Hot-headed and soft-hearted Street Crimes Detective, Lucy “Lucky” Sorin, can’t seem to stay out of trouble. She even manages to get kicked off the task force working to bring down the Rat Lords, an outlaw motorcycle club in town.
Instead of taking a demotion she turns in her badge, grabs her stick and goes looking for a level table with fast cloth—at the Rat Lords’ clubhouse. While all eyes are on the ex-cop turned pool hustler, Lucky only has eyes for Mira Allen, the club president’s lover.
With her smooth stroke and smart mouth, it doesn’t take long for Lucky to find trouble again. Tempers soon flare and nothing is quite what it seems. Everyone has a secret someone else is willing to kill for—and Lucky is dangerously behind the eight-ball.
Carolyn Elizabeth is an author of Sapphic stories where serious camp meets upbeat macabre. Her sarcasm and love of pop culture are sprinkled throughout her stories and she would love to publish at least one novel in every sub-genre. Carolyn once bungee jumped in the parking lot of a bar in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. She’s been a bridesmaid five times and a bride once. She’s sailed a tall ship, spent a night in jail, gotten many tattoos, been scuba diving twice, and fired a handgun. For fun, she used to play winter rugby 7’s in an indoor horse arena in New Hampshire. She’s been to Savannah, Georgia for Saint Patrick’s Day, and been on a medical mission to northern Argentina. Carolyn is a mom of two rambunctious boys, living in London, Ontario and working in cancer research. She enjoys weaving elements of her colorful and diverse life experiences, including her education in pathology, into her romantic blend fiction.
'Arc provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher (Bella Books) in exchange for a honest review'
**'When trying to tell a good story, try coming up with a theme because it exist to help make some of your characters stand out and be meaningful...'
4.5stars! There are times when as an avid reader just looking at the title itself might turn me off and then others times i take chances because of the author -- well, i took that kinda chance with this book and was blown away by the storytelling. 'KISS SHOT' is Carolyn Elizabeth's newest novel featuring Street Crimes Detective Lucy 'Lucky' Sorin (also a very good pool player), her protege & motherly figure Captain Curran, Mira Allen and many many secondary characters (some good, bad & indifferent). The story is one of those compelling, one-sit read -- which i slowed down to savor --- that will keep interested readers wondering what's gonna happen next from page to page. I should not be that surprise with how well-plotted and crafty this book is because her storytelling in the medical mystery (Curtis & Reynolds) series is arguably her most highly regarded books. Also, 'KISS SHOT's narrative is infused with some nifty writing, no holds barred law enforcement agencies activities, persistent intense action, smart plotting, razor-sharp characterizations, dangerous & merciless gang members and with all this taking place in slither this nicely developed love story. Readers looking for an exciting, euphoric and remarkably well written story, look no further -- Carolyn Elizabeth's 'KISS SHOT' should be at the top of your must-read-list. It's that good. A highly recommended book!
You know when you finish a book very late at night and you start a new one thinking “I’ll only read a couple of chapters and then go to sleep”. A big nope, nada, not going to happen with Kiss Shot.
You are immediately pulled into the story of Lucky (Lucy) Sorin, a woman who rose up from a life of hard knocks to become a respected detective in her local police force. Only then, by defying a direct order from her captain is she ousted unceremoniously from the department. Lucky turns to what she knows best, hustling pool. She ups the ante by playing at a local biker clubhouse and falls hard for the girlfriend of the club president. At this point, what you thought was exciting will be blown out of water by the rest of the novel.
Carolyn Elizabeth has given us a thrill ride of a seventh novel made up with intriguing characters and a storyline which keeps you guessing until the end. Although I am sleep deprived from my overnight nonstop read, I have absolutely no regrets. And neither will you after reading Kiss Shot.
I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is about an undercover cop trying to infiltrate into a criminal group and while I don't typically enjoy reading a lot of such action-based cop novels, I enjoyed this one. I like Carolyn Elizabeth's stories a lot. I've read a couple of books she's published previously and while they are all vastly different, they are all pretty exciting and full of action. For this book, I thought the main character, Lucky, was a fascinating character. She's had a rough childhood, which allows her to empathise with kids going through the same and her heart is in the right place. But she's also impulsive and hence not terribly good at her job and makes several bad decisions during operations.
While going undercover, Lucky takes a special interest in the triad boss' girlfriend, Mira, who appears to be more street smart, which makes her a fascinating character too, though I wish we had more of her and her POV.
I recommend reading this book for the excitement and action but not for the romance. I thought the romance between Lucky and Mira was nice but a little bit underwhelming.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 ⭐️ This fast-paced story was just what I needed.
Lucky Sorin, raised on the streets and in foster care, got a chance at training and a good job through a mentor from the Albany Police Dep. Now she is a Street Crime Detective and her mentor is her boss, and together with the team they hunt the Rat Lords, a dangerous outlaw motorcycle club in town. After blowing a mission, she leaves the cops rather than accept a demotion. As the badass pool table player she is, she infiltrates the gang at their clubhouse and tries to take them down on her own. If only that would work out!
Lucky doesn't always live up to her name, playing a very dangerous game, she's cocky as hell and her pool game is world-class, but with her smart mouth, she quickly makes more enemies than she'd like. Add in her protective instincts and she slowly reaches her limits. I loved Lucky from the beginning, she has her heart in the right place and fights for what is important to her, without regard for her own losses. Luckily she gets help from an unexpected side, I'm deliberately not saying more here so as not to give anything away. The only chance to smoke out the whole rat hole and preferably to survive herself is if they team up. But trust is a tricky thing when you don't know each other. A wild ride on a Harley and with other vehicles begins, a race against time and many enemies from all directions.
I was captivated by the first lines and almost couldn't put the book down. The plot is exciting with many twists and turns and picks up speed from page to page. The two MCs have to sort of meander through a snake pit of outlaws and dirty cops, not knowing who they can trust and who they can't, not even if they can trust each other. Both women are tough as nails, maybe a little bit exaggerated at times, but it's fun to follow them, especially from the comfort of your couch. It's a painful and tough experience for the two ladies with a lot of danger, angst, and shooting.
In my opinion, the story could have been a bit longer with a little bit more background information about the two MCs. We learn quite a bit about Lucky but we know almost nothing about the second main character. In any case, I wouldn't mind accompanying the two women on new adventures.
Undercover, drug lords, crime, dirty cops, violence, and a little bit of romance. Two badass women walking and riding a dangerous line to bring the Rat Lords down.
ARC was provided by Bella Books to LezReviewBooks.com in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about Lucy “Lucky” Sorin an Albany NY police detective. She grew up in foster care and learned her street smarts young. She becomes a disgraced officer when an under cover operation goes bad and she’s kicked off the police force.
She resorts to her passion of being a 8 Ball pool hustler with her own custom made pool cue to make money. She meets up with the motorcycle gang that’s been terrorizing the city. With her smart mouth and her bad ass street fighting skills she holds her own against the gang.
Once she meets up with the gang in their pool hall the action in the story really speeds up. There are lots of bad guys and girls to make the story exciting and there are some dirty cops helping the gang too. Lucky ends up with a surprise friend to help her.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for an action packed story and a bit of romance.
ARC revived from Bella Book through NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review
Loved it. I enjoy a good action/thriller and Kiss Shot delivers. Lucky Sorin has to live by her wits as she goes undercover to infiltrate a notorious biker club called the Rat Lords. Lucky has a job to do and a death to avenge. Who she can trust and how she manages to handle the many threats she faces makes for an entertaining read.
Well done Carolyn Elizabeth. I hope there is a sequel. I would love to see more Lucky Sorin novels in the future.
I am such a big fan of this author’s Curtis and Reynolds’ series which is also in the detective/mystery genre. Next best thing to another book in that series is the start to a new one. Lucky Sorin worked her way up from a tough upbringing to being one of the youngest detectives on the police force.
One of my favorite tropes is where law enforcement or a spy goes deep undercover and falls for the villain’s beautiful girlfriend. But not so fast in this case, twists and turns take the reader for an action packed ride. There are no dead or dull spots so the story is a quick read. The characters chew up the snappy dialogue, a mashup vibe of classic gumshoe and modern detective speak. Kiss Shot is also a story about two strong women who make tough choices. If you enjoyed the author’s previous work, jump in to this book with both feet. If you are new here, take a chance. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Amy Deuchler, is perfect in voicing both main characters, keeping the energy level high during thriller moments and the passion lit when Lucky and Mira find each other.
Carolyn Elizabeth is one of those authors who can just jump genres without a problem, it’s amazing really. Elizabeth has a seemingly effortless writing style that spins stories wonderfully.
For me, this book took about 1/3 before I got really into this story. Sucked into the world of gangs, corrupt cops and a life of crime. Elizabeth has me questioning if I should like or loathe our main, Lucky. She’s such a mixed bag of a character, I actually love it. We don’t see many of those. I can’t say too much about the story because no one likes a spoiler, definitely not with this type of book. I usually figure lots of stuff out pretty quickly but Carolyn Elizabeth did manage to surprise me a good couple of times.
This is yet another good book written by an author who has become one of my favourites in just a short time. The type of dialogue she writes, I live for it. The Curtis & Reynolds series is a master class in excellent, banter filled dialogue, but this one will hold its own as well.
*ARC received from the publisher (Bella books) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Lucy “Lucky” Sorin is a former homeless teen turned police detective, thanks to the support of a woman who is now her captain. When an informant gets killed by a bikers gang, the captain takes advantage of Lucky’s hot-headedness to pretend-fire her so she can go undercover. Lucky’s pool hustling skills help her get close to the gang, and the leader’s lover, Mira Allen.
Lucky cares a lot and for a cop, that can be dangerous. She also has this self-centredness and single-mindedness of those who see themselves as saviours but only on their own terms. Just as dangerous, if not more. Good intentions, Hell, and all. Allies, learn from this, that’s not how you help or support anyone.
In Lucky’s case, however, it makes her annoying and relatable at once. It’s fiction. Anyone acting this way IRL wouldn’t stay around me for long. Yet in the context of the story, it shows the character’s flaws and allows for growth.
It may not be obvious from everything I wrote above but I enjoyed this book a lot. I always enjoy this author’s books, to be honest. It’s not my favourite narration by Amy Deuchler (she was awesome in The Other Side of Forrestlands Lake by the same author), but she got the job done.
There’s a lot of adrenaline and action in this story, and it’s gritty as they come. Lucky is pretty much out of control all the time, not listening much and certainly not thinking for long before jumping, but it seems to work for her most of the time. If you put aside the repeated beatings she has to endure over the course of the book. The interactions with Mira are a lot of fun, whether they’re flirting or Mira wants to kill Lucky for whatever reckless things she’s done again.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Kiss Shot by Carolyn Elizabeth is a fast-paced adventure novel with an intricate plot, striking characters, and a slow-burn romance between two unlikely characters. This is one book I had trouble putting down for such mundane tasks as eating, sleeping, and interacting with the people around me.
The author creates the dark mood and danger in this story through the descriptions of the setting. The fast-paced action will keep you glued to the pages, but it is the characters that make this book something special.
The main character, Lucy (Lucky) Sorin does not have an easy life, both in her past and present. She is a detective in the Street Crimes unit until she gets in trouble and is demoted. She quits instead of accepting the demotion. Then she takes her cue stick and heads to the Rat Lords clubhouse to become a pool hustler. The Rat Lords are the outlaw motorcycle gang she had been working to bring down as a cop. There she meets Mira Allen, the club president’s lover. Lucky’s attitude and smart mouth soon get her in trouble again, but this time, there is no one to help…or is there?
The unforgettable people in the tale as well as the complex plot with its many unexpected twists and turns will grab your interest and keep you reading long into the night.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
4 star A wild ride from beginning to end. Once you start you won't be able to put it down. There are many, many surprises, scares and some over the top characters. The 2 main characters are interesting together. One is very experienced and the other.......not so much. Carolyn Elizabeth is an interesting author.. All of her books cover different genres. They span from medical examiner, pirates, ghosts and now pool shark undercover agents. All are mysteries full of interesting characters, clever dialog and a hot romance. You can always count on this author to entertain. I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Carolyn Elizabeth writes some of the best adrenaline-racing action packed lesfic novels and this was another to add to her list. Lucky is a detective who embarks on a crazy undercover gig to infiltrate an outlaw motorcycle group. She ends up going undercover completely without any assistance and there a multitude of moments in this where I was on the edge of my seat worried for Lucky. She is a badass but also kind of crazy!
It's difficult to say more without giving spoilers but I highly recommend a read if you like an action packed novel blended with romance.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Excellent! I've been needing a tough woman with a smart mouth and an expensive pool cue in my life. I just didn't know how much. Elizabeth tells a tight tale of corruption, gangs, undercover cops, who can you trust, and son of a... a sloooow burn romance is included (as if your head needed more to love about this book)! Treat yourself to this fast-paced cop story you won't be sorry.
Loved it. But then, I love Elizabeth’s writing. Her humor and ability to write mains’ chemistry is fantastic. This one is typical action hyperbole but works great and makes sense within story. Funny and fast paced, great listen.
Lucky (Lucy) Sorin is a detective assigned to Street Crimes in Albany, NY. She grew up in foster care and on the streets until a police officer took an interest and mentored her. That officer is now her captain. The Rat Lords are running the town and always seem to be one step ahead of the police. When Lucky refuses to take a demotion for insubordination she quits and turns to hustling pool gangs in the Rat Lords territory.
I don’t want to give any more details away but there is fly by the seat of your pants action. Lucy is cocky whether meeting bikers, thugs or sex workers. She lives life on the edge as if she has nothing to lose. And of course nothing is quite what it seems. Mira was my favorite other character and I wish I knew more of her back story.
Carolyn Elizabeth delivers a thrilling, action packed, police story with a smidge of romance. I sat and read the book in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucky grew up in foster care and until a police officer Curran took her under her wing who later becomes Lucky Captain. She became a detective assigned to Street Crimes in Albany, NY. she is a good cop despite the fact she cocky doesn’t thinks before she acts but she does gets the job done. When she refuse take a demotion she quits and goes back to what she loves doing playing pool and hustling in the Rat Lords territory. But everything isn’t what’s it’s seems as the story progresses we deals with gangs, corrupt cops and a life of crime in the mix of it all a romance happens between Lucky and Mira who I really like and how she sees right through Lucky in my opinion wish we had more of her back story though. Overall I enjoy the read wouldn’t mind another story with Lucky and company.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Whoa! My favorite genre was kicked in the ass and turned on its head. It was rough, messy, crass and a little out of my comfort zone… but I liked it. The MC wasn’t particularly smart or thoughtful and just sort of blundered through the book making awful choices and barely scrapping by. Her name is Lucky and the only thing lucky about her is she has managed not to get herself killed. I’m not even going to try to get into the plot, because I don’t want to give anything away. Just know, whatever you expect out of this book won’t likely manifest, but what unfolds is so much better.
I wouldn’t be upset if it were slightly longer with some more build up and detail, but the length didn’t distract from the story.
this is the second carolyn elizabeth book i’ve read and both times the books have been absolutely spectacular. And both times i’ve wished the books were longer.
i could have read an entire anthology about the adventures of lucky and mira. i don’t normally read crime/mystery-esque books because a) i’m not very good at solving the mysteries but b) i find them all very same-y. this one however? was an absolute delight start to finish and god the humour was incredible.
the author really knows how to write a book that is totally able to be devoured from start to finish and i absolutely cannot wait to see what the author produces next.
Se sabe que es un tanto difícil conectar con los audiolibros, o por lo menos para mí. Pero, Amy Deuchler le da la voz perfecta a los personajes, muy buen énfasis en los momentos tensos y el tono necesario en los diálogos cómicos.
El libro está muy bueno, totalmente recomendado por su servidora. Si buscan drama policíaco, con un ligero toque de sexiness, este libro es un go to.
Wow, this was AMAZING. The characters were great, the story ran smoothly, and the plot was spot on. This was action packed and full of angst. I read it in one sitting because I just could not put it down until the end. What a journey. Well done Carolyn Elizabeth, I can't wait for your next book. I recommend, I promise you won't be disappointed. 4.5 stars
I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bella Books via NetGalley.
4.5 stars. Those that follow my reviews know that I will read anything Elizabeth writes. The genres wildly differ (which I applaud), there is always a lot of action involved and one of the characters often tends to be impulsive, landing her in less favorable situations. That’s the case in this book too. Lucky is a detective with a good work ethic and the heart at the right place, but her big mouth and impulsive choices seem to always get her into trouble.
When Lucky messes up an investigation after the Rat Lords and is kicked off the team, she dumps the badge and goes rogue. Her incredible talent at the pool table soon brings her in the world of the rat lords, but life is about to be complicated, the stakes are high and nobody can be trusted. And then there is this huge distraction in the form of Mira, the lover of the president of the Rat Lords.
This story is written in first person from the POV of Lucky and while she is not really a funny person, I often had to laugh about her thought processes. You also get to see another side of Lucky, the one where she had a rough time growing up which still impacts the way she lives and some of the decisions she makes. The romance in this book is pretty light and because this is a first person book you do not get a lot of insight in Mira. For me it worked for this story as she remains mysterious for a long time, but still I would have liked to know more about her. I think we need a sequel with these two and get to know Mira better, it could even make a cool series. Can we have that please?
This is one of those books that is almost impossible to put down. A stumbling hero takes you through a high paced and highly entertaining underground crime story while encountering some excellent plot twists along the way.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars!! An action packed page turning that had me stressed out for the characters until the very end! I am a huge fan of Elizabeth's books and always have so much fun being thrown into her worlds she creates. This book definitely held up to the hype I had when I first read the synopsis.
Kiss Shot follows Lucky Sorin, a detective on a case investigating a motorcycle gang, The Rat Lords. Things go astray and she winds up being kicked off the case and out of her job. She decides to take things into her own hands and uses her pool skills to try to infiltrate the well know Rat Lords. What she did not expect was to meet the alluring Mira Allen, who is the lover of the gang's leader.
This book is action packed, filled with twists and turns and truly had me stressed out for the characters for the majority of the read. The romance in the book is definitely not the main focus, however there is a lot of bickering and angst between the main characters which I loved.
I do wish we got more of the romance between the characters, but I am hoping that there might be a sequel to this story (fingers crossed!). Overall, I highly recommend this book because you will not be bored for a second!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a tough book to read. Not because it’s badly written, or poorly plotted, or has no credible characters. None of those things are true. The writing is impeccable, the plotting is spot on, the pacing is perfect and the characters are infuriating, honourable, and at times downright annoying. I loved it.
Lucy, aka Lucky, is a good cop but always goes a little close to the edge to get the job done. When she breaks the rules one too many times, she has to give up her badge. But actually this is just a ploy to get her undercover with a local crooked biker gang and try to flush out some bent police officers. Lucky is good undercover especially using her excellent pool skills. She also develops a soft spot for Mira who is the biker boss’s girlfriend.
There are no spoilers here but my goodness the book is full of angst. One minute you think you know what’s happening, then Ms Elizabeth twists things and you’re confused again. Who are the good guys and what’s going to happen next? Who can we trust?
Recommended if you like crime stories that are full of action and tough women with strong morals. I will continue to read books by this author as I haven’t been disappointed once yet. Ms Elizabeth knows how to tell a story.