She just wants her life back. After being kidnapped and forced to kill by a vicious crime lord, Cate Hartmann is now a killer with an addiction to stealing souls. On the island sanctuary of Haven, surrounded by other anomalies with secret abilities, she fights to recover. But only one man calms the dark storm inside and makes her believe she can be whole again…Dr. Gage Walker.
Scientist Gage Walker has spent a decade helping anomalies. But every day, he’s haunted by his previous job for the CIA—where he crossed far too many boundaries and hurt so many anomalies. Including his brother. He vows he won’t fail again and will do everything he can to heal Cate—including fighting his attraction to her.
But when the crime lord comes after Cate again, it’s a race against time to find out why he wants her. Amidst the danger, Gage and Cate drawn to each other, even as they fear that one wrong step will send her hurtling back into the depths of her soul stealing addiction.
I’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
I love hearing from readers and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website: www.annahackett.com
I absolutely still adore Hacketts writing, but found this story highly uneventful. ☺️
Read: 27/08/2021 1st rating: 2.5 stars Genre/tropes: Sci-fi/romance Cover: 2 stars POV’s: Dual -3rd person (Gage & Cate) Will I recommend: Nah, bit this particular book, but the author -HELL YES☺️
Cate is in hell - as a soul stealer she was experimented on and forced to kill. And she’s riddled with guilt as she liked it. The one person who soothes her is Gage, doctor and scientist. He has his own actions to redeem for so understands Cate and doesn’t judge.
A story showing that the road to redemption is not easy and that forgiveness is hardest for one’s self. This story looks at this and the inner strength it takes to continue with the future despite the past.
Characters from books 1 & 2 appear and the ending is a nice surprise. Looking forward to reading the last book in the series.
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.
Cate's had a rough couple of months. Kidnapped and forced to use her talent to kill people in really horrific ways, she's now on the mend. Sort of. She's fighting off her need to kill. She's in a bad place, but she's getting better. She's in the "I don't deserve to live after what I've done" headspace and she doesn't trust herself around Gage or anyone else.
Then things get worse. Because being forced to defend herself the only way she knows how takes her backwards a few steps. Good thing Gage isn't willing to give up on her. He pulls her back into their corner of the world and makes her face herself and her fears.
Oh, yeah. And the bad guy REALLY wants to get Cate back in his clutches. Which sets up the next book nicely.
These anomalies are a tough bunch who fight for what they believe in, even when it seems like a lost cause. I'm very curious to see where book 4 goes.
SOUL STEALER, Bk 3 in Anna Hackett’s Anomaly series.
MY RATING GUIDE: 3 Stars. An OK read. The series arc continues with SOUL STEALER. 1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Brilliant doctor and former CIA specialized research scientist, Dr. Gage Walker now works at Haven sanctuary, an Australian Barrier Reef location which provides a home for a community of people with unusual and powerful talents. Before coming to Haven, Gage performed research on certain genetically talented CIA agents. The volunteers’ talents were generally enhanced by the experiments but there were also terrible casualties among the test subjects. Gage eventually decided the end results were not worth the terrible cost in human lives. When a powerfully enhanced CIA agent named Callahan decided to bail the research program, Gage joined him and together they left the CIA unit forever. But Callahan, Gage and their island refuge members continue to be hunted for their abilities.
Cate Hartmann is a Soul Stealer. She inherited her lethal talent and when she hit puberty, her parents had taught her how to shut it down. But years later, Cate was kidnapped by a man who sought her power for himself. He wanted her to kill. Cate’s future appears very grim.
Comments ~ 1) SOUL STEALER is bk 3 in a 4 bk series. It has a complete story with a HFN/HEA while the series arc connects the titles. 2) I don’t enjoy books with misunderstandings between MCs as plot devices. SS contains a certain amount of it but due to the brevity of the novella, thankfully this was limited. 3) SOUL STEALER is a novella and read very quickly. For whatever reason, I wasn’t pulled into Cate and Gage’s story as much as I had hoped. Perhaps it was simply too dark for my tastes.
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to YA or to readers who prefer Clean fiction. PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used occasionally. VIOLENCE - PG-13. SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Steamy scenes of intimacy occur a number of times.
This is the 3rd Anomaly book, and it's a solid entry. Cate was the woman Mara wanted to save in the last book, and now she's on the island retreat for anomalies, and being helped by the sexy Dr. Gage Walker, who used to do experiments on people like her, for the CIA. That's how he met Callahan, who is responsible for the existence of the island--and for its security.
The biggest problem is that Cate can't forgive herself for having enjoyed the power of stealing souls--and the evil villain crime lord who tortured her isn't done with her yet. Can he breach the island's security? If so, can the anomalies together defeat him and his henchmen? And will Cate allow the good doctor to love her like he wants to, or will she continue to push him away? More exciting adventures in a good series.
Continuing the seamless transition of the Anomaly series… Cate is a Soul Stealer.. She was forced to kill and became an addict to the rush it triggers… But she is rescued and brought to Haven and becomes obsessed with the handsome doctor Gary, and he equally is attracted to her but feels conflicted because she is a patient, then she is snatched TWICE from HAVEN!!! WTAF She partially steals one final soul from her final kidnapper, Gabriel Leven, who dissolves into a whimpering mess.. Now I am confused.. Why is the main evil character of the whole series, the massively wealthy evil criminal now a gardener on Haven?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This novella has ex-men elements to it. As the anomalies are much like exmen with their abilities. Care is traumatised by what she was forced to do and Gage is a dr that is helping her. They fall in love and they have to overcome not only their own pasts but also their trauma. The author managed to pack a lot in under 100 pages, and I felt it could be longer. Also, despite being an interconnected standalone, I think it's probably best to read the previous books first.
Can a person who used to steal souls heal and learn to control the powers ? Perhaps Gage and the crew on Haven Island begin to teach Cate how to heal what Leaven made her do. But when he gets on the island not once but twice Cate will do what is necessary to save Gage and the love they now have? Will it stop Leaven and the governments hoping to use anomalies? Probably not but Haven residents will do what they have to do they families are safe.
I really like Gage. He is very smart. He carries a lot of guilt. Not all of it is on him though. Cats is struggling with her guilt. She is worried she will hurt an Innocent. It is really horrible to hear of the torture she endured. Gage gives Cate a reason to hope. A very good story. A really scary talent.
This is the first novel with a picture of a shirtless guy on the front cover that I've read, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The plot was simple but interesting with a surprising ending. I didn't care much for the male love interest and read this mainly because of the female main character. I took off one star because I felt like the first few pages gave the impression that the novel would be much darker than it actually was - and that disappointed me a little.
I have hated the ending for each of these books so far but this one takes the cake. Leven deserved to die. Also Cate was annoying with her “woe is me” attitude through the entire book, and the insta-lust (cuz it’s not love let’s be so for real) was annoying.
Popping back in to the series. Enjoyable but not *great*. Not a lot happens but a nice character/relationship devlopment. Interesting Universe. It works.
I love reading novellas & there’s no doubt that Anna Hackett excels at writing them.
Soul Stealer is the third and final installment of the Anomaly Trilogy. Although, I believe Soul Stealer can be read on its own & still make sense, I strongly recommend reading the others in the series (Time Thief & Mind Raider) because the reader is visited by previous characters and because the Anomaly Trilogy is just simply a fantastic series.
This third installment revolves around Gage and Cate. Before Cate was rescued and taken to the island of Haven, Cate was kidnapped by a malicious crime lord, Leven, who turned her into a killer by stealing souls. Not only that, but she possesses a special ability that makes her more wanted by Leven who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Although Cate is fortunately rescued from a living nightmare, she has developed an addiction to stealing souls which makes her recovery almost impossible.
That’s where sexy scientist, Gage, comes in. Cate is not his patient, yet he’s drawn to her. He’s determined and will do anything to save Cate and help her move forward as well as help her overcome what she has done in her past.
I loved the previous installments of the Anomaly Trilogy and Soul Stealer was no different. My time spent reading this story was totally worth it. Gage and Cate was a couple who I immediately loved. They were two damaged people with their own burden to carry and demons to fight, yet they couldn’t be more perfect for one another. I enjoyed reading their interactions and the times they spent together. Their relationship was sweet and tender and of course sexy too! I loved that in each other they found strength, acceptance, and love.
Overall, Soul Stealer was everything I’d hope for. Filled with paranormal elements along with action, danger, a sprinkle of suspense and a dash of romance, what’s not to love? It had all the ingredients in what makes a great read. Rich with emotions, a fully developed plot and storyline and memorable characters, Soul Stealer was a fantastic read as well as a great addition & ending to the trilogy. With certainty, the stories in this trilogy are ones that I will revisit again and again. I loved Soul Stealer along with the others and cannot recommend it enough for lovers of paranormal romance. Get on this series ASAP!
Cate Hartmann wants her to get her old life back after being kidnapped by a crime lord. That is impossible because during her capture she was made to kill people with her ability to steal souls. Now she is addicted to it and just wants to give up. She is on an island sanctuary called Haven for people with special abilities. Even tho she is attracted to Dr. Gage Walker she still doesn't trust herself around other. Gage spends his life helping people like Cate because it is what he loves and because he feels he has a lot to make up for. His past isn't perfect either. He knows Cate can push thru and become what she used to be he just has to keep her safe and get her to believe. When Cate's kidnapper tries to recapture her, she and Gage come together and she may just have to kill again even when she doesn't want to.
Cate has been torn from what she knows and tortured. She truly is a strong woman she fights her addiction to kill people every day and would rather be alone the rest of her life than to do something harmful to those she loves. She shows tremendous courage. Gage I just love. He is smart, protective and sexy with a nerdy twist. I won't think of lab coats the same again. He also has a bad past he feels guilty about and has to overcome. These two seem perfect for each other in ways that they can help each other and have good chemistry.
This is the 3rd and final book in the Anomaly Trilogy. I have not got to read the others yet but I plan to soon. This book is a quick read but has so much going on. I wasn't lost not having read the other books first. I would recommend reading the first two simply because if they are as good as this one they are a must read. This book has people with different powers. I enjoyed reading about all the different ones people had. You gt a kinda look into what the first two books hold. There is action as the crime lord Cate escaped from comes looking for her to turn her into the perfect weapon. They have to fight to keep her free and Gage is not going to let her go easy. It also shows the struggle both Gage and Cate battle everyday with their guilty feelings. They help each other overcome them and grow closer from it. I love this book and think any paranormal lover or anyone just looking for a fantastic read will as well.
The suspense and the advancement of the plot was raised several notches in Soul Stealer.
This heroine was different from Bay and Mara in that her parents hadn’t kicked her to the curb, nor had she been fighting to stay one step ahead of Leven for years. The once genteel school teacher had been turned into a killer, and to her horror, she’d enjoyed the feeling. Thanks to the group at Haven, she was beginning to heal with Dr. Gage Walker leading the effort. I liked Cate. She was a nice balance of vulnerable and tough, and she was willing to subject herself to tests and experiments to help Gage figure out what made her so special to Leven. The results were actually astonishing.
Gage and Cal’s history were closely entwined, so it was no wonder he didn’t see himself as a do-gooder. He blamed himself for his brother’s death, and in the beginning he may have seen it as a small effort at redemption by helping Cate. Until he fell in love. He was sweet in a nerdy way, and it was sweet to see him struggle with his feelings—thinking that as a doctor he would be taking advantage of her if he reciprocated her tentative advances. Their love scenes seemed to have more tenderness and more feeling to them, but Gage managed to go from nerdy scientist to sexy nerd with a good reserve of stamina; so hot! They were just really sweet together and a perfect match.
My biggest complaint with the Leven situation over the course of the first two books was finally dealt with in a manner that made sense, and it was immensely satisfying. Also, the preview of the next book had a twist I didn’t see coming.
My Kindle book ended at 84% followed by a preview of the last book, Salvation.
I am sure everyone out that has heard about woman being kidnapped and forced to do terrible thins, but take a moment to and try to step into the shoes of those woman. Alone, away from everything you know and love and being forced to do the most unspeakable of things, and worse there is no way out!
In Soul Stealer by the incredibly talented Anna Hackett I got to see not only the world behind that kind of situation, I got to see the paranormal side of it. Yes, you read it right, the paranormal side.
Cate was kidnapped and not only trained to kill but forced for you see deep down inside there is a kinder soul. But what is worse very soon that implemented and trained action becomes an addiction. She steal souls for the crime lord that kidnapped her, and she cannot seem to stop no matter how hard she tries. How's that for book opening?
Incredible that's what! The characters of Cate and the Dr. Gage that is the man determined on saving her, were both so powerful that I was bombarded with a series of emotions that is very hard to describe.
Yes I have read this authors books before and I always enjoy them, yet this time it is not only enjoyment that came to mind, I was truly in awe as it was if the author packed more emotion in this time. It all felt so very real even with all the soul stealing going on that was the kicker to remind me as reader this is actually a paranormal related read.
The elements of danger, suspense, romance and good vs evil were absolutely brilliantly depicted it was truly not only a delight to read but definitely one of the very best reads of 2013 and for sure it will go straight to number one in the paranormal reading charts!
Cate Hartmann has been rescued from a crime lord who used her to kill people, but the act is addictive and she’s scared she might steal another’s soul. Doctor Gage Walker is determined to help her recover and join the rest of the world, but are his personal feelings getting in the way of his professional expertise? Both characters are carrying around a bunch of guilt they have to deal with, and the crime lord is still after Cate for nefarious reasons. Time Thief and Mind Raider give context to many of the characters, abilities, and events in Soul Stealer, so I recommend you read them first. Soul Stealer is a quick read about people with supernatural powers and those that seek to use them. The story references X-Men at one point, and if you enjoyed X-Men, you’ll like this series. I would have enjoyed exploring the characters a bit more, but this is a lean, fast-paced action romance. I like how Cate's struggles are described. She wants to go back to her life as a schoolteacher, but her talent and addiction, plus her wanted status by criminal elements, make that impossible. Her will has been horribly violated and she just wants to feel normal again. However, she can't leave Haven, and she's scared to touch anyone. At first, Gage may feel obligated to help her out because of his own demons, but he manages to coax her out of her shell because he cares about her as a person and love interest. The honesty of his emotions helps Cate try to make a new life for herself. The conclusion is not what I would have expected for this story or the series, but fits in with the idea of not letting your fear or hatred get the better of you and make you a killing monster, which previous characters in the Anomaly books have had to confront. It also feels a bit condensed.
3.5 stars. So far in this series the main protagonists have been as much hunters as hunted, fighting back against the bad guys who want to kidnap Anomalies and use them for evil deeds. This one is a little different. Partly because it’s set on Haven, the paradise island where anomalies live in secret, but mostly because of Cate and Gage.
Cate was a nice teacher of young children until she was stolen away and forced to use her anomaly powers. All her life she’s resisted them because she’s a Soul Stealer, and once she gets a taste for killing it quickly becomes an addiction. But she doesn’t want to be a killer, she just wants to go back home and be an ordinary woman again. Since that’s looking less and less likely to happen, she’s stuck on Haven trying to come to terms with the monster inside her.
Luckily for her Gage is on hand to help. The doctor is sexy and caring, but also has a dark past of his own. They’re both a little wounded by life and more than a touch vulnerable, but Gage has a smart brain to help him out and Cate can always call on her powers if she needs to. They might not be as feisty or as strong as the previous couples in this series, but they fit together beautifully as they fight to work out what makes Cate so special and how to keep her safe.
There’s less action in this book than the previous tales and a lot more soul-searching, but it’s still a good, quick read with a satisfying romance. A good addition to the series, even if it did leave me uncertain about how the next and final story will work. I’m definitely curious to find out, though.
Cate is on the sanctuary island of Haven founded by Callahan for anomalies who want to be free from being hunted and used for their special abilities. She's going thru detox cause she's been forced to use her soul stealing talents excessively that she's become addicted to the high so to speak. Dr. Ellie n Dr Gage are tasked with dealing with the aftermath of them to bring some semblance of order to their lives out of the chaos. This story not only has paranormal romance but gives u an insight of what it feels like to have an unusual gift with a bit of comic relief thrown in the mix. Mind reader vs mind reader, time stealer vs time stealer n gives u the sense of " O no u didn' t". The mob boss Leven is still after Cate not only for her abilities but for the knowledge she possesses. Can Cate come to terms with her gift or will she self destruct?
This is the third book in the Anomaly series and the story is unraveling. Cate was rescued but still she was dealing with her addiction to her soul stealer power. Dr. Gage Walker was the one designed to help her overcome the harm that Leven did to her. But he felt attracted to Cate and was struggling between his attraction and the knowledge that she was very dangerous to they all. Cate almost succumb to the guilt that was destroying her but with the help of Gage, who was dealing with his own demons, they were to discover the mystery behind Leven’s pursue of Cate. This book gives answers. Intrigue, suspense and hot sex here concentrate in Cate and Gage. No time to be boring. The end left me thinking. Love this series
Cate, a soul stealer, is in a detox programme at the Haven. Now she has been rescued from Leven she has to try to break the addiction he gave to her of stripping people of their souls.
Gage is one of the doctors on the island and trying to help Cate get back the person she once was, the one who taught small children and didn't steal souls for a criminal mastermind. But he has his own shameful past with experimenting on anomaly's and also feels a burning attraction to Cate.
Will they uncover Leven's master plan and his reason in pursuing Cate.
There is no let up in action and romance in this penultimate episode. You will be amazed at their novel solution to their problem and revel in their ability not to become what Leven is!
Soul Stealer is the third book of the Anomaly Series. Cate Hartman is recovering and trying to come to grips with her Anomaly. Once a teacher she can’t trust herself to not hurt those around her. Gabe Walker is the Haven’s doctor and a scientist that at one time worked for the CIA to enhance and create Anomaly for the governments use. He and Callahan now work to reverse the effects of the Anomaly gene and give those with the gene a place to live in safety and peace. But Gabe Leven isn’t giving up his twisted dreams of having all the power in the world and won’t leave Cate and Haven alone.
I received the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cate is a soul stealer, someone able to kill people through touch and will. Scary, right? Imagine how she feels when she realizes she 'enjoys' it, and knows she can no longer function as the decent person she used to be. She needs fixing. Can it be done? Gage is a doctor / scientist with his own secret history. He's attracted to Cate. Will he be able to heal Cate's emotional damage? They're meant for each other; he cannot give up! These books could be read as satisfying 'stand-alones' but each story adds a depth of understanding and you really don't want to miss out on anything! I received an ARC in return. For an honest review.
Cate and Gage will steal your hearts. This is #3 in the Anomaly Series. You can read it as a standalone, but you will get a much better picture if you read the series in order. These novellas are all about Action, Romance and Passion. With a touch of Paranormal thrown in. I highly recommend this book as well as the series.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. I was not compensated in any way. Just an honest review. They're GREAT!
This was an enjoyable read that is different than my normal reads that have bloodsuckers. :)
I may give the author another chance by reading additional work. Hopefully, she has some full-length novels because I'm not normally a fan of short stories.
You should read the first two stories in the trilogy before reading this one.
This book was really good. Out of the 3 I have read, I think this one is the best. I wasn't expecting the ending, but it works. I can't wait until the next one..
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.