4/5
Shadow
I really loved Shadow. He is super alpha and sexy, and he moves super quiet. Riley is such a great female lead. She is smart, tough and independent. These two make a great couple.
Killer of Kings, 4
Shadow keeps to himself, never mixing business with pleasure. Business is killing. Pleasure is the girl next door.
Riley never had help growing up, but she’s determined to make something of her life. She used her own blood, sweat, and line of credit to buy her home and bakery. Everything is perfect—only it’s not. She’s lonely and can’t stop obsessing over her sexy, mysterious neighbor.
Shadow has perfected his self-control over the years, so ignoring Riley comes naturally. But when the curvy temptation becomes entangled in his world, targeted by a group of assassins, he takes personal responsibility for her safety. She’s cute, feisty, and he plans to show her just how dark and dirty he can be. If they can stay alive, they may just have the love of a lifetime.
Be Warned: anal sex, sex toys
Excerpt:
He didn’t have time to babysit a girl determined to get herself killed. And he sure as hell didn’t need her digging around his private life. He’d lived in his house on the same street for almost ten years without issue. He refused to move. Boss had mentioned on numerous occasions that the best place for a hitman was a secure condo downtown or a stand-alone off the grid. Shadow knew he was playing house, trying to create the life he’d craved since childhood. It was all a fucking illusion, but it was a part of his humanity he refused to give up.
So his brave little neighbor needed to learn her place. The rest of the neighborhood kept their distance, and she needed to do the same. He had her on security camera at least a dozen times trying to snoop in his windows or peek over the backyard fence. Shadow hadn’t thought much of her meddling until today. He hoped this scare had put some sense into her.
After finishing up his usual Thursday session at the gym, he headed home. He’d pushed himself harder than ever, and he knew Riley was to blame. He couldn’t get her off his fucking mind. She only came up to his chest, and her curves were even thicker up close and personal. He ground his teeth together, trying not to think about digging his fingers into her rounded hips as he fucked her from behind. She was way too young for him, and he wasn’t in the market for a woman anyway. His solitary life suited him.
It was nearly eleven, only the streetlights and faint glow of the moon illuminating his street. He pushed his entry fob and the garage door opened as he approached his house. His cellphone vibrated moments after entering the garage and cutting the engine.
“Yeah.”
“I’ve left you alone for a while, but I have a job for you,” said Boss.
It had been well over a month since Shadow had heard from Killer of Kings. The clean-up after they took down part of the Dead Angels MC was a fucking headache. He’d appreciated the time off, but he was ready to get back to work. His trigger finger was itching, and he needed an outlet stronger than the gym for the darkness growing inside him.
“You want to text me the details?”
“This job will require a bit of recon. I want to be sure we’re getting the right man. He’s used body doubles in the past. Can you handle that?” asked Boss.
In all the years Shadow had worked for Killer of Kings, he’d fucked up one time, giving Boss some bad intel. It wasn’t like him, and sure as hell wouldn’t let it happen again. Boss would probably hold that mistake over his head for years.
“Yeah, I can handle that.”
“Good. Then I’ll text you the details,” said Boss before hanging up.
As much as he would love to direct his anger at Boss, he couldn’t. Shadow had been a foster care runaway since before he could remember. He’d been a skinny, broken teen living on the streets, fighting to survive, when his guardian angel found him at seventeen. The older man had taken him in, showed him the first kindness he’d ever known, and taught him how to fight. He owed Mr. Karpenko everything.
After his tours of duty, his mentor had introduced him to Boss, and the world of Killer of Kings was opened up to him. Everyone working for Boss had to be fearless, ready to go to hell and back for a contract. Shadow wasn’t afraid to live and die by the sword. His fear of death ran deeper, starting with his earliest blurred memories of his mother dying slowly from lung cancer. Mr. Karpenko had been one of Boss’s many informants, and he respected the owner of Killer of Kings—that fact spoke volumes.
Shadow pushed his thoughts away and got out of his car. Just before he hit the panel inside the garage to close the door, he saw a shadow watching him. He immediately reached behind him, getting a good grip on his gun, keeping his hand at the ready.
“Who’s there?”
“Sorry, it’s your neighbor. I wanted to apologize for earlier.”
He adjusted his stance, leaving the gun in his waistband. “For what?”
“You were right. I was following you. It was stupid, I know, but my curiosity got the better of me,” she said.
Shadow narrowed his eyes, staring at Riley Church under the glow of the streetlights outside. She didn’t know who she was fucking with. He’d lost count of his contracted kills. “Curiosity killed the cat, no?”
He refused to turn on the lights in the garage. Darkness had always been a friend in his line of work, and he didn’t want to face her right now. Or ever.
“That was a really bad part of the city,” she said, ignoring his comment.
“And?”
“Why were you there?”
This time he chuckled; he couldn’t help himself. This chick wasn’t his girlfriend or wife. Their only connection was the proximity of their houses. She either had balls of steel or a death wish. “You just apologized for following me, and now you’re giving me an interrogation? Good luck with that, sweetheart.”
“Right. Not my business,” she said. “Thank you for saving me from those jerks.”
Shadow needed to put an end to this before it got out of hand. He didn’t need a friend, a woman, or a private eye invading his life. The only way to ensure she kept her distance was to put a little fear in her, because obviously the scare at the gym wasn’t enough to set her straight.
He slapped his palm on the wall panel near her head, making her yelp. The double garage door began to lower. “Those gangbangers weren’t your real problem,” he said, slow and steady. “You should be worried about being alone with me.”
- Series:
- /series-killer-of-kings/
Product Reviews
5/5
Great Book!
My favorite book so far in the series!! My heart broke for the past lives of Riley and Shadow but their love and dedication for one another repaired not only my heart but theirs as theirs as well.
5/5
Great Series!
What's not to love about these hot killers! Killers they may be, but boy when they meet their women they fall hard. What I love about this book from all the others is the fact the heroine did a killing of her own in a situation where it was either her or the killer, of course she would defend herself after growing up on the streets you needed all you could learn to protect one's self in times of danger. With her knife skills and being able to read people's lips it came in handy. But just wished she didnt freaked out after the deed was done, but oh well it was still a good book. I really.hope we get Boss's book next as im sure everyone reading this series is hoping for his book too.
5/5
Night Owl Reviews
Stacey Espino and Sam Crescent outdid themselves with the latest in their fabulous series with this adventurous romance. I loved watching Shadow trying to keep his aloofness when his nosy neighbor lures him in to her life. He quickly falls without seeming to notice it before it’s too late and I couldn’t wait to see his next reaction. Riley won me over for life the moment she mentioned Nancy Drew. She was so used to taking care of herself that it was interesting to see her handling some support. Shadow and Riley are absolutely perfect for one another. They have similar pasts and it makes for a deep understanding of their personalities. This story was an explosive combination of action and emotion and I was sad to see it come to an end as I just couldn’t get enough of this couple or the other Kings of Killers. I’m actually holding my breath waiting for the next in this series as I am continually impressed with where these authors take me with every story. Trust me, you need to read this book. The Story: Shadow enjoys the suburban neighbourhood he lives in as it gives him a feeling of normal when his life as a killer is anything but. His lived for years under the radar but his new neighbor seems determined to discover his secrets. Buy she has secrets of her own. can he keep Riley safe and secure a future for them?
5/5
Great Book!
My favorite book so far in the series!! My heart broke for the past lives of Riley and Shadow but their love and dedication for one another repaired not only my heart but theirs as theirs as well.
5/5
Great Series!
What's not to love about these hot killers! Killers they may be, but boy when they meet their women they fall hard. What I love about this book from all the others is the fact the heroine did a killing of her own in a situation where it was either her or the killer, of course she would defend herself after growing up on the streets you needed all you could learn to protect one's self in times of danger. With her knife skills and being able to read people's lips it came in handy. But just wished she didnt freaked out after the deed was done, but oh well it was still a good book. I really.hope we get Boss's book next as im sure everyone reading this series is hoping for his book too.
5/5
Loved it
Great book loved the way they got together can't wait until the next in the series please come out soon
4/5
Shadow was another one that went down the love trial. Shadow was happy living in his world
I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book This series is one of my fav series. Shadow was another one that went down the love trial. Shadow was happy living in his world. Doing his job, as a hitman for the Killer of Kings and teaching the boys at his gym about how to survive. So when his nosy neighbour starts pocking around his house and following him he had no choice but to show her who he really is. Riley has been on her own for a long time, and she can't help but be curious of her next door neighbour. So maybe it was wrong to nose around his house and follow him but she couldn't help herself. Now they can't help but be attracted to each other. But can Shadow trust Riley is the women for him, the women who can live in his world, can he trust that she is cut out to be a Killer of Kings Women. I loved this book, Riley was a strong character and she knew how to take care of herself. And Shadow was the perfect Hero. Taking care of his women when she was in danger. And man I am so looking forward to Boss's story. His book is going to be EPIC!!!
5/5
Killer of Series !!!
We need 50 stars for this !! At least !! Killer of Kings is an awesome series written by two amazing authors, Sam Crescent and Stacey Espinoza. I do not think even they know how much they have just topped themselves !! Shadow is just off the chain hot as hell and Riley is just the match for him !! Both with similar pasts, they find love and heal their souls . An EPIC read !!
4/5
GOOD
Another great addition to the series. Riley was interesting character. And she almost hit as h with one of my fav characteristics. But... First I wished she was more accepting her quirkiness, instead of being embarrassed about it. Like 'She got caught, she just shrugged.' And believe me she did acted quirky at the beginning where Shadow was concerned. It was something. Lol Second, it would have been perfect if she wouldn't had lost it after unwelcome visitor to her bakery. She did reacted great at the treat and she didn't needed someone to safe her. She was doing so fine until... Well, I guess what happened brought memories from the past and it become too much. In all I think Sam and Stacey did a great job... She was tough, and after all she been through she needed to be to survive, but Riley still had a soft side. Actually I think it could be also applied to Shadow too. Even though that soft side of his was only for Riley. And talking about Shadow... He was deadly, sexy, loyal, protective... And I could continue. Lol Shadow and Riley had similar childhoods. I guess that's why they clicked and were perfect for each other. And I think I'm going to repeat myself again, while reading books in this series. I want Boss down! I really looking forward when some girl will make him to drop to his knees. I'm sure deep down he has a little green monster where his men and their women are concerned. And serious Boss seems to always try to steal the main couples spot. Lol.
