Review: There You Stand

There You Stand (Between Breaths - Book 5) by Christina Lee

Publication Date: 04/21/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: New Adult (m/m)
ASIN: B00S75RYBS

(Received for an honest review from InterMix)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Christina Lee on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Between Breaths

1. All of You
2. Before You Break
3. Whisper To Me
4. Promise Me This
5. There You Stand

Coverart: 

Synopsis:

From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece...

Tattoo artist Cory Easton has worked long enough at Raw Ink to know, just by looking at a dude, what his body art reveals, what makes him tick, what even makes him scared. Until he meets the quiet and remote Jude York--so unreadable, so unreachable, and so unlike anyone else, he can't help but arouse Cory's curiosity.

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery--and Cory's falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.

The rumors of Jude's past overshadow him--whispers of prison and an unmentionable secret that's kept him in the protective shadows of a local motorcycle club. As Cory probes deeper, he wonders how much he really wants to know. Especially since Jude has awakened something inside him that has been buried too long--and has him feeling completely alive for the first time in forever...

Thoughts:

Christina Lee's Between Breaths series continues with the m/m novella, There You Stand. Readers who are looking for a new adult novel with a same sex couple will find this one captivating. Cory and Jude's relationship starts out as a crush and ends up in unchartered waters. There is plenty of angst, a lot of peeling back layers of a character's persona and some secrets. First and foremost is a love story, between two unlikely characters. An interesting new tale from Christina Lee

What I liked:

I don't review too many same sex couple romances. It's not because I have issues with the subject matter or that it disgusts me or bothers me in any way. It's just a preference like anything else. When I go to pick up what I like to read, it's simply not my first choice. That doesn't mean I don't give these kinds of stories a fair shake like any other book I read. I do and that's the case with this one. I loved the other books in the Between Breaths series and I wanted to read this one because it is a part of that series. Christina Lee, after all is a fantastic new adult writer. 

What I got with this one was a very complex love story between two very different characters. Cory thinks Jude is straight basically because he doesn't talk or act in any way that Cory expects. He's handsome, British, has a way about him that is completely different from anyone Cory has ever met. Jude was an enigma. Mysterious and secretive. But it comes from a difficult past. Once Cory starts peeling back those layers, a man with a lot of hurt starts to appear. There is tons of sexual tension in this one and the angst is out the roof. You kind of just want to grab them and say, kiss already... LOL!

Lee brings out a story that is part mystery and part romance. She uses the mysterious aspects of the story with a deft hand, since this is a romance after all. I thought she did a great job of showing how committed Cory was to getting to know Jude better, to understanding him and letting him know it was okay to be exactly who he was. The sex scenes were intense I won't lie. These two know a thing or two about passion and when they do let go it's explosive. 

What I Didn't Like:

I felt like readers got a great build up in this story. They were pumped up further and further by the details, but the ending didn't have much punch to it. I won't say it was anti-climatic because that wasn't really the feel of it. It just kind of felt like we discovered what we needed to a little too early on. The building of the relationship took precedence over the rest of the story, so the end was a little flatter than expected. Not to say that was a bad thing, just not a great thing. Make sense?

Bottom Line:

I liked this one. It was angsty and deep. It had a British guy in it (wink). It was romantic and passionate and had a tattooed guy in it (double wink). It was a really relationship kind of book and I liked that. Slow build to a great romance, but maybe not quite a page turner. A little less longing and a little more action might have made it a bit better. All in all a good addition to the series. 

There You Stand is available NOW from your online bookseller. 

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Christina Lee is also the author of the Between Breaths novels including All of You, Before You Break, Whisper to Me and Promise Me This. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She believes in true love and kissing so writing romance has become a dream job. She also owns her own jewelry business, where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers.

Review and Giveaway: Law and Author

Law and Author (Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery - Book 5) by Erika Chase

Publication Date: 09/01/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425278204
ISBN-13: 978-0425278208

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Erika Chase on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Ashton Corners Book Club
1. A Killer Read 
2. Read and Buried 
3. Cover Story 
4. Book Fair and Foul 
5. Law and Author 

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

The author of Book Fair and Foul reconvenes the Ashton Corners book club to solve a murder in their own backyard . . .

Bob Miller, retired police chief and member of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society, is stunned by the arrival of his twenty-one-year-old granddaughter, Darla, whom he has never seen. Bob has been estranged from his own daughter for decades and hopes to make up for his absence in Darla’s life. But some of the ladies of the book club find their Southern hospitality strained as they question the motives behind this sudden reunion.

After a dead man is found in Molly Mathews’s backyard, their concerns grow more serious. Lizzie Turner saw Darla arguing with the stranger the day before, but when the police question her, Darla proves to be an unreliable narrator. It’s up to the book club to uncover the real story . . . before another victim is written into the plot.

Thoughts:

Erika Chase brings readers the latest tale from the Ashton Corners Book Club, in her book, Law and Author. This is a great cozy series for readers who love the written word, as the author starts each chapter with a literary quote. It's a nice touch and it shows the care put into each part of the book. This one has a long lost granddaughter. A murder. Wedding Plans. Lots of personal tidbits about the heroine and her love interest and tons of things to keep the reader interested. Another great book in the series!

What I liked:

Erika Chase is a writer after my own heart. I love the quotes that precede each chapter of her books. It clues the reader in a little bit about what's to come and it shows Chases' love for literature. I find myself almost as interested to see what the quote will be as I am about what clues are going to come out in each chapter. I think that says a lot about how the author plots her stories and her influences. A great idea that a lot readers will appreciate.

This book finds the Ashton Corners Book Club in a bit of a mess. Bob Miller, a club member, is being re-united with his grand-daughter, Darla. But not everything about her visit seems on the up and up and when murder comes calling, Darla has some 'splaining' to do. The premise of the book was interesting and I couldn't help but wonder, why all of the sudden this chick would appear. Bob having been estranged from his daughter for many years and never having met said grand-daughter before, was awfully trusting. Readers probably won't be too shocked when Darla turns out to be suspect in a murder. I liked the cat and mouse kind of play with Darla's story. It was like she couldn't tell the truth in spite of herself. Fun to read and ponder over for sure.

Erika Chase always gives the reader a great mystery and this one was no exception. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading. Trying to put the clues together in my head, right along with the characters. There was a moment when I considered the possible motive, but threw it out. So when the big reveal came it was one of those boink yourself on the head moments... LOL! The killer wasn't who I expected nor was Darla's story and motivation. It was a great surprise. Those are the best kind of mysteries aren't they?

Lizzie and the book club members were once again on the trail of a killer, but we also got to see a lot of the wedding preparations going on. There were some great moments between Mark and Lizzie and it was nice to see their relationship blooming. They are a couple that never seems to grow stagnant. They are always changing and evolving. The way a great relationship should be. I liked the personal growth of the characters and the stories of the other book club members almost as much as the mystery. It's like visiting good friends with this series and I always love going back to it.

What I Didn't Like:

I felt like Bob and Molly were a little bit naive here. This could have been any girl, posing as Bob's long lost grand-daughter. It just seemed like they would have taken anyone in. It just didn't seem too plausible to me. I would have liked a little bit of skepticism about what she was up to and the like. Probably just a pet peeve of mine and certainly not a deal breaker.

Bottom Line:

This is another engaging book from Erika Chase. Not only do readers get a good mystery, but the personal moments of the story were also poignant and fulfilling. I wanted to hear more about Mark and Lizzie and I got that in this one. I wanted to learn more about other members of the book club and I got that too. Just an all around good addition to the series!

Law and Author is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Erika Chase is the Agatha Award-nominated author of the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series, including Book Fair and Foul, Cover Story, Read and Buried, and A Killer Read.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Law and Author by Erika Chase.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 24th.

1. Please leave a comment. Read any other Erika Chase books? What did you think?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Down in the Valley

Down in the Valley (Green Valley - Book 1) by Jane Shoup

Publication Date: 08/25/2015
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 1420137093
ISBN-13: 978-1420137095

(Received for an honest review Kensington Zebra)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Jane Shoup on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads

Synopsis:

Saint or Sinner?
 
Miss Emeline Wright risked everything to escape the monster who stole her innocence, her dignity, her pride. Now no one in her little home town nestled in the West Virginia hills must ever know what she was forced to do while a captive in the city. Her only chance is to make a go of her uncle’s failing farm, but how can a woman alone, in rough country, survive?
 
With unfailing courage and an open heart, Em wins over the townspeople who’ve judged her so harshly, taking in a motley crew of misfits who show up, one by one, to lend a hand. But it’s the quiet strength and unfailing love of a single man that will show her how to trust again as they  build a  home to last forever…

Thoughts:

Jane Shoup brings readers the first book in her Green Valley series, Down in the Valley. This book is set in West Virginia during the 1800's. Readers who enjoy books with lots of characters and storylines will find this one right up their alley. Shoup is not only able to tell a compelling story of a woman who has suffered finding a place for herself and love, but she is able to enlighten the reader about the rights of women during this time in history. A heartwarming tale of second chances and helping others. Potentially, a very good series. 

What I Liked:

I don't live too far from West Virginia and I tend to like historical novels that are set in that area. West Virginia and Kentucky have a lot in common, especially during the era that Down in the Valley depicts. I thought Shoup did a wonderful job of showing the ruggedness of the area and it's beauty. But she was also able to capture the sometimes forgotten picture of poverty and desperation. The town Shoup writes about was not destitute or anything like that, but there were a lot of people in need of a helping hand for one reason or another and I think that was a realistic portrayal of the times. Well done on that aspect of the book.

I liked the fact that Shoup was able to shed some light on the rights of women during the 1800's. A woman alone trying to fend for herself was rare. It was difficult on many levels because the men had a great deal of power, while women did not even have the right to vote. Men were supposed to earn the money and provide for the women and turning the tables on those ideals was just not done. I liked the fact that Emeline was independent and strong, especially considering her past. I thought she was a great example of the human condition and I enjoyed watching her grow as a character in such a tough environment. 

Emeline's relationship with Tommy was quiet and tender and had the makings for a really solid love story. The idea that Tommy along with several other misfits, if you will, came to help Emeline on the farm, gave their romance a chance to bloom. I found Tommy to be a little on the shy side, but he held strong convictions and wasn't afraid to voice them when he needed to. I thought the main characters complimented each other well. Readers who are looking for a romance that is wholesome and sweet will certainly like these two together.

What I Didn't Like:

Although there were several things I did like about the book, there were many things that overshadowed the potential in this one. There were tons of characters in this book. Far too many to make it easy to follow. It created a lot of confusion and it was hard as a reader to figure out who was important to the story and who wasn't. It think it would have served the writer better to have had a smaller cast that could have been more thoroughly developed. I want to know more than just the name of a character who is being introduced. I want to know why I should care who they are. Why I should want to remember them as the story continues and I felt that was missing here.

Errors in grammar are not one of those things that bug me. Spelling errors however, stick out like a sore thumb. There were some errors in both areas with this book but the most glaring issue for me was the terminology and modern language. This was a book set in the 1800's and I felt like Shoup took a lot of poetic license in how she expressed herself and how her characters talked and in some cases acted. 

Bottom Line:

There is a lot of potential here. The plot itself was engaging and there were some ideas that were definitely worth pursuing. I liked the actual love story part of the book but felt it was somewhat confusing to sort it all out. Too many characters and a bit to much modern language. I think the author brought readers a compelling story, with a great heroine, but perhaps needed to reign in how many people the reader needed to keep up with. I will certainly give the next book in the series a nod and see how things progress. One to watch... it could be amazing given a few minor changes.

Down in the Valley is available NOW from your favorite bookseller. 

I'm giving this one 3 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Jane Shoup is a native of Southern Indiana and a 20‐year resident of North Carolina. Her novel Pedestals won the Eppie Award for best action thriller in 2006. Currently, her day job is in real estate, although she writes every moment she possibly can. Shoup says writing is like slipping into another world—which is precisely what she aims to make possible for her readers. You can visit her at www. janeshoup.com.

Review: Jinn and Juice

Jinn and Juice (The Jinni - Book 1) by Nicole Peeler

Publication Date: 04/07/2015
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Imprint: Orbit Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0316407356
ISBN-13: 978-0316407359

(Received for an honest review from Orbit)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Nicole Peeler on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from Jinn and Juice, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Meet Lyla: Jinn, belly dancer, and the hottest new urban fantasy heroine in town.

To escape an arranged marriage, a jinni granted Lyla her wish: to live a thousand years as a jinni herself.

Now, her servitude is ending, but there are a few obstacles in Lyla's path to freedom. A Magi intent on binding her again, a jinni bent on vengeance, and not to mention the nightmare from her past that threatens to make her curse permanent -- and claim her very soul.

Jinn and Juice is the first in a new series by fantasy writer, Nicole Peeler set in a world of immortal curses, vengeful jinni and belly dancing. 

Thoughts:

The author of the Jane True series, Nicole Peeler, brings readers the first book in a new urban fantasy series. Jinn and Juice is the first book in the Jinni series and promises to turn what readers know about this author on it's ear. Having read a few books and seen a few Jinni's in movies and television over the years, I can say that readers are in for something different with this series. This Jinni doesn't blink her eyes and nod her head. A great new read from a well respected author in the genre!

What I Liked:

This book was totally refreshing. I loved the Jane True books, but I've got to say Lyla, the heroine in Jinn and Juice was really intriguing. I loved the whole Jinni premise of the series and couldn't wait to dive in and see what Nicole Peeler's take on this subject would be. Lyla the heroine is a very old Jinni. She has been under the curse for almost a thousand years and is on the verge of becoming human again. Unfortunately, she has to hide out until the coast is clear and her servitude is over. As luck would have it, she gets bound with only a week to go. That's when the action starts and it doesn't slow down for a second. Readers are hurled into a very new and different landscape. The world building here was intense and very full. Peeler really went out on a limb with this one and I think it pays off for the most part.

I expected Lyla to be kind of wise beyond her years. The sage heroine who has been through a lot and ready to be completely unbound. Not exactly, what readers get with her character. She has a kind of 'devil may care' attitude. She's all about belly dancing and burlesque. She didn't come across as particularly worldly wise, but she was still a treat to read about. She liked to have fun and lets face it you need a character like that in most urban fantasy titles to lighten the mood a little bit. Peeler gives readers a Jinni with a penchant for adventure. Nice touch!

I admit that I wanted to know more about Lyla. Her backstory was  a little vague, as was most of the other character's stories, but I think we can chalk that up to this being a series. I expect we will find out more and more as the series continues about her and that may be the best way. The way the world of the Jinni's and the Magi worked was interesting and full of surprises. The relationship between Lyla and Oz is captivating, but a little on the weird side, as she is basically his servant. But the dynamic between them nothing if not intriguing. 

What I Didn't Like:

I really wanted to like this one and I did on a lot of levels, but my issues with it all stem from one thing. There were just toooooo many supernatural characters. You had just about every paranormal character you could possibly think of in this book and new ones that Peeler created herself. Too many names, too many descriptions. Way too much to try to keep up with. I could see the potential in having so many but I think it took too much away from the actual story. I think the back stories were vague on the characters partly because there were just too many in every possible way. Yes, it is possible to have too much of a good thing and I think that's what happened here. Doesn't mean it can't be fixed in subsequent books in the series. 

Bottom Line:

This one needed a bit of work. I liked Lyla, but she was not what I expected. The Jinni premise was spot on, but there were so many other supernatural characters it all but got lost in the mix. I can see where Peeler was going with this and I hope she reigns it in a little with the next book because there is a lot of potential here. But you better be ready to take notes when you read this one if you want to keep'em all straight. Almost gave me a headache... LOL!

Jinn and Juice is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Nicole Peeler writes urban fantasy and is an associate professor at Seton Hill University, where she co-directs their MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. Having recently finished her award-winning Jane True series, she is looking forward to the publication of Jinn and Juice, the first book in a series about a cursed jinni living in Pittsburgh. Nicole also lives in Pittsburgh, although she's neither cursed nor a jinni.

Review and Giveaway: The Marsh Madness

The Marsh Madness (Book Collector Mystery - Book 4) by Victoria Abbott

Publication Date: 09/01/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425280349
ISBN-13: 978-0425280348

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Victoria Abbott on the WEB: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter

Books in the series:

Book Collector Mystery
1. The Christie Curse 
2. The Sayers Swindle 
3. The Wolfe Widow 
4. The Marsh Madness 

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

The national bestselling author of The Wolfe Widow presents another spine-tingling mystery featuring rare book collector Jordan Bingham and some Ngaio Marsh first editions worth killing for…

Jordan works hard to improve Vera Van Alst’s collection of classic detective stories. So when Chadwick Kauffman—heir to the Kauffman fortune—offers a very good price on a fine collection of Ngaio Marsh first editions owned by his recently deceased stepfather, she is thrilled to meet with him at his fabled summer estate, Summerlea.

The next day, Jordan and Vera are shocked to read that Chadwick has died in a fall from the grand staircase at Summerlea. But when the picture in the paper is of a different man, it becomes clear that the ladies are victims of a scam. And they’ll have to unmask the imposter fast, because someone is trying to frame them for murder…

Thoughts:

Victoria Abbott returns with the latest book in the Book Collector Mystery series, The Marsh Madness. This mother, daughter writing team once again brings readers a book based on a highlighted mystery writer from the past. This time it is Ngaio Marsh. These books always have that nostalgic feel to them. It's a story like Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot would be involved in. Abbott doesn't disappoint. It's a page turner from the first to the last. 

What I Liked:

This is a great series for me, because I cut my teeth so to speak, in the mystery genre on the books and stories of Agatha Christie and other greats. I love the fact that these authors focus on different writers from the past and try to educate the reader a little bit while also entertaining them. All of the details on book collecting also add a layer of authenticity to the stories. So, not only goes the writer get a great mystery but they also get an object lesson on some literary greats.

Vera's collection is certainly growing under Jordan's guidance and adding a collection of mystery writer, Ngaio Marsh would be another feather in her cap. When Jordan, Vera and Uncle Kev go to check out a prospect they get a lot more than a few first additions. The seller, Chadwick Kauffman ends up dead... but wait a minute, it's not really Chadwick Kauffman at all. It looks like an imposter is a foot and Jordan and the gang or being framed. I loved the plot for this one and they way things all came together. I thought Abbott did a great job with the mystery aspects of the book and kept the reader off balance enough, so that they didn't figure it out too early. The mystery was interesting and elaborate. Liked it a lot.

One of the strong things about this series has always been the great characters that Abbott has created. Jordan once again proves why she is such a great heroine for this series. She gets to the heart of matter with a lot of curiosity and some really good instincts. I love the way that she has such great love for good books too. She really is a very good character. Her relationship with Smiley is heating up a little bit too and it was nice to have that break in the action to pick up on Jordan's personal life.

As always the secondary characters share the spotlight with Jordan. Uncle's Kev and Mick are right in the middle of the action and Vera is always a treat with her snarky attitude and ways. I think my favorite of the secondary characters is Signora Panetone and her amazing concoctions in the kitchen.

Bottom Line:

Another great book in this coy series about great books... LOL! I have liked all of the books in this series because of the intriguing plots and interesting characters. These authors prove that two heads are better than one when it comes to writing good mysteries... can't wait for the next one!

The Marsh Madness is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Victoria Abbott is a pseudonym for a collaboration between seasoned mystery author Mary Jane Maffini and her daughter Victoria. Mary Jane, a former mystery bookstore owner, is the author of the Camilla MacPhee, Fiona Silk, and Charlotte Adams series. They live outside Ottawa, ONT.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Marsh Madness by Victoria Abbott.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 23rd.

1. Please leave a comment. Read any other great books featuring an imposter?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Breakout

Breakout (Dred Chronicles - Book 3) by Ann Aguirre

Publication Date: 08/25/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Ace
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0425258165
ISBN-13: 978-0425258163

(Received for an honest review from Ace)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Ann Aguirre on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Dred Chronicles
1. Perdition 
2. Havoc 
3. Breakout 

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

All hell is breaking loose in the edge-of-your-seat follow-up to Havoc and Perdition from New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre…

The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred’s soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence’s trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost—who is their only chance at escape—the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station.

If Dred and her crew can win the deadly game of cat and mouse, the payoff is not only life but freedom—a prize sweeter than their wildest dreams. Yet the sadistic Silence would rather destroy Perdition than let a single soul slip from her grasp…

Thoughts:

Breakout is the series ender for The Dred Chronicles by Ann Aguirre and what a finish it was! Aguirre has created a spin-off series from her Sirantha Jax series, that may actually top the original, a rare feat. This is a science fiction series that has everything from bloody battles to tender love scenes and the sympathetic characters in the story, just happen to be a colony of murderers. Now, if that's not unique, I don't know what is! Fantastic ending to a great series.

What I liked:

When I first started doing a lot of reading on my own and picking titles that I wanted to read for myself, science fiction was one of my favorite genres. I don't even know why. I think I can see the parallel between reading paranormal fiction and reading science fiction. Aliens versus super natural beings like weres and vamps. But I have really gotten away from reading very much in the Sci-Fi genre. There was something about The Dred Chronicles that drew me in and helped me remember why I used to like it so much. The world building is phenomenal in these kinds of books. 

Ann Aguirre has created such a unique and different universe for this series. The Dred Chronicles actually centers around a penal colony full of murderers. What's more the reader is expected to like these characters, even love them to some extent. Talk about a hard premise to sell. But Aguirre makes it look like child's play. She draws the reader in with this whole idea of why these people are put in this position and what they hope to gain by getting out. She inspires a sympathy in the reader for them, before the reader even sees it coming. Amazingly done!

This is not science fiction for the faint of heart though. Breakout has several very bloody battles and Aguirre does not spare the reader the gore involved. But what's interesting about that is that it seems so natural. Like there was no other way this could have gone differently. Being the final book in the series, a lot of things needed to happen to bring about resolution for those aboard the prison ship Perdition. I think each characters ending was well thought out, planned meticulously and brought to a conclusion that befitted their situations. Not everyone got a happy ending. It's just not that kind of book. But the loose ends were tied up and the conclusion was satisfying. 

We learned a lot more about Jael in this book than ever before. He started out in Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series, but he has really shined in the Dred Chronicles. Despite all of the mess everyone was going through and some of the gut wrenching scenes there was still time for a little romance. What could be more erotic or sensual to finding love when even you next few minutes were in jeopardy. I felt like Aguirre ended things in a more traditional way with this series. She gave resolution to the questions about Jael and what happened after and that was nice. I didn't want to make up my own ending this time and she didn't make me... it was amazing!

What I Didn't Like:

The pacing was a little odd at times. Certain things that happened in the story got only a few paragraphs of description and others several pages. I wanted the important things to get more time. I wanted to digest a little bit before moving on to some other soul crushing event. I think my emotions just didn't have time to catch up sometimes with this one. There were also parts that dragged a little bit, but once it all panned out, I can't really count that as a reason to give this book anything less than a 5 apple review.

Bottom Line:

If you like science fiction you can't miss this one. Breakout was amazing in just about every way. Lots of cool aliens, a ship full of murderers. Battles that will make your head spin and a universe that makes you wish this wasn't the last book in the series. I want more and I think you will too. You don't have to read the Sirantha Jax series to like this one, but you'll probably go back and read it once you figure out what a great author Aguirre is.

Breakout is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Ann Aguirre is the author of several other popular series: Sirantha Jax (Endgame, Aftermath, Grimspace); Enclave (Horde, Outpost, Enclave); and Corine Solomon (Agave Kiss, Blue Diablo, Devil's Punch, Shady Lady).Havoc and Perdition are the previous books in The Dred Chronicles.

Review: Double Vision

Double Vision (Dr. Jenna Ramey - Book 2) by Colby Marshall

Publication Date: 04/07/2015
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint: Berkley
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 042527652X
ISBN-13: 978-0425276525

(Received for an honest review from Berkley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Colby Marshall on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, goodreads

Books in the Series:

Dr. Jenna Ramey

1. Color Blind
2. Double Vision

Coverart:

Synopsis:

New from the author of Color Blind...FBI profiler Jenna Ramey has synesthesia, a neurological condition that causes perceptions of color to flash through her mind, triggered by seemingly unrelated stimuli. But she has learned to understand and interpret these associations. They help her do her job. They can help save lives…
 
A little girl has witnessed a mass shooting. What she knows may be the key to finding the man responsible. Jenna has been tasked with drawing her out, figuring out what she saw, what she remembers, what it means.
 
But Molly is an unusual child. She is sweet and bright, and eager to help, but she has a quirk of her own: an intense preoccupation with numbers. It helps her notice things that others don’t. It also leads Jenna into a maze of speculation that could turn into a wild goose chase while the body count continues to rise.
 
Jenna and Molly view the world through their own filters. In some ways, they speak different languages. Now Jenna must learn to communicate, to break Molly’s code, to understand the mind of a murderer…

Thoughts:

Double Vision is the second book in Colby Marshall's Dr. Jenna Ramey series, featuring a heroine with a unique trait for helping solve her cases. Marshall uses the ideas of color and numbers in a very unusual way in this mainstream mystery. Readers who are looking for an uncommon plot and strong characters will love this one. A massive shooting sets the stage for Jenna's latest case involving a six year old gifted child who witnesses a heinous crime. But Molly isn't your average little girl and it's up to Jenna to use Molly's gifts and her own to catch a killer. A very rare book with a fantastic premise!

What I liked:

Okay, so there were parts of this book that were very well written and parts that came across as a little too logical or too easy. But the overall theme of the series is quite unparalleled in most of the main stream mysteries I have read. Marshall gives her heroine Jenna a very rare neurological condition known as synesthesia, in which the patient's neurological pathways are so closely related that they are almost connected. Put simply, this heroine sees in color. Not like you and I do, but in a way that correlates her experiences and can be used to help in her job as an FBI profiler. This was fascinating and it's a real condition. Marshall does't bombard the reader with too much information about it, but she uses it in a way that makes this story something completely different than anything I've read before. Well done!

I don't review too many main stream mysteries because I like a book that is a little less graphic. I don't necessarily like to read about all the guts and gore and thrillers tend to be quite dark in some cases. This book had that type of edge, but it didn't get too messy. Yes, there was a massive shooting in which seven people die, and it is related to another case where more people died, but it didn't give me any cringe worthy moments. I admit to wondering what possesses people to do this kind of thing more than once, but it was the kind of book that was worth reading even if it did deal with some really maniacal minds. 

Jenna and her boyfriend Yancy were both great characters that Marshall did a great job writing. Jenna has had to learn to see the world in a different way literally. In this book she has to take her way with colors and try to understand Molly's way with numbers. It was almost like they were speaking two different languages, but were able to find a way to fuse the two to find a killer. I like characters who are unusual in some way and Marshall certainly stimulated that avenue with Jenna's ability. Marshall was also about to show how it affected Jenna's personal life, as well as, her professional life. She was a great heroine and the addition of Yancy as her love interest gave readers a new way of seeing Jenna. 

What I Didn't Like:

I seriously wanted to like Molly. And on some levels I did, but I couldn't get away from the idea that she was just too perfect. I know she was written as a gifted child, but she was still supposed to be a child. Even in children who have great intelligence you still have that essence that is still innocent. Molly wasn't like that. She didn't have that quality that made her still seem innocent and childlike. I wanted her to act like a kid, at least a little bit and I didn't get that with her. It seemed like something was missing. She didn't come across as legit, so to speak. Too poised, too adult like and too controlled. 

Bottom Line:

There was a lot of potential here. The mystery itself was captivating. Jenna was an amazing heroine and the premise for the series was top notch. I think the author missed the mark a little bit with Molly's character but that didn't take too much away from my overall enjoyment of this book. Main stream mysteries are a little dark sometimes, but they make up for that with sheer realism and gut wrenching action. This was definitely a good one. If you like a good mystery, this one might be right up your alley.

Double Vision is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Writer by day, ballroom dancer and choreographer by night, Colby has a tendency to turn every hobby she has into a job, thus ensuring that she is a perpetual workaholic. In addition to her 9,502 jobs, she is a proud member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. She is actively involved in local theatres as a choreographer and occasionally indulges her prima donna side by taking the stage as an actress. She lives in Georgia with her family, two mutts, and an array of cats that, if she were a bit older, would qualify her immediately for crazy cat lady status.