BOOK REVIEW: FOLLOW ME BY TIFFANY SNOW

Title: Follow Me

Author: Tiffany Snow

Genre: Romance

Published on: October 4, 2016 by Montlake Romance

Brilliant, quirky twenty-three-year-old China Mack is totally satisfied with her carefully ordered, data-driven life. A computer prodigy who landed a coveted programming job at the cutting-edge tech company Cysnet before even graduating from MIT, China is happiest when following her routine: shower before coffee, pizza only on Mondays, bedtime at ten thirty sharp.

But then things start to get a little…unpredictable.

First Jackson Cooper—Cysnet’s rich, gorgeous, genius CEO—assigns China to a dangerous and highly classified project for a government defense contractor. Her sixteen-year-old runaway niece suddenly arrives in town, begging to move in with China. And then there’s her sexy but oddly unsettling new neighbor, Clark…

Quickly the Cysnet assignment becomes disconcerting—and then downright scary—as key staffers turn up dead. China suspects she’s being followed and isn’t sure whom she can trust. For the first time ever, she’ll have to follow her instincts, rather than logic, if she’s going to survive.

This book caught my interest because I’m a fan of the author’s Kathleen Turner series. The synopsis sounded compelling, so I bought a copy. Follow Me is the first book of the Corrupted Hearts series. The protagonist is China Mack, an extremely gifted programmer in her early twenties. She works for Cysnet, a tech company that apparently–according to China–runs circles around Apple. They hired China straight out of school because of how smart and talented she is. By now, she’s established a comfortable routine. And yes, China lives alone–for now.

China’s life changes when Jackson Cooper, Cysnet’s CEO himself, gives her an important assignment. The job’s a government contract, highly classified…and potentially dangerous. Jackson selected China because she’s the only employee at Cysnet with a particular skill. China, being shy and modest, downplays it as if it were as common as knowing HTML. Jackson seems to take it in stride, thinking nothing of China’s awkwardness. I think he might even find her endearing. China struggles to make a good impression, even though she might not need to try too hard. The thing that Jackson values most in China is her intelligence.

BOOK REVIEW: EMPIRE RISING BY CHEYANNE YOUNG

Title: Empire Rising

Author: Cheyanne Young

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: January 1, 2016 (first edition); February 8, 2022 by Quinova Press (latest edition)

Eighteen years ago, Maci Knight’s family was destroyed when Aurora Falcon killed her mother. Now Aurora’s partner, Felix, has kidnapped Maci’s brother. For five long months, there’s been no sign of Max. His Codex is offline and she can’t feel even the slightest trace of his power. Maci refuses to give up hope, but when a new threat on King City emerges, Maci is ordered to abandon her search.

Somehow Felix has managed to do the unthinkable: repower all the villains that Central has depowered over the years. Now they’ve banded together to get revenge on the Supers who wronged them. What feels like an arduous mission becomes an opportunity when Maci realizes that if she can stop the villains, she can get them to lead her to Felix—and her brother.

In the action-packed conclusion of the City of Legends trilogy, Maci vows to save her city and bring her family back together—no matter the cost.

Previously published by Amazon Publishing and Alloy Entertainment, LLC

 

Five months have passed in-story since the ending of The Valiant. This final entry in the trilogy sees protagonist Maci Knight handling her most important mission yet. The previous book ended with main antagonist Felix running away with Max (Maci's older brother) in tow. The entire Hero Brigade has been searching for him this whole time. They're starting to give up, though, which disappoints Maci. She feels that the Elders may even think Max dead, considering how long he's been missing. At least Maci has support in the form of her twin sister, Nova. The latter recently gained the trust of the Super community after she helped save a bunch of them from Felix.

Nova starts the book as a newly-minted member of the Hero Brigade. This means she can go on official missions and have her own Codex (a bracelet gadget only Heroes get that's kind of a glorified smartphone). Nova has a supersuit now as well. It's identical to Maci's but with reversed colors: white instead of black. I thought this was fitting, and not only because they’re twins. Black suits Maci because, whether she had the potential to turn villain or not, she still has a short temper and a fierce protective instinct for her loved ones. Nova’s white suit is likely a sign her loyalties have completely shifted to the Hero Brigade, as she was raised by villains.

BOOK REVIEW: MORAL DEFENSE BY MARCIA CLARK

Title: Moral Defense

Author: Marcia Clark

Genre: Mystery, thriller

Published on: November 8, 2016 by Thomas & Mercer

For defense attorney Samantha Brinkman, it's not about guilt or innocence--it's about making sure her clients walk. But the case of Cassie Sonnenberg touches a raw nerve in Sam that makes it painfully personal.

A savage attack in a suburban home has left a father and son stabbed, and a mother clinging to life. And Cassie, the family's adopted teenage daughter, is accused of the bloody crime. It's a tabloid-ready case that has the nation in an uproar--and Sam facing her biggest challenge. But when she learns the murders were sparked by years of sexual abuse, she doubles down to get Cassie exonerated.

Yet, even as Sam probes the Secret past of a seemingly happy family, the dark memories of her own tormented life threaten to consume her. And as Cassie's story keeps twisting at every turn, in troubling new directions, Sam must fight all the harder to separate dangerous lies from the terrifying truth.

  

This is the second book in the Samantha Brinkman series. It takes place a few months after Blood Defense. The titular character’s kept herself busy. Apart from handling cases, Samantha and her associates now work in a different office. A bad guy set fire to their old building. They’re quite better off now, as the office isn’t in gang territory anymore. Samantha’s also become rather well-known after winning her last big case. She hopes to start earning more money. Neither Samantha nor her associates are well-to-do.

Samantha gets a new, potentially big case early on in the book. There was a shocking crime at a small town called Glendale. Someone murdered nearly an entire family. Only one of them, fifteen-year-old Cassie Sonnenberg, got away unhurt. Samantha meets with Cassie to see how she can help. The girl isn’t a suspect, but she could need legal counsel. Cassie also speaks to the police to relay what she knows. She points them toward a possible suspect. Cassie claims to have witnessed an unknown person running away the night of the murders.

BOOK REVIEW: A COURT OF MIST AND FURY BY SARAH J. MAAS

Title: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Published on: May 3, 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing

 

The seductive and stunning #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to Sarah J. Maas's spellbinding A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.

As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

Bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her dazzling, sexy, action-packed series to new heights.

  

If a second read of A Court of Thorns and Roses made me like it better, then this sequel finished the job of making me a fan of the series. Now I see why it has such an ardent fan base. A Court of Mist and Fury picks things up shortly after the first book’s ending. Feyre Archeron is the main character. She’s a human girl who was compelled to enter Prythian, the fairy realm, after a fateful evening. There, she fell for Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court. This romance gave Feyre the courage to stop Amarantha, a wicked and powerful fairy princess. Feyre ends up getting killed, though. Fortunately, the seven High Lords of Prythian brought her back as thanks for saving their land.

Feyre is now a High Fae, and is living in the Spring Court. Tamlin and his people are rebuilding after the damage wrought by the war. However, their court isn’t the only thing that’s damaged. Feyre’s experience Under the Mountain (Amarantha’s base) broke her. Saving Prythian cost her way more than just her life. Feyre is now living with guilt, and it doesn’t help that Tamlin smothers her with protection. He doesn’t want to lose Feyre again, and goes to great lengths for it.

BOOK REVIEW: BLOOD DEFENSE BY MARCIA CLARK

Title: Blood Defense

Author: Marcia Clark

Genre: Mystery, thriller

Published on: May 1, 2016 by Thomas & Mercer

Samantha Brinkman, an ambitious, hard-charging Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, is struggling to make a name for herself and to drag her fledgling practice into the big leagues. Sam lands a high-profile double-murder case in which one of the victims is a beloved TV star—and the defendant is a decorated veteran LAPD detective. It promises to be exactly the kind of media sensation that would establish her as a heavy hitter in the world of criminal law.

Though Sam has doubts about his innocence, she and her two associates (her closest childhood friend and a brilliant ex-con) take the case. Notorious for living by her own rules—and fearlessly breaking everyone else’s—Samantha pulls out all the stops in her quest to uncover evidence that will clear the detective. But when a shocking secret at the core of the case shatters her personal world, Sam realizes that not only has her client been playing her, he might be one of the most dangerous sociopaths she’s ever encountered.

 

I’m a big fan of this author’s Rachel Knight books. When I heard she wrote a new similar series, I bought a copy right away. Blood Defense is the first entry, set in Los Angeles. The main character is Samantha Brinkman. Unlike Rachel, who’s a prosecutor, Samantha is a defense attorney. This made for a refreshing change. I found it interesting to see how the other side works. Samantha’s practice is small, though. She has two assistants, Michelle and Alex. They all live paycheck to paycheck (or retainer to retainer) so they’re not quite financially sound. Samantha’s office building is also smack dab within gang territory.

At the start of the book, a case emerges that could greatly increase exposure for Brinkman & Associates. The defendant, Detective Dale Pearson, personally requests Samantha to represent him. After learning about the case, she agrees to take it. This job won’t be an easy one, though. Dale faces charges for the murders of Chloe Monahan and Paige Avner, two roommates. Chloe was a beloved TV actress and Paige was a model. Dale happened to be dating Chloe. The murders of those two girls shocked and enraged the people of LA. They’re eager to see the culprit face justice.

BOOK REVIEW: NYPD RED 4 BY JAMES PATTERSON AND MARSHALL KARP

Title: NYPD Red 4
Author: James Patterson and Marshall Karp
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Published on: January 25, 2016 by Little, Brown and Company

New York's most elite police force chases a ruthless murderer with an uncontrollable lust for money and blood.
It's another glamorous night in the heart of Manhattan: at a glitzy movie premiere, a gorgeous starlet dripping in millions of dollars' worth of jewelry makes her way past a horde of fans and paparazzi. But then there's a sudden loud noise, an even louder scream, and a vicious crime with millions of witnesses and no suspect.
Enter NYPD Red: the elite task force assigned to protect the rich and famous in the city where crime never sleeps. Detective Zach Jordan and his partner and former girlfriend, Kylie MacDonald, are the best that Red has to offer: brilliant and tireless investigators who will stop at nothing to crack a case, even if it means putting their own complicated lives on the back burner.
From celebrity penthouses to the depths of Manhattan's criminal underworld, Zach and Kylie are soon in hot pursuit of a cold-blooded killer with everything to lose, and millions to gain if he can just shake the detectives on his trail. With the city on edge, the mayor out of patience, and the flames of their personal relationship threatening to reignite and ruin everything, Zach and Kylie are facing down their worst fears-and their most dangerous enemy yet.

The latest case for the titular NYPD unit kicks off in dramatic fashion. A famous actress named Elena was riding a limousine expecting to arrive at the venue of her new movie premiere. She never makes it there, as a couple of thieves descend on her. Their target: an $8 million dollar diamond necklace around her neck. The theft goes awry, and Elena is shot to death. Shortly after, the book’s protagonists arrive at the scene. They’re Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald. After three books, they’ve become NYPD Red’s flagship investigators. And this case definitely will need the best that the NYPD has to offer. Not only is there a high-profile victim; there is virtually no evidence despite the thousands of eyewitnesses.

Zach and Kylie must brace themselves for long nights. For the latter that won’t be such a hardship. It’s Zach for whom the long hours may take their toll. There’s been a significant change in his life: Zach’s girlfriend Cheryl moved in with him. She’s the department’s shrink, and a gorgeous woman with Latino traits. Zach and Cheryl have been dating since NYPD Red 2. Living together is a huge step forward, though. The two spend most of this book trying to make it work. Unfortunately, the urgency of Elena’s case means Zach is rarely at his apartment. It doesn’t help when a different case lands on his and Kylie’s laps.

BOOK REVIEW: RELENTLESS BY TERA LYNN CHILDS

Title: Relentless
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Published on: June 7, 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire

Revenge is easy, but justice is worth fighting for...

Kenna is tired of being lied to-and hunted by the very allies she once trusted. Unearthing the dark secrets of the superhero world has not only endangered her life, now her boyfriend faces execution for crimes he didn't commit and her mother is being held captive in a secret governmental prison.

Kenna is determined to stand up for what's right and save those she loves from unspeakable fates. It's time for the betrayal to end. It's time for the real criminals to face justice.

But the truth is even more terrifying than Kenna could imagine. A conspiracy threatens the fate of heroes, villains, and all of humanity. If Kenna's going to survive, she must draw on her deepest strength: her resilience. Because when Kenna's pushed to the limit, she doesn't break down. She fights back.

This is it, the conclusion of protagonist Kenna Swift’s story. She’s a science intern living among supers—people with special powers. Kenna used to work for Heroes at a secret lab, until she made a shocking discovery. The Heroes weren’t who they pretended to be. After they kidnapped her mother, Kenna joined forces with a team of Villains.

At the end of Powerless, two of Kenna’s friends fell into Hero hands. One of them is Draven, leader of a small group of Villains. He has the power of mind manipulation. Draven and his team were trying to rescue one of their friends. A bunch of heroes were secretly torturing this guy. Draven and Kenna found him, but the former sacrificed his freedom so that everyone else could escape. The other teammate who was captured is Rebel Malone, Kenna’s best friend. She’s not only a Hero…she’s the daughter of Rex Malone, president of the Superhero League. Rebel was never fooled by their smoke and mirrors. Rex managed to brainwash her, though, and now she’s unrecognizable.

BOOK REVIEW: THE MAN WITH TWO PASTS BY DAN RIX

Title: The Man with Two Pasts

Author: Dan Rix

Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: March 28, 2016 by Burning Ember Press

She was too smart to be popular. Too pretty to be ignored. Too conceited to be tolerated.

Seventeen-year-old Iris Strasser can’t seem to blend in to save her life, and she just made everything ten times worse. Time travel must have seriously compromised her judgment, because somehow she’s blundered into a relationship she’s not ready for with way-too-popular-for-his-own-good Cory Holland, the one boy she hates more than anyone—and now, infuriatingly, has a crush on. Now every girl at Lakeside wants her head on a stick.

Screw her feelings for him. They can have him back. She can’t stand Cory’s prickish cockiness for one more insufferable second. Except breaking up with him also breaks something in the past.

Now, all that’s left of the boy she almost loved is a lingering hint of déjà vu. That, and a confused ache in her heart.

Because everyone knows Cory died a long time ago.

After the first three books wowed me so much, I couldn’t not finish the series. It’s got romance and cool tech, two of my favorite topics to read about. The protagonists have gone on such a journey. First is Cory Holland, a young genius who’s on his senior year at Lakeside High. Next is Iris Strasser, Cory’s overachieving rival turned love interest. Noah Wright is Cory’s best friend, who attends the school on a scholarship. The Timeloopers series centers around a quantum computer prototype named the Chronos. A renowned tech lab donated it to Lakeside. Despite being off limits, Cory snuck out to check the machine and discovered its true nature. Lured by the thrill of time travel, Cory, Iris, and Noah kept using the Chronos for weeks afterward.

In the previous book, Cory barely managed to rescue Iris after mistakenly trapping her in an infinite loop. The ordeal caused them to develop a strong attraction. Cory and Iris are now dating, but their relationship is precarious. Iris has never had a boyfriend and fears that Cory will break her heart. He's an arrogant womanizer and used to treat Iris with disdain. Cory’s never been in a serious relationship either. As expected, Cory messes up bad and Iris breaks up with him.

BOOK REVIEW: SHADE ME BY JENNIFER BROWN

Title: Shade Me

Author: Jennifer Brown

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Published on: January 19, 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books

Nikki Kill has always been an outsider. Born with rare synesthesia, she sees the world differently. In Nikki’s eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray.

To Nikki, Peyton Hollis, the ultrarich it-girl at school, was seemingly untouchable. That is, until Peyton is violently attacked and the only phone number the hospital finds in Peyton’s cell is Nikki’s. Suddenly Nikki is pulled into Peyton’s glittering, fast-paced world as she tries to unravel an unfolding conspiracy.

As Nikki gets closer to the dark truth—and to Peyton’s gorgeous older brother—the only thing she can be sure of is death is a deep, pulsing crimson. 

The cover art is what first drew me to this book. Then I read the description, and I was hooked. Shade Me introduces Nikki Kill, an outcast with an interesting name. She’s your average high school student, apart from one thing. Nikki has synesthesia, a condition that causes some of her senses to overlap. It makes her “see” emotions as colors. For example, when a room has a happy atmosphere, Nikki sees pink. If someone is being dishonest, she sees gray. Letters, numbers, and words have their own fixed color in her eyes as well. A fun quirk about this is that Nikki memorizes phone numbers by their colors, not the actual digits.

One night, Nikki’s life is changed forever. She gets a call from the hospital, asking her to ID a girl who was just admitted. When Nikki arrives, she’s stunned to see the girl is Peyton Hollis, almost beaten to death. She’s the queen bee at their school and comes from a rich family. The issue is, Nikki and Peyton have never had anything to do with each other. Nikki’s puzzled when a nurse says her phone number was the only one saved in Peyton’s contacts. This makes Detective Chris Martinez (who showed up to investigate Peyton’s attack) curious about Nikki.

BOOK REVIEW: A MILLION WORLDS WITH YOU BY CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: A Million Worlds With You

Author: Claudia Gray

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: November 1, 2016 by Harper Teen

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled to another universe using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation—and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes, each facing total annihilation.

Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man—angry and shadowed by tragedy. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again.

So it’s up to Marguerite alone to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite—wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

In the conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites…and only one can win.

The Firebird trilogy ends with this entry, A Million Worlds With You. It takes place not long from where the previous book ended. The main character is Marguerite Caine. She’s a teenager and the daughter of two brilliant physicists. Dr. Lera Kovalenka and Dr. Henry Caine invented the Firebird, the device from which this series gets its name. The Firebird is a high-tech pendant capable of transporting the wearer into parallel universes. This power is obviously invaluable, which inevitably means that nefarious entities seek to control it.

In Ten Thousand Skies Above You, Marguerite saved her friend/love interest Paul Markov. The series main antagonist, tech magnate Wyatt Conley, scattered pieces of his soul throughout the multiverse. Conley is from a parallel reality dubbed the Triadverse. The Triad is his evil group. They helped the Caines create the Firebird, and now are after something else. This book opens right into the action. Marguerite is inside one of the universes she’s visited previously. Only, she’s in grave danger...and there's nothing she can do about it.

BOOK REVIEW: BEHIND THE HANDS THAT KILL BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Behind the Hands that Kill

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: May 6, 2016, self-published

Even professional killers need vacations, but for Victor Faust, his vacation in Venezuela is about more than relaxation and time alone with Izabel Seyfried. It is a chance for him to come clean to Izabel: to tell her the truth about why he sent her to Italy with his brother, the truth behind his interest in Nora Kessler, and about his knowledge of Izabel’s child with her former captor. But before Victor can spill his soul, reality proves that for some killers, vacations are just pipe-dreams.

Attacked and kidnapped, Izabel finds herself stuffed in a suitcase, while Victor later wakes up imprisoned in a cage. In any other situation, Victor would find a way out and save himself and the woman he loves—but not this time. When the identities of their kidnappers are revealed, Victor loses all hope, and begins the mental process of accepting his and Izabel’s last moments together. And Izabel’s final moments of life.

As if his circumstances are not complicated enough, members of Vonnegut’s Order are finally closing in on Victor. And when they do, he comes face-to-face with someone else he once knew and loved, who could either help him, or make a grave situation much worse. Victor’s past has finally caught up with him: the women he has cared for, loved, and killed; the families he has destroyed; the unforgivable crimes he has committed. And now he must face the consequences, and pay the ultimate price for absolution.

But when it is all over, Victor may not have the strength to pick up what is left and move on. Because the event changes him. Because love changed him. And because, unlike before when he thought it is was for the best, he cannot imagine a life without Izabel in it. 

Back in book one, Killing Sarai, I never thought this series would go beyond five books or so. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing; In the Company of Killers has become one of my favorite book series of all time. The way the author writes these stories and develops her characters is marvelous. There are a lot of stories left to tell in this saga, and this time it’s Victor Faust’s turn. Izabel, Fredrik, and Niklas have already had their own books. And Nora too, in a way.

Behind the Hands that Kill opens with Victor’s reminiscences. It turns out he had a love interest when he was young. Considering the life Victor’s led and the way he is, this was surprising. The series hasn’t yet delved into Victor’s life before Izabel, which I found interesting. This book isn't his origin story, but it does reveal a lot about his past. Anyway, Victor’s first love and her family have really odd names, and not because they’re Venezuelan. Her name was Artemis, which is unusual but not totally strange. One of her brothers has an even weirder name: Osiris.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY BORN BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Born

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: June 21, 2016 by 47North

Something wicked is at work in Colorado’s supernatural community. Vampires are being paralyzed or killed with poison…a weapon favored by witches. This offense threatens to break apart the already-fractured alliance between witches and the undead.

The state’s cardinal vampire, Maven, summons boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther to stop the killing before it ignites a war. Lex has barely started investigating when she gets another surprise: the biological father she’s never met arrives on her doorstep. He has answers to all of Lex’s questions about her bloodline, but getting those answers could mean betraying the life she’s already built.

Then the next vampire is poisoned—and this time it’s Maven herself. The new evil that hunts Lex is powerful and ruthless enough to stop the strongest supernatural creature in the state. In order to find such a killer, Lex will have to face down her own birthright and call on every ally—both living and dead.

This is the third installment of the Boundary Magic series. The protagonist, boundary witch Lex Luther, is back for another adventure. She narrowly managed to save the day in the previous book. After weeks of dealing with the aftermath, Lex gets to settle down for a bit. Also, as thanks for her service, Lex's boss Maven grants her permission to let her brother-in-law John Wheaton know she’s a witch. This happens before the book starts, so the reader doesn’t get to see it happen. It appears that John didn’t take the news well. He takes Charlie and some of their family on a trip away from Colorado. Lex isn’t happy, but she at least knows Charlie will be safe away from Boulder.

It doesn’t take long before new trouble arises. Maven discovers that some of her vampires have been poisoned with a rare strain of belladonna. If there’s anything Maven hates, it’s that plant. And it so happens that belladonna is most commonly used by witches. The only clan in Boulder is the Pellars, who are Maven's allies. If the attacks continue, it could start a war. Maven sends her right hand, Quinn, along with Lex to stop the attacks.