Look Back Wednesday, November 16, 2016

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS SO I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS MYSTERY SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING PARANORMAL MYSTERIES.

Marked by Alex Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been looking forward to Book 3 in the Mindspace Investigation series. After reading it I came away with mixed feelings. Before I go further I do want to say that this is not a series you just drop into. Go back to the beginning and start with book one, Clean.

On the plus side Marked continued with the world building started in the first two books. There is more background about the Tech Wars and the Guild. Along with the world building the characters continue to be fleshed out. Finally Adam and Cherabino start to work on their attraction, just working – nothing resolved.

On the minus side the main premise for Marked just does not make sense. Why on earth would Adam ever go back to help the Guild. They used him to test a drug that was very addictive and threw him out instead of helping him when that experiment left him an addicted. I have never liked the Guild and I really had trouble believing he would every willing walk back into a situation that gave them any power over him. They have not changed - they do not treat him well this time either.

Having said all of that after I got over how stupid I though Adam was the plot was interesting. Like Adam I would think I knew what was going on only to be fooled again and again. I do hope the next book leaves the Guild way, way in the background. I like Adam and did not enjoy seeing him back in the power of the Guild.


View all my reviews

Vacant (Mindspace Investigations #4) by Alex Hughes

Science Fiction/Urban Fantasy

From Goodreads:

Nothing ruins a romantic evening like a brawl with lowlifes—especially when one of them later turns up dead and my date, Detective Isabella Cherabino, is the #1 suspect. My history with the Atlanta PD on both sides of the law makes me an unreliable witness, so while Cherabino is suspended, I’m paying my bills by taking an FBI gig.

I’ve been hired to play telepathic bodyguard for Tommy, the ten-year-old son of a superior court judge in Savannah presiding over the murder trial of a mob-connected mogul. After an attempt on the kid’s life, the Feds believe he’s been targeted by the businessman’s “associates.”

Turns out, Tommy’s a nascent telepath, so I’m trying to help him get a handle on his Ability. But it doesn’t take a mind reader to see that there’s something going on with this kid’s parents that’s stressing him out more than a death threat…

I like this series and the interaction between Adam Ward and Isabella Cherabino keeps the series going.  This time though Adam and Isabella are not together for most of the story.  There are two parts to this story.  The main story is about Adam and how he handles a new job away from Atlanta.  The other story is in the backgound .  Cherabino is under fire and Alan cannot be there to help her.

Hughes uses the story to add more detail to the world of Mindspace Investigations.  Vacant is more of a side story.  It adds a lot to the series but most of the action is there to set the stage for the next chapter in the lives of Adam and Cherabino.

While Vacant could stand alone I recommend reading the other novels in the series first.

Roc published Vacant by Alex Hughes in 2014.

Stacking the Shelves, January 11, 2014

Some of the Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I am adding to my shelves. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves.

 I have been snowed in most of the week and hope to get out today. I did received several books in the mail.  

Won from Should Be Reading and Alex Hughes the first two books in the Mindspace Investigations series;  Clean and Sharp.  In addition there were book marks for the next book in the series Marked and a nice note from Alex Hughes.

From Amazon Prime for review:  Avalon by Mindee Arnett.

From Netgalley for review:  The Sea Without a Shore by David Drake and  The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaliegh Johnson

And another win a bright orange T-shirt from Monte Dutton.