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Ciel Halligan #2
Quick Fix
The second installment of the original urban fantasy series starring human chameleon Ciel Halligan
Ciel Halligan, an aura adaptor with a chameleon-like ability to step into the lives of her clients and fix their problems for them — as them — is working a job at the National Zoo with her boyfriend, Billy, and his ten-year-old sister, Molly. It's supposed to be a quick fix, giving her time to decide if it's wise to pursue the romantic relationship her charming scoundrel of a best friend wants, or if she should give Mark, the CIA spook she's crushed on since hormones first rattled her pubescent brain, a chance to step up to the plate.
Molly has already begun to show signs of being an adaptor herself. She's young for it, but she's always been precocious, so it's not impossible. What is impossible is her taking on the form of the baby orangutan she touches — adaptors can only project human auras. Until now, apparently. Worse, Molly is stuck in ape form. She can't change herself back.
Escaping from the zoo with their new baby orang, Ciel and Billy head for NYC and the only person they know can help: Ciel's brother James, a non-adaptor scientist who's determined to crack the aura adaptor genetic code. But when Billy winds up in jail, accused of attempted murder, Ciel begins to suspect Molly's unusual adapting ability is more than just a fluke. Who's been experimenting on Molly, and what do they hope to gain? And will Ciel survive to find out?
Ciel Halligan, an aura adaptor with a chameleon-like ability to step into the lives of her clients and fix their problems for them — as them — is working a job at the National Zoo with her boyfriend, Billy, and his ten-year-old sister, Molly. It's supposed to be a quick fix, giving her time to decide if it's wise to pursue the romantic relationship her charming scoundrel of a best friend wants, or if she should give Mark, the CIA spook she's crushed on since hormones first rattled her pubescent brain, a chance to step up to the plate.
Molly has already begun to show signs of being an adaptor herself. She's young for it, but she's always been precocious, so it's not impossible. What is impossible is her taking on the form of the baby orangutan she touches — adaptors can only project human auras. Until now, apparently. Worse, Molly is stuck in ape form. She can't change herself back.
Escaping from the zoo with their new baby orang, Ciel and Billy head for NYC and the only person they know can help: Ciel's brother James, a non-adaptor scientist who's determined to crack the aura adaptor genetic code. But when Billy winds up in jail, accused of attempted murder, Ciel begins to suspect Molly's unusual adapting ability is more than just a fluke. Who's been experimenting on Molly, and what do they hope to gain? And will Ciel survive to find out?
345 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2013
About the author
Linda Grimes
6 books161 followersLinda grew up in Texas, where she rode horses, embarrassed herself onstage a lot, and taught teenagers they’d have to learn the rules of English before they could get away with breaking them for creativity’s sake. She currently resides in Virginia with her husband, whom she snagged after he saw her in a musical number at the now defunct Melodrama Theater in San Antonio. (There’s nothing like a rousing chorus of “If You Wanna Catch a Fish You Gotta Wiggle Your Bait” to hook a man for a lifetime.)
Like IN A FIX's globetrotting main character, aura adaptor Ciel Halligan, Linda has spent her fair share of time overseas, though fortunately under less stressful circumstances. Kidnapping and daring rescues are all well and good in fiction, but she prefers sanity in her real life.
Like IN A FIX's globetrotting main character, aura adaptor Ciel Halligan, Linda has spent her fair share of time overseas, though fortunately under less stressful circumstances. Kidnapping and daring rescues are all well and good in fiction, but she prefers sanity in her real life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
August 21, 2013
Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks
Quick fix is the second book in Linda Grimes’ In a Fix series. This is such a fun and unique series – I am really enjoying it so far. The humor is excellent (I find myself giggling constantly while reading) and the premise is really cool.
The series revolves around Ciel, an aura adaptor. She, and others like her, is able to nab a bit of someone’s aura and become them. That’s right, human chameleons! Some use their ability to help others while others work with the government and others just use it to make some money is more creative ways. Either way, they are a great group of people to read. I especially like Ciel. Oh Ciel… What she manages to get herself into is not only insane but also wildly entertaining.
Ciel is funny. She doesn’t mean to be, but she is funny. She wants so much to be in league with Mark and others who work undercover but she just isn’t graceful or subtle enough to manage it. She tries though and that’s where the funny comes in. I also like her because she has such a big heart.
In the first installment, Mark (Ciel’s friend, original crush and one who works undercover for the government agencies) was in the middle of a case involving Viking extremists and yeah…it was fun to read but a little farfetched. It didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book but I know it did for some. This time around the mystery and the cases are more realistic…well as realistic as a world with aura adaptors can be, and it added a level of depth to this book that was missing in the first. People are dying, people are going missing, people are getting shot and a little girl is changed into a monkey and no one knows how to fix it because aura adaptors aren’t supposed to be able to transform into animals. Serious stuff that! The story is well woven with all of the pieces to every mystery well placed and the story is well paced.
Billy is in love with Ciel and he wants her to love him back. His mother and her mother were sorority sisters so they have known each other their entire lives. Ciel is still not 100% convinced that she and Billy belong together but it sure is fun while she tries to figure it out. I love Billy. He tries, and usually succeeds, to come across as nonchalant but there is more to him and he is so good for Ciel! I hope she sees it too someday soon.
We meet the rest of Billy and Ciel’s family in this book. There are tons of brothers and sisters there! I really enjoyed Ciel’s family. Ciel is a professional problem solver (for lack of a better term), brother one is a sensitive musician just looking for love, brother two is a lawyer and brother three is a brilliant scientist and the only one who cannot adapt his aura. Linda has created such great dynamic within this family! And I liked seeing how being a non-adaptor in an adaptor family was played out. How it affected some affected more than others. Very interesting. The mix of personalities and abilities really adds to the story. I really hope we see a lot of Ciel’s siblings in future books. Billy’s family is also mix of interesting characters. It always helps you connect more to a character once you meet their family and I definitely get a better feel for the main players in this series after this book.
I really can’t think of what else to say about Quick Fix without giving too much away. It is an absolutely fun read and the characters are just great. If you are looking for an urban fantasy read that is a little bit on the lighter side yet still has substance, I urge you to read this one. I read it with a huge smile on my face and I’m sure you will too.
Quick fix is the second book in Linda Grimes’ In a Fix series. This is such a fun and unique series – I am really enjoying it so far. The humor is excellent (I find myself giggling constantly while reading) and the premise is really cool.
The series revolves around Ciel, an aura adaptor. She, and others like her, is able to nab a bit of someone’s aura and become them. That’s right, human chameleons! Some use their ability to help others while others work with the government and others just use it to make some money is more creative ways. Either way, they are a great group of people to read. I especially like Ciel. Oh Ciel… What she manages to get herself into is not only insane but also wildly entertaining.
Ciel is funny. She doesn’t mean to be, but she is funny. She wants so much to be in league with Mark and others who work undercover but she just isn’t graceful or subtle enough to manage it. She tries though and that’s where the funny comes in. I also like her because she has such a big heart.
In the first installment, Mark (Ciel’s friend, original crush and one who works undercover for the government agencies) was in the middle of a case involving Viking extremists and yeah…it was fun to read but a little farfetched. It didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book but I know it did for some. This time around the mystery and the cases are more realistic…well as realistic as a world with aura adaptors can be, and it added a level of depth to this book that was missing in the first. People are dying, people are going missing, people are getting shot and a little girl is changed into a monkey and no one knows how to fix it because aura adaptors aren’t supposed to be able to transform into animals. Serious stuff that! The story is well woven with all of the pieces to every mystery well placed and the story is well paced.
Billy is in love with Ciel and he wants her to love him back. His mother and her mother were sorority sisters so they have known each other their entire lives. Ciel is still not 100% convinced that she and Billy belong together but it sure is fun while she tries to figure it out. I love Billy. He tries, and usually succeeds, to come across as nonchalant but there is more to him and he is so good for Ciel! I hope she sees it too someday soon.
We meet the rest of Billy and Ciel’s family in this book. There are tons of brothers and sisters there! I really enjoyed Ciel’s family. Ciel is a professional problem solver (for lack of a better term), brother one is a sensitive musician just looking for love, brother two is a lawyer and brother three is a brilliant scientist and the only one who cannot adapt his aura. Linda has created such great dynamic within this family! And I liked seeing how being a non-adaptor in an adaptor family was played out. How it affected some affected more than others. Very interesting. The mix of personalities and abilities really adds to the story. I really hope we see a lot of Ciel’s siblings in future books. Billy’s family is also mix of interesting characters. It always helps you connect more to a character once you meet their family and I definitely get a better feel for the main players in this series after this book.
I really can’t think of what else to say about Quick Fix without giving too much away. It is an absolutely fun read and the characters are just great. If you are looking for an urban fantasy read that is a little bit on the lighter side yet still has substance, I urge you to read this one. I read it with a huge smile on my face and I’m sure you will too.
April 11, 2018
Honestly. I REALLY loved this second book. There’s always something going on, there’s always humor. It’s sexy, it’s funny, it’s original. Gaaah I can’t wait to read the next one! ...when I find it.
August 17, 2013
Four stars: A sexy, smart, secondary novel!
Ciel is planning on her latest job impersonating a woman who has her eyes on a board position at the zoo being simple. There is just one obstacle standing in the way, a grabby, older man who is waiting to get caught red handed, and that is Ciel's job, to catch him grabbing her behind. In tow, are Billy and Molly her faux cousins, who are also adaptors. As adaptors, Ciel and Billy can borrow the aura of anyone they have come into contact with, and then they can become that person. Pretty handy skill to have! The job starts off smoothly, but when ten year old Molly starts adapting for the first time, things get hairy. Literally! Molly turns into a baby orangutan, and worse, she can't switch back. This is just the beginning of the mad cap adventure that awaits Ciel, Billy and the gang. There is never a dull moment in the life of an Adaptor, and soon there is a dangerous turn of events that has Ciel, Billy and Molly on the run. Can Ciel outwit the bad guys?
What I Liked:
*Hooray! Another smart, unique and entertaining Urban Fantasy series that I can sink my teeth into. This sequel is smashingly good, and even superior over its predecessor. There is plenty to love in these books from shape shifting, human chameleons, snark, action and treacherous betrayals, and a spicy little romance to top it all off that will have you swooning! If you are on the hunt for another great UF book, look no further. Try the In a Fix Series by Linda Grimes!
*I was again thoroughly entertained by the fun antics of the Adaptors. Imagine being able to borrow the looks of almost anyone? As an Adaptor Ciel can do just that. This time out, she introduces us to more of the Adaptor family and we get to spend time with all of her overprotective brothers and even get a healthy dose of the extended family and the overbearing mothers. The scene with the Adaptor party was one of my favorites because everyone was shifting in and out of identities and there were some fun ones. Ciel ends up going as Clint Eastwood circa Every Which Way But Loose, as she now has a baby orangutan in tow in the form of her ten year old cousin. You are always on your toes guessing as to who is really behind all the faces. I love this clever and creative concept!
*I appreciated that this time around there was a bit more discussion on the supposed science behind the Adaptor abilities courtesy of Ciel's extremely smart, non Adaptor brother James. James is performing experiments to learn more about this genetic ability and he shares some of his findings with Ciel. In the first book, you had to take the Adapting ability at face value, but this time there is an scientific attempt to explain how it works. While not entirely plausible, it is still imaginative and just downright fun!
*Action and danger... this book is packed and moves fast and furious. There is hardly a dull moment and not only are you guessing as to who is masquerading behind all the faces, but also who the bad guy is. You will change your mind again and again and still be wrong!
*I love that there is plenty of humor and snark that liven everything up and keep you giggling.
*Finally, the best for last....the romance! Normally the UF genre is not known for romance but I was so thrilled that this one incorporates a spicy and sweet romance that made me melt! In the first book, Ciel is wavering between her long time crush and her faux cousin. This time around the romance blooms into something that is satisfying and wonderful. The male lead in this one really turns on the charm and you can't help but fall in love. I loved peeling back his outer layers and learning that his womanizing ways are nothing more than a facade as he has always only had eyes for one woman. Raspberries and pickles take on a new meaning in this one! The love scenes are perfect, sinfully spicy but not over the top. I could not get enough of this romance and I can't wait for more!
*These books are also satisfying in that they draw to nice, neat resolutions. No ugly cliffhangers and hanging questions. How refreshing!
And The Not So Much:
*I rarely read books out of sequence, and I normally don't recommend doing so. However, every once in awhile I color outside the lines and pick up a book out of order. This is definitely not a book I would read without having read the first book as there was not a lot of catch up and review from In a Fix. My mind was a bit blurry and I had forgotten some details and I would have liked just a bit more review, especially when it came to Mark and his job functions. I think if you tried to pick this one up without having read the first book you would be lost.
*Even though I absolutely adored the romance, I grew a bit frustrated that the whole love triangle scenario was revisited several times. It seems the losing suitor wasn't quite ready to relinquish is hold on Ciel. I was anxious several times that she would sway and the triangle would rear. Thankfully, that doesn't happen and the little snitches of conflict aren't too bothersome.
*This book moves fast and furious and there is so much going on. At the end, I can't say that I had a complete understanding of all the ins and outs of the crimes and the motives. There was so much to take in. Heads up, read this one carefully so you don't miss anything important.
*I love the whole adapting concept but it does get a little annoying when time and time again there is always someone masquerading as someone else. So much so that you never can trust anyone to be who they outwardly appear!
*I didn't like the little twist regarding the Billy look alike. I found it hard to believe that someone could masquerade without being an adaptor. Why didn't the villains just have someone adapt?
Quick Fix was a highly entertaining and exciting read. I love the entertaining and unique Adaptors. The romance is top notch! The In a Fix books are becoming an addictive little series, and I am eager to get my grubby paws on the third book!
Favorite Quotations:
"He led Brian toward the kitchen, out of earshot, leaving me and my big mouth standing there stupidly, trying not to stare at Torpedo Tits. Geez, if you hugged her, you'd be impaled."
"I stood and turned to Thomas, ignoring the Speedo as best I could. Really, nobody should wear those. Even on a perfect body, they're just not decent."
"Plus, my phone is way smarter than I am when it comes to apps. I'm lucky I can dial the damn thing."
"I sniffed the air as Brian leaned in to kiss my check, and detected the aroma of a certain recreational pastime known to be popular with musicians, as well as the unmistakable odor of eau de Cheetos."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
Ciel is planning on her latest job impersonating a woman who has her eyes on a board position at the zoo being simple. There is just one obstacle standing in the way, a grabby, older man who is waiting to get caught red handed, and that is Ciel's job, to catch him grabbing her behind. In tow, are Billy and Molly her faux cousins, who are also adaptors. As adaptors, Ciel and Billy can borrow the aura of anyone they have come into contact with, and then they can become that person. Pretty handy skill to have! The job starts off smoothly, but when ten year old Molly starts adapting for the first time, things get hairy. Literally! Molly turns into a baby orangutan, and worse, she can't switch back. This is just the beginning of the mad cap adventure that awaits Ciel, Billy and the gang. There is never a dull moment in the life of an Adaptor, and soon there is a dangerous turn of events that has Ciel, Billy and Molly on the run. Can Ciel outwit the bad guys?
What I Liked:
*Hooray! Another smart, unique and entertaining Urban Fantasy series that I can sink my teeth into. This sequel is smashingly good, and even superior over its predecessor. There is plenty to love in these books from shape shifting, human chameleons, snark, action and treacherous betrayals, and a spicy little romance to top it all off that will have you swooning! If you are on the hunt for another great UF book, look no further. Try the In a Fix Series by Linda Grimes!
*I was again thoroughly entertained by the fun antics of the Adaptors. Imagine being able to borrow the looks of almost anyone? As an Adaptor Ciel can do just that. This time out, she introduces us to more of the Adaptor family and we get to spend time with all of her overprotective brothers and even get a healthy dose of the extended family and the overbearing mothers. The scene with the Adaptor party was one of my favorites because everyone was shifting in and out of identities and there were some fun ones. Ciel ends up going as Clint Eastwood circa Every Which Way But Loose, as she now has a baby orangutan in tow in the form of her ten year old cousin. You are always on your toes guessing as to who is really behind all the faces. I love this clever and creative concept!
*I appreciated that this time around there was a bit more discussion on the supposed science behind the Adaptor abilities courtesy of Ciel's extremely smart, non Adaptor brother James. James is performing experiments to learn more about this genetic ability and he shares some of his findings with Ciel. In the first book, you had to take the Adapting ability at face value, but this time there is an scientific attempt to explain how it works. While not entirely plausible, it is still imaginative and just downright fun!
*Action and danger... this book is packed and moves fast and furious. There is hardly a dull moment and not only are you guessing as to who is masquerading behind all the faces, but also who the bad guy is. You will change your mind again and again and still be wrong!
*I love that there is plenty of humor and snark that liven everything up and keep you giggling.
*Finally, the best for last....the romance! Normally the UF genre is not known for romance but I was so thrilled that this one incorporates a spicy and sweet romance that made me melt! In the first book, Ciel is wavering between her long time crush and her faux cousin. This time around the romance blooms into something that is satisfying and wonderful. The male lead in this one really turns on the charm and you can't help but fall in love. I loved peeling back his outer layers and learning that his womanizing ways are nothing more than a facade as he has always only had eyes for one woman. Raspberries and pickles take on a new meaning in this one! The love scenes are perfect, sinfully spicy but not over the top. I could not get enough of this romance and I can't wait for more!
*These books are also satisfying in that they draw to nice, neat resolutions. No ugly cliffhangers and hanging questions. How refreshing!
And The Not So Much:
*I rarely read books out of sequence, and I normally don't recommend doing so. However, every once in awhile I color outside the lines and pick up a book out of order. This is definitely not a book I would read without having read the first book as there was not a lot of catch up and review from In a Fix. My mind was a bit blurry and I had forgotten some details and I would have liked just a bit more review, especially when it came to Mark and his job functions. I think if you tried to pick this one up without having read the first book you would be lost.
*Even though I absolutely adored the romance, I grew a bit frustrated that the whole love triangle scenario was revisited several times. It seems the losing suitor wasn't quite ready to relinquish is hold on Ciel. I was anxious several times that she would sway and the triangle would rear. Thankfully, that doesn't happen and the little snitches of conflict aren't too bothersome.
*This book moves fast and furious and there is so much going on. At the end, I can't say that I had a complete understanding of all the ins and outs of the crimes and the motives. There was so much to take in. Heads up, read this one carefully so you don't miss anything important.
*I love the whole adapting concept but it does get a little annoying when time and time again there is always someone masquerading as someone else. So much so that you never can trust anyone to be who they outwardly appear!
*I didn't like the little twist regarding the Billy look alike. I found it hard to believe that someone could masquerade without being an adaptor. Why didn't the villains just have someone adapt?
Quick Fix was a highly entertaining and exciting read. I love the entertaining and unique Adaptors. The romance is top notch! The In a Fix books are becoming an addictive little series, and I am eager to get my grubby paws on the third book!
Favorite Quotations:
"He led Brian toward the kitchen, out of earshot, leaving me and my big mouth standing there stupidly, trying not to stare at Torpedo Tits. Geez, if you hugged her, you'd be impaled."
"I stood and turned to Thomas, ignoring the Speedo as best I could. Really, nobody should wear those. Even on a perfect body, they're just not decent."
"Plus, my phone is way smarter than I am when it comes to apps. I'm lucky I can dial the damn thing."
"I sniffed the air as Brian leaned in to kiss my check, and detected the aroma of a certain recreational pastime known to be popular with musicians, as well as the unmistakable odor of eau de Cheetos."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 16, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Ciel Halligan has the unique ability to become anyone at anytime. She steps into the lives of her clients for a hefty fee to fix a problem for them that they would rather not handle. But her latest job lands her in hot water when her somewhat boyfriend Billy's little sister, Molly, turns into an orangutan which isn't supposed to be able to happen. No adapter has ever been able to change into an animal, and to make matters worse, Molly gets stuck and can't change back. This leads to a made escape from the zoo with an orangutan in tow. It quickly becomes apparent that Molly's change was no accident, and the ones responsible would do anything to get their hands on her.
At first glance I would say that the adapter element was my favorite part of this series, as the ability to become anyone else at any time utterly fascinates me. But in all honesty it is the family dynamic and character that really make this series soar. Could you imagine growing up in a family with multiple siblings where any of you could change yourself at anytime? You never could be quite sure if you were interacting with the real version or someone else adapting themselves and pretending. Think of all the blackmail or bribery that would be involve to get others in or out of trouble depending on the circumstances. A lot of that played out in QUICK FIX, and I have to admit that this extra added element to sibling squablery make for a rather hilarious read. Even with all the learned tells they have for each other, it still was pretty easy for the others to get dupped and I found myself cracking up left and right.
I have to admit despite the somewhat love triangle going on, I really enjoyed the romance in this book. For the most part it's pretty clear who she is going to with in the long haul, and I don't feel it's a spoiler to say who since it's mentioned in the description. Ciel and Billy just seem right for one another. They both have this spark that only ignites even more when they are together. And not only are their interactions steamy and sexy as hell, but there also is a huge sweet factor that should jot be overlooked. Despite Billy being largely known as a ladies man, he's so tender and different with Ciel. You can really tell how much he cares, unlike Mark, who only started showing any interest once their was competition. Despite Ciel's long time crush on Mark, the two would never have worked due to his constant patronization and ridiculous overprotection. So suffice it to say that whenever Mark tried to make moves or act like he cared romantically in this book, it frustrated me to no end. Luckily there were more than enough yummy moments with Billy to keep me (and Ciel) happy and distracted.
While I will always be a diehard fan of Vamps, Witches, and Weres, even I will admit that it's rather difficult for one of those stories to fell fresh. In this series you will find none of those things, but instead a completely fresh and new idea that will not give you that dreaded been here done that feeling. I absolutely love the world behind this series, as it is Urban fantasy at it's finest without the baggage of 100 other stories just like it. So if you are looking for something fresh and unique in this sometimes crowded genre, look no further than the In a Fix series. QUICK FIX is the perfect blend of humor, danger, and fantastic characters to make for a great read you won't want to miss!
Ciel Halligan has the unique ability to become anyone at anytime. She steps into the lives of her clients for a hefty fee to fix a problem for them that they would rather not handle. But her latest job lands her in hot water when her somewhat boyfriend Billy's little sister, Molly, turns into an orangutan which isn't supposed to be able to happen. No adapter has ever been able to change into an animal, and to make matters worse, Molly gets stuck and can't change back. This leads to a made escape from the zoo with an orangutan in tow. It quickly becomes apparent that Molly's change was no accident, and the ones responsible would do anything to get their hands on her.
At first glance I would say that the adapter element was my favorite part of this series, as the ability to become anyone else at any time utterly fascinates me. But in all honesty it is the family dynamic and character that really make this series soar. Could you imagine growing up in a family with multiple siblings where any of you could change yourself at anytime? You never could be quite sure if you were interacting with the real version or someone else adapting themselves and pretending. Think of all the blackmail or bribery that would be involve to get others in or out of trouble depending on the circumstances. A lot of that played out in QUICK FIX, and I have to admit that this extra added element to sibling squablery make for a rather hilarious read. Even with all the learned tells they have for each other, it still was pretty easy for the others to get dupped and I found myself cracking up left and right.
I have to admit despite the somewhat love triangle going on, I really enjoyed the romance in this book. For the most part it's pretty clear who she is going to with in the long haul, and I don't feel it's a spoiler to say who since it's mentioned in the description. Ciel and Billy just seem right for one another. They both have this spark that only ignites even more when they are together. And not only are their interactions steamy and sexy as hell, but there also is a huge sweet factor that should jot be overlooked. Despite Billy being largely known as a ladies man, he's so tender and different with Ciel. You can really tell how much he cares, unlike Mark, who only started showing any interest once their was competition. Despite Ciel's long time crush on Mark, the two would never have worked due to his constant patronization and ridiculous overprotection. So suffice it to say that whenever Mark tried to make moves or act like he cared romantically in this book, it frustrated me to no end. Luckily there were more than enough yummy moments with Billy to keep me (and Ciel) happy and distracted.
While I will always be a diehard fan of Vamps, Witches, and Weres, even I will admit that it's rather difficult for one of those stories to fell fresh. In this series you will find none of those things, but instead a completely fresh and new idea that will not give you that dreaded been here done that feeling. I absolutely love the world behind this series, as it is Urban fantasy at it's finest without the baggage of 100 other stories just like it. So if you are looking for something fresh and unique in this sometimes crowded genre, look no further than the In a Fix series. QUICK FIX is the perfect blend of humor, danger, and fantastic characters to make for a great read you won't want to miss!
August 24, 2013
4.5*s
review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Quick Fix is the second instalment of the ‘In a Fix’ series and is just as good as the first. Ciel is back and getting into more calamity as an aura adapter who takes on clients and becomes them so they don’t have to deal with intense situations etc. this time around Molly, her 10 year old ‘not really related cousin’ is showing signs of becoming an adapter like Ciel & her brother Billy (who also happens to be Ceil’s maybe boyfriend) and during a quick assignment at a zoo, Molly transforms herself into an orangutan setting off a strange set of events that leads to chases, attempted murder, laboratories, jail breaks, adapter parties, jealousy, envy, modelling assignments, confessions of the heart & some sexy times all wrapped up in a whole heap of fun.
Needless to say, I loved it! I love Ciels character and I love her humour, she doesn’t half get herself into mischief which makes her such fun too. I’m really into her love life too and like Ceil, I can’t pick my favourite…. I was sort of leaning towards Mark especially with him being her schoolgirl crush but Billy has his merits too but you will see a bad point during this that will give a bit food for thought with him having his reputation that could lead to heartache for Ceil. The storyline is so enjoyable, as you can see above, it isn’t your usual straight forward a to b plot, there are all sorts of things obstructing the path of what’s going on. When you think about it, the fact that most people who Ceil knows can adapt and be anyone…. Who do you trust? So there is always a big amount of subterfuge going on. I appreciated that we got more of an insight into her family life too and we meet the rest of her family, there are some good personalities there and we get some personal revelations from each of the brothers that makes me want to know their own stories. The pacing was great, always something going on to keep my interest and I read this 345 page book in one sitting with a big smile on my face, it was a fun & exciting, romantic & hot, opening up even more of the aura adapter world that I can’t wait to get stuck back into for book 3.
review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Quick Fix is the second instalment of the ‘In a Fix’ series and is just as good as the first. Ciel is back and getting into more calamity as an aura adapter who takes on clients and becomes them so they don’t have to deal with intense situations etc. this time around Molly, her 10 year old ‘not really related cousin’ is showing signs of becoming an adapter like Ciel & her brother Billy (who also happens to be Ceil’s maybe boyfriend) and during a quick assignment at a zoo, Molly transforms herself into an orangutan setting off a strange set of events that leads to chases, attempted murder, laboratories, jail breaks, adapter parties, jealousy, envy, modelling assignments, confessions of the heart & some sexy times all wrapped up in a whole heap of fun.
Needless to say, I loved it! I love Ciels character and I love her humour, she doesn’t half get herself into mischief which makes her such fun too. I’m really into her love life too and like Ceil, I can’t pick my favourite…. I was sort of leaning towards Mark especially with him being her schoolgirl crush but Billy has his merits too but you will see a bad point during this that will give a bit food for thought with him having his reputation that could lead to heartache for Ceil. The storyline is so enjoyable, as you can see above, it isn’t your usual straight forward a to b plot, there are all sorts of things obstructing the path of what’s going on. When you think about it, the fact that most people who Ceil knows can adapt and be anyone…. Who do you trust? So there is always a big amount of subterfuge going on. I appreciated that we got more of an insight into her family life too and we meet the rest of her family, there are some good personalities there and we get some personal revelations from each of the brothers that makes me want to know their own stories. The pacing was great, always something going on to keep my interest and I read this 345 page book in one sitting with a big smile on my face, it was a fun & exciting, romantic & hot, opening up even more of the aura adapter world that I can’t wait to get stuck back into for book 3.
October 5, 2019
Même impression que le premier. Fun mais une impression de désordre sur la fin. Surtout avec des caméléons qui prennent l’identité tes autres. J’étais aussi perdue que Ciel par moment.
Mais j’aime bien !
Mais j’aime bien !
June 5, 2019
Second book in the series is even better than the first. Wonderful, fun, characters and a truly unique story. If you enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, you'll love Ciel Halligan and Co.
August 19, 2013
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Romance, Magic
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Grimes knocked this book out of the park; I enjoyed the first book In a Fix but absolutely loved Quick Fix. The humor is all back, but this time the readers get to see how complicated it is for those who are adaptors and the dangers that are starting to get closer to their “world”.
Quick Fix follows the always-entertaining Ciel Halligan, who is a talented adaptor aka a person who can shift into anyone and take over his or her life. As a career she helps people who need her to be them to get a task done that they cannot do. At the moment she is working at the zoo pretending to be Thelma who is trying to get promoted but doesn’t want to be harassed anymore but the man who can promote her. Thus comes in Ciel, but when her “cousin” Billy and his sister Molly come to the zoo and Molly accidently shifts into an orangutan and cant change back, Ciel and her family must find a way to change her back. As well figure out if someone has been experimenting on Molly and possibly other adapters.
Ciel is a girl that attracts trouble, this time around it seems that she isn’t at it alone. With the help of her brothers Thomas, James, Brian and “Cousin” Billy they are all doing what they can to help little Molly turn back into a real girl. But along with that problem a fellow agent that works with Ciel’s long time crush CIA agent Mark stumbles into Billy’s home with a gun shot wound and Billy is accused of it. I loved how this family works together to crack down to truth and problems that they have been dealt with. James being the smart scientist type, Thomas the lawyer, Brian a fellow rebel adaptor and Mark all work with Ciel and their own special talents to help Molly and track down who may have framed Billy.
Ciel also has to deal with her romantic problems, her feeling for both Mark and Billy confuse her to know end. For me I love both guys and she does make up her mind in a way but I almost wish she chose the other. Mark is complicated because he is dedicated to his job. He also knows of Ciel’s crush and also harbors feeling for her but doesn’t know how to show it properly. I like how much he cares for his friends and Ciel and no matter what is always there to help. Then there is Billy who is reckless and a ladies man, but is trying hard to be a one-woman guy. H e adores Ciel and tries to show Mark that he’s the right guy for her. Where Mark is serious; Billy is all jokes and smiles. In the end I can’t choose who I want her to be with more.
Overall the plot is both hilarious and suspenseful, Ciel and family are trying to protect and help Molly who is the youngest adaptor now. But I liked that there was a side story that was connected to not only Molly but also the entire family, it shows the dangers of what it is to be them. The villains surprised me; I had know idea who was behind all the incident that kept popping up to cause problems. The romance is smoking hot this time around and I can’t wait to see where it goes next! But most of all I enjoyed how this was all about family. I can’t wait to see what Ciel gets involved in next and I’m hoping she gets some more action, kick butt situations like in the first book. Don’t miss out on this series that will make you laugh and shock you at the same time.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel with moderate sexual content meant for mature readers If you enjoyed Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassin series and Christina Henry’s Black Wings series you’ll love Quick Fix by Linda Grimes.
THEME: Romance, Magic
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Grimes knocked this book out of the park; I enjoyed the first book In a Fix but absolutely loved Quick Fix. The humor is all back, but this time the readers get to see how complicated it is for those who are adaptors and the dangers that are starting to get closer to their “world”.
Quick Fix follows the always-entertaining Ciel Halligan, who is a talented adaptor aka a person who can shift into anyone and take over his or her life. As a career she helps people who need her to be them to get a task done that they cannot do. At the moment she is working at the zoo pretending to be Thelma who is trying to get promoted but doesn’t want to be harassed anymore but the man who can promote her. Thus comes in Ciel, but when her “cousin” Billy and his sister Molly come to the zoo and Molly accidently shifts into an orangutan and cant change back, Ciel and her family must find a way to change her back. As well figure out if someone has been experimenting on Molly and possibly other adapters.
Ciel is a girl that attracts trouble, this time around it seems that she isn’t at it alone. With the help of her brothers Thomas, James, Brian and “Cousin” Billy they are all doing what they can to help little Molly turn back into a real girl. But along with that problem a fellow agent that works with Ciel’s long time crush CIA agent Mark stumbles into Billy’s home with a gun shot wound and Billy is accused of it. I loved how this family works together to crack down to truth and problems that they have been dealt with. James being the smart scientist type, Thomas the lawyer, Brian a fellow rebel adaptor and Mark all work with Ciel and their own special talents to help Molly and track down who may have framed Billy.
Ciel also has to deal with her romantic problems, her feeling for both Mark and Billy confuse her to know end. For me I love both guys and she does make up her mind in a way but I almost wish she chose the other. Mark is complicated because he is dedicated to his job. He also knows of Ciel’s crush and also harbors feeling for her but doesn’t know how to show it properly. I like how much he cares for his friends and Ciel and no matter what is always there to help. Then there is Billy who is reckless and a ladies man, but is trying hard to be a one-woman guy. H e adores Ciel and tries to show Mark that he’s the right guy for her. Where Mark is serious; Billy is all jokes and smiles. In the end I can’t choose who I want her to be with more.
Overall the plot is both hilarious and suspenseful, Ciel and family are trying to protect and help Molly who is the youngest adaptor now. But I liked that there was a side story that was connected to not only Molly but also the entire family, it shows the dangers of what it is to be them. The villains surprised me; I had know idea who was behind all the incident that kept popping up to cause problems. The romance is smoking hot this time around and I can’t wait to see where it goes next! But most of all I enjoyed how this was all about family. I can’t wait to see what Ciel gets involved in next and I’m hoping she gets some more action, kick butt situations like in the first book. Don’t miss out on this series that will make you laugh and shock you at the same time.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel with moderate sexual content meant for mature readers If you enjoyed Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassin series and Christina Henry’s Black Wings series you’ll love Quick Fix by Linda Grimes.
September 12, 2013
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I really really loved the first novel and waiting a year to read the second novel has been veeeeeery long. I was so impatient to find again Ciel and the whole gang. I must say that the novel has everything: great humor, people with extraordinary powers, and some completely offset situations. So I’m sure you can wonder it, it’s an enjoyable book.
Ciel is up with a job that seems simple, and more than that, she is accompanied by Billy and Molly so what could happen? But she surely did not expect that this new job would lead her that far. Especially when Molly becomes an orangutan after touching one in the zoo. It’s already strange that she can do that that early but turning into animals is another matter. It must be said that no adapter has ever managed to get to an animal form and it raises many questions, especially when Molly can not turn back. Big problem, especially with the big party that the Ciel and Billy’s parents are holding… And what is the solution? Well, doing everything in secret! But things will change when on top of that, Billy is accused of shooting Laura, a friend of Marc.
I loved this novel as much as the first one! Linda Grimes is very talented and it is a pleasure to read her work. What more could we ask for than having all the characters we met in the first volume? I was eager to see how the story between Billy and Ciel would evolve especially with Marc in the table and I loved seeing what happened between them. Billy and Ciel are really cute together and I loved their moments. I must say that I had a lot of questions about Marc and I wanted to know exactly what he wanted. And of course my heart balances the two of them, although Billy is also gaining a lot of ground for us and for Ciel. I want anyway with curiosity to see more of their relationship in the third volume. I must say they both have very strong personality and we understand all the Ciel’s doubts. But we also meet many other characters including the family of our two lovers and I really enjoyed learning more about them all. Molly is such a sweet character and I loved her here. Okay she spends most of her time in the form of an orangutan but she was really fun… well she has her moments. I loved the idea and she managed to do so much despite her small change. I hope we’ll be able to meet her again soon, because despite her young age, she manages to take a very important place in the story. So of course I also have to talk about Ciel. She is always funny, and has a special talent for getting into some completely incredible situations. It must be said that her association with Billy is known to attract problems does not help either. He is also very good to tickle the jealousy of our young heroine and I must say that the consequences are really worth it! But it’s true that she did not need anyone to make a very bad choice, she is very good at do it alone.
Finally you can see, it’s a wonderful surprise and In a Fix is definitely becoming one of my favorite series. It will be very difficult to wait for the third book! If you’re not convinced, wait to discover Marc, Billy , Sky and Molly, you ‘re gonna love them all. This is an explosive mix, crazy and just awesome! But that’s not all, you will love the original Linda Grimes ideas. Quick fix is a must have!
My English review
I really really loved the first novel and waiting a year to read the second novel has been veeeeeery long. I was so impatient to find again Ciel and the whole gang. I must say that the novel has everything: great humor, people with extraordinary powers, and some completely offset situations. So I’m sure you can wonder it, it’s an enjoyable book.
Ciel is up with a job that seems simple, and more than that, she is accompanied by Billy and Molly so what could happen? But she surely did not expect that this new job would lead her that far. Especially when Molly becomes an orangutan after touching one in the zoo. It’s already strange that she can do that that early but turning into animals is another matter. It must be said that no adapter has ever managed to get to an animal form and it raises many questions, especially when Molly can not turn back. Big problem, especially with the big party that the Ciel and Billy’s parents are holding… And what is the solution? Well, doing everything in secret! But things will change when on top of that, Billy is accused of shooting Laura, a friend of Marc.
I loved this novel as much as the first one! Linda Grimes is very talented and it is a pleasure to read her work. What more could we ask for than having all the characters we met in the first volume? I was eager to see how the story between Billy and Ciel would evolve especially with Marc in the table and I loved seeing what happened between them. Billy and Ciel are really cute together and I loved their moments. I must say that I had a lot of questions about Marc and I wanted to know exactly what he wanted. And of course my heart balances the two of them, although Billy is also gaining a lot of ground for us and for Ciel. I want anyway with curiosity to see more of their relationship in the third volume. I must say they both have very strong personality and we understand all the Ciel’s doubts. But we also meet many other characters including the family of our two lovers and I really enjoyed learning more about them all. Molly is such a sweet character and I loved her here. Okay she spends most of her time in the form of an orangutan but she was really fun… well she has her moments. I loved the idea and she managed to do so much despite her small change. I hope we’ll be able to meet her again soon, because despite her young age, she manages to take a very important place in the story. So of course I also have to talk about Ciel. She is always funny, and has a special talent for getting into some completely incredible situations. It must be said that her association with Billy is known to attract problems does not help either. He is also very good to tickle the jealousy of our young heroine and I must say that the consequences are really worth it! But it’s true that she did not need anyone to make a very bad choice, she is very good at do it alone.
Finally you can see, it’s a wonderful surprise and In a Fix is definitely becoming one of my favorite series. It will be very difficult to wait for the third book! If you’re not convinced, wait to discover Marc, Billy , Sky and Molly, you ‘re gonna love them all. This is an explosive mix, crazy and just awesome! But that’s not all, you will love the original Linda Grimes ideas. Quick fix is a must have!
August 23, 2013
http://bookbutterflyreviews.blogspot.ca
Linda Grimes has taken the cliched version of animal shape shifters and made something a little more unique. In her book's universe, adapters are basically shape shifters that change into other people, rather than animals, by using someones aura, or energy. Changing into another animal if impossible for these adapters... or at least that was true in book 1 of the series...
Quick Fix starts off with Ceil doing a job for a friend of a friend at the zoo. She is playing the part of a middle aged woman trying to get on the board of directors for the zoo and she has her psuedo-cousin, Billy, and his little sister, Molly, there for back up. After wrapping up the job and enjoying the orangutan exhibit, the impossible happens: Molly, who should be too young to shift, turns completely into an orangutan herself and can't change back. Quick Fix leads us through Billy and Ceil trying to get Molly back to her human self (with a little help from their family) while in the midst of all the confusion, someone is trying to kill off people they know... and Billy is getting blamed. And of course, don't forget about that love triangle between Ceil, Billy, and Mark (Ceils major crush for 13 years) that In a Fix left dangling in front of our eyes! Ceil finally makes her choice in this instalment of the series.
Plot wise, I actually enjoyed this book. In the first instalment, the plot was a little stereotypical when it came to the vikings and while it wasn't a huge deal, it made the book more comical than mysterious and action packed. I'm glad to report that between meeting more of the adapter community, trying to get Molly back to her human self, someone trying to kill her friends off and blame Billy, and some decision making on the love triangle front... this book was anything BUT boring. Lots of action, lots of fantastic witty lines from Ceil and good writing to go along with it! The only problem I had with the plot was that there weren't many clues to help the reader solve the mystery along with the characters in the book. Information came in clumps, here or there, but a majority was just thrown together and given to us at the end. There was a lot of misdirection, but not exactly in a good way. While the author made us look one way, nothing was really happening the other way.
Character Development was amazing, as it was in the first book. Every character is so unique and have very distinct personalities that combine to make a great combination. We got to see more of Ceil's family and see how she grew up and what her brothers are like, as well as learning a few of their secrets. She gets to bond with each of them in a new way and that made it really interesting for the reader. I can't stress enough how amazing this book was for character development, which is probably why I loved the book so much; I am a huge stickler for good development in my favourite characters!
So, overall, I am going to give this book a 4.5/5. It could have been a bit better plot wise, but for its minor plot faults, the development of the story and the characters were phenomenal. If you are a fan of shape shifters, paranormal romance, or urban fantasy... I say take a chance and read this series. I doubt you'll regret it! I DO wonder if there will be a next book in the series though. The author did seem to wrap things up... I will keep you guys posted!
Linda Grimes has taken the cliched version of animal shape shifters and made something a little more unique. In her book's universe, adapters are basically shape shifters that change into other people, rather than animals, by using someones aura, or energy. Changing into another animal if impossible for these adapters... or at least that was true in book 1 of the series...
Quick Fix starts off with Ceil doing a job for a friend of a friend at the zoo. She is playing the part of a middle aged woman trying to get on the board of directors for the zoo and she has her psuedo-cousin, Billy, and his little sister, Molly, there for back up. After wrapping up the job and enjoying the orangutan exhibit, the impossible happens: Molly, who should be too young to shift, turns completely into an orangutan herself and can't change back. Quick Fix leads us through Billy and Ceil trying to get Molly back to her human self (with a little help from their family) while in the midst of all the confusion, someone is trying to kill off people they know... and Billy is getting blamed. And of course, don't forget about that love triangle between Ceil, Billy, and Mark (Ceils major crush for 13 years) that In a Fix left dangling in front of our eyes! Ceil finally makes her choice in this instalment of the series.
Plot wise, I actually enjoyed this book. In the first instalment, the plot was a little stereotypical when it came to the vikings and while it wasn't a huge deal, it made the book more comical than mysterious and action packed. I'm glad to report that between meeting more of the adapter community, trying to get Molly back to her human self, someone trying to kill her friends off and blame Billy, and some decision making on the love triangle front... this book was anything BUT boring. Lots of action, lots of fantastic witty lines from Ceil and good writing to go along with it! The only problem I had with the plot was that there weren't many clues to help the reader solve the mystery along with the characters in the book. Information came in clumps, here or there, but a majority was just thrown together and given to us at the end. There was a lot of misdirection, but not exactly in a good way. While the author made us look one way, nothing was really happening the other way.
Character Development was amazing, as it was in the first book. Every character is so unique and have very distinct personalities that combine to make a great combination. We got to see more of Ceil's family and see how she grew up and what her brothers are like, as well as learning a few of their secrets. She gets to bond with each of them in a new way and that made it really interesting for the reader. I can't stress enough how amazing this book was for character development, which is probably why I loved the book so much; I am a huge stickler for good development in my favourite characters!
So, overall, I am going to give this book a 4.5/5. It could have been a bit better plot wise, but for its minor plot faults, the development of the story and the characters were phenomenal. If you are a fan of shape shifters, paranormal romance, or urban fantasy... I say take a chance and read this series. I doubt you'll regret it! I DO wonder if there will be a next book in the series though. The author did seem to wrap things up... I will keep you guys posted!
August 16, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Readers who are looking for a change of pace from the numerous hardcore and gritty urban fantasy series on the shelves will find a decidedly lighter, more fun series in Linda Grimes’ In a Fix books. Both IN A FIX and QUICK FIX are a bit wacky, a lot sexy, and very much in the vein of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
Rather than devote copious amounts of time explaining the worldbuilding that produces individuals who can assume the appearance (or aura) of others, QUICK FIX states the fact and a couple little references to genetics and plunges right into the action. In this case it involves absconding from the zoo with baby orangutans, wrangling said baby orangutan and trying to get it to revert back into the little girl it started out as, staying sane at the annual aura adapter ball that her mother hosts, fending off amorous guys while impersonating one brother and busting out of prison while impersonating the other. Mix in murder, cheaters, and two guys who refuse to share her, and you’ve got the fun and fizzy QUICK FIX.
Back to the two guys. Yowza was the romantic tension fun. We’ve got Billy, the notorious flirt and childhood-tormentor-turned-suitor determined to win her using all of the skills he’s spent a lifetime perfecting. Then there’s Mark, the guy she always wanted and can’t seem to say no to even while doubting the reasons behind his sudden intense and bold attraction. It’s enough to spin any girl’s head and it’s a blast to read.
Apart from the romance, the zany plot twists were a little crazy and the numerous characters a little challenging to keep straight. The main trio are so appealing that the other characters can feel in the way more often than not. And while the straightforward worldbuilding is a snap to comprehend, I’d love to see it get a little juicier in book three to match the killer romance that just keeps getting better.
Sexual Content:
Moderately graphic sex. References to M/M/F sex
Readers who are looking for a change of pace from the numerous hardcore and gritty urban fantasy series on the shelves will find a decidedly lighter, more fun series in Linda Grimes’ In a Fix books. Both IN A FIX and QUICK FIX are a bit wacky, a lot sexy, and very much in the vein of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
Rather than devote copious amounts of time explaining the worldbuilding that produces individuals who can assume the appearance (or aura) of others, QUICK FIX states the fact and a couple little references to genetics and plunges right into the action. In this case it involves absconding from the zoo with baby orangutans, wrangling said baby orangutan and trying to get it to revert back into the little girl it started out as, staying sane at the annual aura adapter ball that her mother hosts, fending off amorous guys while impersonating one brother and busting out of prison while impersonating the other. Mix in murder, cheaters, and two guys who refuse to share her, and you’ve got the fun and fizzy QUICK FIX.
Back to the two guys. Yowza was the romantic tension fun. We’ve got Billy, the notorious flirt and childhood-tormentor-turned-suitor determined to win her using all of the skills he’s spent a lifetime perfecting. Then there’s Mark, the guy she always wanted and can’t seem to say no to even while doubting the reasons behind his sudden intense and bold attraction. It’s enough to spin any girl’s head and it’s a blast to read.
Apart from the romance, the zany plot twists were a little crazy and the numerous characters a little challenging to keep straight. The main trio are so appealing that the other characters can feel in the way more often than not. And while the straightforward worldbuilding is a snap to comprehend, I’d love to see it get a little juicier in book three to match the killer romance that just keeps getting better.
Sexual Content:
Moderately graphic sex. References to M/M/F sex
April 17, 2013
5 out of 5 Pickles to Quick Fix by Linda Grimes
I was fortunate enough to have participated in an ARC tour and read Linda’s sophomore novel in a matter of hours. From the first page, I was laughing out loud. Main character Ciel Halligan and her circle of protectors are back for another job – as auror adaptors – one of the most unique premises I’ve ever read. In Linda’s world, auror adaptors can assume the identity of anyone they touch. Anyone human, that is.
On this particular job, Billy, one of Ciel’s protectors and one of the two men vying for her attention, has his little sister along for a day at the zoo, where Ciel is pretending to be a woman hoping for a board appointment. Everything’s going fine until young Molly touches an orangatan and spontaneously adapts to it.
Which isn’t supposed to be possible.
That’s as much plot as I’ll reveal and it’s not spoiling the story – it’s back cover copy. The story proceeds in Ciel’s first person point of view in usually clever and frequently funny turns of phrase while she and Billy try to fix Molly’s problem. In addition to Molly’s spontaneous adapting, Ciel tries to handle her brothers, her mother’s annual Come as You Aren’t party, a certain CIA agent she’s been crushing on since her teens, her evolving feelings for Billy, and an attempted murder or two. There are enough twists and turns to keep even the best armchair detective guessing.
But you know what really got me?
The romance.
Okay, I admit it, I’m a total sap for love. This story has the most tender love scene I’ve ever read. It was face-fanning hot, heart-achingly sweet, and side-splitting funny all at the same time.
I give it 5 out of 5 pickles. Why pickles, you’re probably asking? And you think you know, don’t you? Pervs. You’re wrong. Remember the tender part in that love scene I told you about? Pickles. *sighs*
Read Quick Fix this August. You won't be disappointed!
I was fortunate enough to have participated in an ARC tour and read Linda’s sophomore novel in a matter of hours. From the first page, I was laughing out loud. Main character Ciel Halligan and her circle of protectors are back for another job – as auror adaptors – one of the most unique premises I’ve ever read. In Linda’s world, auror adaptors can assume the identity of anyone they touch. Anyone human, that is.
On this particular job, Billy, one of Ciel’s protectors and one of the two men vying for her attention, has his little sister along for a day at the zoo, where Ciel is pretending to be a woman hoping for a board appointment. Everything’s going fine until young Molly touches an orangatan and spontaneously adapts to it.
Which isn’t supposed to be possible.
That’s as much plot as I’ll reveal and it’s not spoiling the story – it’s back cover copy. The story proceeds in Ciel’s first person point of view in usually clever and frequently funny turns of phrase while she and Billy try to fix Molly’s problem. In addition to Molly’s spontaneous adapting, Ciel tries to handle her brothers, her mother’s annual Come as You Aren’t party, a certain CIA agent she’s been crushing on since her teens, her evolving feelings for Billy, and an attempted murder or two. There are enough twists and turns to keep even the best armchair detective guessing.
But you know what really got me?
The romance.
Okay, I admit it, I’m a total sap for love. This story has the most tender love scene I’ve ever read. It was face-fanning hot, heart-achingly sweet, and side-splitting funny all at the same time.
I give it 5 out of 5 pickles. Why pickles, you’re probably asking? And you think you know, don’t you? Pervs. You’re wrong. Remember the tender part in that love scene I told you about? Pickles. *sighs*
Read Quick Fix this August. You won't be disappointed!
August 16, 2013
Linda Grimes is a genius. It has to be said. She unerringly can combine the paranormal, witty banter, mystery, romance and down right great chemistry between the characters into a flawless story that will have you laughing out loud one moment and swooning the next. She has managed to create one heck of a fabulous urban fantasy series like no other out there.
Imaginative, funny, action packed and still light enough that you can devour it in hours and wish there were more long after you put the story down. The characters are everything a good character should be whether they are the main character or a secondary character, they have the ability to capture the moment and make it their own. They are strong, kick butt, loyal and down right fierce when they have to be. Not to mention they have a few rather heart stopping, heart warming moments that will leave your blood pumping and your heart racing wanting more.
If I didn't love Grimes after reading In A Fix, I surely love her after reading Quick Fix. She had me laughing out loud, smiling, rolling my eyes, swooning and on the edge of my seat all within a single chapter of the story. This woman can write and write well.
We get more explanation into what adaptors are and not only that but we get to meet more of Ciel's family, which were a blast to meet. The romance gets ramped up and the all around action and feel of the story takes on a life in itself.
If you are looking for something completely new, entertaining, and something that will leave you smiling, this is a must read series. Truly one that stands out in the crowd.
Imaginative, funny, action packed and still light enough that you can devour it in hours and wish there were more long after you put the story down. The characters are everything a good character should be whether they are the main character or a secondary character, they have the ability to capture the moment and make it their own. They are strong, kick butt, loyal and down right fierce when they have to be. Not to mention they have a few rather heart stopping, heart warming moments that will leave your blood pumping and your heart racing wanting more.
If I didn't love Grimes after reading In A Fix, I surely love her after reading Quick Fix. She had me laughing out loud, smiling, rolling my eyes, swooning and on the edge of my seat all within a single chapter of the story. This woman can write and write well.
We get more explanation into what adaptors are and not only that but we get to meet more of Ciel's family, which were a blast to meet. The romance gets ramped up and the all around action and feel of the story takes on a life in itself.
If you are looking for something completely new, entertaining, and something that will leave you smiling, this is a must read series. Truly one that stands out in the crowd.
August 21, 2013
The characters in this series are Fun, Fun, Fun. I could not imagine the greatness of being able to transform myself into different people but Linda does a great job of describing it to us. Ciel and Billy are at the zoo with Molly, Billy's sister when she comes into her adapter 'powers' and turns into an orangutan. As they are escaping a worker thinks they are stealing an animal from the zoo and they have to make a fast get away. Until they can find James and get him to change Molly back they have to not only fool their families so they think everything with Molly is alright but they also keep their eye on an orangutan Molly and figure out who is murdering people and framing Billy.
The characters really do make this series. There are a ton of plot twists involved and following the characters is nothing but entertaining. There are some great scenes where we meet more of the family and get to see how they interact with each other in their own element. There are a lot to have to get straight but it was pretty interesting to see them in action.
Lets talk romance. I know you are waiting for that. After IN A FIX I was really rooting for Billy and Ciel and they do not disappoint in QUICK FIX. We get some great sexual tension, some yummy sexy scenes as well as some jealous encounters. What more could you ask for. Family reaction is awesome too, especially the scene at the end with their Moms.
If you are looking for a bit of a change this series is the one for you. Its light and unique with a great pace and plenty of action to keep you on your toes.
The characters really do make this series. There are a ton of plot twists involved and following the characters is nothing but entertaining. There are some great scenes where we meet more of the family and get to see how they interact with each other in their own element. There are a lot to have to get straight but it was pretty interesting to see them in action.
Lets talk romance. I know you are waiting for that. After IN A FIX I was really rooting for Billy and Ciel and they do not disappoint in QUICK FIX. We get some great sexual tension, some yummy sexy scenes as well as some jealous encounters. What more could you ask for. Family reaction is awesome too, especially the scene at the end with their Moms.
If you are looking for a bit of a change this series is the one for you. Its light and unique with a great pace and plenty of action to keep you on your toes.
May 26, 2015
I cannot tell a lie; I love me some gritty, violent, dark urban fantasy. However, everybody needs some less dark, topped with whipped cream, slightly silly urban fantasy to lighten up their life. Ciel Halligan and her extended family are happy to bring a little light hearted fun to urban fantasy lovers, and there is enough violence to please everyone. I must admit I have wondered if In A Fix and Quick Fix are not more science fiction than fantasy, but whatever they are, they are fun. Quick Fix is more fun than In A Fix, even with that pesky love triangle still rearing its... handsome head (I was going to say ugly, but Mark is not ugly). This plot has so many twists that close attention is necessary to keep the players straight as they change auras and sides. The new family members are very entertaining, and provide many 'laugh out loud' moments.
I will enjoy reading Quick Fix again, and I am happy that In A Fix #3 is in the works.
I will enjoy reading Quick Fix again, and I am happy that In A Fix #3 is in the works.
May 20, 2013
Like her first book, Grimes has produced another entertaining romp, filled with wit, and spiced with a dash of naughty. She makes "aura adapting" seem not only plausible, but believable... and downright FUN. Okay, so having the ability to look, sound, and act EXACTLY like somebody else may invite a teensy weensy bit of danger and hilarity into Ciel's life at times, but no need to worry about her. Not when a couple of hunky adaptors are there to help whenever she gets into hot water... and to entice her into another kind of hot altogether.
In this book, a youngster who hasn't quite gotten the hang of how to control her blossoming "aura adapting" skills gets tangled up in some serious(ly funny) monkey business. Talk about knocking evolution on its ear. It's better than a barrel of... you know.
Really... a fun read! And if you haven't read Grimes' first book "In a Fix" yet, what are you waiting for?
In this book, a youngster who hasn't quite gotten the hang of how to control her blossoming "aura adapting" skills gets tangled up in some serious(ly funny) monkey business. Talk about knocking evolution on its ear. It's better than a barrel of... you know.
Really... a fun read! And if you haven't read Grimes' first book "In a Fix" yet, what are you waiting for?
December 22, 2013
What I love most about Ciel Halligan is that she is innocent without being naive. It's a rare trait in an urban fantasy heroine, and it allows her character to be vulnerable without being weak. As in the first book of the series (In a Fix) Ciel has a quick mouth, a quick mind (to cover up the damage from the aforementioned mouth), and an interesting way of relating to the males of the species. She is, at once, friend, colleague, and love interest to more than one man, but the idiosyncrasies of being a chameleon means all her relationships are convoluted. So solving the problems of her not-really-niece stuck as an orangutan and an attempted murder means a circular mad dash of role playing and mistaken identities. It also means a lot of smart fun. I particularly liked the essence of the little girl poking through the orangutan. Looking forward to the next book!
April 6, 2013
Awesome follow up to the first book! I love that we get to meet more of the family and see what happens if you are a pre-pubescent adapter or the non-adapter in the family. We also get more on the 'which guy to pick' dilemma, but I won't ruin that! I really enjoy the concept of the Aura adapters and all the trouble you can get in to when you can change your whole body at will. Can't wait to see what happens next!
August 23, 2013
Linda has done it again! The gang is back, and Ciel, Billy, Mark, and every other old and new face bring their a-games to this fun-as-the-first romp through the everyday crazy that seems to find our favorite adaptors. It's sexier than the first, for sure, and I for one was happy with the decision Ciel made (also a little jealous, but you know. Fictional guy and all).
If you liked IN A FIX, you won't be anything but delighted with the second installment.
If you liked IN A FIX, you won't be anything but delighted with the second installment.
May 31, 2013
Great time reading this book.... Funny, and lots of excitement. Good follow up to first book, getting more involved in choosing her love interest, which is sexy, flirty fun. Recommend it for people who want a nice summer read with an urban fantasy bent.
November 13, 2013
Loved this second story in the Ciel Halligan series. Ciel is a feisty, determined young lady who always seems to find trouble, but manages to get herself out of it with the help of her friends and family.
December 31, 2013
Full review posted here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/12/...
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/12/...
March 21, 2018
Pretty fun read except for one serious flaw: her casual Native-American specific racism. This occurs too blatantly to be forgiven, it is really upsetting. Other than that, the books are entertaining, with mixing tropes (sexy triangles, gifted spunky young woman) with some fresh ideas in a energetic way. Fun reads, which I would have given 4 stars to, but the racism was prevalent enough that I had to take her down one star, which is disappointing. I hope she becomes more tolerant (at least) in the future.
April 13, 2018
Fun but lacking the emotive punch of the first in the series. It feels like the author got so swept up in telling more stories with these characters, in this world, that she speeds through writing them, passing over the work of describing things "first hand" and instead using shortcuts - for example, nothing gets me annoyed more than saying a character "looked like a young Harrison Ford" [not an actual instance from the book, just a hypothetical example]. It feels lazy.
That said, I have the 3rd and 4th in the series on deck. The author's imaginative world, the dramatic possibilities with in it, her pacing, and general effervescence and humor make these fun, quick reads. I might read them each at a slower pace than anticipated, as my interest in the series has waned somewhat.
That said, I have the 3rd and 4th in the series on deck. The author's imaginative world, the dramatic possibilities with in it, her pacing, and general effervescence and humor make these fun, quick reads. I might read them each at a slower pace than anticipated, as my interest in the series has waned somewhat.
January 1, 2023
Overall rating: 4 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 7/10
Writing: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Billy: 9/10
Mark: 7/10
Heroine: 9/10
Supporting Characters: 8/10
Humour? Yes
Sex? Yes
Feels? Yes
HEA:
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 7/10
Writing: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Billy: 9/10
Mark: 7/10
Heroine: 9/10
Supporting Characters: 8/10
Humour? Yes
Sex? Yes
Feels? Yes
HEA:
April 28, 2019
This book was ok - sometimes got lost since I didn’t read the first book but then the story would pick up again. It was cute but I’m not push to read more.
September 4, 2019
Too much telling the story.
August 27, 2013
Originally reviewed for and posted at Vampire Book Club
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
Note: While this review will be spoiler free it may contain spoilers for the first book in the series, In a Fix.
Quick Fix, the second installment of the In a Fix series, sees the return of Ciel and her delightfully confusing body-swapping ways.
When working a job for a client at the Zoo, Ciel’s 10-year-old ‘cousin’ Molly accidentally adapts into an orangutan. Not only is it highly usually for a child that young to be able to take on auras but it’s supposedly impossible to change into animals.
As if figuring out how to change her back (and keep it from their mothers) wasn’t enough to be dealing with, something big is brewing in the CIA adaptor group. When human agent Laura is shot Billy (Ciel’s pseudo-cousin/possible-boyfriend-if-they-ever-get-a-chance-to-figure-that-out) is the prime suspect. Ciel refuses to believe this is true and the fact her brothers are trying to keep her out of the loop just proves it. Fed up of being kept in the dark, Ciel’s hell bent on getting some answers and she doesn’t care who she has to look like to do it.
For much of the book the two plots of Molly’s predicament and Laura’s shooting felt very separate but as the story continues they weaved together really well. Ample amounts of action and mystery still get Ciel into plenty of trouble but for me the world building and relationships stood out in this instalment.
Through Molly’s unfortunate transformation the world building expands in Quick Fix. James, Ciel’s only non-adaptor brother, has dedicated his scientific career to learning more about the adaptor gene and sets out to help Molly. His research provides tons of information on just how the adaptor gene works, when and how it manifests and what it’s like to grow up with it. But he also shows just how tough it is for non-adaptor children to grow up on the outside looking in.
While the first installment focused on Ciel’s job as a Facilitator, here there is much more of a family vibe. With three brothers, countless cousins and mothers that make them all shake in their boots, there was an almost Weasley-esque feel to the family dynamics. There’s shouting and bickering, schemes and so much love that it shines off the page. Add in the ability to ‘turn into each other’ and you have some hysterical moments.
Ciel is still utterly confused when it comes to Billy and Mark. She doesn’t have much experience with romance and finds her sudden attraction and relationship with Billy hard to adjust to. While it was clear to me that she was just struggling to let go of her childhood crush on Mark (that and I though he was a bit of a douche), I actually quite liked the love triangle element. It felt genuine to her, giving her character an opportunity to grow.
Once again Linda Grimes manages to mix science fiction and a spy-worthy plot, with health doses of humor and romance. The fact that you’re never one-hundred-percent certain people are who they say they are keeps you constantly on your toes, making Quick Fix just a downright fun read.
Sexual content: Sex, sensual scenes
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
Note: While this review will be spoiler free it may contain spoilers for the first book in the series, In a Fix.
Quick Fix, the second installment of the In a Fix series, sees the return of Ciel and her delightfully confusing body-swapping ways.
When working a job for a client at the Zoo, Ciel’s 10-year-old ‘cousin’ Molly accidentally adapts into an orangutan. Not only is it highly usually for a child that young to be able to take on auras but it’s supposedly impossible to change into animals.
As if figuring out how to change her back (and keep it from their mothers) wasn’t enough to be dealing with, something big is brewing in the CIA adaptor group. When human agent Laura is shot Billy (Ciel’s pseudo-cousin/possible-boyfriend-if-they-ever-get-a-chance-to-figure-that-out) is the prime suspect. Ciel refuses to believe this is true and the fact her brothers are trying to keep her out of the loop just proves it. Fed up of being kept in the dark, Ciel’s hell bent on getting some answers and she doesn’t care who she has to look like to do it.
For much of the book the two plots of Molly’s predicament and Laura’s shooting felt very separate but as the story continues they weaved together really well. Ample amounts of action and mystery still get Ciel into plenty of trouble but for me the world building and relationships stood out in this instalment.
Through Molly’s unfortunate transformation the world building expands in Quick Fix. James, Ciel’s only non-adaptor brother, has dedicated his scientific career to learning more about the adaptor gene and sets out to help Molly. His research provides tons of information on just how the adaptor gene works, when and how it manifests and what it’s like to grow up with it. But he also shows just how tough it is for non-adaptor children to grow up on the outside looking in.
While the first installment focused on Ciel’s job as a Facilitator, here there is much more of a family vibe. With three brothers, countless cousins and mothers that make them all shake in their boots, there was an almost Weasley-esque feel to the family dynamics. There’s shouting and bickering, schemes and so much love that it shines off the page. Add in the ability to ‘turn into each other’ and you have some hysterical moments.
Ciel is still utterly confused when it comes to Billy and Mark. She doesn’t have much experience with romance and finds her sudden attraction and relationship with Billy hard to adjust to. While it was clear to me that she was just struggling to let go of her childhood crush on Mark (that and I though he was a bit of a douche), I actually quite liked the love triangle element. It felt genuine to her, giving her character an opportunity to grow.
Once again Linda Grimes manages to mix science fiction and a spy-worthy plot, with health doses of humor and romance. The fact that you’re never one-hundred-percent certain people are who they say they are keeps you constantly on your toes, making Quick Fix just a downright fun read.
Sexual content: Sex, sensual scenes
September 11, 2013
*disclosure: I received a review copy form the publicist in exchange for a honest review.
Quick Fix was another fun and whacky installment in the In A Fix series featuring Ciel Halligan, an aura adapter. Ciel is able to adapt to any person she comes into contact with down to a point in appearance and voice. At the start of Quick Fix, readers find Ciel, Billy and Billy’s 10-year old sister Molly at the zoo. Ciel is on assignment hoping that that it’d be a ‘quick fix’ unlike her previous cases, getting her client a position on the board of directors. Unfortunately the situation gets more complicated when Molly, who is just barely coming into her adapter abilities, turns into a baby orangutan. Ciel’s only hope in figuring out how to turn Molly back into a little girl is her brother James, a non-adapter. Juggling a baby orangutan, finding the assailant who tried to shoot Laura and mistaken identities and figuring out her relationship s with mark and Billy are all part of the to-do list in Ciel Halligan’s oh-so-Not-normal life.
This time around readers get to see more of Ciel’s wonderful and quirky family members. They are quite a bunch. We learn more about Thomas and his connection to Mark’s partner Laura, James the non-adapter and we meet the not-often-talked about youngest brother of Ciel, Brian. For most of the story, James is trying to figure out a cure to turn Molly back to normal, and this is where we learn more about the aura adapter abilities. Well, the scientific aspect of it…how one becomes an adapter versus a non-adapter. I thought Molly’s situation was really interesting and how she came to adapt an animal’s aura. The entire time Molly was a baby orangutan, she was still herself. Imagine a baby orangutan binging on ice cream and playing Wii vigorously nonstop! Or the time when everyone had to ‘adapt’ Molly so that Auntie Ro didn’t find out, it was hilarious to see all the different-crazy situations Ciel and the gang found themselves in.
In the previous book, In A Fix, Ciel was fighting her attraction between two long time friends Mark and Billy. In the sequel, Ciel made the final decision on who she wants to be with and I’m so glad it was Billy. In this book we see them both navigate their new relationship from being best friends to a romantic relationship. Their intense chemistry continues to grow from the first book, and I love seeing their interaction together…it’s just so darn sweet and cute! Mark made an appearance here and there throughout the book and passively let Ciel know he was/or is interested in her but it is nothing compared to when Billy is actively pursuing Ciel. I like Mark but Billy is definitely the guy for her.
Quick Fix was an excellent sequel to last year’s In a Fix, there is never a dull moment when Ciel and the gang are involved. The world-building is unique and easy-to-understand, something you won’t find in other urban fantasies. Add in likeable characters and a charming romance and you got yourself a winner! I highly recommend this series to all UF,PNR, and fantasy fans looking for a light-fun read…you won’t regret it!
Quick Fix was another fun and whacky installment in the In A Fix series featuring Ciel Halligan, an aura adapter. Ciel is able to adapt to any person she comes into contact with down to a point in appearance and voice. At the start of Quick Fix, readers find Ciel, Billy and Billy’s 10-year old sister Molly at the zoo. Ciel is on assignment hoping that that it’d be a ‘quick fix’ unlike her previous cases, getting her client a position on the board of directors. Unfortunately the situation gets more complicated when Molly, who is just barely coming into her adapter abilities, turns into a baby orangutan. Ciel’s only hope in figuring out how to turn Molly back into a little girl is her brother James, a non-adapter. Juggling a baby orangutan, finding the assailant who tried to shoot Laura and mistaken identities and figuring out her relationship s with mark and Billy are all part of the to-do list in Ciel Halligan’s oh-so-Not-normal life.
This time around readers get to see more of Ciel’s wonderful and quirky family members. They are quite a bunch. We learn more about Thomas and his connection to Mark’s partner Laura, James the non-adapter and we meet the not-often-talked about youngest brother of Ciel, Brian. For most of the story, James is trying to figure out a cure to turn Molly back to normal, and this is where we learn more about the aura adapter abilities. Well, the scientific aspect of it…how one becomes an adapter versus a non-adapter. I thought Molly’s situation was really interesting and how she came to adapt an animal’s aura. The entire time Molly was a baby orangutan, she was still herself. Imagine a baby orangutan binging on ice cream and playing Wii vigorously nonstop! Or the time when everyone had to ‘adapt’ Molly so that Auntie Ro didn’t find out, it was hilarious to see all the different-crazy situations Ciel and the gang found themselves in.
In the previous book, In A Fix, Ciel was fighting her attraction between two long time friends Mark and Billy. In the sequel, Ciel made the final decision on who she wants to be with and I’m so glad it was Billy. In this book we see them both navigate their new relationship from being best friends to a romantic relationship. Their intense chemistry continues to grow from the first book, and I love seeing their interaction together…it’s just so darn sweet and cute! Mark made an appearance here and there throughout the book and passively let Ciel know he was/or is interested in her but it is nothing compared to when Billy is actively pursuing Ciel. I like Mark but Billy is definitely the guy for her.
Quick Fix was an excellent sequel to last year’s In a Fix, there is never a dull moment when Ciel and the gang are involved. The world-building is unique and easy-to-understand, something you won’t find in other urban fantasies. Add in likeable characters and a charming romance and you got yourself a winner! I highly recommend this series to all UF,PNR, and fantasy fans looking for a light-fun read…you won’t regret it!
December 8, 2013
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Ciel Halligan is an aura adaptor extraordinaire. She is a human chameleon who is able to take on her clients' appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don't want to deal with themselves. Upon completion of her assignment, Ciel and Billy Doyle, end up having to deal with an interesting situation after Billy's 10 year old sister Molly ends up turning into an orangutan and is unable to switch back and ends up being chased by those who want to get their hands on the precocious Molly.
Ciel, Billy, CIA Agent Mark Fielding form yet another eye rolling love triangle and really in my mind, it was not necessary, nor needed for the enjoyment of this story. I am definitely not a fan of love triangles. Ciel is supposed to be an adult with the ability to make up her own mind on who she will fall in love with. Unfortunately, Ciel's mentality is majority messed up to the point where she can't decide between Billy and Mark who she's had a crush on since she was 9. For readers, we can all chirp in about our feelings and opinions on who Ciel SHOULD be with, but in the end, it is the authors desire to continue the facade or end it by picking one or the other or continuing to languish us with thoughts of what if?
If you have read this series, you know that Billy is a slut. I am not kidding folks. Billy is a male slut who sleeps with any woman who gives him an opening. In Quick Fix, Grimes pushes back the curtains and puts Ciel and Billy together in every way possible which absolutely didn't make me jump up and down and sing YEAH! He makes her feel things, whereas Mark is devoted to his job as an CIA agent. I am actually hoping that this doesn't become Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series where Stephanie can't make up her mind between 2 men.
Ciel's brothers Thomas, James, and Brian all end up playing parts in Quick Fix. The family dynamic is an interesting one in they come from a family of adapters, but not everyone has the ability to change. The story also surrounds the scientific aspects of adapters since James is trying to discover what triggers the change, and if it can be used on non-adapters without causing problems. There is plenty of twists, turns, mystery, action, and yes, romance in Quick Fix. I would say that Ciel is far from the perfect heroine. She really doesn't solve anything herself. She needs the help of others, especially Mark, and Billy.
I will be pensive about continuing this series if the focus is going to be on Billy and Ciel's relationship and how the family dynamics play in to it. I would love to see Ciel grow up a whole lot. I would love to see her be able to rely on herself to fight her own battles. I would love to see her NOT get pushed around by people who want to use her abilities (CIA and others).
Releases: August 20th 2013 by Tor Books
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Ciel Halligan is an aura adaptor extraordinaire. She is a human chameleon who is able to take on her clients' appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don't want to deal with themselves. Upon completion of her assignment, Ciel and Billy Doyle, end up having to deal with an interesting situation after Billy's 10 year old sister Molly ends up turning into an orangutan and is unable to switch back and ends up being chased by those who want to get their hands on the precocious Molly.
Ciel, Billy, CIA Agent Mark Fielding form yet another eye rolling love triangle and really in my mind, it was not necessary, nor needed for the enjoyment of this story. I am definitely not a fan of love triangles. Ciel is supposed to be an adult with the ability to make up her own mind on who she will fall in love with. Unfortunately, Ciel's mentality is majority messed up to the point where she can't decide between Billy and Mark who she's had a crush on since she was 9. For readers, we can all chirp in about our feelings and opinions on who Ciel SHOULD be with, but in the end, it is the authors desire to continue the facade or end it by picking one or the other or continuing to languish us with thoughts of what if?
If you have read this series, you know that Billy is a slut. I am not kidding folks. Billy is a male slut who sleeps with any woman who gives him an opening. In Quick Fix, Grimes pushes back the curtains and puts Ciel and Billy together in every way possible which absolutely didn't make me jump up and down and sing YEAH! He makes her feel things, whereas Mark is devoted to his job as an CIA agent. I am actually hoping that this doesn't become Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series where Stephanie can't make up her mind between 2 men.
Ciel's brothers Thomas, James, and Brian all end up playing parts in Quick Fix. The family dynamic is an interesting one in they come from a family of adapters, but not everyone has the ability to change. The story also surrounds the scientific aspects of adapters since James is trying to discover what triggers the change, and if it can be used on non-adapters without causing problems. There is plenty of twists, turns, mystery, action, and yes, romance in Quick Fix. I would say that Ciel is far from the perfect heroine. She really doesn't solve anything herself. She needs the help of others, especially Mark, and Billy.
I will be pensive about continuing this series if the focus is going to be on Billy and Ciel's relationship and how the family dynamics play in to it. I would love to see Ciel grow up a whole lot. I would love to see her be able to rely on herself to fight her own battles. I would love to see her NOT get pushed around by people who want to use her abilities (CIA and others).
Releases: August 20th 2013 by Tor Books
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