Review: Ballistic by Keri Lake (Vigilantes #3)

Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Enticing Journey Book Promotions.

“I love you, Nicoleta.” 

I stared up at him, at those brown eyes filled with so much despair and pain. Kindred pain. Empathy for what I'd suffered, and yet, I didn't know hot to respond. Did I love him? How could I feel what I didn't understand? What I'd never felt before in my life? Perhaps it was instinct. A default setting in all human beings. We were born to love, until someone gave us reason to fear and hate.

If you've always wanted to try a dark romance but was afraid you wouldn't like it, I highly recommend Keri Lake's books. They're dark and twisty, filled to the brim with the author's own brand of romantic suspense that will keep you up at night, not out of fear, but because of a major book hangover. With Ballistic, the third novel in her Vigilantes series but the fourth overall release, Lake re-affirms her position as one of the most gift writers particularly of this genre. Just like the books before it, this can be read as a standalone, although I'm highly recommending that you read the books in order because there are appearances from past characters plus certain story lines that are connected. This is by no means an easy read, but you'll regret not reading it should you skip it.

At eighteen, Nicoleta's innocence is snatched away from her bit by agonizing bit by those who see her as nothing more than a commodity. Ten years her senior, Dax Wolfe has been searching for Nic and when they finally cross paths, there is simply no turning back as far as he's concerned. Rescuing her was his mission, but Nic has her own plans--ones that involve her gaining vengeance on those who have made her into the person that she is today. She knows nothing of love because hate and revenge are what course through her, however, Dax makes gives her a reason to pause, but is it enough of a pause to make Nic rethink her plans? Dax wants nothing more than to keep the woman that his body craves and his heart pines for safe, but Nic is courting trouble, and Dax may not be enough to put a stop to whatever--whomever--is gunning for her. When all is said and done, who will be left alive?

No spoilers here, folks. This is, after all, a dark romantic suspense read, and since I want you to be able to experience this novel the same way I did, I'm not going to spoil anything by giving away more details than necessary. Suffice it to say that Keri Lake has ended her Vigilantes series on as high a note as I could have ever hoped for. She had a lot to live up--and by a lot, I mean the expectations of fans and readers of this series who have been itching for Dax's story for a looooong time. Let me reiterate my recommendation that the books be read in order for you to have the full Vigilantes feel and experience. Ballistic is a 2018 favorite and gets five-plus stars. ♥

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Read my reviews for the Vigilantes series:

Ricochet (book one) - five-plus stars - My Review

Backfire (book two) - five-plus stars - My Review

Ballistic (book three) - five-plus stars - My Review (posted above)

Intrepid (spin-off) - five-plus stars - My Review

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Date Read: 31 October 2018

Learn more about Keri Lake.

Purchase Ballistic on Amazon.