Nikki Griffin is a the owner of a used bookstore called The Brimstone Magpie. Her best friend Jess is the day-to-day manager, and the bookstore is filled with comfortable chairs and the smell of coffee and groups of people reading and talking.

But Nikki is not your typical bookstore owner, and their book club isn’t a typical group of readers. Nikki has a second profession. She finds people. Sometimes it’s just to take photos. Sometimes it’s more. She may be taking photos of a philandering spouse. Or she may be breaking a nose and a rub or two to let a boyfriend with a temper know that he is no longer allowed to lay a hand on his partner. The book club at the Magpie is filled with women who have found themselves in need of Nikki’s special services, and together they find the support they need to build a new life.

However, the day that Gregg Gunn came into her office raised the stakes for Nikki.

Gunn is the CEO of a tech firm, Care4, that develops baby monitors and sophisticated software to increase a parent’s ability to keep an eye on their infant. But he has an employee, Karen Li, who he suspects is selling trade secrets to other companies. Gunn hires Nikki to keep an eye on her. He says that he can’t go to a bigger investigative firm, because then his competition would know that something is up. So he’s come to Nikki for help, with a whole lot of cash.

Nikki thinks that the job sounds easy enough and starts to follow Karen Li. But the deeper in she gets, the more her Spidey Sense is pinging, so she tries something unusual—she talks to Karen. And Karen tells her that there is far more going on than what Gregg told her. Live are in danger because of Gregg and Care4. but before Nikki can learn more, Karen is brutally murdered. Nikki will have to rely on all of her training and her friends to figure out what the danger is and to keep everyone safe. But with the deadline coming fast and killers coming after her, will she be able to stop the coming danger? Will she even be able to save herself and those she loves most?

Save Me from Dangerous Men is the first in the series from author S.A. Lelchuk starring the anti-hero Nikki Griffin, and it is a dark yet hopeful thriller that would appeal to readers of Lee Reacher or Preston and Child or Louisa Luna. Nikki is clearly the star of this show, as this novel is more about her than about the crime or the investigation. There is a lot about her background, how she found herself on the path she’s on, which isn’t bad necessarily but it might be a little off-putting to those who prefer a plot-based novel.

I really like Nikki. She’s a book nerd but also a fighter. She levels the playing field for those who can’t, and she cares deeply for those close to her. But she’s also willing to shoot to kill or to knock out some teeth when the situation calls for it. She is unapologetic, and she is heroic. But she is also flawed, so she seems incredibly human. I wish I felt as strongly about this story, but it seemed to bounce around between present and past, between her motivations and her moving forward, but I think that now that we know her origin story the future books in the series will be stronger. Overall, I think Save Me from Dangerous Men is a very good first book in a series, starring a character with lots of promise.

Egalleys for Save Me from Dangerous Men were provided by Flatiron Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Save Me from Dangerous Men tells the story of Nikki Griffin, a private investigator and bookstore owner. She is not your normal private investigator though. She has a very unique set of methods and a very unique clientele. When a man shows up trying to hire her to follow an employee of his, she doesn't realize what she has just gotten herself into...

This book is not at all what I expected it to be. It took a very espionage type turn that I wasn't expecting. It definitely made the story interesting but it wasn't exactly what I was in the mood to read and I think that hurt it. Nikki is also a character you love and hate all at once. I was having a difficult moral dilemma about whether I liked her or not. It was very entertaining and I absolutely loved all the classic literature references and classic mystery novel references. Overall, it was extremely entertaining and perfect for those looking for espionage-esque novels!

DNF for the time being. I was unable to get into the story. I am not really a fan of detective books, even if the character is a female. I think it's a case of picking the book up at the wrong time since this has been on my shelf awhile. I will give it another try at a later date, as Ive heard good things.

Save Me from Dangerous Men is a high-octane, action packed thriller that's focused on vengeance and revenge.

Nikki Griffin is part used book store owner, part private investigator and moonlights as an unpaid resource for women leaving abusive men.

Greggory Gunn, CEO of Care4 hires her for a gig that turns out to be nothing like she suspected and draws her into an action-packed fight to find out the truth and save peoples lives. While this is going on, Nikki is also beginning a new relationship and trying to take care of her heroin addicted brother and battle her own demons.

Like an action movie, there are times you need to suspend belief at some of the methods and things the characters get away with, but at it's heart, we have a compelling lead character in Nikki and I look forward to reading more from the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was published March 19, 2019 and is out now!

Nikki Griffin is a bookstore owner and though books are her passion, her desire to help other women often takes over her life. Her eye for an eye approach to teaching dangerous men a lesson empowers her, but will Nikki go too far?

Save Me from Dangerous Men has a good main character, as Nikki Griffin is a strong, determined, and complicated woman. Her desire to save other women from their tenuous situations is interesting, but her no holds barred and lawless approach is not without issues. The idea that Nikki could fly under the radar from authorities is somewhat believable, as not many men would want it to be known that they were bested by a woman, but her recklessness says otherwise.

I was not drawn into the story, however, and struggled with the overall plot. Save Me from Dangerous Men was more character driven, but the reasons for why Nikki decided to save women was not fully explored. Nikki was interesting enough for me to want to find out more, so I look forward to reading more in the future.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher, Flatiron Book. The choice to review this novel was entirely my own.

Vigilante, Private investigator, caretaker, bookstore owner and voracious reader as well as being a bit of a loner, all these words describe Nikki Griffin.

The book is filled with action. Nikki takes chances that find her in some pretty scary situations, and I wonder if she'd even get out of them at times. I felt nervous for her as I rapidly flew through the pages of the book. The author does an excellent job of characterization, adding details about events in her childhood that propelled Nikki into the life she has chosen. Her childhood was not something she could easily talk about and the author gives up the information a little at a time. But you know something terrible happened.

The settings are equally well presented throughout. Small details are shared that bring the surroundings to life in my mind.

I think this was very well done; it's definitely a page turner.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for an ARC for my honest opinion.

I had a hard time liking Nikki, the main character of this book. I feel like she is a caricature of what a bad A woman should look like. She clearly has some anger issues and everyone around her seems ok with that. I was most interested in her bookstore and the bookstore cat.

The storyline took some time to develop but did pick up and get exciting in the last couple characters.

Overall my dislike for stereotypical characters made me not enjoy this too much and if this turns into a series I probably won't continue with it.

Loved how this one started off. Instant love for Nikki. I devoured this book! I will be looking forward to the next in the series!

This book wasn't for me. The main character had too many interests and was too unbelievable. I like more realistic and relatable characters. Couldn't connect.

I love a book with a strong female character. This book is fast-paced, heart-pounding and a fun read!

I think this novel has great writing, hint of mystery, strong characters with good backstory, and lots of feisty action. Nikki does not need saving from anyone, or anything, since she takes on abusive men. In her spare time, she owns and runs a bookstore, cleans up after her junky brother, and plays private investigator when the money is right. Busy girl.

Unfortunately, the story is a bit too predictable. That said, I did enjoy it, and think most readers will as well.

Terrific book - action-packed and razor sharp... if you love thriller that run at a fast pace - you'll love this book. Nikki is a book-living PI who tracks men who are dangerous to women. In this particular case, she helps out another woman and puts both of their lives at risk.

If you enjoy Lisbeth Salander, you'll enjoy reading this book.

This it the debut novel for S. Lelchuk who has been interviewed by host Maddie Margarita of Character Floss, part of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network.

Highly recommend this book. Thanks for letting me read and review.

Nikki is a great character who I had no trouble connecting to and with. An all round good citizen who anyone is going to want in their corner. I enjoyed all of it; Jess, Ethan, Gregg Gunn, the FBI, all the characters who were involved caught my interest and I was invested in their outcomes. What I can't figure out then, as I enjoyed the story, liked the characters and felt connected to the book, is why it took me so long to read. Usually, when I find a book I love, with all the ingredients Save Me from Dangerous Men possessed, I'd devour it in a couple of days. It actually took me 10 days to get through. Either I was unusually tired, the book was unusually long or although it was enjoyable, I wasn't engrossed and didn't feel compelled to keep going for "just one more chapter". I'll certainly be keeping me eye out for more by S A Lelchuk and seeing if another book keep me more firmly ensnared.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced book about a strong, yet vulnerable and complex woman. Nikki starts out as a tough vigilante type character who protects other women from abusive men. This premise was already interesting to me, but what hooked me was the multiple facets that made up Nikki. Her unconditional love for her brother, her desire to find a normal, easy, love, her passion for books. All this made her interesting and real in spite of her fantastic circumstances. There is also a mystery throughout the book, she is hired for a surveillance job and, of course, nothing is at it seems. All this takes place in the Bay Area, and I love that I could feel the character of the place through the author's lens. A fun book that flows like a movie and feels like it would make a great series. Would love to see what's next for Nikki.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All very good fun but so clearly written by a guy, thinking this is how girls think .. nikki is fighting off the wrongs for women as a PI. She stalks men who perpetrate abuse on their girl friends or wives, and pays them back in kind. She also exposes husbands' affairs to their wives .. as if that's equivalent behaviour? See what I mean .. a man would think it's how a woman would work it. There's fairy tale feel about it all, and Stig Larsson's character from Girl with a xxx (the swedish bad ass woman in his novel series) is far less stereotyped .. but, hey, it's good fun and the fantasy build up to rooking a guy is always good entertainment... just wish it was a little more fresh!

A very fun start to a promising new series. Reminiscent of Melissa Scrivner Love's eponymous Lola, Nikki is a vigilante for women beaten down by life and the men in their life. Her own trauma and demons give relatable and endearing texture to her personal life. The plot is absorbing and energetic, a techno-thriller for luddites and an investigative mystery for those who don't enjoy police procedurals. The supporting characters are fun, as are the literary references studded throughout the dialogue. The villains are complex and wily enough to drive twisty tension until the end, and somehow Lelchuk carries off subplots with their own garden-variety antagonists.

As other reviewers have noted, this male author's take on a female protagonist is clumsy at times. His vision of feminine power, culled from wistful Hollywood-steeped fantasy, gets in its own way when Nikki's actions deliberately set traps for the male gaze but her own inner monologue doesn't rise above the macho sleaziness she claims to detest.

In expository scenes meant to establish what a badass Nikki is, she reads like a Marvel-fed teenage wet dream. When she stalks the night to beat the boys at their own games of poker and violence, only we know that beneath the veneer of sexy clothes and heavy makeup she'd "never ordinarily wear" is a soft-hearted gal who doesn't know what to say to a guy she likes. Her alter-ego's costume of hip-huggers and halter tops is tellingly dated; young women, perhaps Mr. Lelchuk's teenage contemporaries, last wore these styles 15-20 years before the book was published and when it takes place, according to the technology featured.

Though mostly harmless, S.A. Lelchuk would benefit from having a woman read over his next draft, if nothing else to avoid embarrassing giveaways of male cluelessness he may be trying to hide with the obscuration of his first name.

Save Me From Dangerous Men had my attention before I read the first page. A bookstore owner by day, and by night, a defender of women. Nikki is the kind of person that anyone in trouble would love to have in her corner, and honestly, who wouldn't like to have a strong, book-loving woman as a friend? I will gladly take two, please!
The story was fast-paced and even though there were times when I rolled my eyes at what Nikki managed to accomplish, I was still on board with this character. It is fiction, after all, and books just like movies can present characters that no average person could pull off in the real world. This was a fun, entertaining read at times and at other times, deadly serious. I could see myself joining Nikki's book club, but I'll settle for the further adventures of Nikki!
4 stars – A really solid read that made me glad I read the book. Didn't keep me up all night or make me abandon my plans, but I would recommend it without hesitation.
I received a DRC from Flatiron Books through NetGalley.

A good summer read. I was attracted to the synopsis of Save Me from Dangerous Men with the comparison of The main character to Lisbeth Salander a character you learned to love. Nikki owns a bookshop by day. She goes after bad men who have wronged women. Nikki administers her own justice. She is quirky and someone you need to learn to really like. I am excited to see her character grow in this new series.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books fr an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Save Me from Dangerous Men introduces a great new heroine. Nikki is a really tough cookie with an intolerance to people who think they can mistreat others. Men who put their hands on women draw an especially dark side out of Nikki. She uses her persuasive talents to make men listen to her and walk away from the women they thought they couldn’t live without. News of her special skills have reached the ears of a very secretive computer software company. Nikki may wish they had never heard of her. I love Nikki’s relationships with her brother and close friends. I love the bookstore she has created even more. Anyone that passionate about books has to be a good person! I really hope Nikki will return in a sequel!

This book starts out really interesting by building a character I'd love to read more about. Unfortunately, after a while, this character does things that are totally opposed to what would be in her nature. This, along with a pretty weak main plot, ruins the book a little for me. It's still good entertainment, though.