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Defined
Price MacCann grew up in a family of vigilantes. Trained as an assassin, her kill rate was matched only by the Reaper himself until she witnesses a death which hits too close to home. After a year of trying to put it all behind her and live a nine to five life, she soon finds it may be more difficult than she realized. With her family pushing her to return to the fold, a tall, dark and handsome stranger coming to town and a series of mysterious notes demanding her expertise, Price is faced with the decision to define normal for herself.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2018
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ellen Quire
9 books59 followersMary Ellen Quire is the author of Link Detonator and Detonator Time’s Up, penned under the name Mary E. Rose, and Dark Deliverance, her latest novel. She has penned several short stories published through small press such as Speculative Fiction Centre Horizons and Tabloid Purposes. Her newest works include Sheldon's Diary and Fairview. She resides in Kentucky with various animal squatters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 13, 2018
I loved this book. It was fast paced, exciting, adventurous and funny. I can’t wait for the next book and definitely recommend it.
February 28, 2019
I LOVE this book!! It was so freaking much fun :D
There wasn't one big plot to carry thru to the end, but there were a lot of little things that helped it along. Envelopes being left at Price's door (or under it) was one.
Which...I have my suspicions about who could be putting them there...
And I'd love to see where this goes with Donnelly.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cheryl May, which - could have been better.
She has a great voice, and overall, she did a good job, but there were the weirdest pauses at the oddest times. It was like when I'd read to my son and get to the end of a line of text and have to find my way to the next. Not HUGE pauses, just enough to drive me a little insane.
But, like I said, she has a great voice :)
I'd listen to her again.
There wasn't one big plot to carry thru to the end, but there were a lot of little things that helped it along. Envelopes being left at Price's door (or under it) was one.
Which...I have my suspicions about who could be putting them there...
And I'd love to see where this goes with Donnelly.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cheryl May, which - could have been better.
She has a great voice, and overall, she did a good job, but there were the weirdest pauses at the oddest times. It was like when I'd read to my son and get to the end of a line of text and have to find my way to the next. Not HUGE pauses, just enough to drive me a little insane.
But, like I said, she has a great voice :)
I'd listen to her again.
March 15, 2018
Oh, what a fun book this was! The author had a great "voice", and I loved the snarky narrative of the main character. This story had a little bit of everything, but somehow, it really worked for me.
Price MacCann grew up in a family of professional vigilantes. Her job? She's a hitman, and she's really good at it. After a tragic turn of events on a job which causes the death of her brother, she decides to try to live a "normal" life and hold down a "normal" job. Price begins work for Arnie, an antique shop owner and family friend. Her days are filled with hum-drum inventories, until her crazy old Aunt Clara (specialist in poisonings) comes to visit her for the holidays. Mysterious white envelopes begin showing up under Price's door containing only a paper with a name on it. As Price begins to lose her mind from boredom, and in a vain attempt to escape her father's not so subtle requests to help him take out a notorious cult leader, she starts her own investigation into the names contained in the letters. She comes face to face with the mysterious Donnelly, and she's not sure if he's friend or foe. The only thing she knows is she shouldn't trust him... or should she?
This book sucked me in right away. The family's antics had me laughing out loud at times, and I was constantly chuckling at the steady stream of sarcasm from Price. Did things come way too easily for her? Of course! Did I care? Nope! I do wish that the author had given Price a bit more depth, and I would also like to have had more information about Donnelly. I think the ending was a little bit of a let-down after such a big build up, but the author does leave room for a sequel, which I will be watching for. Overall, I liked this. Bravo!
I received an ARC of this book, and I voluntarily chose to write an honest review.
Price MacCann grew up in a family of professional vigilantes. Her job? She's a hitman, and she's really good at it. After a tragic turn of events on a job which causes the death of her brother, she decides to try to live a "normal" life and hold down a "normal" job. Price begins work for Arnie, an antique shop owner and family friend. Her days are filled with hum-drum inventories, until her crazy old Aunt Clara (specialist in poisonings) comes to visit her for the holidays. Mysterious white envelopes begin showing up under Price's door containing only a paper with a name on it. As Price begins to lose her mind from boredom, and in a vain attempt to escape her father's not so subtle requests to help him take out a notorious cult leader, she starts her own investigation into the names contained in the letters. She comes face to face with the mysterious Donnelly, and she's not sure if he's friend or foe. The only thing she knows is she shouldn't trust him... or should she?
This book sucked me in right away. The family's antics had me laughing out loud at times, and I was constantly chuckling at the steady stream of sarcasm from Price. Did things come way too easily for her? Of course! Did I care? Nope! I do wish that the author had given Price a bit more depth, and I would also like to have had more information about Donnelly. I think the ending was a little bit of a let-down after such a big build up, but the author does leave room for a sequel, which I will be watching for. Overall, I liked this. Bravo!
I received an ARC of this book, and I voluntarily chose to write an honest review.
June 9, 2018
2.5/5.0
An entertaining story, quick to draw the reader in and hold them.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
An entertaining story, quick to draw the reader in and hold them.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 2, 2018
Book Title: Defined (Price MacCann Assassin Series Book 1)
Author: Mary Ellen Quire
Blurb: Price MacCann grew up in a family of vigilantes. Trained as an assassin, her kill rate was matched only by the Reaper himself until she witnesses a death which hits too close to home. After a year of trying to put it all behind her and live a nine to five life, she soon finds it may be more difficult than she realized. With her family pushing her to return to the fold, a tall, dark and handsome stranger coming to town and a series of mysterious notes demanding her expertise, Price is faced with the decision to define normal for herself
About:
The book cover was hot. I loved it. The title justifies the story completely.
Though life gives a direct threat to her, yet the protagonist is strong in spirit and is able to clear out her path pretty easily. I feel this can be written as a sequel or maybe even made into an awesome thriller movie. The language was simple and the flow of events was easily understandable keeping the suspense of the next scene throughout. I kind off paused in between to relate to the events.
I enjoyed reading it. I want to read the next series for sure.
My rating is
Narration:5/5
Story plot:5/5
Cover:5/5
Author: Mary Ellen Quire
Blurb: Price MacCann grew up in a family of vigilantes. Trained as an assassin, her kill rate was matched only by the Reaper himself until she witnesses a death which hits too close to home. After a year of trying to put it all behind her and live a nine to five life, she soon finds it may be more difficult than she realized. With her family pushing her to return to the fold, a tall, dark and handsome stranger coming to town and a series of mysterious notes demanding her expertise, Price is faced with the decision to define normal for herself
About:
The book cover was hot. I loved it. The title justifies the story completely.
Though life gives a direct threat to her, yet the protagonist is strong in spirit and is able to clear out her path pretty easily. I feel this can be written as a sequel or maybe even made into an awesome thriller movie. The language was simple and the flow of events was easily understandable keeping the suspense of the next scene throughout. I kind off paused in between to relate to the events.
I enjoyed reading it. I want to read the next series for sure.
My rating is
Narration:5/5
Story plot:5/5
Cover:5/5
March 4, 2018
I found this to be a very intents read with a family full of criminals, if a crime was ever commented this family has done it. There is a full line up of shade characters that I really liked, I loved the twists and turns from a very well thought out plot that keeps you on your toes with some very exciting reading. Just when I thought I had it all worked out the author throw a twist making it a very unique unpredictable read that had me hooked from the first page.
It is full of action, suspense that keeps you turning the pages. Price is a wonderful character strong, capable and stands her ground but not over bearing. The author gives you a well blend story with mystery, crime and a family that is something else. The story moves fast the author keeps the reader invested with excitement and danger. I had no trouble picturing the scenes as they came. I could easily see this book in a movie that would be a hit. It is a story well worth your time and I do plan to read it again. I just loved it.
*********************
It is full of action, suspense that keeps you turning the pages. Price is a wonderful character strong, capable and stands her ground but not over bearing. The author gives you a well blend story with mystery, crime and a family that is something else. The story moves fast the author keeps the reader invested with excitement and danger. I had no trouble picturing the scenes as they came. I could easily see this book in a movie that would be a hit. It is a story well worth your time and I do plan to read it again. I just loved it.
*********************
April 16, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this deliciously dark tale by Mary Ellen Quire about an entire family that employs many various ways of completing assassinations. But, it is so much more than just that. I liked the interwoven family dynamics and of course the outrageous characters and their antics was simply priceless. It was also a story about trying to find out where you truly fit into life's picture, and whether that was where you really belonged or it you were there simply by default and family genetics. I am definitely looking forward to the reading the next book in this fascinating series. This is a somewhat late voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
March 7, 2018
I loved this book. It was so fun to read about an Assassin and of course her whole family who is in the business. I laughed through out this whole book. For an Assassin who just wants to be normal she is finding it really hard to do that. This says it's book 1 so I really hope there are more books as I can't get enough of Price and her family.
*Thank you Hidden Gems for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
*Thank you Hidden Gems for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
March 1, 2018
Humorous perspective on retirement.
Take family holidays and mix in unsavory business. Guaranteed to be a great time. Seems simple enough to recognize. Some business you just don't retire from. Especially when your family literally calls the shots.
Take family holidays and mix in unsavory business. Guaranteed to be a great time. Seems simple enough to recognize. Some business you just don't retire from. Especially when your family literally calls the shots.
July 17, 2018
Have you ever seen a book and just had to buy it because of the cover alone? Most of the time I am not that reader but this is the exception by far. From the cover to the very last page this book had me in a trance that I couldn't break. From the action and thrill of the crimes in the book to the intensity of the family angle this book was impossible for me to put down. Quire wrote Defined with such a well blend of mystery, thrill, crime, and family that is unlike anything else I have read to date. Defined is an extremely fast read that keeps the reader mentally invested. If you enjoy crime novels, highly recommend reading Defined, it is well worth the read!
March 13, 2018
The blurb sounds amazing and I was so excited to read this book however it just did not deliver for me. It was an ok read but it did not hold my attention. I stopped and started many times and continued because I kept hoping it would get better. The core story is a great one and with some editing this could easily be turned into a fast paced great read, but as it is written now in my opinion it is just okay
September 7, 2018
A great story dimmed by some poor editing choices. The scene is set with our hero trying to live her life after leaving the family business. It's hard to find employment after working a job that doesn't transfer well to regular life. It's even harder when family and strange notes keep trying to drag you back. Dark gritty storytelling rules the day. Can't wait to see what other stories come out of this series.
March 2, 2018
This was such a great read, I loved the action and suspense. Price was awesome and I loved how the author set up the book so there is definitely room for more in the series. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Will definitely be reading the next book.
February 29, 2024
I did not read this book. It was never meant to in my lists. Cannot see how to remove it
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews