Dead Man's Hand by Kristen Painter
Series: Sin City Collectors #4
Published by Amazon Digital
Published on: October 14th 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 110
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Demi-goddess and muse Seraphina Kostos has been tasked with bringing her employer’s wayward teenage daughter home. Not the hardest job Seraphina’s ever had. Until her boss calls in a favor in the form of extra help. The man who arrives is unlike any she’s ever encountered.
Sin City Collector Ares rarely goes on typical Collections. Mostly because his skill set involves taking lives, not saving them. As the son of a vampire and a grim reaper, his touch holds the ability to reap souls. Sure, it makes for a lonely existence, but he’s learned to deal with that. Or has he?
Beautiful Seraphina has him questioning everything he’s ever known. Living the rest of his life alone suddenly seems impossible. But what kind of future is there with a woman he can’t touch or hold or kiss?
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This is the last book in the Sin City Collectors series (of all the novellas published as of this posting, anyway). I read this book out of order. I had the later books in the series already, so I went ahead and read them first. While the heroine for Double or Nothing is introduced in this book, I didn’t feel like I missed anything by reading out of order.
In Dead Man’s Hand, we have our hero, Ares, who is a wraith. In this world, wraiths are half reapers and half vampires. He is pretty much used by the Collectors for just one thing, his touch will kill anyone he touches with his bare skin. This had lead him to live a very lonely life.
The heroine, Seraphina, is a muse, or well, part muse. Her mother is a full muse and is a goddess,which makes Seraphina a demi-goddess. Seraphina knows little of her father and her mother has left her life. She now taken up residence with the artist that she works for and inspires. Her life is pretty lonely too. She never knows if it is her magic that is making someone drawn to her or if the person truly likes her.
These two are brought together to find the artist’s daughter after she had been kidnapped. They are very quickly drawn together. Ares constantly pushes her away, afraid that he would kill her if he touched her. While trying to find out if Seraphina is immortal, the story kind of takes a side trip. While, I didn’t love this side aspect to the story, there was a very interesting twist that comes up.
Dead Man’s Hand was another great addition to this series. The thing I like the most about this series are the unique species of supernaturals that appear in the stories. Yes there is a vampire and werewolf in the series, but mostly, it is mostly species you don’t see in other paranormal romance novels or even urban fantasy stories. They have all been quick and fun reads. They can each be read in any order you choose, as the stories are truly as stand alone set in the same world. I really hope that more stories come up in this series.
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
I still need to start this series, but it sounds SO good, and the fact that there are so many novellas means it’s perfect for all night binge reading. I also like knowing that I can read these out of order. Great review.
E.J. Stevens recently posted…Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Kennian with E.L. Tettensor
Thanks. Yes, read in any order you like. I love that the species of supernaturals are so unique.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
how are the novellas connected? I have the first books of each author, not sure how the series goes.
Braine recently posted…Steampunk Sundays: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
All the books are set around the organization that is the Sin City Collectors. They are kinda like bounty hunters for the supernatural world. Usually either the hero or heroine are a collector, then the other might not be. In this case, Seraphina is working with the collector, Ares, to find her boss’s daughter who had been kidnapped. There are others where one was supposed to be the one collected. They’re short, fun reads. I love that the species of the supernaturals are so unique. There have been gargoyles, muse, hellhounds and more.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
I’ve only read the first book and enjoyed the multiple mixes of supernaturals. They are unique. I hope to get to the others in the series. Since they are short novellas they have just the right amount to make them enjoyable and entertaining. Thank you for the review.
Angela recently posted…Sunday Post/BB&B #53
The unique species has been my favorite part. I’ve read them all and there isn’t one that I didn’t like. They are all short and fun reads. I hope you enjoy.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
Glad you have enjoyed this so much and that you weren’t lost at all reading them out of order. This series really does sound good.
kindlemom1 recently posted…Blog Tour Book Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover
These books have been a lot of fun. I wish I had more of them to read. I hope you get a chance to try and enjoy.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
I really should try these ones. I loved the one by Amanda Carlson and I heard great things about this author so I should try as well! I have some of her books but not this series. thanks for the review!
I’ve really enjoyed everything that I’ve read from Kristen Painter. I’ve read both of her UF series, House of Comarré (vampires mostly) and the spinoff that she is still working on Crescent City (fae mostly) in addition to this series. I really enjoyed Amanda Carlson’s books in this series. too. Hope you enjoy.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
I have the first few books on my Kindle, but of course I haven’t pick them up and read them yet. Myabe one day these come to audio.
I’ve heard good things about them, I’m glad this one worked for you.
Thanks Melanie 🙂
Lupdilup recently posted…Kodiak’s Claim Audiobook by Eve Langlais (REVIEW)
The whole series worked great. I think it would be great if they would come on audio.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
Oh, I like the idea of each book introducing a new and unique supernatural too. These two do seem to have a logistical problem to their love life. 😉
Sophia Rose recently posted…Q&A with Sarah Morgan author of FIRST TIME IN FOREVER
I love all the different supes. They work out the relationship thing well.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
I have read a few books in this series and I agree that they are fun and short stories, with unique touches or unique supernaturals. And I like how you meet other main characters in earlier books and sometimes see them in later books as well. I have read some of them out of order as well and I didn’t feel like I missed much.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #117
I hope that there will be more of them. I read most of them in order. I think this one and the next I read out of order, but I didn’t feel like I missed anything.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
She looks a bit like Mila Kunis
blodeuedd recently posted…Joint Discussion: The rest falls away – Colleen Gleason
She does, doesn’t she. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Review: Strange Magic Part Two by Michelle Mankin
Sounds like a good addition to the series, I haven’t heard much about it, but sound worth the read
Oh, here you go again tempting me to read this series, Melanie. 🙂 Hopefully I can get started on it in the next few weeks. I’m glad you enjoyed this last installment even if you didn’t like that side story element. I really like the sound of all the different supes. I’ll let you know when I get started on it. 🙂
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…New Release Blitz & Giveaway ~ Awakening ~ Laura Greenwood
The different supes was the best part of this series. I hope you enjoy.
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