Keep Me Safe

Slow Burn, Book 1

By: Maya Banks

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Nothing is more dangerous than falling in love….

When Caleb Devereaux's younger sister is kidnapped, the scion of a powerful and wealthy family turns to an unlikely source for help: a beautiful and sensitive woman with a gift for finding answers others cannot. While Ramie can connect to victims and locate them by feeling their pain, her ability comes with a price. Every time she uses it, it costs her a piece of herself. Helping the infuriatingly attractive and impatient Caleb successfully find his sister nearly destroys her. Even though his sexual intensity draws her like a magnet, she needs to get as far away from him as she can.

Deeply remorseful for the pain he's caused, Caleb is determined to make things right. But just when he thinks Ramie's vanished forever, she reappears. She's in trouble and she needs his help. Now Caleb will risk everything to protect her - including his heart….

©2014 Maya Banks (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Mixed Review

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 3.25
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.25

Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)

NOTE: Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks was an excellent thriller but the romance really got in the way.

I have put off writing this review because quite simply I didn't know how to say what I felt about the story. So I am going to make a list:

1: The thriller part of the story was very strong! Even though the pacing was a bit off (more on that in number 2), the "case" was solid.

2: The romance kept getting in the way. I hate to say that about a romance book but this one would have been stronger without it. It slowed the story down.

My Biggest Problem:

[ My biggest problem with Keep Me Safe was a scene that happened at the end of the book. Oddly enough if this was a Fringe thriller and that scene was there to prove the "reach" of the bad guy (he basically took over Caleb and made him almost kill her)---it would have worked. However, that scene was two-fold in that it was used to prove the reach/control of the bad guy and then BOOM we are at "I love you". This to me, was the biggest example of how the romance just did not work. Especially after what happened at the beginning of the book, the pacing and placement of "romance" just felt forced because it was supposed to be there. I felt if you wanted to solidify the romance, it should have been separated. (hide spoiler)]

All of that being said, I like dark thrillers and this was solid on that front. Rating was hard: I liked the book (can ignore the romance) and gave it a 3. If I was rating it as a romance it would have been a 2 but I don't rate based on genre. However, for full disclosure that would have happened if I did.

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Jeffrey Kafer / Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins


This was my first book narrated by Jeffrey Kafer and he was probably the reason it ended up with a 3 instead of a 2. He brought edge to the story and added emotion just where it was needed. I was really impressed! I will listen to him again!

Final Thoughts: I will continue this series because honestly I want to see what happens!

SADLY, IT LEFT ME DISAPPOINTED & DEPRESSED

I'm a huge fan of Maya Banks and my library is filled with many fantastic 5 star books written by her with glowing reviews so I can't believe and am shocked that I'm giving one of her books a 2 star rating..... but sadly that's how I feel about this listen.

There were just too many things that stacked up against it.... I didn't feel the chemistry between the H/H, the sex scenes were very weak for Maya Banks, there was a lack of descriptions, heroine flees without anything to her name and yet in the next scene she's showering and changing and one minute the hero is wanted by the police then, without any details, everything's over and he's in a log cabin. The flow was choppy, rushed and the romance element was missing too. Nor did I feel the loving family unity at all.

Worth a credit? The psychic element, mystery, thriller part and twist was good but the bad unfortunately outweighed the good and even the very good narration couldn't save this listen for me. So NO, IMO, not the usual Maya Bank's creditworthy listen nor will I be following the series.

✫✫ 3.5 Stars ✫✫

This isn't your typical Maya Banks book. This was 90% suspense and 10% romance honestly. I enjoyed the story line and loved the psychic abilities. That gave this story a twist and made it different from most suspense/thrillers. The romance in this story was lacking for me. I didn't really feel the love between the characters, it just left too sudden. I think I assumed since it was Maya Banks that it would be more romance, so I'm going to continue onto book 2 and go into it with an open mind.

The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer made Caleb more likable to me.

I'm hooked!!! Heart pounding suspense!

Would you consider the audio edition of Keep Me Safe to be better than the print version?

I'll listen to and re-read this book for years to come! Although I enjoyed the audio edition the narrator didn't quite have the edge to his voice I would have liked to hear.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Keep Me Safe?

I couldn't stop listening while Ramie was making her escape from a potential capture. As she was running my heart pounded right along with her.

Which scene was your favorite?

The moment Ramie gave into Caleb and allowed her walls to begin to crumble.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Extraordinary love found in an unconventional way

Any additional comments?

What a great beginning for a thrilling series! Maya did it again with a story I couldn't stop listening to

Full of (plot) holes

Do not get this book. It was awful and I only finished it to make sure I was able to give it a complete review without missing any of the awfulness. First, the narrator will put you to sleep. Total snooze. It was like listening to one of those old radio shows before tv was invented. Horrible. Second, the entire story was full of plot holes. I am all for a little paranormal but some of the rules applied sometimes to some people and not others. Solutions to problems that were glaringly obvious were ignored. The love story was also completely unbelievable, even for a science fiction novel. Stuff just didn’t make sense at all. Total waste of my time and a credit :-/ I expected better from Maya.

Quick. Cheesy. OTT, I swear it. ;)

it's forcing me to write 15 words. I don't want to give anything away but you have to be in the mood for everything that can sometimes irritate you about over the top novels. I happen to love a good over the top novel now and then and this one fits the bill. I'm even giggling it first as I settle into the ridiculous new standard of how things are supposed to go. these males don't just brood. these females don't just experience a little hardship...

Omgggg!!!!

no words to explain.....just get the book....read it....and .....enjoy !!!!!, you did it again maya.....

I love Maya Banks

I love this book. so intense and hot. keeps you wanting to read more and more.

Nerve wrecking and sweet

Second time reading this book and this time I had the audiobook also. Still love it!!!!
It’s nerve wrecking and sweet. The author knows how to keep me on the edge in every way.
The characters is lacking something to be fully developed in to realistic personalities but it’s not diminishing the storyline.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Lots of good dialogues
Agonising twists the end that had me gasping
HEA guaranteed

Narrator:
Very good soothing voice that was a joy listening to. Clear pronunciation and read with feelings.

4,5 stars 🌟

Great read, makes you want more.

loved it! Couldn't stop listening. the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. It makes you tremble, cry, laugh. It's kind of got it all.

Please read the KGI series instead.

Please read the KGI series instead as those books are excellent, gripping and brilliantly written.

This is the first Maya Banks book that I've ever read that made me want to give up after the first few chapters but I persevered thinking it could only get better but nope it only got worse.

The characters were totally unrealistic and so was the dialogue. The heroine was unbelievablely forgiving and understanding of others that hadn't endured as much as she had and the hero whined.... a lot.

At the end of the book I was left with a lot of 'How on earth!' questions: How on earth could there be so much repetitive monologue in this book? How on earth could the heroine have so much to say to someone she had only met once before and had caused her actual mental and physical trauma and gladly be in a hotel room with them? 'How on earth' can someone without any psychic ability or prior experience do a better job of tracking psychic foot steps than the person who'd been doing so for many years. And the list goes on....

In summary, please read the KGI series instead as this book does not showcase the brilliant writing capabilities of the normally excellent writer that is Maya Banks.

keep me safe book 1

Would you consider the audio edition of Keep Me Safe to be better than the print version?

no idea have not read this book in print or e -book

What other book might you compare Keep Me Safe to, and why?

as of yet have not heard or read another book that is simaler

What does Jeffrey Kafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I Think he brings depth to his characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

when she is attacked boy her lover

Any additional comments?

I loved this book as I am a fan of Maya banks this story is a lot different from her other books