Book Review: Trouble on Reserve by Kim Harrison

Pages: 20
Publisher: Kim Harrison & Sony e-Reader
Review source: Erika at NovelVampireFan
Rating: 3
Series: The Hollows, 10.1
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie

This is a very short story in The Hollows urban fantasy series that Harrison claims takes place between A Perfect Blood and the upcoming publication, Ever After. However, a number of people, including Harrison, seem to think it actually takes place during/after Ever After which isn't due for release until January 2013. Don'cha just love certainty...!

NOTE: This is a free e-short only available as per my post on the sixth.

My copy was provided by Erika, a.k.a., VampireNovelFan. If you sign up to follow her blog...you too might be able to download a copy!

My Take
A really, really short story with only twenty pages! It's just enough to raise questions and give Rachel plenty of time to whine to herself about how she'll never work for Trent again. The same old story we hear in every story. Only this time, she's added agonizing over the physical attraction she feels for Trent.

There's a bit about Ellasbeth and her motives as well as Cormel's.

I wouldn't fuss too much over getting a copy. It's only about 14 or so pages of actual story; some of that 20 is taken up with title page, credit page, etc. Nor do I think reading it ahead of Ever After will really make a difference. The slight bit of action in this is offset by dialog that has occurred to some extent in the earlier stories.

The Story
Life happens and Rachel's irritation stems from Trent's simply treating her like one of his horses.

Then there's the electrical charge at the gate that Rachel realizes too late is a tag, making them an even easier target.

Only, who is the true target of the assassin's bullet?

The Characters
Trent Kalamack is a billionaire elf, a drug lord, and a manipulator of illegal genetic medicine.


Rachel Morgan is a private runner providing investigative skills and, in this story, security for Trent.

The Cover
The cover is pretty with its bright blue sky and twin flashes of lightning revealing the harbor and an overhead view of Cincinnati at night.

The title may well be a precursor of what is to come in Ever After as things heat up between Rachel and Trent or perhaps it will be Cormel losing patience with Trouble on Reserve.