BOOK REVIEW: LAW OF ATTRACTION BY ALLISON LEOTTA

Title: Law of Attraction

Author: Allison Leotta

Genre: Thriller, mystery

Published on: October 12, 2010

As a newly minted Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., Anna Curtis has already developed thick skin to deal with the brutality she encounters with her daily stack of domestic violence cases. Yet when Laprea Johnson walks into Anna’s life—battered by her boyfriend on the morning after Valentine’s Day—there’s something about this particular case that Anna can’t quite shake, something that reminds the prosecutor of her own troubled past.

At the trial, Laprea makes a last-minute reversal, lying on the witness stand to free her boy-friend. Shortly after he is freed, Anna is horrified to hear that Laprea’s body has been found in a trash heap. Hastily assigned to prosecute the murder case alongside intimidating chief homicide prosecutor Jack Bailey, Anna’s heart sinks when she learns that her own boyfriend, public defender Nick Wagner, is representing the accused.

Torn between bringing the killer to justice and saving her personal life, Anna makes a series of choices that jeopardizes her career, her relationships, and her very life as she uncovers the shocking truth behind the murder.

Weaving expert knowledge with deft storytelling, federal sex-crimes prosecutor and Harvard Law School graduate Allison Leotta takes readers on a thrilling ride through D.C.’s criminal justice system. From the back rooms of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the flirtations and machinations of Washington’s Ivy League lawyers to the struggles of its poorest citizens on the gritty streets of Anacostia, Law of Attraction is a gripping debut from an exciting new talent.

 

As a big fan of procedural/mystery novels, Law of Attraction caught my eye while browsing the Kindle Store. This is the first entry in a series focusing on Anna Curtis. She's a relatively new Assistant U.S. Attorney working in D.C. As a prosecutor, Anna mostly handles domestic violence cases. She's a big believer in justice, but wouldn't color outside the lines to get the outcome she wants. The other main characters in Law of Attraction are Nicholas "Nick" Wagner and Jack Bailey. Nick is a public defender who went to law school with Anna. Jack is the chief Homicide prosecutor where Anna works.

Anna's latest case involves D'Marco Davis, a man who keeps beating up his girlfriend, Laprea Johnson. Despite that, he claims to absolutely love her. After the latest beating results in a lawsuit, Anna resolves to put a stop to this cycle of violence. To her surprise, Nick is representing D'Marco in the trial. The latter has been Nick's client for years. Anna can't believe how Nick could defend a man as wicked as she believes D'Marco to be. Nick counters that everyone deserves a defense attorney.

BOOK REVIEW: CASSIDY JONES AND THE SECRET FORMULA BY ELISE STOKES

Title: Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula

Author: Elise Stokes

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: December 13, 2010 by JACE Publishing LLC

Cassidy Jones is your typical teenager-- that is, until a seemingly harmless accident in the laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist turns her world upside down.

Discovering incredible strength, speed, and enhanced physical senses that defy logic, Cassidy embarks on an action-packed adventure that has her fighting for answers...and for her very life.

Don't miss the other action-packed books in Cassidy Jones Adventures!

Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift, Book Two

Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant, Book Three

Cassidy Jones and the Luminous, Book Four

Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame, Book Five

I seriously enjoy fiction (books or movies) about people who can do stuff others can’t. Whether it’s superpowers or tech/genetic enhancements, it fascinates me. That’s what drew me to the Cassidy Jones Adventures series. This first entry introduces the titular character. She’s an average, redheaded, 14-year-old schoolgirl. One day, Cassidy accompanies her father—a famous radio host—and his assistant to an interview. The subject is Dr. Serena Phillips, a prominent geneticist. While in her lab, Cassidy has an accident that gives her extraordinary abilities. It’s over so fast that not even the people in the room realize what happened.

Cassidy’s powers don’t manifest right away. She first notices she can smell what the next-door neighbors are having for breakfast. Cassidy soon discovers she has enhanced strength, speed, senses, and a wicked-fast healing factor. Seeking to understand exactly what happened to her, Cassidy turns to Emery Phillips. He’s the son of Dr. Phillips. Someone kidnapped her the day after Cassidy’s accident. The Joneses offered shelter to Emery for the meantime.