To Fool an Assassin: Women of Purgatory 1

This book has TOO MUCH SEX, starting in the beginning of the book!! I just started skipping those scenes…And they were too long. What about the plot??? Who is going to be having sex this many times, with a bounty on your head and people looking for you. Not to mention a lack of privacy! Book also need editing…Too many errors and misspelled words. However, the plot is good.PLOT: Gabrielle works for a company called “Purgatory”. Her mentor and best friend (Beatrice) is the owner and founder of the company. Gabrielle is asked to help a Navy Seal (Sullivan) who has been arrested in South Africa, while he was on assignment for his Admiral. She reluctantly agrees. Although, she had just come home from having completed a mission and was looking forward to some me time.Gabrielle does what her agency expected, but things just went from bad to worst. Sully and Gabby find themselves in something that is way over their heads and way more dangerous than they had anticipated. However, Bea and James (The Admiral) knew what the stakes were.As they try to take down a corrupt organization, they began to wonder as to who should they trust. There is a leak and time is always of the essence.

First, the simple and obvious comments: I liked and enjoyed this book with its action-packed, edge-of-your-seat pacing, timely plot, and intriguing characters. It’s well written, with crisp prose, and the author is clearly someone with talent, professional writing skills, and a vivid imagination.Yet, let me shift a bit in my review. “To Fool an Assassin: Women of Purgatory 1” is almost too much of a good thing. At first the action is so riveting and non-stop, I couldn’t put the book down.But then, it just keeps on with more and more bold action-packed close calls, daring feats, and expanding conflicts. The exploits became increasingly improbable—albeit remaining suspenseful—and the story line began to wear me out.It could well be that this book-reading fatigue was my fault for trying to read a long, complex book so quickly—yet, in my defense, the book compels readers to hurry through because of the “what happens next?" suspense. Talk about cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter!In other words, this is a fast-paced, page-turner of a novel. Compelling alpha-female Gabrielle and compelling alpha-male Sully are thrown together in a dangerous rescue attempt. In a nice change of pace from many adventure books, SHE rescues HIM. But the rescue is just the start of their many (many!) adventures. Sully is a Navy SEAL on a mission, and Gabrielle a founding member of Purgatory, a private, secret rescue organization. They quickly realize there is a trader/spy in their support loop and they must view everyone with suspicion. Despite some discord between Sully and Gabrielle, they must rely on each other as seemingly the whole rest of the world conspires against them. Naturally, sexual tension and attraction blooms from the first, but there are huge trust issues, even as they unite in their fight to survive mounting dangers.The author is no amateur. This is a professionally written book, with crisp, clean prose and a well-organized plot with a natural progression and great character development. India Kells’ work is free of the typos and erratic point of view shifts that plague so many indie books these days, and for that she is to be praised.Something else Kells should be praised for—her sensual, well-written sex scenes. It’s hard to write great sex scenes (what goes where? What do you call the key parts? How do you avoid the cliches? Etc etc) and Kells handles all the many sex scenes with skill and relish. She excels at using and controlling the language, and the zestfulness of the sex scenes adds to the overall enjoyment of reading this book.The implausibility of certain action scenes troubled me—yet this shouldn’t be. In a fantasy/adventure book, it’s hard to fault the improbable scenes. I mean, really, think about 007, Indiana Jones, Katniss Everdeen, Divergent, some of Angelina Joline’s kiss-ass roles—the list is long of movies and stories where the heroes can do spectacular things that real people could not do. Part of the fun of reading such action tales is our willing suspension of disbelief. And now more than ever, we want females who can pull off such feats of wonder, wit, skill, and strength.But Kells leaves out any pretense at the “how they did it” a few times too many. For example, and without meaning to give the plot away, how did Gabrielle manage to fight off seven (7!) would-be gang rapists while her hands were tied? This action takes place off-scene and is never explained except with a vague reference. If this sort of glossing over the details had happened only once, even twice, in the story, I wouldn’t mention it. But several times such feats of daring, skill and strength happen with no apparent explanation as to how Sully and Gabrielle actually manage to do what they just did.Having thrown out that criticism, I’m back to the praise. Gabrielle, as the alpha-female, is intriguing—not just because of her skills, beauty, and strength. Rather, she’s intriguing because she is trying to redeem herself from a sordid, violent past. She carries guilt and shame as a part of her personality, and so there’s an added dimension to her character. Will she redeem herself? And will she find peace? There’s a nicely done theology discussion about mid-way that’s a surprising and pleasant break in the action and which ties in well with Gabrielle’s redemption story line.Sully, the alpha male. has an equally intriguing backstory, which is unusual and so I won’t give hints because I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise. Let’s just say he turns out to be a lot more interesting, complex, and multi-dimensional as the story develops. He may be a Navy SEAL, but he’s far more than just a macho poster boy.All in all, this is a good book, an exciting read, great escapist adventure, and the author has obvious talents and a vivid imagination. Maybe I just need to work on my willing suspension of disbelief a bit more. I’ll be sure to work on this by reading some more of her books.

Smart, focused, professional. Interesting story, courageous. Female assassin makes for a captive & turn the page ballsy story. She doesn't let any one interfere when she is working because she is female.

How can I even put into words how great this book is??? There is just something about a strong (mentally & physically) badass woman that I love. Throw in an even stronger sexy male and chemistry so hot you think your e-reader is going to combust and you've got the perfect trifecta!This book is part romance, part suspense, park kick-ass but all heart. This is the first book that I have read that I would consider suspenseful romance, but that's what it is. I would honestly say its more suspense with the romance thrown it, but it's just the right amount to equal perfection. It's high energy, high strength and I loved every single bit of it.This is a new to me author, but I will be reading more of her books and definitely the rest of this series!

I am going to read the next book in this series because this book was really good. Sometimes you just need 2 alphas in a book, somebody who challenges each other. This book is a rollercoaster of action, fun, family and maybe even love, but with it’s twist and turns you sometimes thing what would be the next thing they have to conquer (in the best possible way)How can I even put into words how great this book is??? This book is part romance, part suspense, park kick-ass but all heart.There is just something about a strong (mentally & physically) badass woman that I love. Throw in an even stronger sexy male and chemistry so hot you think your e-reader is going to combust and you've got the perfect trifecta!

In this book, the girl saves the guy—how refreshing! I loved reading Gabrielle and Sully’s adventures. Sully’s a SEAL and Gabrielle is a member of Purgatory, a secret rescue organization, and the two of them work to find out who is a mole. This book is very action-packed and descriptive. While I usually don’t go for steamy action books, I enjoyed this one.

This was a great story! I loved the chemistry between Sully and Gabrielle! This book is action packed and full of suspense. However, it needs a good edit. That’s the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Clean this book up and you have a great 5 star book.

This book was good. I did enjoy most of the first 40% of the book. I was surprised to find that A LOT has happened in the book by that time.I think it’s a shame that there aren’t many books with kick ass female heroes, especially in romance books and it’s a nice change to see that. The beginning of the book was brilliant, loved their first encountered and it all worked really well. Both badasses knowing they r good at what they do with confidence.However by the half way mark of the book it kinda became repetitive, like I know they were running away and being chased, someone was trying to kill them etc but my god some of that crap could have been cut out. I lost count how many times all of those things happened. Yes I get it, it emphasised the point that they were running away and hiding but honestly the reader gets it after the first 2-3 incidents, there is no need for another 20.And then the amnesia thing, and then chasing again, explosions it was just too much. I think at least 1/3 of the book could have been avoided, was no need for it. I just felt it was so dragged out it was unreal.Yes, the story was only fully explained at the end but it could have been done at any other time really. I spent skimming through the last few chapters as it bored me so much by then. Didn’t really care about the main villain or what he was trying to do. The revelation wasn’t really shocking either and in my mind it was more like ‘oh. Ok. I don’t buy it but oh well’.Some books work when they r long, if things are actually happening and there is a lot of explanation needed with those story twists and turns but with this one it was a lot repetitiveness.Giving 3 stars as I genuinely enjoyed the beginning of it, but the main conflict, villain and the way the book was progressed (dragged out) just wasn’t worth it.

Purgatory is an independent, secret organization which specializes in rescue. Gabrielle is one of the first members hoping to end her old life as an assassin and claim redemption for her past sins.This book has her rescuing a kidnapped navy seal in south Africa and the challenges they endeavor thereafter.It's an extremely fast paced storyline. No sooner have our H/h conquered one dilemma then their back fighting another. It perhaps lulled a little just passed halfway but then picked up steam again, (or maybe it was so full of action that when the tender moments occurred it seemed slow?!)I won't pretend to understand everything that happened, (because I didn't!) There was a complex side of new revolutionary science, with cloning and a genius but nutty evil scientist.Gabrielle was a great character, a kick butt, don't-mess-with-me kinda woman, with strength, wit and a brain. Likewise, Sully, the male lead was just as charismatic. The sex between them was quick and their 'loving' feelings towards each other just as swift but I liked them. There is violence, blood, sex and kidnap situations but little unnecessary bad language.Overall, a good read. Although, it has to be said, the editing was poor. Following books I believe are about other members of Purgatory but this is a standalone.

Get ready to be immersed in the high-paced world of Gabrielle, kick-ass super assassin and member of the mysterious Purgatory team lead by Bea Dante. Gabrielle lives for nothing but repaying the debts of her bloody and brutal past, so when she is sent to rescue hot navy SEAL Sully, she resists his clear feelings for her entirely. However when they find they are both betrayed by their closest circle, they enter a careful pact to work together and get to the root of the treachery. Can Gabrielle resist Sully as they are thrown together again and again? If you like slow books with little sex, this is definitely not for you! Hot, fast and steamy, Gabrielle will leave you wondering why you aren't more kick-ass yourself!

India Kellis is a new author to me & was recommended for her genre of books. I wasn't disappointed. Interesting plot with plenty of twists & turns, well developed likeable characters & great chemistry between the main characters. The only small criticism was there were some typos. Very enjoyable overall & I will be reading the second book in the series. Highly recommended!

Boring, repetative, unrealistic; written by an adolecent for adolescents. The book was free; it was overpriced, I should have been paid to read the few chapters I was able to tolerate.