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Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (7 out of 10 on the blog)
I read 'Everyone Loves A Hero' by Marie Force last year and really loved it, so I was really looking forward to picking up 'Fatal Affair'. It's a different genre, romantic suspense and it's ...moreReviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (7 out of 10 on the blog)
I read 'Everyone Loves A Hero' by Marie Force last year and really loved it, so I was really looking forward to picking up 'Fatal Affair'. It's a different genre, romantic suspense and it's also the beginning of a new series following Detective Sergeant Sam Holland and Nick Cappuano.
Nick, best friend and chief of staff to Senator John O'Connor, walks in on him one morning to find he has been brutally murdered. Sam is the lead detective placed in charge of the case, but she also happens to be a woman Nick had a one-night stand several years ago. A night they both still think about years later.
This is a great romantic suspense, it pairs together both elements nicely with two strong, likeable characters. I really liked both Sam and Nick. I enjoyed the fact that Sam and Nick were equal partners. Sam was far from a damsel in distress needing her hero to come and rescue her. She is intelligent, brave and confident in her own right. This didn't mean that Nick was weak or lacking in hero-appeal, far from it.
The mystery/suspense of the story kept me guessing until the end. I kept changing my mind on who the culprit was as I was reading and just when I had it figured out, I'd change it again or the story would throw another twist at me. In the end I got it completely wrong and this is just how it should be. The supporting characters were also superb. I developed a real soft spot for Sam's partner Freddie and wanted to see more of him. Sam's father is also a fascinating edition. I hope both characters are explored further in subsequent books in the series.
As much as I did enjoy the book, there were a few problems with it too. At times this book felt like it was the second in a series and I missed the first. I've whinged a little before about books where the hero and heroine have got together before the novel has started. And then the book continually refers to what has happened in the past without even letting the reader actually see it. I wish we could have a prologue to experience that giddiness and passion without it being referred to all the time. I found it quite frustrating. But it wasn't just the romance element where I felt I was catching up on. Sam had a big crime scene that went wrong in the past for which she was still testifying in, which also impacted the greater story.
Nick went along with Sam to nearly all of the crime scenes relating to the Senator's case and I found this very odd. I understood it was good from a plot point of view, but in real life I cannot imagine it would ever be allowed. So it needed a bit of stretch for me as the reader to make it believable.
There some elements of the story that were missed in the conclusion. I can't tell you what they are without giving away some spoilers, but I finished the book thinking well what happened with that and that. Perhaps Marie Force intends to pick them up in the next book, but they felt missed rather than add intrigue for the next instalment.
VERDICT:
Despite some of my problems with some of the story elements, I still really enjoyed 'Fatal Affair'. I'm fast becoming a big fan of Marie Force and look forward to reading more of her books.(less)
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Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (7 out of 10 on the blog)
In 'The Spirit Thief', Aaron has created a clever world where every thing in the world has a soul. Be it the wind or a singular piece of wood. Every item has a soul and a will of their own. ...moreReviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (7 out of 10 on the blog)
In 'The Spirit Thief', Aaron has created a clever world where every thing in the world has a soul. Be it the wind or a singular piece of wood. Every item has a soul and a will of their own. Which is where wizards come in. Wizards or spiritualists can talk to the spirits, a good wizard treats spirits with respect and takes spirits into their service via a contract. A bad wizard takes away a spirit's will and forces them into servitude.
The story is of two main characters. The cheeky and wildly charismatic Eli, who also happens to be a wanted thief and Miranda the spiritualist charged with tracking him down and apprehending him.
Both characters are polar opposites, with Miranda being a total stickler for the rules and Eli very much enjoying flaunting them to see just how much he can get away with. Eli is such a fab character he's witty, cheeky and clever and despite the fact he is a notorious thief and a bit of a rogue, I loved that intrinsically he was still a good person.
Eli is like that friend of yours who despite the fact is always up to mischief and drives you a bit crackers, yet you still can't help but like him. His mission is to increase the bounty on his head to a million gold coins and he glories in his notoriety. So what better way to increase this than to kidnap a King and hold him to ransom? Eli's madcap plans are just hilarious and I couldn't help but delight in that fact that he charmed himself through most of them too.
However, I really liked Miranda also, disciplined, honourable and determined. It's her essential goodness that makes her who she is, and the banter between her and Eli never fails to amuse. Of course, when the real baddie comes into play you know the inevitable has to happen and they're just going to have to team up for the greater good.
We never really get to the bottom of what drives Eli, why he is so obsessed with increasing the bounty in his head and I think we'll have to wait for subsequent books in the series to really understand him.
The sidekicks in the book are also an interesting combination. Eli has Josef the expert swordsman and Nico a young girl with a demonseed inside of her and Miranda has a ghost-hound, a giant dog who can jump buildings and run faster than a horse is the best way I can describe him. All great characters in their own right. I found I wanted to learn more about them, particularly Josef and Nico.
A part of me was hoping for a sneaky, unorthodox love story between Eli and Miranda. But in retrospect I can see now that it wouldn't have fitted in with the overall tone of the book. I think I'm just too much of a romantic at heart!
The book is narrated by Luke Daniels, who I've mentioned before in my reviews as one of my favourite narrators. He always manages to get the tone of the book and the voices for the characters in such a way you can fully imagine them.
VERDICT:
This book isn't really gritty or dark, it's more of a light, fun adventure story. But it's well written with great characters. I also think it would appeal to YA fans.(less)
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Reviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (8 out of 10 on the blog)
'That Thing At The Zoo' is James R. Tuck's debut novel, introducing us to the world of Deacon Chalk. We featured Tuck in our Debut Author Spotlight last month. At 80 pages, it's more of a no...moreReviewed for www.bookchickcity.com (8 out of 10 on the blog)
'That Thing At The Zoo' is James R. Tuck's debut novel, introducing us to the world of Deacon Chalk. We featured Tuck in our Debut Author Spotlight last month. At 80 pages, it's more of a novella, but well worth your times and a superb introduction into this new urban fantasy series.
Deacon, a man whose entire family was killed by a supernatural monster, now spends his life hunting the things that go bump in the night and killing them. So when Atlanta's zoo animals are being barbarically murdered, it's only natural the police call him in to investigate.
There's something about Deacon that slightly reminds me of a male Anita Blake. He's tough, determined and somewhat ruthless. There's a darkness to him, enhanced by his personal tragedy. This novella only scratches the surface of who Deacon is, there's plenty left unsaid and it's really only just enough to wet your appetite. But most importantly, you can't help but like him as he is seriously, seriously cool.
"You look like hell yourself, man. What are you going to do?" I held my gun up. "Suck it up. Keep moving. Finish this."
Tuck has a fantastic turn of phrase. There is a college kid coolness about some of his language, but you can also vividly pull into your mind the image he is trying to depict. Then there are some descriptions that amongst the blood and gore you cannot fail to smile at. Don't get me wrong this is far from a comedy, in fact the story is very dark and hints at further darkness yet to come, but there is also a hidden wit.
'The priest lifted scar tissue masquerading as an eyebrow while he lit another cancer stick. His Zippo clicked open with a metallic chime, flared a one inch spout of orange flame, then clacked closed. He worked the smoke around in his mouth like a pipe-smoker, tasting it, enjoying the flavour.' 'His hair out of the constrains of the hat was the biggest freaking mullet I have ever seen. I grew up with some white trash family members. I have seen mullets. Jimmy the zookeeper's mullet was absolutely epic.'
The story itself is a page turner, a mash of action, gore and horror with a super evil creature and plenty edge of your seat scenes. And lots and lots of guns, again reminding me of Anita. But all of this pivots around Deacon, Deacon makes the book. We are briefly introduced to some other members of his team in one scene. A scarred priest (mentioned above) and Kat the owner of Deacon's strip club, who are equally fascinating, and I found myself wanting to know a lot more about them as well as Deacon's background.
This novella really just gives you a flavour of what is to come, it sucked me right in with supernatural magnetism. I want to learn more about the world and more about the characters. So Tuck has achieved I'm sure exactly what he set out to achieve with this story. Made me want to read more!
VERDICT:
'That Thing At The Zoo' introduces you to a new series and even better hero. I truly can't wait to get my hands on the first full novel of the series 'Blood and Bullets'. Fans of gritty urban fantasy will love this one.(less)
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