Reviewed by Cindy
TITLE: Ramen Assassin
AUTHOR: Rhys Ford
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 216 Pages
RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019
BLURB:
When life gives Kuro Jenkins lemons, he wants to make ponzu to serve at his Los Angeles ramen shop.
Instead he’s dodging bullets and wondering how the hell he ended up back in the Black Ops lifestyle he left behind him. After rescuing former child star Trey Bishop from a pair of thugs in the middle of the night, he knows it’s time to pick up his gun again. But it seems trouble isn’t done with Trey, and Kuro can’t quite let go… of either the gun or Trey Bishop.
Trey Bishop never denied his life’s downward spiral was his own fault. After a few stints in rehab, he’s finally shaken off his Hollywood bad-boy lifestyle but not his reputation. The destruction of his acting career and his relationships goes deep, and no one trusts anything he says, including the LAPD. When two men dragging a dead body spot him on a late-night run and try to murder him, Trey is grateful for the tall, dark, and deadly ramen shop owner he lusts over—not just for rescuing him, but also for believing him.
Now caught in a web of murders and lies, Trey knows someone wants him dead, and the only one on his side is a man with deep, dark secrets. Trey hopes Kuro Jenkins will stick around to see what the future holds for them once the dust settles, but from the looks of things, neither of them may survive to find out.
REVIEW:
I always look forward to seeing what Rhys Ford comes out with next and I’m usually never disappointed. Her reluctant hero, Kuro doesn’t let me down and I couldn’t help falling for sweetheart Trey either.
Kuro just wants to relax after a life of international intrigue and make some noodles. He doesn’t want excitement or stress or anything that will upset his new-found peace in any way. Or so he keeps telling himself…and his friends that will listen.
Trey had a life that seemed to be perfect as a young actor, but if people would have just looked behind the scenes, they would have understood that his life was far from idyllic. There are few people who know the real him and the rest of the world just sees what they want to see.
Kuro is my kind of guy. I’ve been fan-girling over swashbucklers since Han Solo first appeared on the screen in 1977 and Kuro fits the bill to a T! He can’t help but be attracted to sweet and beautiful Trey, even though he tries to convince himself that he doesn’t need the complications the young man would bring into his life.
Trey just wants the chance to start over. He’s sick and tired of his family holding his past over his head, and wishes that his father would just accept him for who he is, not who he wants him to be.
The elaborate dance the author plays out on the pages had me sucked in from the word go. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down and the morning after, it was a 3-cup-of-coffee day! As always, Rhys creates an amazing world for her characters to live in and it feels very familiar. I’m starting to believe that all her characters live in the same universe (with a few notable exceptions, right Kai Gracen?) and so many of these stories feel like coming home to a good friend.
Ms. Ford always throws in a few good dashes of angst, and this story is no different. I have to admit, I was a little shocked about some of the plot twists and where some of the pain came from and I have to say that surprising me is usually hard to do.
Hardcore Rhys Ford fans will not be disappointed in this story, but I think it would also be a good one for people who like a good thriller and are looking for a new author to give it to them.
I am curious, however. It says “book one” and I’m wondering if we will see more of Kuro and Trey or if there’s someone new for us to meet waiting in the wings. I try to avoid series as a rule of thumb, because I don’t like having to make the commitment. However, this author has sucked me in a time or two (or more) and so you know I will be here waiting to see what happens next.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: