Saturday, May 2, 2009

Book Review -- Red

Jordan Summers is the author from which I won the box o' books. I'm so thankful she included one of her own books in that box! Red (Dead World, Book 1) is the first in her Dead World series. Genre is Romance (man-woman) with sub-genres of paranormal and fantasy. "What if Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf turned out to be the same person?" Intrigued? I sure was.

Red introduces the reader to Gina Santiago who is a member of an elite team in charge of protecting the world. When a crime scene doesn't add up Gina takes it upon herself to investigate. That lands her in Morgan Hunter's town. A small town full of secrets. The more Gina learns, the more she realizes she has a secret too. (Published November 2008 by Tor Classics - Paperback Edition - 356 pages)

The second book Scarlet comes out in June 2009 while the third book Crimson is due out in November.

I was sucked in from word one, page one by this well paced story! A futuristic paranormal romance that was dark, hopeful, and sexy all rolled into one. You have a kick-a$$ heroine and hero that is sexy, tough, noble, and empathetic.

Red is an intense story with compelling characters who endear themselves from page one. Summers has crafted a complex story with a suspenseful plot as important to the story as the steamy romance. The author's website describes her writing as supernatural, urban fantasy, contemporary/suspense, and erotic romance. I'd have to agree this series launch is all that.

-- I need to stress that this book contains some very dark passages. When I read the first chapter of this story I could have easily been starting a murder-thriller. The parts of the story told from the serial killer's point of view, written in first person, put you inside his head, showing in no uncertain terms how demented the villain is.

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