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ASI #1
Mind Over Matter
Rebecca McKenney grieved the loss of her daughter for three years. Now, a vision showing Sabrina three years older, suggests her baby is still alive, and the FBI agent who gave up the search is the only one who can help find her. Special Agent Dan Cooper is haunted by a tragic mistake made early in the investigation of Sabrina's disappearance. Now to ease his conscience he agrees to help Rebecca search. Together they fight inner demons, all to real bad guys, and an attraction neither wants to admit to. Each step closer to finding Sabrina is a step deeper into deception and evil. Can Rebecca and Dan save Sabrina before it's too late?
180 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 8, 2011
I got this book to read and review from Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! I just want to start by saying I liked this book a lot. It was like a breath of fresh air. But I had some problems with the way the author sprung things on us. I just started reading when I was plunged into a vision. The romance between the main characters came the same way. The Indian spirit, Bree's powers, Carrie's abilities-they all left me reeling. The other issue I had was the lack of detail on Dan's team. They were such an interesting bunch and I would have liked to know more about them other than so and so "knew a lot of guys". Other than that I really liked the book, especially Rebecca's pain, her failure to cope and how she became a misfit..that was all beautifully described. Looking forward to the next installment!
December 11, 2011
This was a great read, very enjoyable.
It is an adult book, while not explicit it does contain scenes with adult material. It is not my typical genre, while I would say it had paranormal elements I do wish that was explored more since that is what I typically read. This story was an action packed mystery/thriller.
Rebecca is a mother who's daughter Bree was kidnapped three years ago. Obviously distraught that nothing seems to be happening with her case. Then an old physic ability comes back and she has a few visions pertaining to Bree's disappearance which forces Rebecca to track down Dan who was previously the FBI agent in charge of her case. Dan never got over Bree's case and Rebecca after leaving the FBI he became a PI and Rebecca tracks him down to ask for his help. Dan doesn't believe that Rebecca is having visions but sparks fly once again between the two and they begin to investigate the case together.
My only other constructive opinion would be that I wished it was a little longer so we could have heard more about Dan's team. Very interesting group that one I would read more about them if this is a series.
Overall I give it 3.5 stars.
As always thank you to the read and review program from Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! And Ms. S.J. Clark for offering her book to us!
It is an adult book, while not explicit it does contain scenes with adult material. It is not my typical genre, while I would say it had paranormal elements I do wish that was explored more since that is what I typically read. This story was an action packed mystery/thriller.
Rebecca is a mother who's daughter Bree was kidnapped three years ago. Obviously distraught that nothing seems to be happening with her case. Then an old physic ability comes back and she has a few visions pertaining to Bree's disappearance which forces Rebecca to track down Dan who was previously the FBI agent in charge of her case. Dan never got over Bree's case and Rebecca after leaving the FBI he became a PI and Rebecca tracks him down to ask for his help. Dan doesn't believe that Rebecca is having visions but sparks fly once again between the two and they begin to investigate the case together.
My only other constructive opinion would be that I wished it was a little longer so we could have heard more about Dan's team. Very interesting group that one I would read more about them if this is a series.
Overall I give it 3.5 stars.
As always thank you to the read and review program from Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! And Ms. S.J. Clark for offering her book to us!
March 3, 2012
4-4.5 stars.
I really liked this book. The first in a new series of paranormal romantic suspense by S.J. Clarke, 'Mind Over Matter' was well written and unfolded at a great pace. I particularly enjoyed how different points of view were introduced as the story progressed.
Set in a small town outside of Phoenix, Arizona, we first meet Rebecca, a grieving mother whose daughter has been missing for three years. Rebecca, understandably, is emotionally fragile and refuses to accept the possibility that her daughter is dead, even though many in her town ridicule and frown upon her inability to let go. After experiencing two visions (it turns out that Rebecca is psychically gifted), one of which shows her daughter aged three years older from the last time she was seen, she is even more convinced her daughter is alive and she turns to the former FBI agent, Dan Cooper, who headed the missing persons case for help. Now a member of a Anderson Security, Inc. (ASI), Dan agrees to help Rebecca and a story of gripping suspense involving a large-scale cover up and a sinister cult ensues.
One of the great things about this book was the "need-to-know" basis in which Clarke keeps the reader. Apart from speculation, very few details are given away before they become relevant to the plot. For instance, an attraction is implied between Dan and Rebecca, but we don't know anything about how long-standing it's been is or serious it is until well after their first "in-book" meeting. Also, we are given hints about a previous marriage that Rebecca was in at the time of her daughter's disappearance but the details are released slowly and sparingly until we absolutely "need-to-know". These kinds of clever details left me in a pretty much constant state of, dare I say, suspense waiting for my questions to be answered.
The paranormal element to this book, I felt, was quite well done. Nothing was too over-the-top or overdone. It revolves around the psychic abilities of several characters, in addition to Rebecca, and hopefully the questions, involving cults and prophecies that were left hanging at the end of this book will be answered as the series progresses. I, for one, will definitely be checking out the next book!
I really liked this book. The first in a new series of paranormal romantic suspense by S.J. Clarke, 'Mind Over Matter' was well written and unfolded at a great pace. I particularly enjoyed how different points of view were introduced as the story progressed.
Set in a small town outside of Phoenix, Arizona, we first meet Rebecca, a grieving mother whose daughter has been missing for three years. Rebecca, understandably, is emotionally fragile and refuses to accept the possibility that her daughter is dead, even though many in her town ridicule and frown upon her inability to let go. After experiencing two visions (it turns out that Rebecca is psychically gifted), one of which shows her daughter aged three years older from the last time she was seen, she is even more convinced her daughter is alive and she turns to the former FBI agent, Dan Cooper, who headed the missing persons case for help. Now a member of a Anderson Security, Inc. (ASI), Dan agrees to help Rebecca and a story of gripping suspense involving a large-scale cover up and a sinister cult ensues.
One of the great things about this book was the "need-to-know" basis in which Clarke keeps the reader. Apart from speculation, very few details are given away before they become relevant to the plot. For instance, an attraction is implied between Dan and Rebecca, but we don't know anything about how long-standing it's been is or serious it is until well after their first "in-book" meeting. Also, we are given hints about a previous marriage that Rebecca was in at the time of her daughter's disappearance but the details are released slowly and sparingly until we absolutely "need-to-know". These kinds of clever details left me in a pretty much constant state of, dare I say, suspense waiting for my questions to be answered.
The paranormal element to this book, I felt, was quite well done. Nothing was too over-the-top or overdone. It revolves around the psychic abilities of several characters, in addition to Rebecca, and hopefully the questions, involving cults and prophecies that were left hanging at the end of this book will be answered as the series progresses. I, for one, will definitely be checking out the next book!
November 26, 2011
Mind Over Matter is a story about a woman named Rebecca McKenney , we find out fast that Rebecca is grieving the loss of her daughter Sabrina who was abducted 3 years ago and is still missing. She knows people in her small town think she should admit defeat and come to the realization that Sabrina is most likely dead, Rebecca knows her daughter is alive.
Having breakfast at a local restaurant one morning she sees a picture on a milk carton of a missing girl seeing this is a catalyst that brings on two very strong and fast visions one after another. First she sees the young girl on the milk carton alive; her second vision is her daughter 3 years older. Here we find out this is not the first time Rebecca has had visions.
This leads her to looking up the agent who worked her case 3 years ago. Finding out he has left FBI she tracks him down to his own firm called Anderson Securities. Agent Dan Cooper feels guilty as he knows he made a very grave mistake early on in his investigation, he understands the helplessness Rebecca feels. He agrees and he does warn Rebecca that he doesn’t believe in her visions he thinks it more or less stress related. This novel is what I would classify as a mystery, suspense, paranormal and romance all wrapped up in one very good book.
I found myself drawn to this story as you want to know more turning each page the suspense, secrets, lies, cover up, the townspeople, her ex-husband who isn’t who he said he is, even her close friend.
This is the first book in the Anderson Securities and it’s the first book written by S.J. Clarke. I will say I cannot wait to see what happens in this series and I definitely will buy book two.
Having breakfast at a local restaurant one morning she sees a picture on a milk carton of a missing girl seeing this is a catalyst that brings on two very strong and fast visions one after another. First she sees the young girl on the milk carton alive; her second vision is her daughter 3 years older. Here we find out this is not the first time Rebecca has had visions.
This leads her to looking up the agent who worked her case 3 years ago. Finding out he has left FBI she tracks him down to his own firm called Anderson Securities. Agent Dan Cooper feels guilty as he knows he made a very grave mistake early on in his investigation, he understands the helplessness Rebecca feels. He agrees and he does warn Rebecca that he doesn’t believe in her visions he thinks it more or less stress related. This novel is what I would classify as a mystery, suspense, paranormal and romance all wrapped up in one very good book.
I found myself drawn to this story as you want to know more turning each page the suspense, secrets, lies, cover up, the townspeople, her ex-husband who isn’t who he said he is, even her close friend.
This is the first book in the Anderson Securities and it’s the first book written by S.J. Clarke. I will say I cannot wait to see what happens in this series and I definitely will buy book two.
December 8, 2011
I received this book as a part of Read 2 Review.
This story happens to be in the genre I love the most, mystery and thriller. It was a little of each with what I would say had a dash of paranormal to spice it up. As a crime/police procedural/mystery/thriller enthusiast, I would have to say this book was a little predicable to me. However with that said, I still enjoyed it.
I find a lot of time I have a problem with the development of romance in indie novels. This story edged the borders of that for me. There was a plausible explanation for the quick romance, but something still bugged me a bit about it.
I would have wished a bit more development of Dan’s team. There were interesting character’s introduced in ways where I wondered about them throughout the story expecting to learn more about them. Then at the end, I was disappointed not to learn more especially Finn and Kaden.
The paranormal element I also found to be light. Psychic type phenomenon is common even in books not in the paranormal genre. By the end, we learned more that could bring up the paranormal element higher but alas it was the end. I’m not sure if this is stand alone or a series. If a series, I assume we would learn more. If it’s standalone it’s a bit disappointing.
Although I pointed out things that bothered me, I did enjoy reading this book. I would give it 3.5 stars and felt it deserved to be rounded up. I didn’t find it a hardship to finish it. I would encourage those readers who are interested to read it and not reject it. In the end, I think they will be satisfied with the read.
This story happens to be in the genre I love the most, mystery and thriller. It was a little of each with what I would say had a dash of paranormal to spice it up. As a crime/police procedural/mystery/thriller enthusiast, I would have to say this book was a little predicable to me. However with that said, I still enjoyed it.
I find a lot of time I have a problem with the development of romance in indie novels. This story edged the borders of that for me. There was a plausible explanation for the quick romance, but something still bugged me a bit about it.
I would have wished a bit more development of Dan’s team. There were interesting character’s introduced in ways where I wondered about them throughout the story expecting to learn more about them. Then at the end, I was disappointed not to learn more especially Finn and Kaden.
The paranormal element I also found to be light. Psychic type phenomenon is common even in books not in the paranormal genre. By the end, we learned more that could bring up the paranormal element higher but alas it was the end. I’m not sure if this is stand alone or a series. If a series, I assume we would learn more. If it’s standalone it’s a bit disappointing.
Although I pointed out things that bothered me, I did enjoy reading this book. I would give it 3.5 stars and felt it deserved to be rounded up. I didn’t find it a hardship to finish it. I would encourage those readers who are interested to read it and not reject it. In the end, I think they will be satisfied with the read.
December 9, 2011
I really had no expectations from this book since this is Mrs S.J. Clarke's debut novel. All I really knew was that the book contains paranormal elements. But, now after reading it, I have to say I'm impressed!
The book is actually mystery/thriller with a bit of paranormal and it's a very enjoyable fast paced read. The story follows Rebecca, who's daughter disappeared three years ago,but she is starting to have strong visions that will lead her to many discoveries. Dan Cooper, former FBI agent who worked on the case previously but gave up the search,is deciding to help her out again. This time, they are on to something!
A body of another girl is found..
Another one is missing...
Rebecca's daughter is older in her visions, could it mean she is actually alive?
I have to say I'm a character driven reader, I want to "feel" the characters and relate to them. Well, the author sure succeeded in creating an original story with well developed characters. Being a mother myself, I could totally understand Rebecca's pain and her struggle to find Sabrina, and I sympathized with her greatly.
This sure is one of those books that will get you hooked from the first page, suck you in the story completely and leave you sad when you're done reading..because you would want to read more!
There is an adult content, I have to warn you on this (especially the younger population), and I found myself blushing few times, but even the romance parts were well written and implemented in the story just perfectly.
Finally I would like to thank the author and the R2R Program from PNR&UFF group on Goodreads for generously offering me a copy of this book.I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next installment. Since I got this one as an e-book I will most definitely buy the paperback as well because I know I would LOVE to reread it again and have it in my collection of books.
The book is actually mystery/thriller with a bit of paranormal and it's a very enjoyable fast paced read. The story follows Rebecca, who's daughter disappeared three years ago,but she is starting to have strong visions that will lead her to many discoveries. Dan Cooper, former FBI agent who worked on the case previously but gave up the search,is deciding to help her out again. This time, they are on to something!
A body of another girl is found..
Another one is missing...
Rebecca's daughter is older in her visions, could it mean she is actually alive?
I have to say I'm a character driven reader, I want to "feel" the characters and relate to them. Well, the author sure succeeded in creating an original story with well developed characters. Being a mother myself, I could totally understand Rebecca's pain and her struggle to find Sabrina, and I sympathized with her greatly.
This sure is one of those books that will get you hooked from the first page, suck you in the story completely and leave you sad when you're done reading..because you would want to read more!
There is an adult content, I have to warn you on this (especially the younger population), and I found myself blushing few times, but even the romance parts were well written and implemented in the story just perfectly.
Finally I would like to thank the author and the R2R Program from PNR&UFF group on Goodreads for generously offering me a copy of this book.I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next installment. Since I got this one as an e-book I will most definitely buy the paperback as well because I know I would LOVE to reread it again and have it in my collection of books.
November 10, 2011
I enjoyed this book in general. The story was interesting and kept me reading. There were a few spots where I felt the scene changes were too abrupt and a few spots where the characters made intuitive leaps that I didn't quite buy into.
I liked that the H and h had known and been attracted to each other before (at the start of the investigation 3 years before) so that their developing relationship didn't seem to be happening too fast. However, I thought that the thing that broke them up 2/3rds of the way was a bit contrived and I personally would have enjoyed the story better had they not had that break up. I like romantic suspense books better when the conflict is external and the H and h work together throughout to solve whatever the dilemma is. That may just be my foible of course.
There is quite a bit of psychic goings on here. Everything is not explained and it is obvious that more books will follow to root out all of this evil. A lot was left unexplained about why and how these people were psychic. I'm expecting more to come out about that in further books.
I did feel like the children involved were written too old for their ages. Also in my experience a child taken from her mother at 3 would no longer remember her mother 3 years later. Children's memories are just not that stable. I think there is plenty of evidence that shows this if you look at for example white children adopted into Native American families and later rescued in the 1800s. That's a minor quibble though and doesn't really impact my enjoyment of the story.
I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a reading and impartial review.
I liked that the H and h had known and been attracted to each other before (at the start of the investigation 3 years before) so that their developing relationship didn't seem to be happening too fast. However, I thought that the thing that broke them up 2/3rds of the way was a bit contrived and I personally would have enjoyed the story better had they not had that break up. I like romantic suspense books better when the conflict is external and the H and h work together throughout to solve whatever the dilemma is. That may just be my foible of course.
There is quite a bit of psychic goings on here. Everything is not explained and it is obvious that more books will follow to root out all of this evil. A lot was left unexplained about why and how these people were psychic. I'm expecting more to come out about that in further books.
I did feel like the children involved were written too old for their ages. Also in my experience a child taken from her mother at 3 would no longer remember her mother 3 years later. Children's memories are just not that stable. I think there is plenty of evidence that shows this if you look at for example white children adopted into Native American families and later rescued in the 1800s. That's a minor quibble though and doesn't really impact my enjoyment of the story.
I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a reading and impartial review.
December 11, 2011
3,5 stars
I must say I am not a mystery/thriller fan, especially I can't stand the ones with a perfect hero, cardboard characters and a cliche plot where in the end everything is HEA. But this was nothing like that, these characters were really strong and well developed. I easily felt the struggles and pain of Rebecca which hooked me up immediately. I am a goner for character driven plots.
Rebecca lost Bree, her daughter, three years ago and there was no trace of her. Dan was the FBI agent in the unsolved case, who is now working as a PI. Rebecca started to have visions and believed her vanished daughter to be alive. She hunted Dan and convienced him to help her. The tension they had was palpable and the romance and intimate scenes were well perched in the storyline which I appreciated.
Overall, it was an action packed, fast paced and a very enjoyable read. I thank SJ clarke and R2R for giving me this copy once again.
I must say I am not a mystery/thriller fan, especially I can't stand the ones with a perfect hero, cardboard characters and a cliche plot where in the end everything is HEA. But this was nothing like that, these characters were really strong and well developed. I easily felt the struggles and pain of Rebecca which hooked me up immediately. I am a goner for character driven plots.
Rebecca lost Bree, her daughter, three years ago and there was no trace of her. Dan was the FBI agent in the unsolved case, who is now working as a PI. Rebecca started to have visions and believed her vanished daughter to be alive. She hunted Dan and convienced him to help her. The tension they had was palpable and the romance and intimate scenes were well perched in the storyline which I appreciated.
Overall, it was an action packed, fast paced and a very enjoyable read. I thank SJ clarke and R2R for giving me this copy once again.
February 28, 2012
This story really gave me a lot to think about in the beginning. At the start, you are faced with Rebecca, a mother who lost her daughter three years ago, approximately. She was going through the motions of life, living as if her daughter were with her, but always reminded of her absence. She stayed in contact with all the authorities in order to keep the hope alive that some day she would be reunited with Sabrina (also called Bree). I was a little confused at first because she switched back and forth with referring to her daughter as Sabrina and Bree. It took a couple chapters for me to figure out they were the same person. Once that was clear, all I could think of was how horrible it must be to lose your child. I will be honest that there were moments when I had to stop reading because thoughts of losing my own son and then my marriage falling apart would drive me to tears. My heart was breaking for Rebecca as I read about her devotion to her child. What was more surprising was that her devtoion is to an adopted child. Sabrina is not hers by blood, but Rebecca loves her as if she were. That's not the case with her ex-husband and part of the reason he is her ex.
The story, if you couldn't tell from the first paragraph, moves quickly into the meat of it. There isn't a lot of time describing the characters or their past. That can be a positive and negative depending on how you like stories to flow. I liked that it jumped right in, but I was left confused at times trying to figure out what was happening. I will say that you do get enough information as you keep reading to figure it out. Everything is explained in due time. For instance, you do not find out what the "tragic mistake" is than Dan Cooper made until about 2/3 of the way through. He is very willing to help Rebecca immediately and you feel like it is mostly the physical attraction they have for each other, but his real motivation comes later. I won't tell you what that motivation is because it is a shocker worth finding out when reading. You will be amazed at who the culprits are and why they are kidnapping small children. Sabrina was just one of many.
You are probably wondering where the supernatural comes in. Rebecca has visions and is considered to be psychic. It turns out Sabrina is too, but she did not get that from Rebecca. This is really the only supernatural you will encounter in the story except for a brief glimpse of a ghost.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. It was a quick read. I read it in about 12 interrupted hours. If you enjoy reading about families that are separated and brought back together, this is definitely for you. There is a wonderful happy ending that will definitely make you smile.
The story, if you couldn't tell from the first paragraph, moves quickly into the meat of it. There isn't a lot of time describing the characters or their past. That can be a positive and negative depending on how you like stories to flow. I liked that it jumped right in, but I was left confused at times trying to figure out what was happening. I will say that you do get enough information as you keep reading to figure it out. Everything is explained in due time. For instance, you do not find out what the "tragic mistake" is than Dan Cooper made until about 2/3 of the way through. He is very willing to help Rebecca immediately and you feel like it is mostly the physical attraction they have for each other, but his real motivation comes later. I won't tell you what that motivation is because it is a shocker worth finding out when reading. You will be amazed at who the culprits are and why they are kidnapping small children. Sabrina was just one of many.
You are probably wondering where the supernatural comes in. Rebecca has visions and is considered to be psychic. It turns out Sabrina is too, but she did not get that from Rebecca. This is really the only supernatural you will encounter in the story except for a brief glimpse of a ghost.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. It was a quick read. I read it in about 12 interrupted hours. If you enjoy reading about families that are separated and brought back together, this is definitely for you. There is a wonderful happy ending that will definitely make you smile.
January 20, 2012
Review: Mind Over Matter by S.J. Clarke
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Mind Over Matter by S.J. Clarke is about a divorced woman whose daughter, Sabrina, was kidnapped 3 years earlier. Rebecca McKenney has a vision of Sabrina now, appropriately older. She is convinced that her daughter is in fact very much alive and goes to see the FBI agent in charge of the case years earlier.
Dan Cooper is the former FBI agent who was the lead on Sabrina's kidnapping case and because of a possible mistake he made 3 years earlier he agrees to help Rebecca pursue looking for her daughter now. He doesn't believe in Rebecca having any sort of psychic vision. As Dan and Rebecca begin to dig through all the old leads they start to find a very sinister conspiracy that goes back decades.
I gave Mind Over Matter 4 out of 5 stars as I did overall really enjoy the novel. I would have liked it to be a bit longer as I felt some of the plot points were a bit rushed. The digital edition of the book that I had was a short 160 pages and I felt what was there was overall well written.
I would have liked there to have been more time spent on what had happened to Sabrina during the three years from when she was kidnapped to present day. And why she was so important to the organization if you will. I also would have liked there to have been more dynamic character development.
Even though I thought the ending was fairly well written and much better than many I’ve read recently. I still would have liked to have more follow up with some of the minor characters at the end of the novel. Perhaps having an Epilogue to be able to more fully wrap up some ‘loose threads’ would have worked well. I’m deliberately being vague as I do not like to reveal too much information or ‘spoilers’ in my reviews.
Mind Over Matter is the first novel by S.J. Clarke and is available now.
~Jaclyn~
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and Bewitching Book Tours as part of their book tour. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Mind Over Matter by S.J. Clarke is about a divorced woman whose daughter, Sabrina, was kidnapped 3 years earlier. Rebecca McKenney has a vision of Sabrina now, appropriately older. She is convinced that her daughter is in fact very much alive and goes to see the FBI agent in charge of the case years earlier.
Dan Cooper is the former FBI agent who was the lead on Sabrina's kidnapping case and because of a possible mistake he made 3 years earlier he agrees to help Rebecca pursue looking for her daughter now. He doesn't believe in Rebecca having any sort of psychic vision. As Dan and Rebecca begin to dig through all the old leads they start to find a very sinister conspiracy that goes back decades.
I gave Mind Over Matter 4 out of 5 stars as I did overall really enjoy the novel. I would have liked it to be a bit longer as I felt some of the plot points were a bit rushed. The digital edition of the book that I had was a short 160 pages and I felt what was there was overall well written.
I would have liked there to have been more time spent on what had happened to Sabrina during the three years from when she was kidnapped to present day. And why she was so important to the organization if you will. I also would have liked there to have been more dynamic character development.
Even though I thought the ending was fairly well written and much better than many I’ve read recently. I still would have liked to have more follow up with some of the minor characters at the end of the novel. Perhaps having an Epilogue to be able to more fully wrap up some ‘loose threads’ would have worked well. I’m deliberately being vague as I do not like to reveal too much information or ‘spoilers’ in my reviews.
Mind Over Matter is the first novel by S.J. Clarke and is available now.
~Jaclyn~
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and Bewitching Book Tours as part of their book tour. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.
November 11, 2011
Kiki & Jules Reviews
Jules Rating : 5 Stars
Mind Over Matter is book 1 in the Anderson Securities Series, and first book for author S.J. Clarke, and a fabulous start to a series!!
Rebecca McKenney is a mother whose daughter was abducted, and 3 years have pasted with no trace or clue, until her psychic visions re-start. Rebecca turns to the Agent Dan Cooper, who led her case with the FBI, but left and has started his security firm. You feel the loss and pain, the helplessness Rebecca feels about losing her daughter. Then visions of her daughter, looking older and calling out for her, on top of other children that have been abducted are heart wrenching. And poses the question, is Sabrina still alive, are the other girls also? When Dan agrees to work with Rebecca again, the feelings and sexual tension,that had been left to simmer, come to a head. A very twisted plot comes to light, with a group of towns people, an ex-husband, who isn't who he says he is, even her closet childhood friend. Hidden secrets boil to the surface, secrets that are dangerous and deadly about a cult.
This is a fast paced, very suspenseful paranormal romance. You get hints of the strong feelings between Rebecca and Dan. You want to know what happened between them in the pass. This is a mystery to solve, a great puzzle to figure out. You get bits and pieces here and there, never when you are expecting them, this book keeps you thinking and guessing until the very end. I loved this book, and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series. Clarke writes a very well written book, that flows wonderful, if my daughter hadn't have been sick, I would have finished this in 1 day!
Happy Reading
~Jules
Jules Rating : 5 Stars
Mind Over Matter is book 1 in the Anderson Securities Series, and first book for author S.J. Clarke, and a fabulous start to a series!!
Rebecca McKenney is a mother whose daughter was abducted, and 3 years have pasted with no trace or clue, until her psychic visions re-start. Rebecca turns to the Agent Dan Cooper, who led her case with the FBI, but left and has started his security firm. You feel the loss and pain, the helplessness Rebecca feels about losing her daughter. Then visions of her daughter, looking older and calling out for her, on top of other children that have been abducted are heart wrenching. And poses the question, is Sabrina still alive, are the other girls also? When Dan agrees to work with Rebecca again, the feelings and sexual tension,that had been left to simmer, come to a head. A very twisted plot comes to light, with a group of towns people, an ex-husband, who isn't who he says he is, even her closet childhood friend. Hidden secrets boil to the surface, secrets that are dangerous and deadly about a cult.
This is a fast paced, very suspenseful paranormal romance. You get hints of the strong feelings between Rebecca and Dan. You want to know what happened between them in the pass. This is a mystery to solve, a great puzzle to figure out. You get bits and pieces here and there, never when you are expecting them, this book keeps you thinking and guessing until the very end. I loved this book, and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series. Clarke writes a very well written book, that flows wonderful, if my daughter hadn't have been sick, I would have finished this in 1 day!
Happy Reading
~Jules
February 23, 2012
My Thoughts:
Wow! I loved this book. A mother's worst nightmare is a kidnapped child. As a single mother I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Well-written with wonderful characters, a chilling plot, lost love, betrayal on a number of levels, and a little bit of romance too!
The author has created a world in which Rebecca has isolated herself and her grief. A world where she struggles to stay focused on the present and not dwell too much on the past. She has few friends, a lot of anger, some coping struggles, and a psychic connection that could either help her save her child or put her in the nuthouse. We are given detailed descriptions of the town and the lifestyles of the people who live in it - which lends to the reader become submersed in the story from the very start.
The characters are realistic (Dan may be too good to be true, but realistic enough as we all want him to be real) and easy to invest in as you are instantly pulled into the story. The characters are so well developed that they seem almost real and your heart goes out to those who are struggling. Rebecca is courageous, stubborn, and willing to risk EVERYTHING for the life of her daughter. The "bad guys" are delightfully nasty and unappealing - the kind of villain that a reader loves to hate.
The mysterious group of people who hold Rebecca's daughter are a complex mix; ranging in age and power levels. The identity of a few of them is shocking! The levels of betrayal, misplaced trust and belief is staggering. The story is both nicely planned and paced, seems to flow from the pages.
Well worth the read - parent or no - you don't want to miss out on this one.
Wow! I loved this book. A mother's worst nightmare is a kidnapped child. As a single mother I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Well-written with wonderful characters, a chilling plot, lost love, betrayal on a number of levels, and a little bit of romance too!
The author has created a world in which Rebecca has isolated herself and her grief. A world where she struggles to stay focused on the present and not dwell too much on the past. She has few friends, a lot of anger, some coping struggles, and a psychic connection that could either help her save her child or put her in the nuthouse. We are given detailed descriptions of the town and the lifestyles of the people who live in it - which lends to the reader become submersed in the story from the very start.
The characters are realistic (Dan may be too good to be true, but realistic enough as we all want him to be real) and easy to invest in as you are instantly pulled into the story. The characters are so well developed that they seem almost real and your heart goes out to those who are struggling. Rebecca is courageous, stubborn, and willing to risk EVERYTHING for the life of her daughter. The "bad guys" are delightfully nasty and unappealing - the kind of villain that a reader loves to hate.
The mysterious group of people who hold Rebecca's daughter are a complex mix; ranging in age and power levels. The identity of a few of them is shocking! The levels of betrayal, misplaced trust and belief is staggering. The story is both nicely planned and paced, seems to flow from the pages.
Well worth the read - parent or no - you don't want to miss out on this one.
November 20, 2011
The moment I started this book I could tell it was going to be good. Rebecca McKenney, a mourning mother, had never given up even three years after her daughter had been kidnapped. After a surprise vision showing her daughter was still alive brought back hope that she could find her for good this time. With the investigated help of Dan Cooper they set out to find Sabrina. The book was well written. I liked the Twilight reference. I found myself smiling at that. But, unfortunately, I felt that the most important part was rushed. The confrontation was written like the author was so excited that she quickly wrote it all down. I had to go back and re-read a couple sentences since it seemed like I missed some parts. They were mentioned so quickly. If the confrontation part was re-written to make it longer, it would be much better. I really enjoyed the ending. Throughout the book whenever I read parts about Rebecca talking about Sabrina I got the goosebumps. Very rare for a book to do that to me. “Damn you,” Rebecca shouted. “You have no idea. You don’t have a gaping hole in your heart, or wake up crying every night hugging a damn pillow instead of your child.” My favourite line. I was going to give this book 3+ stars, but the ending made up for the fast pace confrontation scene. Well done.
July 21, 2012
Mind over Matter by S.J. Clarke.
This is a romantic suspense story with paranormal aspects as described by the author. Rebecca McKenneys daughter was kidnapped at the age of 3. Everyone except Rebecca has accepted the fact that she is gone for good. Now she is having visions that her little girl is alive but in grave danger. Enter Dan Cooper, the former FBI agent who Rebecca claims gave up too soon. Dan is now an independent security consultant whom Rebecca approaches with new information that would help reopen the case.
Sparks fly between them as they discover their mutual attraction while searching for her daughter.
This is one of those books that is very hard to put down. There is plenty of suspense and a great romance between the two characters. I love stories with happy endings after a long fought battle to save children. Mind over matter has all of this and more that while simultaneously keeps you on the edge of your seat turning page after page and heading toward a cold shower. 5 gold stars for this one. Bravo to the author.
This is a romantic suspense story with paranormal aspects as described by the author. Rebecca McKenneys daughter was kidnapped at the age of 3. Everyone except Rebecca has accepted the fact that she is gone for good. Now she is having visions that her little girl is alive but in grave danger. Enter Dan Cooper, the former FBI agent who Rebecca claims gave up too soon. Dan is now an independent security consultant whom Rebecca approaches with new information that would help reopen the case.
Sparks fly between them as they discover their mutual attraction while searching for her daughter.
This is one of those books that is very hard to put down. There is plenty of suspense and a great romance between the two characters. I love stories with happy endings after a long fought battle to save children. Mind over matter has all of this and more that while simultaneously keeps you on the edge of your seat turning page after page and heading toward a cold shower. 5 gold stars for this one. Bravo to the author.
September 21, 2012
I read this book for Promotional Book Tours
This book proves that a mother's love is an undying love. Everyone wanted Rebecca to just accept the fact her daughter had died and move on. How does one really move on from the death of a child? Rebecca never gave up hope. She knew her daughter was alive somewhere and was determined to find her no matter what it took. That is a mother's love.
While Rebecca and Dan were following all the clues to finding Sabrina they were also fighting their attraction to each other. Love doesn't always wait for the most opportune time to show up. They had their rough patches but again love prevails.
I really enjoyed this book. It moved at just the right pace. The only thing I didn't like about this book was at the very beginning. The author nicknamed Sabrina as Bree. It took me a bit to realize Bree wasn't a whole other character. I don't think Bree when I think of a nickname for Sabrina. That could just be me though.
This book proves that a mother's love is an undying love. Everyone wanted Rebecca to just accept the fact her daughter had died and move on. How does one really move on from the death of a child? Rebecca never gave up hope. She knew her daughter was alive somewhere and was determined to find her no matter what it took. That is a mother's love.
While Rebecca and Dan were following all the clues to finding Sabrina they were also fighting their attraction to each other. Love doesn't always wait for the most opportune time to show up. They had their rough patches but again love prevails.
I really enjoyed this book. It moved at just the right pace. The only thing I didn't like about this book was at the very beginning. The author nicknamed Sabrina as Bree. It took me a bit to realize Bree wasn't a whole other character. I don't think Bree when I think of a nickname for Sabrina. That could just be me though.
November 25, 2011
Rebecca's daughter was kidnapped 3 years ago and Agent Dan Cooper was the lead investigator on the case. Due to a recent vision, Rebecca believes that Sabrina is still alive. Rebecca asks Dan to help her find her daughter before it is too late.
Overall, I liked the book. It was an easy and fast read. The progression of the relationships were believable and the storyline was solid. There were a few leaps of logic the characters took that I was left behind on, but I liked the slow reveal of certain details. It kept me reading, not once was I tempted to skip along to the next paragraph or skim the book (this happens sometimes when I find the book predictable.)
Thanks to R2R for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall, I liked the book. It was an easy and fast read. The progression of the relationships were believable and the storyline was solid. There were a few leaps of logic the characters took that I was left behind on, but I liked the slow reveal of certain details. It kept me reading, not once was I tempted to skip along to the next paragraph or skim the book (this happens sometimes when I find the book predictable.)
Thanks to R2R for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Read
December 10, 2011I really enjoyed this book. I got it from Read 2 Review:)
I loved the characters and the plot. I felt that it had just the right amount of romance and they didn't just shack up right away, they built up to it, something that books now seem to lack. It was a great read, I would definitely recommend it:)
I loved the characters and the plot. I felt that it had just the right amount of romance and they didn't just shack up right away, they built up to it, something that books now seem to lack. It was a great read, I would definitely recommend it:)
November 29, 2011
Please see Jules review because I totally agree with her and would say the exact same thing!!
July 23, 2012
This isn't a genre I normally read but I really enjoyed this book. It's well written, has good pacing and strong characters.
March 5, 2012
Action packed, suspenseful and some great sexual tension thrown in for flavour! Loved it!
October 9, 2023
Plenty of heart, but things are not what they seem in the small nearby town.
Fast paced and heartbreaking, I never suspected that a number of the local folks could be involved in child abductions and eventual murder. What a duplicitous community of nefarious individuals!
Fast paced and heartbreaking, I never suspected that a number of the local folks could be involved in child abductions and eventual murder. What a duplicitous community of nefarious individuals!
November 9, 2023
Loved this
This one is a real page turner, I couldn’t put it down. The hint of paranormal just made it better. There was plenty action and suspense, I really recommend it.
This one is a real page turner, I couldn’t put it down. The hint of paranormal just made it better. There was plenty action and suspense, I really recommend it.
April 25, 2024
Just part way through stopped liking Rebecca.
December 18, 2011
In all honesty, I struggled with the rating of this novel as, for me, it simply didn’t inspire much of anything. I thought the book was okay but it certainly wasn’t a winner in my personal opinion. The main problem I had with the novel was that I didn’t connect with the story. I believe this was marketed wrong as, while it does have paranormal elements it certainly isn’t first and foremost a paranormal story and this certainly threw me. It looks like the next few books in the series will go into that side of the story more but this book just didn’t dive into the paranormal enough for me to enjoy that side of it.
That being said, this is not a bad book. It is not one that I simply could not finish because it was too horrid. It had an interesting, and somewhat, engaging storyline and it is possible to see that it has been well thought-out. It is also possible to see that it is a necessary ground-building book. One that is leading on to something bigger and better (or at least, this is something I hope it is doing!). I am definitely intrigued enough to say that I would read the second book in the series as soon as it becomes available, even if I didn’t particularly enjoy it, my curiosity has peaked.
The characters in this novel are fairly well-written and for the most part are believable. There were a few times, however, when I cringed over the actions of some characters as it just seemed too unbelievable that, that would happen. But, for the most part, and especially most importantly, all of the main characters seem realistic enough and work well together. It is clear to see how the romance between the tow main characters isn’t too forced as the pair have a history together (even if it does sometimes feel a little incredible that, that history would have happened) but, at least there was a back story for without it, this romance would have surely failed.
Generally speaking, this novel was well-written. It had the odd scenario here and there that went over my head and those few adult-only sections which secluded it from being a young-adult read, but it wasn’t a hard read. It just wasn’t particularly enjoyable, for me. I would not stop others from reading it as while I may dislike it, another may love it. This is the way the cookie crumbles, yes? I just hope that in the next novel of this series that it fills up some of the plot holes and confusing parts of the paranormal side of things as this was never fully explained and had to sort of just be taken as it was told.
All in all, this is a novel for adult readers who like mystery/thriller/crime novels but want something that bends those rules slightly to involve paranormal instances as well. It is an interesting read and one that could lead on to something better. A good, build-up novel.
That being said, this is not a bad book. It is not one that I simply could not finish because it was too horrid. It had an interesting, and somewhat, engaging storyline and it is possible to see that it has been well thought-out. It is also possible to see that it is a necessary ground-building book. One that is leading on to something bigger and better (or at least, this is something I hope it is doing!). I am definitely intrigued enough to say that I would read the second book in the series as soon as it becomes available, even if I didn’t particularly enjoy it, my curiosity has peaked.
The characters in this novel are fairly well-written and for the most part are believable. There were a few times, however, when I cringed over the actions of some characters as it just seemed too unbelievable that, that would happen. But, for the most part, and especially most importantly, all of the main characters seem realistic enough and work well together. It is clear to see how the romance between the tow main characters isn’t too forced as the pair have a history together (even if it does sometimes feel a little incredible that, that history would have happened) but, at least there was a back story for without it, this romance would have surely failed.
Generally speaking, this novel was well-written. It had the odd scenario here and there that went over my head and those few adult-only sections which secluded it from being a young-adult read, but it wasn’t a hard read. It just wasn’t particularly enjoyable, for me. I would not stop others from reading it as while I may dislike it, another may love it. This is the way the cookie crumbles, yes? I just hope that in the next novel of this series that it fills up some of the plot holes and confusing parts of the paranormal side of things as this was never fully explained and had to sort of just be taken as it was told.
All in all, this is a novel for adult readers who like mystery/thriller/crime novels but want something that bends those rules slightly to involve paranormal instances as well. It is an interesting read and one that could lead on to something better. A good, build-up novel.
December 10, 2011
To see this review and others like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com
I think this book was exactly what I needed today. It was one part mystery, one part romance, and one part supernatural. The supernatural in this book is not nearly as heavy as it is in a lot of the urban fantasy or paranormal romance that I review, but that isn't to say it isn't there. The supernatural in question is psychic abilities.
The book deal with some pretty heavy subject matter, the main character Rebecca is trying to just exist after her daughter was kidnapped nearly three year prior to the beginning of the book. Rebecca does however get visions, and one day while at the neighborhood diner gets a vision about another missing girl. And then almost as suddenly she gets a vision of an aged version of her daughter, Bree. This vision gives her the push to really pick up the search for her daughter and leads her to Dan, the FBI agent who was the lead on Sabrina's case to begin with.
Part of the reason why I like this book is because I like mysteries, and this book reads like a mystery book with all the added flare the supernatural elements bring to it. I really like the characters, Rebecca is a very strong woman who is willing to do anything to find her daughter, but that doesn't mean that having her daughter being kidnapped hasn't taken its tole on her. From the beginning of the book it is clear Rebecca is doing whatever she can to hold on to the idea that her daughter is alive and pushing herself to continue on with her search.
Dan is a great character too. He is really kind and caring towards Rebecca, and you can tell her has an honest desire to find Sabrina and help Rebecca. I also find it refreshing that he didn't just buy into the "Rebecca having visions" but instead of being just a complete skeptic he listens to her and even goes out with her to help her prove her vision one way or the other.
The book is a really good read, and a great mystery to follow along with. Clarke gives you just enough hints to the culprit as it goes along to let the reader form their own ideas about who did it but still leaves the reader hanging enough to make them want to know and understand the whole plot behind it all. I would say that if you are looking for a good mystery this is definitely a book you want to consider. I also think if you are someone who likes romance or urban fantasy this is also a book you would like. I hope you check it out.
I think this book was exactly what I needed today. It was one part mystery, one part romance, and one part supernatural. The supernatural in this book is not nearly as heavy as it is in a lot of the urban fantasy or paranormal romance that I review, but that isn't to say it isn't there. The supernatural in question is psychic abilities.
The book deal with some pretty heavy subject matter, the main character Rebecca is trying to just exist after her daughter was kidnapped nearly three year prior to the beginning of the book. Rebecca does however get visions, and one day while at the neighborhood diner gets a vision about another missing girl. And then almost as suddenly she gets a vision of an aged version of her daughter, Bree. This vision gives her the push to really pick up the search for her daughter and leads her to Dan, the FBI agent who was the lead on Sabrina's case to begin with.
Part of the reason why I like this book is because I like mysteries, and this book reads like a mystery book with all the added flare the supernatural elements bring to it. I really like the characters, Rebecca is a very strong woman who is willing to do anything to find her daughter, but that doesn't mean that having her daughter being kidnapped hasn't taken its tole on her. From the beginning of the book it is clear Rebecca is doing whatever she can to hold on to the idea that her daughter is alive and pushing herself to continue on with her search.
Dan is a great character too. He is really kind and caring towards Rebecca, and you can tell her has an honest desire to find Sabrina and help Rebecca. I also find it refreshing that he didn't just buy into the "Rebecca having visions" but instead of being just a complete skeptic he listens to her and even goes out with her to help her prove her vision one way or the other.
The book is a really good read, and a great mystery to follow along with. Clarke gives you just enough hints to the culprit as it goes along to let the reader form their own ideas about who did it but still leaves the reader hanging enough to make them want to know and understand the whole plot behind it all. I would say that if you are looking for a good mystery this is definitely a book you want to consider. I also think if you are someone who likes romance or urban fantasy this is also a book you would like. I hope you check it out.
December 19, 2011
Mind Over Matter is something different from your normal paranormal romance. (See Parajunkee’s article:The Paranormal Romance Dilemma) First off this book isn’t about a 20 something virgin with special powers. Thank God. That always gets me in this genre. I know very few people who make it past their teens with their “V card.” It’s about a mother. How often do you see that? And doesn’t have one vamp or werewolf in it. NONE. While I do love vamps and virgins (?), it was really refreshing to not have those cross the pages of this book.
What did it have? A woman who has not tapped into her psychic powers and a former FBI agent. Rebecca gets visions, knock her over in public, visions. They are about her little girl who has been missing for three years. These visions drive her to go back to the FBI agent that she thinks has abandoned her and her search. This is where Dan comes into the picture. Instantly, we know they have/had a thing for each other. And this is truly when Rebecca’s search for her little girl starts.
I really liked S. J. Clarke’s creativity. I didn’t once think, “oh I’ve read this a million times.”
What I didn’t like was the beginning. I’m sorry to say but it just didn’t grab me for a long while. And Dan and Rebecca’s relationship at the beginning was too fast and easy. I got tired of Dan’s cheesiness. But thankfully I kept reading and really enjoyed what I found from the middle on. At times there was a little bit of clumsiness with the sentences which made them hard to read. This didn’t happen all that often but enough for me to notice.
I would really like to see a prequel short story like so many authors are doing now days. I think if we had a short story about maybe the day after Dan left the first time or about the day Rebecca found out Sabrina was missing would make the beginning so much better.
I’m also going to continue reading the series. It seemed like everything was wrapped up nicely at the end of this one so I’m interested to see how she’ll turn this into a series.
Because of the beginning I’m giving this a shaky 4 stars. But it doesn’t deserve less than 4.
What did it have? A woman who has not tapped into her psychic powers and a former FBI agent. Rebecca gets visions, knock her over in public, visions. They are about her little girl who has been missing for three years. These visions drive her to go back to the FBI agent that she thinks has abandoned her and her search. This is where Dan comes into the picture. Instantly, we know they have/had a thing for each other. And this is truly when Rebecca’s search for her little girl starts.
I really liked S. J. Clarke’s creativity. I didn’t once think, “oh I’ve read this a million times.”
What I didn’t like was the beginning. I’m sorry to say but it just didn’t grab me for a long while. And Dan and Rebecca’s relationship at the beginning was too fast and easy. I got tired of Dan’s cheesiness. But thankfully I kept reading and really enjoyed what I found from the middle on. At times there was a little bit of clumsiness with the sentences which made them hard to read. This didn’t happen all that often but enough for me to notice.
I would really like to see a prequel short story like so many authors are doing now days. I think if we had a short story about maybe the day after Dan left the first time or about the day Rebecca found out Sabrina was missing would make the beginning so much better.
I’m also going to continue reading the series. It seemed like everything was wrapped up nicely at the end of this one so I’m interested to see how she’ll turn this into a series.
Because of the beginning I’m giving this a shaky 4 stars. But it doesn’t deserve less than 4.
November 28, 2011
Rebecca McKenney has spent the last three years grieving the loss of her daughter, Bree, who vanished without a trace. Now she is shocked by a vision of her daughter looking older and still very much alive. She turns to the FBI agent who was assigned to her case three years earlier and hopes that his connection to Bree will be enough pull him back into the search. Dan Cooper, haunted by a mistake he made during the original investigation agrees to help Rebecca and they are swept into a strange and unpredictable battle where no one is quite who they appear and there is a very real risk that if they don’t find Bree quickly enough more than one of them will not survive.
Full of engaging characters and an unpredictable plot, Mind Over Matter is an enjoyable read that drew me in from the very first page. I found myself connecting to the main characters, particularly because they are depicted with a realistic blend of endearing qualities and negative personality traits. Rebecca’s determination and tenacity is tempered with the demons she battles on a daily basis. Dan’s passion and consistency are balanced by his tendency to let his emotions define his decisions.
Later in the story, the interrelationships between residents of Rebecca’s town and the geography of the area become paramount. I think this would be enhanced by more exposition earlier in the story to clearly situate Rebecca and Dan among the lesser characters and also the town as a whole. Additionally, once the reader starts to learn more about the nature of the kidnappers, I found myself wishing more time was devoted to the bigger picture leading up to Bree’s kidnapping. Perhaps this will be covered in future books in this series, but I think more details in this book would greatly enhance this story.
Even though the characters make some debatable intuitive leaps and there are some gaps in character development, the main criterion for me when reading a book is how engaged I am in the story and how eager I am to keep reading. In this, Mind Over matter is definitely a win and I am excited to read more by this author.
Full of engaging characters and an unpredictable plot, Mind Over Matter is an enjoyable read that drew me in from the very first page. I found myself connecting to the main characters, particularly because they are depicted with a realistic blend of endearing qualities and negative personality traits. Rebecca’s determination and tenacity is tempered with the demons she battles on a daily basis. Dan’s passion and consistency are balanced by his tendency to let his emotions define his decisions.
Later in the story, the interrelationships between residents of Rebecca’s town and the geography of the area become paramount. I think this would be enhanced by more exposition earlier in the story to clearly situate Rebecca and Dan among the lesser characters and also the town as a whole. Additionally, once the reader starts to learn more about the nature of the kidnappers, I found myself wishing more time was devoted to the bigger picture leading up to Bree’s kidnapping. Perhaps this will be covered in future books in this series, but I think more details in this book would greatly enhance this story.
Even though the characters make some debatable intuitive leaps and there are some gaps in character development, the main criterion for me when reading a book is how engaged I am in the story and how eager I am to keep reading. In this, Mind Over matter is definitely a win and I am excited to read more by this author.
July 15, 2012
BEC'S REVIEW
This story delves into the disappearance of Rebecca’s daughter, and her romantic involvement with former FBI officer Dan Cooper. However it’s not just a standard kidnapping story, rather there are supernatural elements that often provide certain clues, complete with visions. If I didn’t already know the genre, I’d classify this book more as a romance book, with elements of a supernatural detective story. And while the story was stronger on the detective story (with some elements more predictable than others), I wasn’t entirely convinced on the romance side of things.
On the detective side of thing the story was nicely placed, with revelations coming in an orderly manner. As the reader you suspected and even found out certain things before Rebecca and Dan were even aware of them, but not before having time to create your own theories. There was enough room for there still to be things to be revealed in the chapter that last deals with the detective side of the story, with even a slight mystery coming after all has been revealed, leaving room for these particular culprits to strike again.
On the romantic side however I felt the story was rushed. While the book follows the standard 3 part model that most romantic stories follow, I felt the part where the characters develop an attraction and fall into bed together happened very quickly and was surprised, given what was written, by how quickly this all happened. I felt there was a lot of things unsaid about the couples history that may have influenced this, but since I only had the contents of the book to go off, this romantic side seemed rushed and in need of some work, which brings down the overall rating.
Overall this is a good read. Maybe I’m just being fussy about the romantic side and you’ll feel it’s completely natural. It’s a fairly light read as well, one that is easy to get through. Definitely read this book if romance, the supernatural and/or crime are some of your favourite genres, or if you’re looking for something light and fun with a little bit of mystery.
Source: The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/19w4m)
This story delves into the disappearance of Rebecca’s daughter, and her romantic involvement with former FBI officer Dan Cooper. However it’s not just a standard kidnapping story, rather there are supernatural elements that often provide certain clues, complete with visions. If I didn’t already know the genre, I’d classify this book more as a romance book, with elements of a supernatural detective story. And while the story was stronger on the detective story (with some elements more predictable than others), I wasn’t entirely convinced on the romance side of things.
On the detective side of thing the story was nicely placed, with revelations coming in an orderly manner. As the reader you suspected and even found out certain things before Rebecca and Dan were even aware of them, but not before having time to create your own theories. There was enough room for there still to be things to be revealed in the chapter that last deals with the detective side of the story, with even a slight mystery coming after all has been revealed, leaving room for these particular culprits to strike again.
On the romantic side however I felt the story was rushed. While the book follows the standard 3 part model that most romantic stories follow, I felt the part where the characters develop an attraction and fall into bed together happened very quickly and was surprised, given what was written, by how quickly this all happened. I felt there was a lot of things unsaid about the couples history that may have influenced this, but since I only had the contents of the book to go off, this romantic side seemed rushed and in need of some work, which brings down the overall rating.
Overall this is a good read. Maybe I’m just being fussy about the romantic side and you’ll feel it’s completely natural. It’s a fairly light read as well, one that is easy to get through. Definitely read this book if romance, the supernatural and/or crime are some of your favourite genres, or if you’re looking for something light and fun with a little bit of mystery.
Source: The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/19w4m)
January 5, 2012
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
The townsfolk say Rebecca isn't right in the head after the loss of her child a few years ago. Often times they'll find her in the same places, acting as if her daughter is still there. It's sad and heartbreaking. She just can't let go.
As a mother myself, I can't imagine the pain this heroine endures. To suffer such a loss and never get over it is an unthinkable horror. When she begins having strange visions, I wondered if it was all in her mind. Was there was a chance things could actually work out in her favor by the end of this story? Or were the readers being set up for false hope?
Dan Cooper is reluctant to believe Rebecca, but the relief I felt that he decided to help her kept him in my good graces. He wanted to protect her, and prepare her for anything that would come out of this. The sparks between them came later.
The real suspense element didn't come until about a third of the way through the book. The first few chapters were spent on Dan and Rebecca trying to pull of a charade so others didn't know what they were really doing. It wasn't until the real search began that the pacing picked up quickly. The rest of the story went by fast from there, and I was caught up in the pages, needing to know what they were going to find next.
The villains had a bigger agenda than I'd imagined, and the ending caught me off guard. The author created lots of action throughout most of the book, though the characters weren't as well developed as they could have been. I really never got a major sense of who Dan was. There wasn't a lot of conflict between the hero and heroine. The biggest conflict was with Rebecca, trying to find her child even though everyone else accepted the fact that she was dead.
Overall, the story line was interesting and filled with twists and turns. If you enjoy a romantic suspense with light paranormal aspects, then you may enjoy Mind Over Matter.
The townsfolk say Rebecca isn't right in the head after the loss of her child a few years ago. Often times they'll find her in the same places, acting as if her daughter is still there. It's sad and heartbreaking. She just can't let go.
As a mother myself, I can't imagine the pain this heroine endures. To suffer such a loss and never get over it is an unthinkable horror. When she begins having strange visions, I wondered if it was all in her mind. Was there was a chance things could actually work out in her favor by the end of this story? Or were the readers being set up for false hope?
Dan Cooper is reluctant to believe Rebecca, but the relief I felt that he decided to help her kept him in my good graces. He wanted to protect her, and prepare her for anything that would come out of this. The sparks between them came later.
The real suspense element didn't come until about a third of the way through the book. The first few chapters were spent on Dan and Rebecca trying to pull of a charade so others didn't know what they were really doing. It wasn't until the real search began that the pacing picked up quickly. The rest of the story went by fast from there, and I was caught up in the pages, needing to know what they were going to find next.
The villains had a bigger agenda than I'd imagined, and the ending caught me off guard. The author created lots of action throughout most of the book, though the characters weren't as well developed as they could have been. I really never got a major sense of who Dan was. There wasn't a lot of conflict between the hero and heroine. The biggest conflict was with Rebecca, trying to find her child even though everyone else accepted the fact that she was dead.
Overall, the story line was interesting and filled with twists and turns. If you enjoy a romantic suspense with light paranormal aspects, then you may enjoy Mind Over Matter.
November 27, 2011
Mind Over Matter is a book filled with cover up, secrets, lies, betrayal, and heartache, but also hope and love.
The book is about Rebecca who has been looking for her missing daughter for the last three years. While everyone else, even Rebecca's (now ex) husband, has given up hope of finding Sabrina, Rebecca has reason to believe that she is still alive. As the story begins Rebecca is seeking help from Dan Cooper, the FBI agent originally assigned to Sabrina's case.
I liked the pace of the book overall, but there were a few spots where I felt the scene changes were too abrupt and a few spots where the characters made connections that I didn't quite get. I actually found myself going back in a couple of different places to see if there was something I had missed. I would have liked to have more transition from one scene to the next and maybe get inside of the character's heads a little more to see where their thoughts were going.
What I really missed in this book was the paranormal aspect. We got into it a bit in the last chapter or two but that was it. I would have loved to see more of it tied into the beginning of the book some way.
The book is about Rebecca who has been looking for her missing daughter for the last three years. While everyone else, even Rebecca's (now ex) husband, has given up hope of finding Sabrina, Rebecca has reason to believe that she is still alive. As the story begins Rebecca is seeking help from Dan Cooper, the FBI agent originally assigned to Sabrina's case.
I liked the pace of the book overall, but there were a few spots where I felt the scene changes were too abrupt and a few spots where the characters made connections that I didn't quite get. I actually found myself going back in a couple of different places to see if there was something I had missed. I would have liked to have more transition from one scene to the next and maybe get inside of the character's heads a little more to see where their thoughts were going.
What I really missed in this book was the paranormal aspect. We got into it a bit in the last chapter or two but that was it. I would have loved to see more of it tied into the beginning of the book some way.
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