Kiss of Death

Supernatural Security Force, Book 1

By: Heather Hildenbrand

Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Life's a motherforker.

One second, Gem Hawkins is on her way to being the number one drag racer in the state, and the next, she's burying her father, a badass demon hunter.

The agency calls it a fluke. The official report claims some low level demon caught him off guard while out on patrol.

But Gem knows that's a lie. When the dirty Nephilim running the investigation refuses to help, Gem takes matters into her own hands.

The Supernatural Security Force is the nation's front line of protection against demons - and Gem's last hope of finding out the truth. If she wants to find out what really happened, she'll need the resources that come with "detective" status. But graduating isn't so easy for a legacy - or for anyone who crosses Rodrigo Garcia.

Her corrupt professor has made one thing clear. For Gem, failure is the kiss of death.

©2018, 2019 Heather Hildenbrand (P)2020 Tantor

laugh out loud funny

From the very first chapter until the very end, this book draws you in and won't let you go. I loved every single minute of it. The characters are amazing, the storyline is so entertaining and Gem's grandma? She has some of the best lines ever.
This is a great book to listen to....I kept laughing out i enjoyed it so much

Unbalanced Character Development

For a so called observant individual, Gem is smart enough to see through people one moment and dumb enough not to see some of the most obvious situations. Especially not understanding the most obvious conversations or what a cleaner is.

Otherwise, the humor and main plot were entertaining and held enough attention for me to want to see where Gem’s story goes. Especially if there are more opportunities to learn new phrases for cursing from Gran. She was my favorite character.

Entertained

I enjoyed this take on a paranormal world, and laughed out loud a few times. The heroine doesn't make me want to strangle her, which is a plus! Just a good book and beginning to a new series.

If Dannika Patrick had magic🧚‍♀️

Recently it seems I've been drawn to these magic school/magic training camp type books. In Kiss of Death, you get an adult female lead. Breath of fresh air. Gemini aka Gem, is a strong character who doesn't whine or fall into instant-love. She is very determined. The book has splashes of humor from her profanity throwing granny and her gay best friend. I know... the gay best friend is cliche but it works with the story.

I like that Gem's training took a while. It wasn't a measly few days like some books. She actually trained for a reasonable amount of time.

The magic system doesn't get a full explanation but the author has strategically placed information into documents and conversations so that you learn a little more as the book goes on. I'm moving on to Book 2 immediately so obviously I liked it.

New narrator for me. She did well.

don't get in my way

there are two things Gem love drag racing and her family.the day she learns her father was killed she did not believe the story that the agency that he worked for told her and her mom. the moment she stepped into the agency she made friends and enemies. with the lack of trust she has with the Nephilim and her her sleazy teacher Rodrigo who hits her every day. he is determined to make her pay when she finished her last mission and she won't tell him who helped her. even with Gem being a legacy she is still give a bad post not the one she wanted to help her find out what really happened to her dad. this was a great story from page one to the last one. Heather wrote a great story and Chelsea did a great job bringing it to life. I can't wait to see what happens next

something new!

this story felt like nothing I've read before. I'll have to return to SSF to find out who Gem's mystery man is!

Excellent

Gemini Hawkins is on her way to being the number 1 drag racer when her fathers killed putting stop to her plans.
Her Dad was the top demon killer at the SSF and the official report says he was killed by a surprise demon attack . Gem is not buying that her, Dad was too good to be caught let alone by a lesser demon but the Nephilim in charge won’t give Gem and her Mum any help and insists the report is what happened.
Gem decides to join the SSF and train to become a detective so she can search for the truth into her Dads death , Things are not going to be easy for Gem being a legacy recruit most the tutors have it in for her and make her life even harder than other recruits but they won’t break her she will get what she wants.
I just love this book the story line is great the characters interact well and there’s ones you love and ones who make you want to smash your device 😂 Gem’s Grams (Gran) is epic and the things she says will have you laughing out loud .
I’ve already pre ordered book 2 which should be arriving soon and I can’t wait .
Chelsea Stephens is perfect at narrating as usual.