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crystal_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angelpayne's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully-done story with a unique and beautiful first-meet that spins into a story chock-full of romance, intrigue, mystery, and suspense. There's stunning chemistry between Isaac and Sidney, building on a pair of characters that are well-rounded and very sympathetic.
Ms. Collins is an amazing, accomplished plot weaver. I've one-clicked the rest of this series, and am excited about continuing!
Ms. Collins is an amazing, accomplished plot weaver. I've one-clicked the rest of this series, and am excited about continuing!
cortingbooks's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
plumpymuffin's review against another edition
DNF @ 44% (102 pages)
Sidney has not called the police to report that she was a witness to the crime when it’s been multiple days since it occurred and after watching a news cast talking about the murder and a possible witness….and also not calling to report the incidents happening at her home that are scaring her….
Sidney has not called the police to report that she was a witness to the crime when it’s been multiple days since it occurred and after watching a news cast talking about the murder and a possible witness….and also not calling to report the incidents happening at her home that are scaring her….
tita_noir's review
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up.
I really, really enjoyed this author's [b:True Romance|33199215|True Romance (True Romance #1)|Lashell Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480567702l/33199215._SY75_.jpg|53901320] about a wildlife photographer and a rocker who is finally seeing some acclaim after 40. It was a great story with grown ass people!
I had never had the chance to follow up with any of her other books (weird) but saw this one and the premise intrigued me.
It features a homicide detective, Isaac Taylor, who has a psychic gift. All he needs to do is touch someone and he can get a complete impression of them, what they've seen their life, their innermost feelings etc. It is overwhelming and it always causes him physical distress. It was something that he has had to deal with all his life, causing stress in his family and creating a distance between him and other people because he is wary of physical proximity. And because of this he has in the past battled depression, alcoholism and even thoughts of suicide.
Sydney Fairchild is a woman on the run from a violent spouse. She has obscured her identity and is trying to live under the radar. But all that changes when she witnesses an execution style murder. And while she can identify the murderers, horrifyingly they can also identify her.
The two connect out of the blue when Isaac, in an attempt to reach out to an old partner, misdials and calls Syd instead. After the requisite 'you have the wrong number' greeting, the two weirdly find themselves talking. Two complete stranger who drift into a conversation and that they did not expect but completely enjoy. Even weirder, they enjoyed their convo so much they connect again, having multiple conversations before deciding to meet in person.
Of course people plan while Gods laugh. Isaac just so happens to be the lead detective on the murder Sydney witnessed and is busy tracking down this mysterious witness. Sydney of course is trying her level best to stay in hiding.
And all that is on a collision course.
Let me start with what I liked:
- The writing. The author has an easy engaging voice. You get caught up int he story quickly and effortlessly.
- The set up. This is a great set up. A little high on the coincidence scale that I will let that slide a bit, but it adds a nice bit of early tension for the reader. I liked Syd and Ike's phone conversations because you could feel their bonding. It kinda reminded me of that Netflix show, Love Is Blind because they become emotionally involved just through talking and are attracted to each other before having ever seen each other. So on the one hand, there is a lot of anticipation for that first face-to-face meet. But Ike is getting closer to identifying his witness as well, so there is that added tension set up for the reader as we wait for the shoe to drop.
- The meeting. When Ike and Syd finally meet I think the author hit just he right note. They were nervous and awkward, excited and a little weirded out. They were also surprised: He because she was black and she because he was white. I liked how each had their moment of acknowledgement of assumptions, pause, and re-calibration. They both had to take a minute to let their inner picture they had painted of the other person dissolve and decide how to digest this new information. They address is frankly and I liked that because it was a further affirmation of how comfortable they had become with each other over their nights of talking, but also a good decision by the author to address something that might have been glossed over or ignored.
The revelation - she didn't drag it out needlessly.
- Ike's family. It is messy. I like messy families. His ability had affected them all their lives, not just him. The different members have approached it in different ways. Some hostile, some painful some loving.
- The romance - sexy and sweet.
What I didn't like:
Too much trauma drama - Ike is a recovering alcoholic (7 years sober), he has his psychic ability that is another form of stress for him on all fronts. He is also the victim of an overly aggressive, sexually predatory co-worker who just won't leave him the fuck alone and can't take no for an answer. Syd is, imo, over-damselled. she is a domestic violence victim on the run and in hiding, she is also the witness to a violent murder as is now being actively hunted and terrorized by the murderer. Also
That is... a lot... to pack into a small book like this.
Also some stuff just made no sense.
It is that illogical plotting and the extra-stuffed stuff that actually took what was shaping up to be a great romance with a nice paranormal touch and decent suspense element into the 'too, too much' category for me and dimmed quite a bit of my enjoyment.
I really, really enjoyed this author's [b:True Romance|33199215|True Romance (True Romance #1)|Lashell Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480567702l/33199215._SY75_.jpg|53901320] about a wildlife photographer and a rocker who is finally seeing some acclaim after 40. It was a great story with grown ass people!
I had never had the chance to follow up with any of her other books (weird) but saw this one and the premise intrigued me.
It features a homicide detective, Isaac Taylor, who has a psychic gift. All he needs to do is touch someone and he can get a complete impression of them, what they've seen their life, their innermost feelings etc. It is overwhelming and it always causes him physical distress. It was something that he has had to deal with all his life, causing stress in his family and creating a distance between him and other people because he is wary of physical proximity. And because of this he has in the past battled depression, alcoholism and even thoughts of suicide.
Sydney Fairchild is a woman on the run from a violent spouse. She has obscured her identity and is trying to live under the radar. But all that changes when she witnesses an execution style murder. And while she can identify the murderers, horrifyingly they can also identify her.
The two connect out of the blue when Isaac, in an attempt to reach out to an old partner, misdials and calls Syd instead. After the requisite 'you have the wrong number' greeting, the two weirdly find themselves talking. Two complete stranger who drift into a conversation and that they did not expect but completely enjoy. Even weirder, they enjoyed their convo so much they connect again, having multiple conversations before deciding to meet in person.
Of course people plan while Gods laugh. Isaac just so happens to be the lead detective on the murder Sydney witnessed and is busy tracking down this mysterious witness. Sydney of course is trying her level best to stay in hiding.
And all that is on a collision course.
Let me start with what I liked:
- The writing. The author has an easy engaging voice. You get caught up int he story quickly and effortlessly.
- The set up. This is a great set up. A little high on the coincidence scale that I will let that slide a bit, but it adds a nice bit of early tension for the reader. I liked Syd and Ike's phone conversations because you could feel their bonding. It kinda reminded me of that Netflix show, Love Is Blind because they become emotionally involved just through talking and are attracted to each other before having ever seen each other. So on the one hand, there is a lot of anticipation for that first face-to-face meet. But Ike is getting closer to identifying his witness as well, so there is that added tension set up for the reader as we wait for the shoe to drop.
- The meeting. When Ike and Syd finally meet I think the author hit just he right note. They were nervous and awkward, excited and a little weirded out. They were also surprised: He because she was black and she because he was white. I liked how each had their moment of acknowledgement of assumptions, pause, and re-calibration. They both had to take a minute to let their inner picture they had painted of the other person dissolve and decide how to digest this new information. They address is frankly and I liked that because it was a further affirmation of how comfortable they had become with each other over their nights of talking, but also a good decision by the author to address something that might have been glossed over or ignored.
The revelation - she didn't drag it out needlessly.
- Ike's family. It is messy. I like messy families. His ability had affected them all their lives, not just him. The different members have approached it in different ways. Some hostile, some painful some loving.
- The romance - sexy and sweet.
What I didn't like:
Too much trauma drama - Ike is a recovering alcoholic (7 years sober), he has his psychic ability that is another form of stress for him on all fronts. He is also the victim of an overly aggressive, sexually predatory co-worker who just won't leave him the fuck alone and can't take no for an answer. Syd is, imo, over-damselled. she is a domestic violence victim on the run and in hiding, she is also the witness to a violent murder as is now being actively hunted and terrorized by the murderer. Also
Spoiler
Syd is still married and her husband has found her and is taunting and gas-lighting herThat is... a lot... to pack into a small book like this.
Also some stuff just made no sense
Spoiler
The men that Sydney saw committing the actual murder, that she could positively identify, were themselves later killed by their boss for being sloppy. So they were dead. She couldn't identify the boss he was nowhere on the scene. So why is he trying to remove her as a witness? Setting car bombs for people who could be her is excessive and overkill and makes no sense for a supposedly smart crime boss. Especially since she could not identify him!!It is that illogical plotting and the extra-stuffed stuff that actually took what was shaping up to be a great romance with a nice paranormal touch and decent suspense element into the 'too, too much' category for me and dimmed quite a bit of my enjoyment.
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