Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers, #1) in Buddy Read Zone

Jun 20, 2013 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, series-book, kindle-own, july-2015

What a wonderful beginning to what promises to be an action packed series! I can't wait to continue on this journey that comes with a ton of bumps in the road for both the hero and the heroine. I have enjoyed J.A. Redmerski's work in the past, and was very confident that she would deliver an intriguing and exciting ride in this darker kind of romance story. I wasn't disappointed in the least! The main reason for my four star rating is my frustration with having to wait once again for hot sex! LO What a wonderful beginning to what promises to be an action packed series! I can't wait to continue on this journey that comes with a ton of bumps in the road for both the hero and the heroine. I have enjoyed J.A. Redmerski's work in the past, and was very confident that she would deliver an intriguing and exciting ride in this darker kind of romance story. I wasn't disappointed in the least! The main reason for my four star rating is my frustration with having to wait once again for hot sex! LOL This is not saying much for my character; but hey! I am being honest!! I do not enjoy having to wait until very late in the book (*cough* 83%)!!!! I do have to admit though, that I was caught up in the story so much that it truly didn't bother me as much as it has in other books. I would absolutely read this book again, even knowing that the sizzling bedroom scenes don't come until later!!

Just a quick look at what "Killing Sarai" is about..

We are introduced to Sarai, who has been held captive by a drug lord since she was 14 years old. The thing that I admired about her was that she did whatever she needed to do to survive her situation, and she never ever gave up on the hope that she would some day escape her dire circumstances. There were plenty of other girls held captive in Javier's home, but it was always Sarai that they leaned on for support. The brutal things that Sarai has witnessed over the years is nothing short of gruesome, and quickly I suspected that it would be extremely hard for her to ever go back to living a "normal" life.

Sarai's opportunity to escape arrives one day in the form of an American man. This is where she sneaks away in Victor's car, only to find out that he isn't the knight in shining armor that she suspected. In fact, Victor himself is a brutal, cold hearted killer. He is a man who seems to have no emotions, and executes people for money. The only reason he decides to keep Sarai alive is because he benefits from having her around. At least, that is what he tells himself. Very quickly though, he finds out that Sarai brings out feelings in him that he didn't even know he had. "The Order" is the company that Victor works for, does not agree with any kind of emotional ties; but Victor begins to come dishonest with them and even his brother when it comes to this girl he has become attached to. Deep down though, he knows that his life is way too dangerous for Sarai. The thing is though, she knows no other way of life. She is accustomed to murder, rape, and violence. Their journey is full of surprises and action, and it kept me up until the wee hours of the night!!

I thought this was a great taste of darkness in a story, without being too dark. This read is perfect for readers who have wanted to give a darker story a try, and yet can't stomach too much violence. Don't get me wrong, there is violence; but it is far from gruesome and graphic in my opinion! I suppose you could call Victor an "anti-hero" although, I did feel he had huge integrity and he treated Sarai with nothing but respect. It was hard for me to see him as a total jerk.

All in all, this series is a must read! My only regret is that I didn't start it a long time ago. Moving on to book two! I can't wait to dive in!! ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Tom rated it it was amazing

What a great book! Another 5! What an awesome reading week I had. I double dipped with 2, 5 star books!

Killing Saria is about a girl who wasn’t sold into slavery but kind of ended up there anyway. Her mother takes up with a drug lord who she becomes an obsession for at the very young age of 14. She has it better than the other girls at the ranch but still wants nothing more than to get out of there. When Victor, an American hit man, comes to the ranch for a contract she see an opening to get bac ...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Aman rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

Reviewed @ Enticed by Books

This is the first book where I'm more scared of an innocent, rescued girl than the cold-blooded killer guy. Oh.My.God! Sarai makes me so nervous and I feel like by the end of the series she is going to get everyone killed including herself. She's not stupid or immature or any of those useless heroines, Sarai is a very very dangerous girl, her mental state is so unstable yet unusually focused. It sounds even weird when I put it like that but that's what it is. You never Reviewed @ Enticed by Books

This is the first book where I'm more scared of an innocent, rescued girl than the cold-blooded killer guy. Oh.My.God! Sarai makes me so nervous and I feel like by the end of the series she is going to get everyone killed including herself. She's not stupid or immature or any of those useless heroines, Sarai is a very very dangerous girl, her mental state is so unstable yet unusually focused. It sounds even weird when I put it like that but that's what it is. You never know how she is going to react to a situation and that unpredictably of her character is what makes me love this book!

Sarai was dropped at a Mexican drug cartel compound at the age of 14 by her mother and was held captive for the next 9 years, but Sarai never lived a life a slave. She was being held without her consent but her being Javier's favorite made her untouchable for others. On top of that, Sarai was given a lot of privileged facilities that weren't available for other girls. Though I firmly believe that she was a prisoner with a great survival instincts. When an opportunity arrives one day in the form of the first American man Sarai has even seen in that compound, she packs her bags and escapes in his car without a backward glance. Her sense of relief is short lived because that man wants nothing to do with her. Victor is a killer-for-hire and was doing his job in Mexico when he first encountered Sarai. He knew that she was a hindrance in his plans but decided to keep her because of her value to Javier. I loved loved loved Victor. He wasn't a "hard on the outside, soft on the inside" type of guy, he was what he appeared. A Cold Blooded Killer. An emotionless, ruthless guy who doesn't care about anyone.

What I loved the most about Killing Sarai was that the characters remained true to themselves. There never changed their path and stick with what they did. There were numerous times where Victor just want to kill Sarai and get it over with, but Sarai is a very good negotiator and have a way with words like nobody else. I'm not particularly fond of Sarai because of her hard-to-grasp personality, but I'm in love with her adventurous, daring and dangerous journey, and I can't wait to continue it. Also, her relationship with Victor is so difficult yet every part of me want them to have a happily ever after. Well, let's be real, there won't be any happy in it but I just want them together.

Killing Sarai was a thrilling, adventurous, rough, violent yet a very romantic story in it's own way. The romance wasn't anything I'd read before, it clearly wasn't hearts and flowers, but it wasn't disturbing either. I loved how the story ended because it was very realistic, but there is still a lot left to uncover in Sarai's as well as Victor's life and I can't wait to find out! Plus, the cover is so appropriate for the story and I know that the author is planning to changing it, but I would say that that image of Sarai is a perfect representation of her character. Dark contemporary fans really need to read this book ASAP! ...more

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Aug 15, 2013 Kelster rated it really liked it

3.5 stars. When I began this book I was expecting a dark read. I like to go into books blind but I think because this book is so different from the author's previous book, The Edge of Never, that there was too much chatter, discussing the differences, for me to avoid. So, although I thought this was going to be a much darker story the fact that it wasn't didn't deter from my enjoyment. The books starts off strong and I was immediately engaged. The writing was great and there was enough going on, ...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Maggie rated it it was amazing

"4.5 stars"

A fast paced ride, the suspense and action never stops!

Excited to see what book 2 has in store! ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Laura Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-4-stars

Dear Lord, readers, and Ms. Redmerski-

Please don't hate me.
I didn't LOVE this. It's good; it's suspenseful.
It just didn't GET me the way that The Edge of Never did. As a matter of fact, it's a good thing I had no clue about the sneak peek at the end of The Edge of Always, 'cause I'd have so skipped to read it, (first, because obviously I loved Camryn and Andrew, and second because this story really didn't grab me the way I wanted it to).

Why? Please know, its probably me. I'm sure of it, becau ...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Paloma rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebooks, whoa, summer-reading-3

whoaooo this was good

1. I felt like Victor wasn't there...if that makes any sense...I didn't feel like like I did sarai
2. I loved Sarai
3. Can't wait for the next one ...more

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Jul 04, 2013 Riya Sharma rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance

Definitely a good book. Eager for the next one.

This is a story of a girl, Sarai, forced to live with a drug lord at an early age. The innocence of a child was ripped right out of her with each scene of violence, abuse, slavery, murder she had to live, see and feel.
When she gets the one chance to escape and lead a normal life....... she is already too in deep with her past.

Victor is a cold blooded assasin with a rock hard control. Though his conscience never makes him kill an innocent. So what d ...more

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Jun 21, 2013 Dawn Nicholson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

** 5 Brilliant Stars **

'Victor Faust Did Much More Than Help Me Escape A Life Of Abuse And Servitude. He Changed Me. He Changed The Landscape Of My Dreams.' ~Sarai~

'Killing Sarai' had me hooked right from the start... Highly Addictive, Exciting and Action Packed. Cannot wait for the next installment! ...more

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Jun 22, 2013 Jen added it

Read to 60%. Will return to it someday maybe.

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Jun 25, 2013 Diki79 rated it it was amazing

I was hoping for little bit more of a smutt.

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Jun 23, 2013 Mahlyn rated it it was amazing

This is one book that I dont want to end. When I learned that I was about to finish it already, I prayed that it will be prolonged. I dont want to end the story of Victor and Sarai. The story is a combination of Dark Duet series and Sempre ~ both of which are my favorites. I can't wait for the next book in the series. ...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Tahsin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: twisted-to-perfection

oh hot damn, can this woman write!

somethings were absolutely revolting, but she still makes it sound logical. it's gruesome, it's disturbing, it's perfection. the loose ends are tied up, and yet, there is room to let the series grow. there's a cliffhanger, but it's not the earth-shattering kind. ...more

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