Reviewed by Heather C
Title: Reaper’s Touch
Author: Eleri Stone
Series: Reaper #1
Heroine/Hero: Abby/Jake
Genre: MF Historical Romance
Length: 95,000 Words
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: February 10, 2014
Available at: Carina Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Abby is a Ranger, part of an elite group who defend the border against Reapers—humans infected with a parasite that turns them into mindless cannibals. Rangers are immune to Reaper infection, and as one of the only female Rangers, Abby is expected to settle down and breed more Rangers—a fate she’s keen to avoid. When she’s ambushed on the plains, she’s ready to go out with guns blazing—until a mysterious, handsome cowboy rides to her rescue.
Jake has his own motives for helping Abby, beyond aiding a damsel in distress. He’s a Reaper, and while he’s learned to wrest control of his mind from the parasite, the effects won’t last without a permanent cure. And he needs Abby to get it.
Abby and Jake are natural enemies and unlikely partners. But when their search reveals a conspiracy between Reapers and the rich industrialists who own the mountain cities, they must work together to find the cure—or lose the border, and each other, forever.
Review:
Set in a sort of alternate American history slash dystopian slash steampunk-ish world, Reaper’s Touch tells the story of Abby, one of the only female Rangers, who falls for the very “thing” she is tasked to eliminate…a Reaper. Reapers are humans who have been infected with a sentient parasite which turns them into mindless, cannabalistic creatures…and Rangers carry some kind of immunity to the infection. For centuries, Jake has fought the rider within and has finally gained some control over his mind and body. When Jake happens across Abby away from her team of other Rangers, he kidnaps her to use in creating an experimental cure for the parasite. But Abby can’t help seeing Jake’s humanity and is determined to help cure him…even at the risk to herself.
I absolutely loved the setting and the idea of this story. I didn’t fully read the blurb and was TOTALLY stunned when it was revealed that Jake was a Reaper! OMG! I can not voice how hooked I was when I read that scene…although I was already completely hooked after the scene with Jake and Abby in the alley, but now I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN! Jake was a Reaper! And should not have been able to talk and look as sexy as he did. Gah!
I also really loved the tension and the banter between Jake and Abby. Of course Abby was a bit “all over the place” and couldn’t decide if she wanted to make-out with Jake or shoot him…so she did both. There was plenty of romance in there too, but it was a long journey before Abby and Jake were finally able to “be together”.
I loved how there was never a huge “info dump” and the author gives the reader little, tiny pieces of the puzzle at the absolute perfect moments in the story…bits that kept me intrigued and interested and trying to figure everything out THE ENTIRE TIME. Sometimes its hard to read this type of world setup because there is just information overload at the beginning, however, this was not like that AT ALL.
I am a little conflicted about my feelings for the ending. On one hand, I thought it was a bit drawn out (once Jake and Abby go back to her team), and on the other hand, I feel it was rushed (where Jake goes through the cure). I know, I’m contradicting myself a bit here, but I wanted to see MORE of that bit about Jake! And I wanted to see more of Abby and Jake together after that. Ugh! Those are truly my only two complaints about the entire story, everything else was AWESOME and seemed like I read it way to fast for being such a long book.
I can’t wait to read Lyle’s book next!
Overall Impression: I Really Liked It
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
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