enjoyed the added layers that Kingsbridge gave this character... like Levi having a rich boyfriend, and Dominic as a recovering gambling addict.

The love story is slow burn for me. Until at least half of this book, Levi is in a relationship with someone else. No, Levi is not cheating on his boyfriend, they already have issues. I thought Kingsbridge offered a convincing problematic relationship when the two men involved had different ending goals.

The only thing that stops Kill Game from being a perfect read for me is, well, the ending. When I read it, I wasn't aware that it was the first novel of a series arc that spans five books. Which means when I started, I had expectations. I wasn't prepared with the possibility that the big question wasn't completely answered at the end... so I was a bit bummed by it.

The final line of this book was excellent though ... I know I'm going to have fun building up hypothesis about the real identity of Seven of Spades. I already have my guess at the moment, but with more books, I will have more data so to speak. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the second book and counting the days until it arrives.




The ARC is provided by the publisher via for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.