A provocative fusion of suspense and sci-fi; as the mystery unravels, the reader learns that dreams may be as vital as...
In Rooks’ psychological thriller, a Seattle journalist struggling with apparent narcolepsy and vivid dreams realizes there may be more to her subconscious than she knows.
Bailey lives in two worlds: her “real” life as a busy reporter for an urban newspaper, fighting deadlines for her intense yet charismatic editor, Sierra, and her “dream” life as a victim-rescuing heroine. Bailey struggles with an enigmatic sleep disorder. When she falls asleep, she imagines herself in a hotel room in Hong Kong with a benevolent task force of secret agents: Daniel, a bad-boy Australian; Sam, a fashionable translator; and Halene, a young Southern logician. The team is deeply flawed, and in their effort to save a girl named Mei from her Mafia family, Bailey tries to deny the affections of both Daniel and Sam, who constantly vie for her attention. The drawn-out arguments and soapy romance become tedious, but Rooks’ central question intrigues: If you divide your time equally between a delirious reality and a crystal-clear dream life, don’t they become equally authentic? Bailey starts to see parallels in each existence. For example, she hears the same reference to a Chinese don; she indulges in two similar drinking binges; and her best friend, Jason, starts referring to Daniel and Sam as credible love interests, even though he assumes they are imaginary. The final twist requires a lot of exposition, but it adds a metaphysical layer to an already clever storyline. Rooks organizes her story well, ensuring that the reader is never confused, and she describes details and emotions that such thrillers often gloss over. In the end, Bailey is passive and naïve but also intelligent and strong, and she bears a bigger burden than she realizes. While she doesn’t do much in the novel—she’s wounded by a shooter, pursued by men and told difficult secrets—Bailey has been primed for an inevitable sequel.
A provocative fusion of suspense and sci-fi; as the mystery unravels, the reader learns that dreams may be as vital as reality.Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1500627126
Page Count: 260
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A promising return from a beloved historical romance author.
A seemingly strict nobleman submits to an unusual woman.
When they first meet in the Duke of Windemere’s library, Julian and Elspeth are both snooping. Lady Elspeth de Moray is desperate to find a long-lost book with the potential to save the Wise Women, an ancient secret society to which she’s devoted. For his part, Julian Greycourt is in his uncle’s library hoping to meet a housemaid with something to tell him that he hopes may protect his sisters from the duke’s cruel behavior. When they hear the duke approaching, they flee to the library’s upper level and hide in a corner—with Elspeth crouching between Julian’s legs. It isn’t until shortly afterwards, when the two are properly introduced at the duchess’ tea party, that they realize they should hate each other, since Elspeth’s brother is rumored to have been involved in the mysterious death of Julian’s sister. But it’s too late for that; their close connection in the library leaves both excited to see each other again. This attraction explodes into an affair when it becomes clear that the inexperienced Elspeth isn’t scared off by Julian’s need to be ordered around in the bedroom, but their intimate connection vies with the desperate need they both have to keep their secrets and care for the people they love. As it’s been several years since the earlier titles in the Greycourt series were published—most recently, When a Rogue Meets His Match (2020)—a lot of exposition is needed to illuminate the connections among characters. Unfortunately, this overload of backstory combined with a complicated and uneven plot may leave readers feeling lost, especially if they’re starting with this volume. However, the chemistry between Julian and Elspeth is spicy and intriguing from the first pages, and the tender depiction of his desire to be submissive—and her willingness to learn to dominate him—provide a compelling reason for readers to stick with it.
A promising return from a beloved historical romance author.Pub Date: Dec. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781538763582
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
An epic space adventure.
A thief and a teleporter team up to save their former crew in the finale of Mihalik's Starlight's Shadow trilogy.
Lexi Bowen is one of the most accomplished recovery specialists—code for thief—in the galaxy. She's nervous about taking a contract that requires her to return to Valovia, home planet of the ruthless enemies she once fought as a soldier, but the payout is too enticing to decline. Once she arrives on Valovia, she is almost immediately cornered by the Empress Nepru’s private guards. Teleporter Nilo Shoren appears in the middle of the altercation and teleports her to safety. Lexi’s history with Nilo is complicated. They were both crew members on Starlight’s Shadow, but Lexi has never forgiven Nilo for luring her to what she thought was a date only for him to steal a job right out from under her. She can’t understand why Nilo would save her now, and she’s determined to escape Valovia on her own. Nilo convinces her to accept his help escaping the empress, but their plans change when they discover Starlight’s Shadow and its crew are missing. Lexi and Nilo suspect that their friends were heading for the planet Rodeni, trying to capture a fugitive, and they set a course to mount a rescue mission. Lexi is a likable, tough-as-nails character determined to make it on her own. The truth is that she suffers flashbacks and panic attacks from the war, and she is afraid to show her vulnerabilities to Nilo. Although she tries to convince herself that her attraction to Nilo isn’t serious, she finds it impossible to resist him. In order to be together, they must learn to trust and openly communicate with each other, whether on the battlefield or in the bedroom.
An epic space adventure.Pub Date: June 20, 2023
ISBN: 9780063051102
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
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