Mind Over Monsters (F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation, #1) by Jennifer Harlow

Oct 22, 2011 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, paranormal, vampires, werewolves, zombies, urban-fantasy, my-reviews, blog-tour-review

Romancing the Dark Side Review:

A light-hearted and fun unconventional tale of the paranormal where two worlds of monsters collide!

Beatrice Alexander is an ordinary school teacher with extraordinary powers. She psychokinetic and knows the ability to move objects with her mind isn't exactly "normal" so she tends to keep to herself. When she accidentally hurts those closest to her, Beatrice is approached by a secret organization of the FBI, the F.R.E.A.K.S., the Federal Response to Extra Sensory a...more Romancing the Dark Side Review:

A light-hearted and fun unconventional tale of the paranormal where two worlds of monsters collide!

Beatrice Alexander is an ordinary school teacher with extraordinary powers. She psychokinetic and knows the ability to move objects with her mind isn't exactly "normal" so she tends to keep to herself. When she accidentally hurts those closest to her, Beatrice is approached by a secret organization of the FBI, the F.R.E.A.K.S., the Federal Response to Extra Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals division (clever, right?) and decides to leave books and teaching behind to dedicate her time hunting down monsters. In F.R.E.A.K.S. Beatrice has found a family and acceptance, even among the sexy vampire and werewolf members. With her training complete she's ready to get out and kick some monster butt, but her first mission to find a necromancer creating zombies will have Beatrice questioning her choice to become the F.R.E.A.K. she's tried so hard to hide.

Mind Over Monsters is a stellar debut in urban fantasy! I was surprised at the cheeky humor in this book but it totally works against the dark urban fantasy backdrop. The author chose a diverse group of characters that perfectly mesh, even with their different personalities, a werewolf and vampire sleeping under the same roof, who would of thought?! There's always a bit of gore when it comes to dealing with zombies but I was never disgusted enough to put the book down! Beatrice is a fantastic leading lady who has some of the best one-liners, but also kicks ass when the occasion calls for it, her narrative voice really draws you into the story. My favorite element to this story has to be the awkward but intriguing love triangle developing between Will, the werewolf, Beatrice and Oliver, the vampire. The chemistry between these characters is electric and the author knows just how to keep it interesting with the always-present tension.

Jennifer Harlow has created a brand new dramatic world of monsters with plenty of mystery, an exceptional heroine and a compelling cast of characters. The story never fails to entertain and keeps you engrossed with all the action and suspense. Mind Over Monsters is a paranormal mystery that includes hungry zombies in graveyards, ghouls, close encounters with a werewolf, vampire attacks and a lesson in zombie babysitting...why wouldn't you want to read it for yourself?! Having us wait until Fall 2012 for the sequel is just torture!

{Book courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours for review}(less)

like 3 likes · see review

Nov 26, 2012 Parajunkee.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

PJV Quickie: ‘Mind over Monsters’ is one of my favorite surprise reads of the year. Fun, witty and a bit of sexy, the characters are over the top enjoyable and the story is interesting and suck-you-in good. Hello Jennifer Harlow. It’s nice to meet you. Can I have some more?

Review: Jennifer Harlow introduces to a fun mix of characters and at their center is Beatrice Alexander. Beatrice is a schoolteacher who has an inexplicable talent of moving things with her mind. She has never been comfortable...more PJV Quickie: ‘Mind over Monsters’ is one of my favorite surprise reads of the year. Fun, witty and a bit of sexy, the characters are over the top enjoyable and the story is interesting and suck-you-in good. Hello Jennifer Harlow. It’s nice to meet you. Can I have some more?

Review: Jennifer Harlow introduces to a fun mix of characters and at their center is Beatrice Alexander. Beatrice is a schoolteacher who has an inexplicable talent of moving things with her mind. She has never been comfortable with her “curse”, which is how she sees it and it becomes obvious that her curse is out-of-control when she almost kills her brother during a fight. Right after the incident she is recruited by a top-secret branch of the FBI that is in place to fight everything that goes bump in the night. The group is called the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, The Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals. Beatrice is trained for combat and how to use her “talent” properly and then she is shipped to the middle of no-where (Kansas) to work in tandem with an eclectic group of FREAKS members. The team includes a former-detective, now were-wolf who Beatrice can’t seam to stop thinking about, a hotter then hot, but ridiculously annoying vampire, a cute goth who can teleport, a guy with psychometry, a girl with pyrokinesis and a few other talents thrown in here and there. It’s a crazy mix of FREAKS and Beatrice is afraid she made the wrong decision. Especially when she seems to be on the outside looking in, that is until the first case comes in and she finds out this mystery solving thing might be interesting. Someone seems to be raising zombies in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business, but no one seems to be a suspect. Can they figure out who is doing this before it is two late and zombies descend and rip-apart the whole town?

Fun. Fun. Fun. ‘Mind over Monsters’ was gritty, fast-paced and very dramatic. Quips and fun scenes are mixed with emotionally charged heart-string pulling scenes. Beatrice is an epic character comparable to the like of Gini Koch’s Katherine Katt and Jeaniene Frost’s Catherine Crawfield (must have a thing with cat’s this morning). It is an Urban Fantasy, Police Procedural that was just well put together and engaging until the end. I could not put this one down and had to start book two the moment I closed book one. I’m so pleased that I had the pleasure to read this series and look forward to more FREAKS from Harlow.

The beginning does have a choppy start, that I found almost a tad awkward, but I pushed through that very quickly and once I found the pace of the book there was no looking back.

Recommendations: Recommended for Urban Fantasy lovers, if you like your Urban Fantasy with a little humor this is the one for you. There are more adult themes, but this book is not something I would classify as R-rated, more like PG-13. If the early Anita Blake had a sense of humor…she would be Beatrice Alexander.
I’m officially declaring myself Team Oliver!(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 15, 2013 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cnb-reviewers

I have to admit that I may have vampire fatigue so this book was a pleasant surprise. Main character, Bea has superpowers and as a result joins the FREAKS (Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals) a branch of the FBI. And she is an awesome zombie fighting machine. There is a murky, as yet, undeveloped love triangle between vampire Oliver a member of the FREAKS team, Bea and team leader Will, a werewolf. I say undeveloped because Bea rejects Oliver’s advances at every turn, th...more

like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-adult

This is one of those series where the adage "don't judge a book by its cover" is really all too true. I've read two of the books in the series now, and the content is much more satisfying than the unfortunate cover art might have you believe. Beatrice Alexander is a teacher turned---reluctant--special team investigator whose work is a little more "special" than most. She has a precariously balanced brew of telekinesis and other extrasensory abilities that have surfaced and are complicating her l...more This is one of those series where the adage "don't judge a book by its cover" is really all too true. I've read two of the books in the series now, and the content is much more satisfying than the unfortunate cover art might have you believe. Beatrice Alexander is a teacher turned---reluctant--special team investigator whose work is a little more "special" than most. She has a precariously balanced brew of telekinesis and other extrasensory abilities that have surfaced and are complicating her life. Her new job, serving as a component of an underground government team comprised entirely of similar extraordinary people (and creatures) gives her the chance to play the hero, rather than the screw-up for the first time in her life.

Mind Over Monsters is an entertaining intro to this fun and addicting series. The novel market is pretty chockablock with supernatural-infused books, but Harlow's series brings in two elements that make them an altogether enjoyable addition to the fray. For one, they're actually funny. Her feisty, unglamorous but very likeable heroine may be treading in the footsteps of many a fish-out-of-water character before her, but she sounds a little more real, a little rougher around the edges, and a good deal funnier than some of her predecessors. Harlow loves to do banter---which always has the danger of slipping one of two ways: it can be fun and lively or it can feel stale and forced with a little too much knowing winkiness. In her case she keeps it to the former and the jokeyness feels natural and in keeping with her characters, not like they're putting on a show. Also, Harlow's former life as a lab assistant and government investigator (true!) might be put to good use here. The F.R.E.A.K. squad cases actually kind of feel like cases---with a little more method than you usually seem to find and more sexual tension than moony romance, so what you end up with is the perfect union for Bones and CSI enthusiasts and supernatural addicts alike. Fans of Kim Harrison (a favorite of mine in this genre) would probably also enjoy these as a little change-up, the characters take themselves a little less seriously and have a less glammy veneer. As much as I love Harrison, overall I'd say this is kind of a refreshing alternative option.(less)

like · see review

Jun 14, 2012 Radella rated it 3 of 5 stars

please read the full review at http://kapitanbuch.wordpress.com/2012...

Beatrice Alexander is a former schoolteacher with a big secret- she can move things with the power of her mind. When her secret draws a little too much attention, a secret branch of the FBI recruits her to the cause. After two months of intense training, she finally meets her new team, aptly called the FREAKS squad. She barely has time to meet her coworkers before they are sent off to deal with a necromancer plaguing a small...more
please read the full review at http://kapitanbuch.wordpress.com/2012...

Beatrice Alexander is a former schoolteacher with a big secret- she can move things with the power of her mind. When her secret draws a little too much attention, a secret branch of the FBI recruits her to the cause. After two months of intense training, she finally meets her new team, aptly called the FREAKS squad. She barely has time to meet her coworkers before they are sent off to deal with a necromancer plaguing a small Colorado town with zombies. Beatrice learns just how strong she is, as she works with the team to bring the necromancer to justice.

Beatrice kind of grates on everyone’s nerves… And since it is told first person, that includes the reader’s nerves. She’s pretty clueless about the hidden supernatural world, yet she acts like she knows it all. Same for investigating the necromancer- she doesn’t know what she is doing, and ignores the others, but gets lucky every now and again. It’s no wonder her coworkers don’t like her all that much… But you sort of feel sorry for her, too. She was raised by her Nana, and a brother who doesn’t understand her. She’s never fit in anywhere, and. Ever really understood her ability to move things with her mind. So it’s an odd mix- annoying, yet sympathetic.

Will is the team leader, as he’s the only one of the FREAKS with any law enforcement training. He’s also a werewolf, and a bit standoffish. His wife died in the same attack that turned him, so he’s grumpy… But he feels something for Bea. So he goes between trying to protect her and bringing her along on the job. He’s a very by the books type, and Bea is really throwing him off his game.

Oliver is the office slut, and spends most of his time hitting on Bea. He’s a vampire, with the ability to plant thoughts in people’s minds… Except for Bea (which was never explained and was a little infuriating). Somehow, between life-threatening situations and ceaseless flirtatious, Oliver and Beatrice become friends… Even though he’s hoping for more than friendship.

It’s a pretty average book, all things considered. The world-building is solid, although lacking in depth and with some elements completely unresolved It’s never explained why some people have abilities, or why Beatrice was recruited with no background or criminal record (like the rest of the FREAKS squad seem to have). Sure, they’re a secret organization with special talents, but why does the entire squad have to live in a mansion together? Why can’t she just say “I joined the FBI” instead of lying to her friends and family… does her cover story really need a cover story?
The characters were similar… They were well crafted, but they didn’t seem all that original. There seemed little to differentiate them from other characters in the genre. Beatrice was the somehow effectual untrained investigator, Will was the stodgy federal agent and moody werewolf, Oliver was the charming and deadly vampire. The others FREAKS squad members were bit players, and only moderately important to the story.
To be honest, the “love triangle” that Beatrice is caught in between Will and Oliver is cliched. It really doesn’t add to the story, and makes Beatrice seem even more indecisive (which is one of the most annoying qualities in a character. There seems to be no reason for the indecisiveness, but rather just a way to bring sexual harassment to the workplace).

So really, an average book. There’s clearly going to be a sequel, and I’ll probably read it, hoping some of my unresolved questions will be answered. (and hoping the love triangle is dropped to see the relationship between Beatrice and Will develop into something… Because I will stop reading if Beatrice hooks up with Oliver.)(less)

like · see review

Jan 20, 2012 Lighthearted rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural-fiction

The premise of this book is intriguing. Beatrice’s fellow squad members include a reticent werewolf, an obnoxious vampire, an elegant pyrokinetic, a teleporting teenager, a baby-faced psychometric and a blind medium. Bea’s first case with the group involves evidence of a necromancer in the small town of Bridge Stone, Colorado: he or she is raising zombies, but why and can they stop him before anyone else falls victim?

I wanted to like this book. It’s a first novel and there is definitely potentia...more The premise of this book is intriguing. Beatrice’s fellow squad members include a reticent werewolf, an obnoxious vampire, an elegant pyrokinetic, a teleporting teenager, a baby-faced psychometric and a blind medium. Bea’s first case with the group involves evidence of a necromancer in the small town of Bridge Stone, Colorado: he or she is raising zombies, but why and can they stop him before anyone else falls victim?

I wanted to like this book. It’s a first novel and there is definitely potential: I like the idea of a top-secret team of crime-fighters with unique paranormal and supernatural abilities. I like the basic cast of characters.

I don’t like Beatrice, at least not yet. She’s 26 years old but she reads more like a teenager who’s just discovered boys. Yes, I know her romantic experience has been limited, but I think Harlow overdid the number of “OMG, our hands touched!” moments. Not only were there too many of those moments, they were too vividly described; when Bea first meets Will, she opens the door and we’re treated to 3 paragraphs of her thoughts before she says anything and another 2 paragraphs before he replies. The paragraphs may lessen but sadly, this is how most of her interactions with Will and Oliver are portrayed: too much attention focused on telling us exactly what girlish thoughts are streaming through Bea’s mind and not enough attention on simply sketching a scene and letting the reader feel it.

While I enjoy a vicarious glimpse into the life of a newly-discovered “it girl”, Harlow overdoes this as well. Rather than draw me further into the story, it distances me from it. Right off the bat, the girl whom no one noticed before has two hotties vying for her attention and one of those hotties is so traumatized by the death of his wife years before that he’s been completely indifferent to women since—until he first lays eyes upon Bea, that is. It doesn’t ring true: a guy like that would need time to let his guard down.

Not only has Bea suddenly become a hottie-magnet, she’s also at the top of the game on the Squad despite being the newest recruit—and even though she apparently needs 3 1/2 pages of clues before she can figure out she’s talking to a vampire. Ack—if she’s going to be super-quick with guessing what kind of supernatural is most likely to be involved with a particular crime, she should have pegged the vampire within the first paragraph of their meeting. Aside of that minor detail, I like seeing the Ugly Duckling turn into the beautiful swan, the caterpillar turn into a butterfly, but I want to see the transformation happen. The transformation is what makes the story interesting and so far, Harlow has skipped that step. She does show promise in her treatment of the relationship between Bea and Oliver—their scenes at the end of the book were excellent and might be enough to persuade me to give the next book in the series a shot. Untitled as of yet, it is scheduled to come out this fall.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Read2review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-for-read-2-review

** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **

With stress migraines it is impossible to read a pdf for a long time so I decided to make a start on my paperback TBR list, starting with Mind Over Monsters. I received it for Halloween from Jennifer and I have been looking forward to reading it and now was the time.

What a fantastic book. It starts with the introduction to Beatrice as she is in the hospital. The full details are a little sketchy but the reasons for being in hospital...more

like · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, 4-and-a-half-stars, paranormal, sci-fi, series, series-book-1, vampires-or-werewolves, yes, zombies, read-in-2011

Mind Over Monsters was A LOT of fun! I would rate it 4.5 stars if I could, but when deciding which side of the .5 the rating should fall on, I leaned toward 4, but it was indeed a great book!

This book features so many different monsters! You see vampires, werewolves, necromancers, ghouls, zombies, people who can create fire, move things with their mind, teleport, etc - honestly a possessed easter bunny could have shown up and I wouldn't have been surprised. This book really reminded me of X-Men...more Mind Over Monsters was A LOT of fun! I would rate it 4.5 stars if I could, but when deciding which side of the .5 the rating should fall on, I leaned toward 4, but it was indeed a great book!

This book features so many different monsters! You see vampires, werewolves, necromancers, ghouls, zombies, people who can create fire, move things with their mind, teleport, etc - honestly a possessed easter bunny could have shown up and I wouldn't have been surprised. This book really reminded me of X-Men and when I told my husband about it, he thought that it sounded similar to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and I tend to agree! If you are a fan on those comics/cartoons/movies, etc then you will likely love this book.

I really enjoyed that the main character, Beatrice, had her imperfections. In someways, her inner workings reminded me of reading a chick-lit book, but she also kicks some serious butt, which makes it so unusual, inventive and refreshing. The main character - an elementary school teacher - doesn't seem to realize how strong or talented she is and I think that is something that plagues a lot of people, particularly women, so I could relate on that level. I also loved some of the other characters, particularly Will! For some reason throughout the book, I pictured Will as the actor Patrick Wilson, whom I think is so adorable! I was disappointed that their relationship didn't evolve more in this book (view spoiler), but at the same time I appreciated that she didn't turn into some lovesick woman who can't see past the man she is falling for.

As is the case in almost every book I have read this year, there is a love triangle. Not only do Will and Beatrice have a strong attraction to each other, there is also Oliver, who is trying to bed Beatrice. While initially Oliver irritated the heck out of me, it did seem that his intentions became more pure throughout the book and I think he has actually developed true feelings for Beatrice. I for one am Team Will all the way though!

I think the author did a great job with describing the different powers the characters had, as well as with character development (view spoiler). I found myself having a strong reaction to many of the characters - some I loved, some I could not stand - but that shows true skill in my opinion.

As for why this is only 4-stars and not 5-stars...ah, I hate to criticize this book in any way, as I so thoroughly enjoyed it, but it has to be said. I really felt some of the dialogue was SOOOOO cheesy. There are things I cannot even imagine my grandma saying, they are that lame. I cannot buy a grown woman would say such ridiculous phrases (I will need to go skim through it again and edit this later with a few examples - you will get a laugh). There were also spots in the story where it didn't feel real. I would compare the problem to this: when you are watching a movie and there are characters acting so superbly that you believe that these actors are these people they are portraying, but then walks in someone who delivers the lines so poorly that it temporarily ruins the moment, because you immediately realize that this is a person who is acting, just reading a line and not very well. It is strange to think a book could cause this feeling, but it really did. Some of the lines were so awkward and seemed so out-of-character that it felt like they were lifted from a crime TV show and the character in the book is just delivering them because she is supposed to; there were times it genuinely felt like Beatrice was acting. Given the author seems to be very talented, it may be possible that the cheesy and at times unbelievable dialogue were intentional, but for me, it was a distraction and not a good one. The only other thing I did not like about the book - and this holds no weight in my rating - was the cover. I actually had it sitting around for awhile because the cover didn't interest me at all. I am hoping there is a different artist for the next book, as I think covers these days are more important than ever and the bar has been raised so high.

So, that being said, I do highly recommend this book, despite the flaws, I really enjoyed reading it. I think this is a very promising first entry in what will likely be a very entertaining series and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book to come out!(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 27, 2011 Paranormal Haven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

3.5 stars

Beatrice Alexander is a school teacher, a school teacher that can move stuff with her mind. She has tried to keep this to herself, but when a student almost gets hit by a car, she floats the car. This draws the attention of the governments F.R.E.A.K.S, Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals. They ask her to join, and end up talking her into it. Beatrice’s first mission with the group has to do with why the dead are rising in a small town, and eating a select few.

Bea...more 3.5 stars

Beatrice Alexander is a school teacher, a school teacher that can move stuff with her mind. She has tried to keep this to herself, but when a student almost gets hit by a car, she floats the car. This draws the attention of the governments F.R.E.A.K.S, Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals. They ask her to join, and end up talking her into it. Beatrice’s first mission with the group has to do with why the dead are rising in a small town, and eating a select few.

Beatrice is a fun character to read. She is light, funny, and likes her cake. She reminds me of that upbeat friend everyone has. I enjoyed her, and even enjoyed some of her emotional strain towards the end. It took me a while to get as close to her as I felt, but after a while it was very easy to get caught in her story. The only thing that I have to question is her using a machete to chop up the undead. There is a scene she runs around dismembering them with ease. That might be too realistic, but I like a little bit of gore in my zombie stories.

Beatrice is stuck with a group of others with super powers. Of course this makes her the center of a love triangle. Will is the leader of the group, and a werewolf. Then there is Oliver, the bad boy vampire. Imagine that, a werewolf and vampire at odds over a woman. I had a hard time with the vampire at first. He is very vain, and it is hard to see someone who is so old acting in the ways he does. Over time he grew on me. Despite the love triangle no one is getting it on. In fact I enjoy the novels where relationships grow over time.

The zombies in this are dull to say the least. They didn’t frighten me, and the descriptions are not too in depth. It is a light read, or was for me. Some of the zombie stuff even borders on funny. Beatrice plays detective in the small time, usually I am not a fan of detective style novels, but I really felt that this one kept the reader going. The beginning started out a little slow, but as the novel went on I enjoyed it more, and more.

The story has been done before, but it was still enjoyable. I believe this is the first novel by this writer, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store next time. Some of the other characters on the team didn’t feel real, especially the Goth teenager. Beatrice is a fun character, but some of the fighting she does feels unreal, mostly because I want more description from it. Despite that I will be checking out the next in the series.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)(less)

like · see review

Oct 19, 2011 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, urban-fantasy

Reviewed by Jen
Review copy provided by book tour / publisher

When we were asked to host a stop on Jennifer's blog tour, I jumped at the chance. Mind Over Monsters is the first book in a new series and the concept jumped out at me. It's all about a secret government group, F.R.E.A.K.S (that's Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals). The main characters include psychics, a vampire, werewolf and so on. In this first tale, the group is in Colorado to investigate a couple of myste...more

like · see review

Oct 08, 2011 Roxanne Rhoads rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous debut novel!

Harlow has created an awesome world where the good guys fight the bad- and they all happen to be "monsters"- or in this case the good guys are FREAKS- the Federal Response to Extra Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals.

Yup the government has their own top secret agency full of supernaturals that fight the paranormal bad guys.

Harlow's book is blend of Buffy the Vampire Slayer kick ass girl power style action, dry but witty humor, mystery, all wrapped in a paranormal book t...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 29, 2011 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review is about a novel that held my attention even though the overall subject, horror, is not my chosen genre. In many ways, the clever, new to me, author was able to make the book a 'cozy' murder mystery, even though she was penning about Vampires, Werewolves, Psychokinetics and more.

Thinking it over, since I am interested in Paranormal like the psycho-fields...I guess it was a good fit for me.

The murders were appropriate to the perpertrators of the crimes, although, a bit gruesome for me...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 23, 2011 Beverly rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts:
I loved this story! I'm not a huge zombie fan, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book.
The writing is wonderful. The author's use of the language is superb, giving her words life and making the scenes into images as well. I easily pictured every character and place in my mind through her vivid descriptions and attention to detail.
The characters are cleverly created and so very easy to invest in. As a licensed elementary teacher, I was thrilled to fi...more

like 1 like · see review

May 30, 2012 Bill Blume rated it 4 of 5 stars

First things first, I want to give a shout out to Fountain Bookstore's owner Kelly Justice for tipping me off to this book. Kelly and Fountain are the best argument anyone can make forindependent booksellers. Part of the reason Kelly suggested MIND OVER MONSTERS to me is that the writer Jennifer Harlow is a fellow Virginian. Virginia fantasy writers rule!

Ahem, that said, let's get on with the review.

What I Liked:

Harlow has a great writing voice. Her pacing and delivery works great for this book....more First things first, I want to give a shout out to Fountain Bookstore's owner Kelly Justice for tipping me off to this book. Kelly and Fountain are the best argument anyone can make for independent booksellers. Part of the reason Kelly suggested MIND OVER MONSTERS to me is that the writer Jennifer Harlow is a fellow Virginian. Virginia fantasy writers rule!

Ahem, that said, let's get on with the review.

What I Liked:

Harlow has a great writing voice. Her pacing and delivery works great for this book. There's a lot of humor thrown in here, and more than a few one-liners had me laughing out loud. It didn't take me long to realize that this book didn't take itself too seriously, and once I figured that out, I enjoyed the book a lot. There were times the laughs risked making some of the main characters look incompetent, though. Much of the humor comes from Beatrice Alexander being a fish out of water among the FREAKS team. It's tough to justify keeping a character who is a rookie in the middle of a police procedural while acknowledging she isn't fully capable of doing it all by herself (I've recently started writing a story with a similar scenario, so I very much appreciate the challenge). I think Harlow does this about as well as one could manage. I think Beatrice gets praised just a bit more than seems credible, but for the most part, I was okay with this.

That said, I probably enjoyed some of the more serious moments in the story above the rest. This is where spoilers begin, so stop reading now, if you don't want to know too much. When the FREAKS find a little girl zombie who's been raised by her father, it's a real punch to the gut. I found Beatrice's reaction, a desire to protect this kid, very credible. Most of all, I found it very believable that the father had done this. His actions make a lot of sense, even as crazy as he is. It's ironic that this act makes the villain both sympathetic and more monstrous. I think this might have been my favorite part in the book.

I wasn't sure about the vampire when he was first introduced into the story. Once the mission gets going, though, I probably liked him more than even the main character. Oliver has all the best lines, and he's just a flat out badass.

What I didn't Like:

The vampire. Wait. What? Yes, part of what I didn't like was also the vampire. Oliver clearly has a lot of layers to him, but as wicked and naughty as he acts during the team's downtime, I wasn't sure I bought into him being a good guy. Part of me didn't want him to be a good guy, but by the time the book ends, Harlow has handed us yet another vampire/werewolf/superhuman woman love triangle. Part of me would have preferred there not be this whole romantic interest with Oliver, but I also recognize that for Harlow's target audience (which I probably am not), this is all but a requirement. I just thought it was very nice how in the first part of the book, she went against type by having the main character repulsed by the hot-looking vampire. Having that taken away and reduced to the cliche by the end was a bit of a letdown for me.

Another big issue for me was that there are some potential plotholes in the setting. The Feds have set up the FREAKS in this georgous mansion. Somehow, I just can't see the US government doing that. This was an obvious tip of the hat to X-Men, but I think there needs to be an explanation for why the government was willing to drop that much cash for the team on such a posh place. That's not to say Harlow won't explain this in future books, but for now, it's just kind of odd to me.

The Red Shirts: Harlow has a cast that's a bit too big to handle at times, especially with such a large team and a town full of suspects. She also tosses in a bunch of normal human FBI agents. You pretty much know they're there to provide a death count, even if only one of them dies in the course of the book. Harlow also uses them to spare the main characters some "heavy lifting" and "mundane tasks," but I felt the team was big enough to let other members handle this and trim the unnecessary fat. I was very much reminded of "Hellboy" which does the same thing.

So my overall verdict? Don't take this book too seriously. Just enjoy it for what it is: a writer's love letter to X-Men, Janet Evanovich and Laurel K. Hamilton. I enjoyed a lot of the nods hidden within the story. My only concern about the latter influence is that Hamilton's books devolved until they sacrified plot in the name of soap opera and porn. As long as Harlow can avoid that, I will definitely be a fan of this series. I went back and forth on three vs. four stars, and the fact I want to read the second book when it comes out is a sign it deserves four.(less)

like · see review

Sep 04, 2012 Malory rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humorous, series, suspense, romance, urban-fantasy, vampires

This was a fresh and interesting book. I really enjoyed it. It had mystery and reminded me of Nancy Drew in which she would go around town talking to people in search of clues. You felt right in the midst of the problem. The supporting characters were wonderful and I hope to learn even more about them.

The only thing I didn't like is the inconsistency of the main character Bea. At first, I thought she was going to be a shy woman, hard to get out of her shell, and through her training learns to be...more

like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Stephanie ♥Loves Adrian Ivashkov and Warner!♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The author, Jennifer Harlow, contacted me to review this book. First of all, a huuuuuge thanks to her for that. If she hadn't I probably wouldn't have read this amazing book any time soon. I almost didn't accept the review request even, but the synopsis drew me in. And also because she sent me the print book had a lot to do with it because I usually only get ebooks because I love in Belgium.

At first I wasn't sure I would like it, but after reading the guest post she send me, where she interview...more The author, Jennifer Harlow, contacted me to review this book. First of all, a huuuuuge thanks to her for that. If she hadn't I probably wouldn't have read this amazing book any time soon. I almost didn't accept the review request even, but the synopsis drew me in. And also because she sent me the print book had a lot to do with it because I usually only get ebooks because I love in Belgium.

At first I wasn't sure I would like it, but after reading the guest post she send me, where she interviews the main character, Beatrice, I knew I would be hooked. The interview was really funny and cute too. Oliver *wink wink*
The thing that really hooked me about this book was how there's this team of monster hunters, who are people with paranormal abilities themselves, even a vampire and a werewolf! So of course I started reading it right away once I received it and it sure didn't disappoint!

One of my favorite aspects in the book was the action. Lately I'm all about action in the books I read, without it I feel like it's getting boring. But luckily, Mind Over Monsters had lots of it.
I have to say at first I couldn't really get into the characte of Bea, but that was maybe just some weirdness on my part because later I really liked her. She's funny. We really do have the same humor and she's also really brave. I wouldn't dare do half the things she did!
There wasn't really that much romance and even though I love my portion of romance in a book, I wouldn't have wanted it otherwise. There was some flirting, some eye contact that makes you see fireworks but no kissing, yet, which was fine by me. But it's obvious that there is or will be a love triangle. The werewolf and the vampire. Will and Oliver. Personally I love Oliver the most. I love the way he calls Bea "Trixie" but Will sure is something too.
Another thing that was just perfectly written were the zombies. I could practically smell them!
I also loved guessing about who the bad guy was and I had a lot of theories myself, of course they were all wrong but still it was fun!
The end was so good! Just when I thought everything was over, BAM! something happens again. That was probably one of the major espects of me giving Mind Over Monsters 5 stars. I just love unexpected twists and turns.

The only slightly negative thing that bothered me was the way Bea curses. Like, "Oh, fudge." Maybe that's just part of Bea's character but I'm afraid it's just not my cup of tea. Other than that I really did like her though.

All in all Mind Over Monster was a fantastic read. Funny, cute, witty, action filled and well written. I am definitely looking forward to reading To Catch A Vampire, the second book in the series, which will be available on september 8th 2012.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 12, 2013 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved the first book and could Jennifer Harlow write a better second book? You bet she can. To Catch a Vampire finds Bea on assignment with Oliver, the vampire. Now Oliver thinks he is "Gods" gift to women and thinks he is irrestible to all, and he mostly is. But Bea tries very hard not to fall for his annoying attentions. This assignment places both Bea and Oliver in terrible danger. Investigating a series of human disappearances brings Oliver face to face with a very old enemy and this of cour...more

like · see review

Oct 09, 2012 Penni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book-owned

Mind Over Monsters is a fun and unconventional tale that stands out against others in the urban fantasy genre. Harlow uses clever witticisms and great characters to ground the otherwise horrific nature of the story. If you’re looking for something funny and easy to read with a lovable spook squad then this is the perfect series for you. What a stellar debut for Harlow! Currently devouring book #2 as we speak…

The main character, Bea, is snarky, smart, fierce but most importantly real. She goes f...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Talk Supe Blogspot rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: braine-s-2013-blog-book-reviews

Braine's Talk Supe Review

MIND OVER MONSTERS is quirky, action-packed Urban Fantasy tale. It has a little bit of everything from paranormals to supernaturals and other otherworldly monsters and devices sure to keep you glued to the pages. JHarlow as a quick and dry sense of humor that I'm sure a lot of you will find appealing as well. Beatrice's comebacks are golden and though I'm Team Will, I won't mind more acid exchanges with Oliver, watching this too-sexy vamp hit on Beatrice only to fall fl...more

like · see review

Dec 26, 2011 Shanon (Escaping With Fiction) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite, first-reads

My reviews can also be found at: http://escapingwithfiction.blogspot.com/

First I would like to thank the author, Jennifer Harlow, for sending me this book! I won it in a goodreads giveaway and she was nice enough to also send me an awesome bookmark, a list of songs on the playlist for the book, and a very nice card/note.

Let me begin this review by saying that this book pretty much rocked my socks! I love all things paranormal, so when I started in on this story I quickly discovered that I'd hit...more My reviews can also be found at: http://escapingwithfiction.blogspot.com/

First I would like to thank the author, Jennifer Harlow, for sending me this book! I won it in a goodreads giveaway and she was nice enough to also send me an awesome bookmark, a list of songs on the playlist for the book, and a very nice card/note.

Let me begin this review by saying that this book pretty much rocked my socks! I love all things paranormal, so when I started in on this story I quickly discovered that I'd hit the motherload! In this book is the existence of every supernatural entity you could think of: ghouls, zombies, ghosts, trolls, necromancers, werewolves, vampires, ogres and so on. There are also several individuals with psychic abilities ranging anywhere from mediums to pyrokinetics--anything is possible in this book. Aside from the outstanding characters and creatures, this story is very creative and well-written. The storyline is also very fast-paced and the book is extremely hard to put down.

The protagonist and narrator, Beatrice, is my kind of gal; she's smart, witty and incredibly fun to read about, and seeing things through her perspective is a fun and exciting experience. One of the things I love most about her is how much she grows throughout the novel. She starts off being scared, unsure and isolated because of her gift as a telekinetic; but over the course of the story she ends up being more self-aware and a total badass!

Joining the "F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad" proves to be a very dangerous but rewarding experience for Bea. Her first assignment involves a grueling investigation to stop a murderous necromancer and this process involves a lot of blood, sweat and danger--and the wielding of a machete (yes, Bea's cool like that!). My favorite thing ever is a female character holding her own and kicking some serious butt, and that's exactly what Beatrice did.

Another reason to absolutely adore this book is the hot werewolf and the seductive vampire who are both interested in Bea. These two characters couldn't be more different, but they are both extremely desirable nonetheless. Will, the werewolf, is in charge of the "F.R.E.A.K.S." and he's got plenty going for him; he's smokin' hot, strong, and has a lot of integrity. This man also has a very boy-next-door vibe going on that's impossible to resist. Oliver, A.K.A. the most gorgeous man and vampire in the history of EVER, has a devilishly smooth way about him. At first I wasn't sure how to feel about him, because he's one of those guys that you should probably hate but he's just so darn charming that you can't. His interactions with Bea cracked me up every time, and I grew quite fond of him after some of his many layers were peeled back to reveal a kindness under that pompous exterior. It will no doubt be interesting to see how the tension between Bea and these men carries out.

This book has quickly become a new favorite of mine and to say that I am eagerly awaiting the second book in this series is a serious understatement. I cannot wait to read more about Bea; with her sassy talk and overall amazing demeanor that will never cease to entertain. So, do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book, because you will not be disappointed! (less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Elaine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: looks-good, adventure

I found this to be a really good read. It was full of action from the start to finish, it had humour, action and a bit of flirting thrown in.
When I first started reading it I was a little confused has I thought I'd started reading the next book on the series has it jumped straight into what had happened to Bea for her to be in the situation she was in without really delving into it to give a better understanding but once I got past the first chapter it was none stop action.
Not much was spoken a...more

like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 AdriAnne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

I wasn't impressed by the cartoon-y cover of this book, which made me assume Mind Over Monsters was going to be a fluffy (and sure, gory) urban fantasy. It IS light-hearted in many parts, with snappy, hilarious dialogue... but by the end of the book, what impressed me was Jennifer Harlow. She brought an appropriate level of gravity to the story, even as funny as it is, and made me truly care about her characters--most especially Bea and Oliver--even though I was resistant at first. Just goes to...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 18, 2011 Jennifer (a.k.a The Book Nympho) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paper-books

Mind Over Monsters is very well written with characters I love and can’t wait to read more about them. I’ve not read many books where the author titles each chapter but I really like it, cause it sets the tone for what’s coming up and with a chapter entitled “A Machete Is a Girl’s Best Friend” you know that the book is freaky funny.

Mind Over Monsters is a great urban fantast read with mystery, some gore (it’s going to get messy when you start cutting up zombies), and there is also a little roman...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jun 30, 2012 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, hardcopies-own-and-read, 2012-challenge, read-and-review-finished

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I wasn't sure it was going to wow me when I accepted the review request but I was pleasantly surprised.

It's a dark, gritty at times, laugh-out-loud funny urban fantasy. The main character, Bea, is snarky, smart, fierce but most importantly real. I could really relate to her and felt things through her eyes. She goes from shy, timid elementary school teacher to a kick-ass F.R.E.A.K.S. agent throug...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Vickie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksthatmakemegowow

Favorite phrases:
"Like most social outcasts who inherited the shy gene, books became my best friend....Most of my paycheck went to Barnes and Noble. I knew everyone there by name."

"The moment he knocks one into a tree or a tombstone, another seems to take its place in the line, like a zombie Pez dispenser."

"I really much prefer zombies without teeth. This is much better. Nice stroll through teh body parts."

Favorite chapter title:
A Machete is a Girl's Best Friend
*************
The whole book is...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Sheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

This book was 100% fun! I just loved it! I loved Beatrice's tone of voice, her attitude, spunk and sense of humor. Her comrades in the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad were fun, but I do wish we had gotten to know some of the them better. Perhaps in the next book we will. There were some pretty grotesque descriptions filled with way more detail than I normally like but after the first few, I learned to just skim through them to make sure I wasn't missing anything critical to the action or story. I'm pretty sq...more

like · see review

Oct 17, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author, bewitching-book-tours

reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...

MIND OVER MONSTERS ended up being a very pleasant surprise. I was not really crazy with the cover so it took me a bit to want to really read the book but once I picked it up I had no problem getting into the story. Bea was easy to like. She has always known she has magic but was scared of it. She always seemed to end up hurting the people she cared about. In the beginning of the book she is recruited into a secret government agency full of othe...more

like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Brooke rated it 2 of 5 stars

The premise of the book is by far the most redeeming quality of it. The voice of the heroine comes across as a pathetic attempt by the author to live her life through her character. It became increasingly easy for me to imagine her writing away, picturing herself as Beatrice with men apparently falling over themselves to get to her. It reeks of the desperation of a woman who seems to have no idea what it is actually like for men to be sexually attracted to her. This receives 2 stars only becaus...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Alice Liu rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was a little dubious in the beginning of this book when Bea is first introduced to the F.R.E.A.K.s. Her learning curve seemed really high and she seemed overly timid and reluctant. However, I quickly realized a lot of that was setup for the uninitiated readers, and Bea throws herself into a supernatural murder mystery with courage and resolve. The book is chock full of action, supernatural thrills, and interaction. Except for the zombies and gore, it also reads like a COZY mystery - smart woma...more

like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, fantasy, vampires, zombies, 2012, favorites

Full Review at Foil the Plot

Beatrice Alexander isn’t your average school teacher—she’s able to move things with her mind, albeit not very well. After a series of hazardous accidents, one nearly killing her brother, she’s offered a job at the FBI. Only it’s not quite the FBI you and I know—think more like Men in Black than The Siege. Beatrice joins a special unit known as the Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals aka the “F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad where she will learn to master he...more Full Review at Foil the Plot

Beatrice Alexander isn’t your average school teacher—she’s able to move things with her mind, albeit not very well. After a series of hazardous accidents, one nearly killing her brother, she’s offered a job at the FBI. Only it’s not quite the FBI you and I know—think more like Men in Black than The Siege. Beatrice joins a special unit known as the Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals aka the “F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad where she will learn to master her psychokinetic abilities and combat both men and monsters alike. Her first case involves desecrated human remains, a necromancer and volatile army of the undead. With partners like a sexy former-policeman werewolf and an egomaniacal Don Juan vamp, what could possibly go wrong?

Okay, when it comes to the paranormal stuff I’m a total sucker. I just can’t get enough of it! Suffice it to say, when I read the summary I knew I was in for a treat. This is the debut for Jennifer Harlow, and man, she really nailed it! Using cheeky humour paired with drama and suspense, Harlow has found a winning combination especially when contrasted against the darker nature of the urban fantasy genre. I found myself completely engrossed in the story (mind you, I love anything that has zombies in it!) and even more enthralled by the diverse cast of characters. If you’re not into horror have no fear because Harlow expertly pars down on the gore by adding in a humorous narrative and compelling protagonist. And as much as I loved this book, I felt like it took a few chapters for Harlow to really hone in on Bea’s voice. It was sort of a trial by error which is altogether not uncommon for an author’s first book. But once she found it she really rocked it out.

As much as I loved the premise of the story, I loved the cast of characters even more. The F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad is full of all-stars! There’s a variety of personas, each one distinctly unique and ultimately loveable. Beatrice is an old-Hollywood loving, sensible yet sarcastic girl who struggles with fitting in. She’s someone who has an infallible sense of dedication despite being shunned by the people close to her. But the best thing about her is her hilarious wit! It’s easy to see why she’s so likeable. This is someone I totally want to be friends with. Then there’s Will, the gruff and tough (and super hot) werewolf. A former police-officer and defacto leader of the team, he’s as old-fashioned as they come. Bea, of course, is lusting all over the place for guy and it seems she’s caught his eye as well. And to add to the invariable love triangle there’s Oliver, the smooth-talking, second-in-charge vamp man. Arrogant and egotistical as he may be, Bea manages to lure out the softer side of the guy and he instant turns from seriously gag-worthy to swoon-worthy in all of five seconds flat! Round it out with an amazing list of paranormal side-kicks—a gothic teleporter teen, sexy pyromaniac, blind medium and shy auror—and we’ve found ourselves a kick-ass paranormal Ghostbusters, of sorts.

Harlow has written a comical yet touching story injected with mystery and intrigue. The characters are dynamic and the chemistry between our Bea and her two supernatural studs is electric. I found myself laughing out loud while reading it, smiling at the fun parts and completely engaged. I couldn’t put it down. And while Harlow does venture out into some grim territory, the story never strays too far into serious. Though she didn’t have me hooked at page one, it wasn’t long before the fangs sunk in and I was bitten by the F.R.E.A.K.S. bug. I’m so glad I had the foresight to purchase the sequel when I picked up book #1 so now I don’t have to wait to dive right back in! (less)

like · see review

title link	preview: Mind Over Monsters
avg rating	preview: Mind Over Monsters Goodreads rating: 4.02 (322 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10757054-mind-over-monsters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348569211l/10757054.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10757054-mind-over-monsters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow[/url]

Mind Over Monsters (A F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jennifer Harlow

Books by Jennifer Harlow

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Mind Over Monsters

Quotes from Mind Over Monsters