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Second Sight #1
First Visions
Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home. Now another child has been abducted.Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.Mature YA/New Adult***Series All four Second Sight books now available as a boxset***
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2012
162 people are currently reading
2286 people want to read
About the author
Heather Topham Wood
17 books1,252 followersHeather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She loves creating imaginary worlds where people behave exactly how she wants them to.
Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.
Follow Heather on Facebook, Twitter and her blog to keep posted on her upcoming works:
https://twitter.com/woodtop255
http://authorheather.com
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTopha...
Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.
Follow Heather on Facebook, Twitter and her blog to keep posted on her upcoming works:
https://twitter.com/woodtop255
http://authorheather.com
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTopha...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
March 11, 2013
This book was part of a blog tour, I recieved a copy for my honest review.
This was a great book for those who like a little bit of suspense and mystery with their romance. Also it was very informative for a first book of a series without being to heavy. I liked that. I loved Katie's character, she was a bit clueless,but she had her reasons and she knew it; her snarky dry wit was just perfect. She had been through a lot and had built up a fair few defensive walls and I couldn't blame her at all.
The romantic relationship between the Katie and Jared was very well done. I could feel the tension and I felt bad for their obvious struggle to try and stay away from each other even though they had undeniable chemistry. I am glad things were paced the way they were. I believe this could be read as a YA or NA book. The adult themes were very light and the focus was on the story and the budding relationship rather than a sexual relationship between the two.
I really liked trying to figure out the mystery of what was going on through her visions/dreams.
It was a very enjoyable short read. It sort of reminded me of the earlier Charlaine Harris mysteries,The Aurora Teagarden series, which I loved. I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next one.
This was a great book for those who like a little bit of suspense and mystery with their romance. Also it was very informative for a first book of a series without being to heavy. I liked that. I loved Katie's character, she was a bit clueless,but she had her reasons and she knew it; her snarky dry wit was just perfect. She had been through a lot and had built up a fair few defensive walls and I couldn't blame her at all.
The romantic relationship between the Katie and Jared was very well done. I could feel the tension and I felt bad for their obvious struggle to try and stay away from each other even though they had undeniable chemistry. I am glad things were paced the way they were. I believe this could be read as a YA or NA book. The adult themes were very light and the focus was on the story and the budding relationship rather than a sexual relationship between the two.
I really liked trying to figure out the mystery of what was going on through her visions/dreams.
It was a very enjoyable short read. It sort of reminded me of the earlier Charlaine Harris mysteries,The Aurora Teagarden series, which I loved. I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next one.
May 19, 2012
Book: First Vistions, Second Sight by Heather Wood
Pages: 228
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from author
Short Synopsis: Ever since waking up from a coma, Kate Edwards receives visions of the past, which in turn helps her to find a missing boy.
My Thoughts: An interesting change of the psychic genre, and kept me wanting to read more through out the novel.
Kate Edwards, now 21, has survived a two year coma. Upon waking from the coma, Kate was able to locate a missing boy. And when the information turned out to be true, Kate was bombarded with the media constantly, until Kate lied and told everyone that it was a one time deal.
After the coma fiasco, Kate started to lead a normal life as best as she could, though a little sheltered. Her parents are in denial of her special powers, but Kate does everything she can to cope. It isn't until a handsome cop named Jared Corbett shows up at Kate's door one day. He claims that his girlfriend's sister has been taken captive, and Jared is asking Kate to help him out with any possible leads on the case.
At first Kate denies that she still has the power because of unwanted publicity, but after Jared's visit, Kate has a vision of what had happened to Cori, Jared's girlfriend's sister. Kate decides to help Jared out, as long as her identity stays a secret. But with Jared's jealous girlfriend, Kate's ability doesn't stay hidden very long. Can Kate manage to save Cori from her kidnapper in time, and set aside her strong attraction to Jared too?
A very different take within the supernatural genre. Most psychics I read about have visions of the future, and not the past. It was interesting to read how Kate's powers worked, and how she used them to save the missing kids.
I loved reading about the relationship between Jared and Kate. And though he was already taken, it was interesting to read how their relationship developed, and what they really meant to each other. And though it was understandable, I didn't really like how he had treated Kate when he was with his girlfriend. The one person who also managed to get under my skin the most was in fact Jared's girlfriend Nikki, and the fact that she abused personal information to gain her own satisfaction didn't help the situation either.
It was intriguing to read how Kate's powers worked. The fact that she couldn't control whose mind she slipped into, and what visions came to her, makes the reader understand why she hasn't had too many relationships or friendships as well. And because of her special powers, it also shows that she isn't always perfect, but she tries to do what's right. In general, an entertaining novel, with colorful characters, and I can't wait to read more about Kate and Jared.
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Rating: I give this book a 4/5.
Pages: 228
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from author
Short Synopsis: Ever since waking up from a coma, Kate Edwards receives visions of the past, which in turn helps her to find a missing boy.
My Thoughts: An interesting change of the psychic genre, and kept me wanting to read more through out the novel.
Kate Edwards, now 21, has survived a two year coma. Upon waking from the coma, Kate was able to locate a missing boy. And when the information turned out to be true, Kate was bombarded with the media constantly, until Kate lied and told everyone that it was a one time deal.
After the coma fiasco, Kate started to lead a normal life as best as she could, though a little sheltered. Her parents are in denial of her special powers, but Kate does everything she can to cope. It isn't until a handsome cop named Jared Corbett shows up at Kate's door one day. He claims that his girlfriend's sister has been taken captive, and Jared is asking Kate to help him out with any possible leads on the case.
At first Kate denies that she still has the power because of unwanted publicity, but after Jared's visit, Kate has a vision of what had happened to Cori, Jared's girlfriend's sister. Kate decides to help Jared out, as long as her identity stays a secret. But with Jared's jealous girlfriend, Kate's ability doesn't stay hidden very long. Can Kate manage to save Cori from her kidnapper in time, and set aside her strong attraction to Jared too?
A very different take within the supernatural genre. Most psychics I read about have visions of the future, and not the past. It was interesting to read how Kate's powers worked, and how she used them to save the missing kids.
I loved reading about the relationship between Jared and Kate. And though he was already taken, it was interesting to read how their relationship developed, and what they really meant to each other. And though it was understandable, I didn't really like how he had treated Kate when he was with his girlfriend. The one person who also managed to get under my skin the most was in fact Jared's girlfriend Nikki, and the fact that she abused personal information to gain her own satisfaction didn't help the situation either.
It was intriguing to read how Kate's powers worked. The fact that she couldn't control whose mind she slipped into, and what visions came to her, makes the reader understand why she hasn't had too many relationships or friendships as well. And because of her special powers, it also shows that she isn't always perfect, but she tries to do what's right. In general, an entertaining novel, with colorful characters, and I can't wait to read more about Kate and Jared.
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Rating: I give this book a 4/5.
October 13, 2012
I picked this up when it was free on Amazon and I'm glad I did! I loved Kate's personality and watching her have to deal with a lot of different emotions over being psychic. I felt the author did a good job of showing Kate's emotions and her scenes with the cop were very cute.
April 24, 2017
ตอนแรกคิดว่าเรื่องนี้จะมาแนวสืบสวนเข้มข้นหน่อย แต่ก็ไม่นะเน้นไปทางความรักซะมากกว่าอีก เรื่องเริ่มต้นที่นางเอก ตอนที่เคยล้มป่วยหนัก อยู่ในอาการโคม่าหลายวัน พอตื่นขึ้นมาก็เล่าเรื่องราวที่ตัวเองเห็นช่วงที่หลับไป พูดง่ายๆว่านางเอกเห็นนิมิตรถึงเด็กที่หายตัวไปคนหนึ่ง และนางเอกสามารถบอกรายละเอียดทุกอย่าง จนสามารถหาตัวเด็กคนนั้นกลับมาได้
ตัดมาที่ปัจจุบัน พระเอกมาเคาะที่หน้าประตูบ้านนางเอก และแนะนำตัวกับนางเอกว่าตัวเองเป็นนักสืบกำลังตามหาตัวเด็กหญิงคนหนึ่ง(ซึ่งเป็นน้องสาวของแฟนตัวเอง)ที่หายตัวไป ต้องการให้นางเอกช่วยตามหาเพราะพยายามทุกทางแล้วจนมีคนพูดถึงนางเอก พระเอกเลยไปดูข่าวเก่าๆและตามมาหานางเอกให้ช่วย ตอนแรกนางเอกปฎิเสธ เพราะเบื่อเหลือเกินกับเรื่องอะไรพวกนี้ ตอนนั้นก็ทีหนึง นักข่าวตาม โดนล้อบ้าง อะไรบ้าง ง่ายๆคือ นางเอกไม่ชอบพรสวรรค์ของตัวเอง แต่สุดท้ายนางเอกก็ยอมช่วย นางเอกเห็นนิมิตร แต่ก็ยังไม่รู้อยู่ดีกว่าใครเป็นคนลักพาตัวไป รู้แต่เข้ามาตอนที่ไม่มีใครอยู่บ้าน และเด็กยังไม่ตาย
เนื้อเรื่องตอนต้นๆจะเล่าฉากที่นางเอกเห็นในความคิดของเด็กที่หายตัวไป ว่าตอนที่เกิดเหตุการณ์นั้นเจอกับอะไรบ้าง รู้สึกอะไรบ้าง ดูน่าติดตามมากเลย แต่มีแค่ต้นๆเรื่องเท่านั้นแหละ เพราะเรื่องราวมันไปเน้นที่การสร้างความสัมพันธ์ของตัวพระนางมากไปหน่อย แต่เอาจริงๆเรากลับไม่ค่อยรู้สึกเคมีอะไรทั้งนั้น ประเด็นคือเราไม่ค่อยชอบนิสัยนางเอกด้วยแหละ เลยอ่านแล้วก็เฉยๆ spoiler: ตอนท้ายแฟนพระเอกเอาเรื่องที่นางเอกเข้ามาช่วยสืบไปบอกนักข่าว ทำให้คนร้ายรู้เลยจับตัวนางเอกไป spoiler:
ตัดมาที่ปัจจุบัน พระเอกมาเคาะที่หน้าประตูบ้านนางเอก และแนะนำตัวกับนางเอกว่าตัวเองเป็นนักสืบกำลังตามหาตัวเด็กหญิงคนหนึ่ง(ซึ่งเป็นน้องสาวของแฟนตัวเอง)ที่หายตัวไป ต้องการให้นางเอกช่วยตามหาเพราะพยายามทุกทางแล้วจนมีคนพูดถึงนางเอก พระเอกเลยไปดูข่าวเก่าๆและตามมาหานางเอกให้ช่วย ตอนแรกนางเอกปฎิเสธ เพราะเบื่อเหลือเกินกับเรื่องอะไรพวกนี้ ตอนนั้นก็ทีหนึง นักข่าวตาม โดนล้อบ้าง อะไรบ้าง ง่ายๆคือ นางเอกไม่ชอบพรสวรรค์ของตัวเอง แต่สุดท้ายนางเอกก็ยอมช่วย นางเอกเห็นนิมิตร แต่ก็ยังไม่รู้อยู่ดีกว่าใครเป็นคนลักพาตัวไป รู้แต่เข้ามาตอนที่ไม่มีใครอยู่บ้าน และเด็กยังไม่ตาย
เนื้อเรื่องตอนต้นๆจะเล่าฉากที่นางเอกเห็นในความคิดของเด็กที่หายตัวไป ว่าตอนที่เกิดเหตุการณ์นั้นเจอกับอะไรบ้าง รู้สึกอะไรบ้าง ดูน่าติดตามมากเลย แต่มีแค่ต้นๆเรื่องเท่านั้นแหละ เพราะเรื่องราวมันไปเน้นที่การสร้างความสัมพันธ์ของตัวพระนางมากไปหน่อย แต่เอาจริงๆเรากลับไม่ค่อยรู้สึกเคมีอะไรทั้งนั้น ประเด็นคือเราไม่ค่อยชอบนิสัยนางเอกด้วยแหละ เลยอ่านแล้วก็เฉยๆ spoiler: ตอนท้ายแฟนพระเอกเอาเรื่องที่นางเอกเข้ามาช่วยสืบไปบอกนักข่าว ทำให้คนร้ายรู้เลยจับตัวนางเอกไป spoiler:
March 15, 2013
She's Got Books on Her Mind
Kate's felt out of place for a long time. Ever since she came out of a coma two years ago she's been able to see visions of the past. The one that got her in trouble was about a little boy that was missing at the time. She was able to describe where he was which led to his rescue. After that people either thought she was a freak and left her or they thought they could find their missing loved ones with her help and wouldn't leave her alone. The problem is that even if she wanted to help those who asked her she couldn't turn her visions on and off like a switch. The visions just come to her. She has no control over them. She especially had no control of what it did to her life. It left her with an estrangement with her father, one final friend, and a feeling that she is in fact a freak.
It all comes down to the moment when a detective walks in asking for her help. She denies that she is a psychic. She's been denying it ever since that first vision because all it has brought her is pain. But, something about the little girl, Cori, tugs at her heart. It doesn't help that the detective, Jared, has smoldering good looks either. Her decision to help find Cori will be a turning point in her life when everything that she knew about herself and her ability changes.
Wow. I liked this book way more than I expected to. First of all Kate is this incredible character who is unbelievably hilarious. Her sarcastic humor had me laughing all the way through the story and when not laughing I was smiling to myself just so happy that I could read what she has to say. She has such a great personality with a mix of vulnerability to it. She's had to create these walls in front of her to keep her safe from heartbreak which is unfortunate because she really does care about the people who ask her for help. It's really not fair for her to have to feel bad about being who she is. She is more strong than vulnerable. She has this certain power in herself and the way she doesn't take anything from anybody. I envy that about her.
Needless to say Kate did wonders for this book. I was able to connect with her which in turn helped me connect with the story. I would love to hang out with her if I could. I would so defend her against anyone who ever gave her an attitude or dirty look. I mean she's psychic. Why wouldn't you want to be friends with her? I would have been so excited if I was her friend. I would have been jumping up and down saying "Are you serious!?" repeatedly and telling her how cool she is. I guess I could see why people would be so skeptical about her being a psychic but to think she had anything to do with the initial disappearance is ridiculous. She was in a coma. When did she have the time to orchestrate this supposed deception?
Romance in any story when done right makes me happy. It's done right here. Her and the detective's interactions were amusing to read about. She obviously was struck by him while he took a little while to warm up. There is a bit of a love triangle but it's not what you think. Jared's girlfriend is the person whose sister is missing. I said it. Girlfriend. Before you boo Jared he does nothing wrong and the girlfriend is a pain anyways so you don't care what happens to her. I really liked them together. It was obvious they had feelings for each other. It wasn't really slow but it wasn't like it was instalove or anything like that. The author just made it feel right.
Not all of this book was focused on romance. The book did have its slight mystery factor with who kidnapped Cori and where on earth is she. What really got me curious about Cori's kidnapping was Kate's feeling that it was personal. That it had something to do with the family. Then I couldn't shake the feeling that it had to have had something to do with one family member in particular. I was expecting something a little more sinister but everything about the kidnapping and how it went down in the end made me not care about that little if it was sinister enough. Things Go Down. A little too fast for me now that I think about it but otherwise it was a pretty great conclusion.
The visions were adapted well. The different POV's she could have were interesting to explore. It would have been nice to see the villain's point of view but oh well. Kate could see things from inside the mind of Cori. She was also able to have this out of body experience looking in to what was happening with Cori but not emotionally experiencing what Cori was feeling. Now that I'm thinking about this book more I think maybe there could have been even more focus on visions with her and a little less on the romance. Cori was gone for a long time which doesn't seem right. Don't get me wrong there was time spent on finding her but more would have been a little nice.
One last person I must mention is Kate's mother. She made a mistake of not supporting her daughter before but she more than made up for it in my eyes. The scenes with her were always great. She had such a motherly protectiveness for her daughter all the while chastising her for being her overly sarcastic self. I would want her in my corner. There was this moment where the author showed her POV and I simply loved that because you can see her own struggle of keeping her daughter from pain and helping her realize that she is special no matter what. With so many parents in books that are no good it was nice to see a mother that didn't have any flaws for me. She supported her daughter and that's what kids all really need from their parents at that age. All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to where the author takes Kate. I see a career in psychic consulting in her future! More than anything I hope to see Kate happy and getting herself into the just right amount of trouble.
Kate's felt out of place for a long time. Ever since she came out of a coma two years ago she's been able to see visions of the past. The one that got her in trouble was about a little boy that was missing at the time. She was able to describe where he was which led to his rescue. After that people either thought she was a freak and left her or they thought they could find their missing loved ones with her help and wouldn't leave her alone. The problem is that even if she wanted to help those who asked her she couldn't turn her visions on and off like a switch. The visions just come to her. She has no control over them. She especially had no control of what it did to her life. It left her with an estrangement with her father, one final friend, and a feeling that she is in fact a freak.
It all comes down to the moment when a detective walks in asking for her help. She denies that she is a psychic. She's been denying it ever since that first vision because all it has brought her is pain. But, something about the little girl, Cori, tugs at her heart. It doesn't help that the detective, Jared, has smoldering good looks either. Her decision to help find Cori will be a turning point in her life when everything that she knew about herself and her ability changes.
Wow. I liked this book way more than I expected to. First of all Kate is this incredible character who is unbelievably hilarious. Her sarcastic humor had me laughing all the way through the story and when not laughing I was smiling to myself just so happy that I could read what she has to say. She has such a great personality with a mix of vulnerability to it. She's had to create these walls in front of her to keep her safe from heartbreak which is unfortunate because she really does care about the people who ask her for help. It's really not fair for her to have to feel bad about being who she is. She is more strong than vulnerable. She has this certain power in herself and the way she doesn't take anything from anybody. I envy that about her.
Needless to say Kate did wonders for this book. I was able to connect with her which in turn helped me connect with the story. I would love to hang out with her if I could. I would so defend her against anyone who ever gave her an attitude or dirty look. I mean she's psychic. Why wouldn't you want to be friends with her? I would have been so excited if I was her friend. I would have been jumping up and down saying "Are you serious!?" repeatedly and telling her how cool she is. I guess I could see why people would be so skeptical about her being a psychic but to think she had anything to do with the initial disappearance is ridiculous. She was in a coma. When did she have the time to orchestrate this supposed deception?
Romance in any story when done right makes me happy. It's done right here. Her and the detective's interactions were amusing to read about. She obviously was struck by him while he took a little while to warm up. There is a bit of a love triangle but it's not what you think. Jared's girlfriend is the person whose sister is missing. I said it. Girlfriend. Before you boo Jared he does nothing wrong and the girlfriend is a pain anyways so you don't care what happens to her. I really liked them together. It was obvious they had feelings for each other. It wasn't really slow but it wasn't like it was instalove or anything like that. The author just made it feel right.
Not all of this book was focused on romance. The book did have its slight mystery factor with who kidnapped Cori and where on earth is she. What really got me curious about Cori's kidnapping was Kate's feeling that it was personal. That it had something to do with the family. Then I couldn't shake the feeling that it had to have had something to do with one family member in particular. I was expecting something a little more sinister but everything about the kidnapping and how it went down in the end made me not care about that little if it was sinister enough. Things Go Down. A little too fast for me now that I think about it but otherwise it was a pretty great conclusion.
The visions were adapted well. The different POV's she could have were interesting to explore. It would have been nice to see the villain's point of view but oh well. Kate could see things from inside the mind of Cori. She was also able to have this out of body experience looking in to what was happening with Cori but not emotionally experiencing what Cori was feeling. Now that I'm thinking about this book more I think maybe there could have been even more focus on visions with her and a little less on the romance. Cori was gone for a long time which doesn't seem right. Don't get me wrong there was time spent on finding her but more would have been a little nice.
One last person I must mention is Kate's mother. She made a mistake of not supporting her daughter before but she more than made up for it in my eyes. The scenes with her were always great. She had such a motherly protectiveness for her daughter all the while chastising her for being her overly sarcastic self. I would want her in my corner. There was this moment where the author showed her POV and I simply loved that because you can see her own struggle of keeping her daughter from pain and helping her realize that she is special no matter what. With so many parents in books that are no good it was nice to see a mother that didn't have any flaws for me. She supported her daughter and that's what kids all really need from their parents at that age. All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to where the author takes Kate. I see a career in psychic consulting in her future! More than anything I hope to see Kate happy and getting herself into the just right amount of trouble.
June 27, 2012
First Visions by Heather Topham Wood
I really enjoyed First Visions written by Heather Topham Wood, her writing was great, and she made me laugh out loud at Kate’s funny and sarcastic dialogue. I’ve always said it takes a great writer to make a reader feel actual emotions while reading a book, and Heather does this well.
We are introduced to Kate; she is a bit of a recluse caused by the media attention she received when she had a vision of where a kidnapped boy was being held. Kate had contracted meningitis and fell into a coma when she woke up she told the police what she had dreamt. Once the media got a hold of this information they wouldn’t leave her alone. Withdrawing from people she decided it was safer staying away plus who wants to go out and see people staring at you thinking you are a freak. The turmoil Kate has lived through has made her witty, sarcastic and speaks her mind, you end up really laughing at some of the comments she makes.
When another child goes missing in walks Jared, a police detective who pleads with Kate to help him, Kate at first denies her talent, the last thing she wants to happen again is to be in the middle of a media circus. Deep down Kate knows she has to try to help Jared and decides it’s time to stop denying her gift and figure out a way to help without letting out her secret. Plus did I mention Jared is very sexy looking.
This book has some great dialogue between Jared and Kate, the friendship and feelings you see start to develop are great. But like everything in life nothing comes that easy for Kate. First she knows Jared has a girlfriend, she knows she needs to get out more and socialize with people her own age. Taking the steps towards opening herself up, trusting that Jared is going to keep his word and no matter what keep her name out of the investigation………… Kate tries to venture out of her comfort zone.
This is a fantastic read; you have a touch of mystery/suspense as your always hoping the find the kidnapped girl. Then you have Kate who is trying to take the step to start living her life again. And just to add some spice to this you have an attraction between Jared and Kate. I have rated First Vision 4.5 stars and cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend anyone reading this to go purchase a copy of First Visions.
I really enjoyed First Visions written by Heather Topham Wood, her writing was great, and she made me laugh out loud at Kate’s funny and sarcastic dialogue. I’ve always said it takes a great writer to make a reader feel actual emotions while reading a book, and Heather does this well.
We are introduced to Kate; she is a bit of a recluse caused by the media attention she received when she had a vision of where a kidnapped boy was being held. Kate had contracted meningitis and fell into a coma when she woke up she told the police what she had dreamt. Once the media got a hold of this information they wouldn’t leave her alone. Withdrawing from people she decided it was safer staying away plus who wants to go out and see people staring at you thinking you are a freak. The turmoil Kate has lived through has made her witty, sarcastic and speaks her mind, you end up really laughing at some of the comments she makes.
When another child goes missing in walks Jared, a police detective who pleads with Kate to help him, Kate at first denies her talent, the last thing she wants to happen again is to be in the middle of a media circus. Deep down Kate knows she has to try to help Jared and decides it’s time to stop denying her gift and figure out a way to help without letting out her secret. Plus did I mention Jared is very sexy looking.
This book has some great dialogue between Jared and Kate, the friendship and feelings you see start to develop are great. But like everything in life nothing comes that easy for Kate. First she knows Jared has a girlfriend, she knows she needs to get out more and socialize with people her own age. Taking the steps towards opening herself up, trusting that Jared is going to keep his word and no matter what keep her name out of the investigation………… Kate tries to venture out of her comfort zone.
This is a fantastic read; you have a touch of mystery/suspense as your always hoping the find the kidnapped girl. Then you have Kate who is trying to take the step to start living her life again. And just to add some spice to this you have an attraction between Jared and Kate. I have rated First Vision 4.5 stars and cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend anyone reading this to go purchase a copy of First Visions.
December 7, 2020
(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk.)
21-year-old Kate has been having visions when she dreams since she contracted meningitis and ended up in a coma. Since her first vision where she found an abducted boy, she’s kept quiet and not told anyone about the visions as a way to protect herself from people’s looks and stares, and the attention of the press.
When a police officer – Jared, turns up at her door asking for help locating a missing little girl she refuses, but when she then dreams of Cori, she knows that she has to help, even if she doesn’t want to.
Helping Jared with the case also brings them closer together though, and they start to develop feelings for one another. The problem is that the missing little girl’s older sister is Jared’s Barbie-doll girlfriend!
Can Kate help Jared find Cori? Can Kate maintain her anonymity? And is there any hope for Kate and Jared?
This was an okay paranormal contemporary story that also had a hint of romance, and an air of mystery.
Kate was quite a stubborn girl, and knew how to protect herself from getting hurt like she had been in the past. She immediately pushed Jared away, both to protect herself from the press and from getting her heart broken. I loved how tough Kate was, and I also loved how she actually couldn’t help but help someone in need.
Jared was an interesting and noble character. His girlfriend was an absolute selfish head-case though, and I really don’t know what he saw in her at all.
The storyline in this book was okay; we had the mystery of who had kidnapped Cori and when she would be found, as well as the romance storyline. I did think it was quite obvious what would happen and where the story would end, but that didn’t spoil things really. I was grateful that there wasn’t a cliff-hanger at the end of this one though, so this could be read as a standalone.
Overall; a mixture of the paranormal, a bit of mystery, and a bit of romance.
6.5 out of 10.
21-year-old Kate has been having visions when she dreams since she contracted meningitis and ended up in a coma. Since her first vision where she found an abducted boy, she’s kept quiet and not told anyone about the visions as a way to protect herself from people’s looks and stares, and the attention of the press.
When a police officer – Jared, turns up at her door asking for help locating a missing little girl she refuses, but when she then dreams of Cori, she knows that she has to help, even if she doesn’t want to.
Helping Jared with the case also brings them closer together though, and they start to develop feelings for one another. The problem is that the missing little girl’s older sister is Jared’s Barbie-doll girlfriend!
Can Kate help Jared find Cori? Can Kate maintain her anonymity? And is there any hope for Kate and Jared?
This was an okay paranormal contemporary story that also had a hint of romance, and an air of mystery.
Kate was quite a stubborn girl, and knew how to protect herself from getting hurt like she had been in the past. She immediately pushed Jared away, both to protect herself from the press and from getting her heart broken. I loved how tough Kate was, and I also loved how she actually couldn’t help but help someone in need.
Jared was an interesting and noble character. His girlfriend was an absolute selfish head-case though, and I really don’t know what he saw in her at all.
The storyline in this book was okay; we had the mystery of who had kidnapped Cori and when she would be found, as well as the romance storyline. I did think it was quite obvious what would happen and where the story would end, but that didn’t spoil things really. I was grateful that there wasn’t a cliff-hanger at the end of this one though, so this could be read as a standalone.
Overall; a mixture of the paranormal, a bit of mystery, and a bit of romance.
6.5 out of 10.
June 13, 2012
Jenren’s Review: First Visions – Second Sight Book 1
Heather Topham Wood
Published: May 1, 2012
ISBN-10:1470171570
ISBN-13: 9781470171575
ASIN: B007YUP4D2
Synopsis:
Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location.
Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.
Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family.
Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma.
With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.
**** 4 STARS
First Visions was a very fun read, I was laughing out loud almost every time Kate had dialogue! I love her snarky, sarcastic come backs. Although she used this as a defense mechanism, it cracked me up!
Each of the characters were well developed, their responses and actions were totally believable. Jared is smokin’ hawt and I can’t wait to read more from this new series.
I really enjoyed Ms. Wood’s writing style and am looking forward to reading her other books!
Heather Topham Wood
Published: May 1, 2012
ISBN-10:1470171570
ISBN-13: 9781470171575
ASIN: B007YUP4D2
Synopsis:
Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location.
Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.
Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family.
Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma.
With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.
**** 4 STARS
First Visions was a very fun read, I was laughing out loud almost every time Kate had dialogue! I love her snarky, sarcastic come backs. Although she used this as a defense mechanism, it cracked me up!
Each of the characters were well developed, their responses and actions were totally believable. Jared is smokin’ hawt and I can’t wait to read more from this new series.
I really enjoyed Ms. Wood’s writing style and am looking forward to reading her other books!
June 3, 2012
I really liked Kate because she's snarky. She's not afraid to throw out an insult. She's not afraid to tell Jared to back off - "because she's not psychic" - even though she is. I also liked Kate because she is gaurded against all the non-believers in the world. And who can blame her? But when it comes to an 8 year old, a terrifying dream, and a pushy mom - Kate has to tell someone. How do you not protect a little girl. It would make you a monster and Kate knows this.
Kate's lucky that Jared is one of the "good guys." He is hopeful she can help. He is hopeful that his feelings for Kate will go away when he find his GIRLFRIEND'S little sister. He is sure that he can keep her secret.
But like any good love plot, character a and character b cannot stay away from each other, which is exactly as I like it. Does anyone see any bumps in the "love road?" I do! er, did? Can I call both on this?
I was sad because of the situation, a kidnapping, the book had to move fast over a short amount of time - a few day - because that's realistic. It didn't give me enough time to really get to know the characters, which is why I am looking forward to book 2! Now while, I like to get to know my characters, I completely agree with Heather's choice in sticking with a believable time and plot lines, as opposed taking two or three weeks for Kate and Jared to build up with one another. It wouldn't happen in real life. Again - it's why I am looking forward to book 2.
Kate's lucky that Jared is one of the "good guys." He is hopeful she can help. He is hopeful that his feelings for Kate will go away when he find his GIRLFRIEND'S little sister. He is sure that he can keep her secret.
But like any good love plot, character a and character b cannot stay away from each other, which is exactly as I like it. Does anyone see any bumps in the "love road?" I do! er, did? Can I call both on this?
I was sad because of the situation, a kidnapping, the book had to move fast over a short amount of time - a few day - because that's realistic. It didn't give me enough time to really get to know the characters, which is why I am looking forward to book 2! Now while, I like to get to know my characters, I completely agree with Heather's choice in sticking with a believable time and plot lines, as opposed taking two or three weeks for Kate and Jared to build up with one another. It wouldn't happen in real life. Again - it's why I am looking forward to book 2.
May 8, 2012
I received the book last night and it only took me a little less then a day to finish. I ABSOLUTELY adored the characters. Kate (Katie), Jared, Darlene, Julie, etc... were relatable and easy to connect with. Kate, our main heroine, is sarcastic and it's practically impossible to not see yourself in her. Sheltered for a little over two years (due to a coma) the young twenty-one year old finds herself in a predicament which is brought on when the stunning Detective Jared Corbett appears on her front steps asking for help. Of course, I fell in love with Jared's character. He wants to do right by his girlfriend, but the attraction between him and Kate is clearly undeniable. At some parts I had to put the book down to revel in just how captivating the plot is.I hope Mrs. Wood's will be making a sequel because I would love to see where the story goes, but of course the ending was great nonetheless. The book was a quick read and had me on my toes at every turn! The witty and sarcastic language had me grinning and I felt like I was a part of the plot. Loved every second of the roller-coaster ride and definitely a must read.
June 16, 2012
REVIEW AND INTERVIEW HERE: http://queenofteenfiction.blogspot.co...
It’s not very often that I give a perfect rating to a first in a series but First Visions is definitely an exception. This story is unique and really keeps you hooked – I flew through it!
I seriously adore Kate Edwards. She is everything I love about a character: charming, sweet, strong-headed and totally hilarious! The chemistry between her and Jared is totally brilliant and I anticipated every scene that contained the two of them. I just loved the sarcastic comments they threw at each other.
There are some serious LOL moments in this book. I won’t say much but there is one scene with a goose that had me doubled over! I love how there is plenty of humour amongst the serious plots.
I adored everything about this book and I can’t wait to see what Heather has planned for Kate and Jared in the nest instalment!
It’s not very often that I give a perfect rating to a first in a series but First Visions is definitely an exception. This story is unique and really keeps you hooked – I flew through it!
I seriously adore Kate Edwards. She is everything I love about a character: charming, sweet, strong-headed and totally hilarious! The chemistry between her and Jared is totally brilliant and I anticipated every scene that contained the two of them. I just loved the sarcastic comments they threw at each other.
There are some serious LOL moments in this book. I won’t say much but there is one scene with a goose that had me doubled over! I love how there is plenty of humour amongst the serious plots.
I adored everything about this book and I can’t wait to see what Heather has planned for Kate and Jared in the nest instalment!
December 27, 2012
4.5
Kate wakes up from a coma with the ability to dream other people's thoughts or things that happened to them during the day. With the hope of finding his girlfriend's little sister, Jared (a detective) hopes Kate can help. Lines blur and feelings get hurt, can Kate help find the little girl without getting her heart broken?
Kate was a very real character. She has lived a sheltered life after being ridiculed for her psychic ability, she cannot help her feelings for Jared and get's super confused about everything that is going on.
Jared was pretty likable too. It's like you wanted to almost hate him for leading Kate on but you couldn't.
The story was very well written. The characters solid. Loved it all.
Kate wakes up from a coma with the ability to dream other people's thoughts or things that happened to them during the day. With the hope of finding his girlfriend's little sister, Jared (a detective) hopes Kate can help. Lines blur and feelings get hurt, can Kate help find the little girl without getting her heart broken?
Kate was a very real character. She has lived a sheltered life after being ridiculed for her psychic ability, she cannot help her feelings for Jared and get's super confused about everything that is going on.
Jared was pretty likable too. It's like you wanted to almost hate him for leading Kate on but you couldn't.
The story was very well written. The characters solid. Loved it all.
September 22, 2012
I have never read a book like this one before. First Visions is about a girl who wakes up from a coma and is able to help find missing people through the visions she has when she is asleep. This plot keeps you on your toes as you hope that they will find the missing girl in time.
Kate, the unwilling psychic, was a bit immature at times and quite snarky. She is trying to live a normal life when she is asked to help find a girl who was taken from her home. As she starts to have visions of what happened to the girl, she also starts to have feelings for the detective.
If you are looking for something with mystery, romance and psychics – then this is the book for you!
Kate, the unwilling psychic, was a bit immature at times and quite snarky. She is trying to live a normal life when she is asked to help find a girl who was taken from her home. As she starts to have visions of what happened to the girl, she also starts to have feelings for the detective.
If you are looking for something with mystery, romance and psychics – then this is the book for you!
May 12, 2012
I really enjoyed Kate and Jared's chemistry, and cannot wait for the sequel.
August 26, 2012
Interesting premise for a novel with a funny and easy to relate to main character.
July 11, 2017
3.5 stars
Kate was gravely ill and slipped into a coma. When she woke up she had psychic abilities. These abilities complicate her life causing her to isolate herself. A police detective comes by Kate's house to ask for help finding a missing child.
I thought Kate was very immature at first but even though she hated her abilities Kate seemed to genuinely want to help people. I could have done without some of the angst it came across as too dramatic at times.
I did enjoy the action parts and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was a good start to the series and I will be continuing on with the series.
Kate was gravely ill and slipped into a coma. When she woke up she had psychic abilities. These abilities complicate her life causing her to isolate herself. A police detective comes by Kate's house to ask for help finding a missing child.
I thought Kate was very immature at first but even though she hated her abilities Kate seemed to genuinely want to help people. I could have done without some of the angst it came across as too dramatic at times.
I did enjoy the action parts and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was a good start to the series and I will be continuing on with the series.
June 17, 2012
Kate Edwards is tired of being labeled as a freak, and that is precisely why she has remained hidden away from friends, family and being in the public eye. Ever since she awakened from a coma caused by bacterial meningitis, she was given a gift, yet she considers it a curse. She was given what some call, "second sight" or psychic abilities. She has no control over what she will see when she falls asleep at night. Her dreams become visions she sees through the eyes of another person, but of events that have already happened. She doesn't see the future.
So when she woke from her coma with precise details of a recent kidnapping including providing the description and location of the suspects, she became what some would call a "freak." It isolated her from people she considered as friends, had to enroll in an on line college course to avoid the constant stares and whispers whenever she walked by. The media circus surrounding her success in the Matt Spencer case was more than she could handle. She told people it was a one time thing and she didn't have the abilities to find other missing persons. But that was a lie. She continued to see things she shouldn't and the onslaught of mail from people searching for a lost family member was difficult to endure. She felt that she could only see visions of people who were still alive, how could she tell people that she believed the person they were looking for were dead, or simply chose to walk away from their previous life.
So when Detective Jared Corbett, shows up a her door asking for her help in the recent kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl, Corinne Preston, she has a hard time telling him no, especially when he is so great looking. She learns that one of the reasons he is pursuing this case is because the victim, Corinne is the sister of her girlfriend, which automatically keeps her social status from becoming anything more than single. But she is drawn to him in a way like no other. Perhaps its because he can relate to her, his aunt also has the ability to predict the future in some aspects and he knows how ruthless the public can be.
In the novel, First Visions: Second Sight by Heather Topham Wood, the reader is immediately drawn into the character of Kate and can sympathize with her emotions of wanting to help but doesn't want to go through what she did when she helped with Matt's case. She finally agrees to help if Jared can keep her from being linked to this case, promising him that her visions aren't something she has control over. What she gets when she dreams is completely unpredictable, it could be a past event in the life of her parents, friends or even the kidnapping victim, but since he is so cute, she offers to help. In this novel, Kate will get more than she bargained for.
I received First Visions: Second Sight compliments of My Reading Addictions Book Tours for my honest review and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing was wonderful and keep me moving so much I didn't want to put it down. I love the vulnerability that Heather writes into her characters and keeps them flawed in ways, it makes it more believable for the reader to relate to and I love Kate's personality. My readers should be warned however as there are some elements that some may not find favorable. There is some profanity, references to Wicca witches and some sexual content. With that warning however, the story line is amazing in this series. It reminds me of the television series the Medium and I look forward to reading more in this new series. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars based on my rating system and think Heather Topham Wood is off to a great starting in writing!
March 15, 2013
As seen on Ed and Em's Reviews!
In First Visions, a young woman named Kate Edwards is hiding her strange ability to see into the minds of other. She tries to keep her visions to herself because after solving the case of a missing child when she woke up from a coma, she was alienated due to the spotlight of the media. When detective Jared Corbett comes her to help solve the case of his girlfriend's missing younger sister, she is reluctant to help. Kate suffered at the hands of the press before, the last thing she wants is to be in that position again. But when she sees the child, she knows she must do something to help and despite her growing attraction to the not-so-single Jared, works to save the life of the young girl.
Kate was an amusing character. She's not afraid to be snarky, and though she's heartbroken over things in her past, she's caring and has a really kind personality. Jared was a bit more difficult. His sense of honor was great, but I was annoyed by how long it took him to realize his feelings for Kate weren't going anywhere. I did not like Jared's girlfriend, Nikki. Her jealousy caused her to be cruel and immature. She needed a serious reality check. Though Kate's mom had the best intentions, both she and Kate's dad made many mistakes that really hurt Kate. It was hard not to feel bad for poor Kate. She didn't deserve the treatment most bestowed upon her.
The plot was not extremely suspenseful, but it did constantly keep you wondering. It moved pretty steadily, though it was short, really made it's mark. There was mystery, romance and a bit of action in this story. First Visions was heartfelt and sweet. New adult novels have not been my favorite, but I must say that this story help me believe there are good stories of that nature. While there is some sexual undertones, it is not the focus of the story. It's not extremely graphic, like a few that I've read. It really felt like it was just a little to much to be a young adult novel, but not quite an adult-oriented story.
This book kept my attention from start to finish. There was just something about it that intrigued me. It's not the best written story, but the concepts behind it were extremely interesting. I applaud Ms. Wood for coming up with such an original start, Katie's powers coming from an illness that caused her to going into a coma. I've only read one other story involving the protagonist being in a coma, and I've found it to be an extremely interesting topic. It would be great to see more stories with that as a major plot point.
A lot of this story was cheesy. It's not always bad to have some "cheese" in a story. This is very much a guilty pleasure book. Though several parts induced painful eye-rolls, others had me making faces of annoyance, First Visions continued to reel me in. It's not the best written book, but it's creative and has characters that the audience can relate to. We might not have abilities like Katie's, but we've all felt jealous, hopeless and scared. The author is very good at expressing the emotions of her characters.
First Visions was extremely enjoyable. I have already purchased book two for my kindle, because I am so curious about how the author will continue the series!
I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.
In First Visions, a young woman named Kate Edwards is hiding her strange ability to see into the minds of other. She tries to keep her visions to herself because after solving the case of a missing child when she woke up from a coma, she was alienated due to the spotlight of the media. When detective Jared Corbett comes her to help solve the case of his girlfriend's missing younger sister, she is reluctant to help. Kate suffered at the hands of the press before, the last thing she wants is to be in that position again. But when she sees the child, she knows she must do something to help and despite her growing attraction to the not-so-single Jared, works to save the life of the young girl.
Kate was an amusing character. She's not afraid to be snarky, and though she's heartbroken over things in her past, she's caring and has a really kind personality. Jared was a bit more difficult. His sense of honor was great, but I was annoyed by how long it took him to realize his feelings for Kate weren't going anywhere. I did not like Jared's girlfriend, Nikki. Her jealousy caused her to be cruel and immature. She needed a serious reality check. Though Kate's mom had the best intentions, both she and Kate's dad made many mistakes that really hurt Kate. It was hard not to feel bad for poor Kate. She didn't deserve the treatment most bestowed upon her.
The plot was not extremely suspenseful, but it did constantly keep you wondering. It moved pretty steadily, though it was short, really made it's mark. There was mystery, romance and a bit of action in this story. First Visions was heartfelt and sweet. New adult novels have not been my favorite, but I must say that this story help me believe there are good stories of that nature. While there is some sexual undertones, it is not the focus of the story. It's not extremely graphic, like a few that I've read. It really felt like it was just a little to much to be a young adult novel, but not quite an adult-oriented story.
This book kept my attention from start to finish. There was just something about it that intrigued me. It's not the best written story, but the concepts behind it were extremely interesting. I applaud Ms. Wood for coming up with such an original start, Katie's powers coming from an illness that caused her to going into a coma. I've only read one other story involving the protagonist being in a coma, and I've found it to be an extremely interesting topic. It would be great to see more stories with that as a major plot point.
A lot of this story was cheesy. It's not always bad to have some "cheese" in a story. This is very much a guilty pleasure book. Though several parts induced painful eye-rolls, others had me making faces of annoyance, First Visions continued to reel me in. It's not the best written book, but it's creative and has characters that the audience can relate to. We might not have abilities like Katie's, but we've all felt jealous, hopeless and scared. The author is very good at expressing the emotions of her characters.
First Visions was extremely enjoyable. I have already purchased book two for my kindle, because I am so curious about how the author will continue the series!
I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.
March 12, 2013
My Thoughts?
Once again I've been wow'ed by a book I had good hopes for but never thought to like as much as I did.
From page one I was immediately drawn to the main character, Kate. I instantly wanted to get to know her. And her story. I wanted to know just what exactly was this 'gift' of hers... And how she came to it, how she dealt with it...
Not only was I drawn to the main character but all the others as well. Plus, Jared... What IS IT about men named Jared? First of all, AMAZING name choice, then of course... He HAD to be hot, hot, with ethics, and well... Hot.
Seriously though. Kate, as the author wrote her, is incredibly likable, so easygoing but also with her feet on the ground and sentimental. I couldn't help but laugh almost every single time she spoke on the first half of the book... Jared SO helped with that. She has a good heart, she is terrified... While Jared is anything but.
-"... My visions are usually horrible, I only wanted to share with you that you gave me one of the best ones I ever had."
Jared took my breath away... Lately it's becoming REALLY really hard to find love interests [specially men/boys] in books that aren't snarky or the "Bad Guy" or dark or brooding -though I'm ALL for them- it was really refreshing to actually fall for a normal nice guy that had the looks going for him. Also, the fact that he is incredibly stubborn when it comes to helping others didn't hurt at all.
Kate's mom, Darlene, takes on a really huge roll on the story, that while secondary still so very very important and I loved the fact that her character developed throughout the story just as all the others did.
I'm actually quite surprised at all the feelings that Jared's girlfriend inspired in me... O_O I'm known for loving almost all the characters in a book I enjoy... Even the bad ones since... well, they play their part well... But there was something about this girl... Made me want to... Nope... Not going there.
-"Your girlfriend--she's beautiful. What's she doing slumming with you?"-
I enjoyed the multiple point of views that the author went for with her story, though at the beginning I was a bit wary... That melted away when I saw how easy it was for me to keep up thanks to the author's writing talent :D I'm not a huge fan of multiple POVs but boy... Was I excited for this one.
Sadly, my weaknesses kind of weren't found, at least not by me. I'm not such a huge fan of the cover nor do I know how it relates to the whole story... If I were to find this book in the shelves of a bookstore I would immediately think "Middle grade"or "Kids reads" not "New Adult" nope, definitely NOT that. And while the tittle does give a hint at a paranormal element it wasn't in the book at all... Second sight or other terms were used but never 'first'.
And the paranormal/fantasy, whatever call it whatever you want, element blended amazing! It gave exactly the spice that this story needed.
A girl with a second sight, a missing girl, a hot cop/detective/crush, a crumbling mind, a lonely past, an even lonelier present, and an impossible love.
Dark, light, thrilling, exciting, funny, sarcastic, and oh so very very fresh.
-"Are you paying? Because this affects what I'll be ordering."-
I completely recommend it if you have a few hours to spare, it's a quick read, trust me.
I give this book
4fotitos = Genious crying.
(Review based on a copy provided by the author in exchange of my honest review.)
Once again I've been wow'ed by a book I had good hopes for but never thought to like as much as I did.
From page one I was immediately drawn to the main character, Kate. I instantly wanted to get to know her. And her story. I wanted to know just what exactly was this 'gift' of hers... And how she came to it, how she dealt with it...
Not only was I drawn to the main character but all the others as well. Plus, Jared... What IS IT about men named Jared? First of all, AMAZING name choice, then of course... He HAD to be hot, hot, with ethics, and well... Hot.
Seriously though. Kate, as the author wrote her, is incredibly likable, so easygoing but also with her feet on the ground and sentimental. I couldn't help but laugh almost every single time she spoke on the first half of the book... Jared SO helped with that. She has a good heart, she is terrified... While Jared is anything but.
-"... My visions are usually horrible, I only wanted to share with you that you gave me one of the best ones I ever had."
Jared took my breath away... Lately it's becoming REALLY really hard to find love interests [specially men/boys] in books that aren't snarky or the "Bad Guy" or dark or brooding -though I'm ALL for them- it was really refreshing to actually fall for a normal nice guy that had the looks going for him. Also, the fact that he is incredibly stubborn when it comes to helping others didn't hurt at all.
Kate's mom, Darlene, takes on a really huge roll on the story, that while secondary still so very very important and I loved the fact that her character developed throughout the story just as all the others did.
I'm actually quite surprised at all the feelings that Jared's girlfriend inspired in me... O_O I'm known for loving almost all the characters in a book I enjoy... Even the bad ones since... well, they play their part well... But there was something about this girl... Made me want to... Nope... Not going there.
-"Your girlfriend--she's beautiful. What's she doing slumming with you?"-
I enjoyed the multiple point of views that the author went for with her story, though at the beginning I was a bit wary... That melted away when I saw how easy it was for me to keep up thanks to the author's writing talent :D I'm not a huge fan of multiple POVs but boy... Was I excited for this one.
Sadly, my weaknesses kind of weren't found, at least not by me. I'm not such a huge fan of the cover nor do I know how it relates to the whole story... If I were to find this book in the shelves of a bookstore I would immediately think "Middle grade"or "Kids reads" not "New Adult" nope, definitely NOT that. And while the tittle does give a hint at a paranormal element it wasn't in the book at all... Second sight or other terms were used but never 'first'.
And the paranormal/fantasy, whatever call it whatever you want, element blended amazing! It gave exactly the spice that this story needed.
A girl with a second sight, a missing girl, a hot cop/detective/crush, a crumbling mind, a lonely past, an even lonelier present, and an impossible love.
Dark, light, thrilling, exciting, funny, sarcastic, and oh so very very fresh.
-"Are you paying? Because this affects what I'll be ordering."-
I completely recommend it if you have a few hours to spare, it's a quick read, trust me.
I give this book
4fotitos = Genious crying.
(Review based on a copy provided by the author in exchange of my honest review.)
July 19, 2012
*** I got a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. ***
Slipping into a coma, waking up out of it and ending up with a power to 'see' uncontrolled visions, is not Kate's idea of enjoying her teen life. But, that's exactly what happened to her. When she first had the vision of a missing boy, she shares that knowledge with the authorities. But soon after it reached the public, Kate was treated as a freak by friends and family, and was secluded from all social activities. Dejected by all the wrong spotlight, Kate decides never to reveal her abilities to anyone else - not even to her mom. She pretends that she never gets any such visions and that was just one-time luck to everyone.
After two years of life in unsociable environment, when Kate was approached by Jared, a hot detective, for help to find a missing kid (the kid being the sister of his girlfriend), Kate shuts him down. But then, her visions of that missing child starts appearing and she agrees to help, if he agrees to keep her name out of public. The deal was on. But, there are complications here.. First, as Kate can't control her vision, she is not sure whether the girl is still alive or not. Second, what if, somehow, her name got leaked and the media knows that she is psychic - is she going to go through all the embarrassment again? Is it worth it? Third, is she falling for Jared --- who already has a very cute barbie-like girlfriend?
Kate is one amazing character.. Although she sounded strong and sarcastic at the beginning, when she reveals her true fears, she just seem so vulnerable. In spite of all the sarcasm and dejected mood swings with Kate, there is a sweetness in her that makes the readers love her. No wonder Jared can't resist her. Her emotional growth, when she works with Jared, is clear - which is especially known when she speaks with her dad (who left the family, when she first revealed her psychic abiliy) at the end.
Jared -- Ah, Jared (** dreaming **)! I just wish I had known more about him. I hope the author will delve more about him in the upcoming books.
The other characters - Darlene (Kate's mom) and Julie (Kate's friend), the only two people who were at Kate's side all the time, felt just so real. The author has built such amazing characters, that even minor roles felt good. Overall, it felt like watching a great movie.
If I ever start writing a book (which I am not planning to, but..), I want it to create a feel to the readers like this one did. Fun and action-filled, this book will keep you occupied until the last page. I would really love to see, how the author brings out the story for the next book in the series, although there is no cliffhanger in this one.
Highly recommended, if you are
- looking for a fun read!
- planning to read after a long break.
- want to read about a smart-mouthed protagonist and a hot male.
- want a satisfactory reading time.
-----
This review is also available in my blog at Books Are Magic.
Slipping into a coma, waking up out of it and ending up with a power to 'see' uncontrolled visions, is not Kate's idea of enjoying her teen life. But, that's exactly what happened to her. When she first had the vision of a missing boy, she shares that knowledge with the authorities. But soon after it reached the public, Kate was treated as a freak by friends and family, and was secluded from all social activities. Dejected by all the wrong spotlight, Kate decides never to reveal her abilities to anyone else - not even to her mom. She pretends that she never gets any such visions and that was just one-time luck to everyone.
After two years of life in unsociable environment, when Kate was approached by Jared, a hot detective, for help to find a missing kid (the kid being the sister of his girlfriend), Kate shuts him down. But then, her visions of that missing child starts appearing and she agrees to help, if he agrees to keep her name out of public. The deal was on. But, there are complications here.. First, as Kate can't control her vision, she is not sure whether the girl is still alive or not. Second, what if, somehow, her name got leaked and the media knows that she is psychic - is she going to go through all the embarrassment again? Is it worth it? Third, is she falling for Jared --- who already has a very cute barbie-like girlfriend?
Kate is one amazing character.. Although she sounded strong and sarcastic at the beginning, when she reveals her true fears, she just seem so vulnerable. In spite of all the sarcasm and dejected mood swings with Kate, there is a sweetness in her that makes the readers love her. No wonder Jared can't resist her. Her emotional growth, when she works with Jared, is clear - which is especially known when she speaks with her dad (who left the family, when she first revealed her psychic abiliy) at the end.
Jared -- Ah, Jared (** dreaming **)! I just wish I had known more about him. I hope the author will delve more about him in the upcoming books.
The other characters - Darlene (Kate's mom) and Julie (Kate's friend), the only two people who were at Kate's side all the time, felt just so real. The author has built such amazing characters, that even minor roles felt good. Overall, it felt like watching a great movie.
If I ever start writing a book (which I am not planning to, but..), I want it to create a feel to the readers like this one did. Fun and action-filled, this book will keep you occupied until the last page. I would really love to see, how the author brings out the story for the next book in the series, although there is no cliffhanger in this one.
Highly recommended, if you are
- looking for a fun read!
- planning to read after a long break.
- want to read about a smart-mouthed protagonist and a hot male.
- want a satisfactory reading time.
-----
This review is also available in my blog at Books Are Magic.
August 6, 2012
First Visions is a nice little series starter and introduction for me to Heather Topham Wood. While I felt that it was a predictable take on a much used storyline, the characters are what made it come alive for me.
I particularly liked Jared, as he was the most solid character of the book. He was charming, hot, and likeable. He was also a gentleman, which is something I appreciated while watching him struggle with his feelings for two women. I also appreciated that he was humble despite his sex appeal and his handling of Kate, who came across as immature for most of the book. As a heroine, Kate annoyed me at times and made me laugh in others. I understand that she's a 21 year old college student, but by 21 I was already married with a child and just can't understand her actions at times. I guess it all comes down to mental age and Kate's came in at around 15. Her co-dependent relationship with her mom didn't help matters, and neither did her temper tantrum about halfway through the book. I couldn't understand how a girl who wants everyone to forget she's psychic, throws a hissy fit when she discovers her mother knew the truth all along but didn't say anything. You're the one who didn't want anyone talking about it! This part of the book grated my nerves...hard...but then, something wonderful happened. Something that hardly ever happens when a heroine is immature or annoying....Kate evolved!
*gasp*
Finally, an author who sees her character's flaws and works throughout the book to fix them. Even Kate knows that she's codependent and ridiculous. By the end, I liked her a whole lot more and I think that speaks to the author's talent.
While this book had plenty of laugh out loud moments, there were also some deeply poignant and emotional moments that really drew me into the romance. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Jared and Kate almost share a kiss under a pavilion by a lake. The moment was so tense that my pulse was racing...I wanted Jared to stop being a gentlemen just long enough to give Kate what she wanted. Another incident, the climax of the story for me, when jared and kate have a huge blow up over their feelings. Jake is so torn because he wants Kate, and you can practically feel his emotion and Kate's heartbreak. You may notice that most of my positive criticism revolves around Jared. That's because he made this book for me. He was definitely a hero to root for.
The paranormal aspect of this book was a nice addition to the story, although this is the part I found predictable. Every move the criminal made in the kidnapping case, I saw coming a mile away. This is something I hope changes in the next book. More unpredictability would make the next book an even greater read than this one. All in all though, I enjoyed it and by the time the climax of the book hit, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down until I knew the outcome!
I particularly liked Jared, as he was the most solid character of the book. He was charming, hot, and likeable. He was also a gentleman, which is something I appreciated while watching him struggle with his feelings for two women. I also appreciated that he was humble despite his sex appeal and his handling of Kate, who came across as immature for most of the book. As a heroine, Kate annoyed me at times and made me laugh in others. I understand that she's a 21 year old college student, but by 21 I was already married with a child and just can't understand her actions at times. I guess it all comes down to mental age and Kate's came in at around 15. Her co-dependent relationship with her mom didn't help matters, and neither did her temper tantrum about halfway through the book. I couldn't understand how a girl who wants everyone to forget she's psychic, throws a hissy fit when she discovers her mother knew the truth all along but didn't say anything. You're the one who didn't want anyone talking about it! This part of the book grated my nerves...hard...but then, something wonderful happened. Something that hardly ever happens when a heroine is immature or annoying....Kate evolved!
*gasp*
Finally, an author who sees her character's flaws and works throughout the book to fix them. Even Kate knows that she's codependent and ridiculous. By the end, I liked her a whole lot more and I think that speaks to the author's talent.
While this book had plenty of laugh out loud moments, there were also some deeply poignant and emotional moments that really drew me into the romance. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Jared and Kate almost share a kiss under a pavilion by a lake. The moment was so tense that my pulse was racing...I wanted Jared to stop being a gentlemen just long enough to give Kate what she wanted. Another incident, the climax of the story for me, when jared and kate have a huge blow up over their feelings. Jake is so torn because he wants Kate, and you can practically feel his emotion and Kate's heartbreak. You may notice that most of my positive criticism revolves around Jared. That's because he made this book for me. He was definitely a hero to root for.
The paranormal aspect of this book was a nice addition to the story, although this is the part I found predictable. Every move the criminal made in the kidnapping case, I saw coming a mile away. This is something I hope changes in the next book. More unpredictability would make the next book an even greater read than this one. All in all though, I enjoyed it and by the time the climax of the book hit, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down until I knew the outcome!
July 2, 2012
Where do I start? Well first...I really loved this story! I've been waiting for a book like this to read, and this was just wonderful. The Prologue really makes you interested to see what the rest of the story will unfold. I immediately liked Kate; she just felt so relatable, and in general, I love relating to the characters; it makes me connect to them and to the story even more. She was stubborn, sarcastic, untrusting, but also kind, witty, and funny. Since waking up from her Coma (due to meningitis) two years earlier, and now at age 21, she is sorta unsociable, not because she was almost killed, but what news she presented when she woke up: knowing where a young kidnapped boy was. Everyone, including her close friends and family, thought well she was sorta crazy for her to see these so called visions, and some would say she is psychic. Well, the boy was fortunately found, just where Kate said he would be, but she lost a lot of friends, her parents separated, the public either liked/hated her, but it was attention she did not want. These past two years have not been so kind to Kate. But then, there is a new abduction case, and one skeptical detective/cop knocks at Kate's front door to see if she has seen his girlfriend's little sister, Cori. Kate doesn't want to help at first, but then after having a vision while she sleeps, she agrees to help, and now do they find Cori or not? The answer you will have to find yourself.
As I was reading, I immediately liked the characters: Kate, Jared, Darlene (Kate's Mom), and Julie (Kate's best friend). They were all well developed, and each had personality, as there is humor that lightens the situation (abduction case) that threatens to darken the story. I liked how there was a good amount of back story, to help us understand these characters better. Everything just flowed so nicely. I was also intrigued by the whole psychic abilities/second sight. I'm not saying I do/do not believe in it, but it's just something that I've sorta been interested to read more about. I do admit, that I was a fan of the show Medium, and this story sorta reminded me of the show, which was great! So, the concept of the second sight was just a wonderful and important element to this story, and I simply cannot wait for the second book in this series! This story has so many components that make it so wonderful to read: there are tender moments; a sense of rejection; taking charge of your life; having that one best friend you can confide in; conflict between characters, and...perhaps a romance....
Yes, this was just fantastic. I encourage you to read this; it's just too good, and I definitely Recommend it!
As I was reading, I immediately liked the characters: Kate, Jared, Darlene (Kate's Mom), and Julie (Kate's best friend). They were all well developed, and each had personality, as there is humor that lightens the situation (abduction case) that threatens to darken the story. I liked how there was a good amount of back story, to help us understand these characters better. Everything just flowed so nicely. I was also intrigued by the whole psychic abilities/second sight. I'm not saying I do/do not believe in it, but it's just something that I've sorta been interested to read more about. I do admit, that I was a fan of the show Medium, and this story sorta reminded me of the show, which was great! So, the concept of the second sight was just a wonderful and important element to this story, and I simply cannot wait for the second book in this series! This story has so many components that make it so wonderful to read: there are tender moments; a sense of rejection; taking charge of your life; having that one best friend you can confide in; conflict between characters, and...perhaps a romance....
Yes, this was just fantastic. I encourage you to read this; it's just too good, and I definitely Recommend it!
September 21, 2020
Review at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks. You can see the original review here.
Yummy Man – Jared Corbett
Kick Ass Chick – Kate Edwards
First Visions by Heather Topham Wood has my favorite kind of thing which is psychic powers or magic. In this case, Kate has visions. She has helped the police to solve some child abductions. A new policeman, Jared , comes looking for help when his girlfriend’s little sister is kidnapped. It has a Goodreads rating of 4.00.
Kate grows during this book. She starts out as a whiny, hiding from life, barely new adult person. I didn’t like her too much. I understand her problems and why she is hiding but I wanted her to stop hiding and do something. Finally, she does and starts making progress.
Jared is an attractive and honorable guy. He has an interesting background and police work can be fascinating and exciting. His girlfriend is too much of a stereotype. She does not fit for a good guy really, unless he was in a man whore phase. And then she wouldn’t be a girlfriend. So maybe that isn’t such a cliché, but otherwise she is. I do like the way he understands Kate and how he treats her.
The writing in the book seems amateur. The characters act out in stereotype fashion. I think what makes it feel wrong is the story is told in so many details, as opposed to showing us with dialogue and events. So it feels too much like a bunch of facts with no emotional connection.
There is nothing really wrong with the plot but it is straightforward. But the police seem incompetent compared to the technology and techniques used on television these days. Since this is fiction, I would think they could get a few more breaks or information more quickly. I suppose the slow down allowed Kate and Jared to have time together to get to know each other, or adjust emotionally to reality but it didn’t seem to use the time to advantage that way.
By end of the First Visions, things are wrapped up nicely and the future looks interesting. I do appreciate it is not a cliffhanger. It is more of a HFN (happy for now), which is perfect in urban fantasy type series. Will I read on? I am not sure. It has the possibility to improve and the bare bones are the type of story I prefer. But there are so many books at the moment I am dying to read, so it might be awhile before I get back to this series.
Yummy Man – Jared Corbett
Kick Ass Chick – Kate Edwards
First Visions by Heather Topham Wood has my favorite kind of thing which is psychic powers or magic. In this case, Kate has visions. She has helped the police to solve some child abductions. A new policeman, Jared , comes looking for help when his girlfriend’s little sister is kidnapped. It has a Goodreads rating of 4.00.
Kate grows during this book. She starts out as a whiny, hiding from life, barely new adult person. I didn’t like her too much. I understand her problems and why she is hiding but I wanted her to stop hiding and do something. Finally, she does and starts making progress.
Jared is an attractive and honorable guy. He has an interesting background and police work can be fascinating and exciting. His girlfriend is too much of a stereotype. She does not fit for a good guy really, unless he was in a man whore phase. And then she wouldn’t be a girlfriend. So maybe that isn’t such a cliché, but otherwise she is. I do like the way he understands Kate and how he treats her.
The writing in the book seems amateur. The characters act out in stereotype fashion. I think what makes it feel wrong is the story is told in so many details, as opposed to showing us with dialogue and events. So it feels too much like a bunch of facts with no emotional connection.
There is nothing really wrong with the plot but it is straightforward. But the police seem incompetent compared to the technology and techniques used on television these days. Since this is fiction, I would think they could get a few more breaks or information more quickly. I suppose the slow down allowed Kate and Jared to have time together to get to know each other, or adjust emotionally to reality but it didn’t seem to use the time to advantage that way.
By end of the First Visions, things are wrapped up nicely and the future looks interesting. I do appreciate it is not a cliffhanger. It is more of a HFN (happy for now), which is perfect in urban fantasy type series. Will I read on? I am not sure. It has the possibility to improve and the bare bones are the type of story I prefer. But there are so many books at the moment I am dying to read, so it might be awhile before I get back to this series.
March 15, 2013
Oh, this book. This book was completely refreshing. It's different from other books I've been throwing myself into lately. The characters are their own, the story is interesting but not the same, and the writing made me smile. Sitting down to read this book made me happy! And I swear, the time spent reading this book flew by. I pretty much read this book in oe sitting, y'all.
Character Rundown:
Kate: Kate is magnificent. She is snarky and independent. But most importantly, she's funny. I love her attitude! Seriously, she has an attitude problem and it amuses me to no end. She's not obnoxious, but she's not prim and proper either. She's just...KATE. A character now added to the short list of female MCs that I actually like. So yay!
Jared: He is nice, sweet, and caring. But I have to admit, his "morals" made him somewhat boring at times. Not always, but sometimes. And I did not like Nikki. At all. So moments with her were no fun. But other than that, I like him! I can't wait until we get to know him even better. He's the sweetheart type, that's for sure.
Plot. This story is written in third person, shifting between Jared and Kate. There was neither I liked better, which is awesome because I'm usually partial to the guy's POV. But Heather wrote this story very well, and I was fine either way. She did a great job of setting the story up and letting it evolve at a steady pace, until the big BOOM happened. I completely enjoyed reading this story!
Romantic encounters. Jared and Kate are a couple that I kept waiting and waiting to get together. As I've said, I did NOT like Nikki at all, so it felt like FOREVER while I waited for Jared and Kate to become an actual thing. But working up to it was so cute! They fed ducks, guys. FEEDING DUCKS RULES. So yeah. This couple? Awesome.
The ending. Me likey. I honestly cannot wait to get the next book. This one ended right at a point that I'm excited to see book 2 take off from. I can't wait to see Jared and Kate grow as characters and as a couple, and also for them to get a better handle on Kate's ability, hopefully.
Overall, First Visions is a great story that is written very well and doesn't always follow the path that we expect stories like this to stick to. And that is a wonderful, wonderful thing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and can't wait to get my hands on the next!
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
Character Rundown:
Kate: Kate is magnificent. She is snarky and independent. But most importantly, she's funny. I love her attitude! Seriously, she has an attitude problem and it amuses me to no end. She's not obnoxious, but she's not prim and proper either. She's just...KATE. A character now added to the short list of female MCs that I actually like. So yay!
Jared: He is nice, sweet, and caring. But I have to admit, his "morals" made him somewhat boring at times. Not always, but sometimes. And I did not like Nikki. At all. So moments with her were no fun. But other than that, I like him! I can't wait until we get to know him even better. He's the sweetheart type, that's for sure.
Plot. This story is written in third person, shifting between Jared and Kate. There was neither I liked better, which is awesome because I'm usually partial to the guy's POV. But Heather wrote this story very well, and I was fine either way. She did a great job of setting the story up and letting it evolve at a steady pace, until the big BOOM happened. I completely enjoyed reading this story!
Romantic encounters. Jared and Kate are a couple that I kept waiting and waiting to get together. As I've said, I did NOT like Nikki at all, so it felt like FOREVER while I waited for Jared and Kate to become an actual thing. But working up to it was so cute! They fed ducks, guys. FEEDING DUCKS RULES. So yeah. This couple? Awesome.
The ending. Me likey. I honestly cannot wait to get the next book. This one ended right at a point that I'm excited to see book 2 take off from. I can't wait to see Jared and Kate grow as characters and as a couple, and also for them to get a better handle on Kate's ability, hopefully.
Overall, First Visions is a great story that is written very well and doesn't always follow the path that we expect stories like this to stick to. And that is a wonderful, wonderful thing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and can't wait to get my hands on the next!
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
March 13, 2013
First Visions is one of those books that has you thinking about the supernatural world and what lies beyond what the eyes can see. Have you ever had a dream or premonition about someone or something? Have you ever wondered if that dream you had was reality or just a very vivid dream? Kate Edwards is living the life. She is going to college and doing normal things college kids do until one day she gets sick. She feels sick and she is not sure what is happening to her but she feels like death. Then Katie ends up in a coma due to Meningitis. Who would have thought that Meningitis could do that to a person. But it happened to Katie and she is now in a coma and when she wakes up she has a story to tell.
While Katie was in a coma she was able to slip into the mind of a little boy who was kidnapped. Her Psychic visions lead her to where the boy was being held. When Katie woke up she told the police about the little boy and where he was. That is when her normal life changed because the media was all over her and they wanted to know what she was and how she knew where the boy was. With Katie's life in the public she drops out of college and becomes a recluse. Her family and friends treat her differently and she feels like they don't believe her gift. With this knowledge Katie stays to herself and spends her time in her mother's house doing nothing wasting away.
Then another child goes missing and Detective Jared Corbett seeks out the help of Katie. But Katie has been living a life of a recluse and denies she has any abilities. Jared knows she can help him find this missing boy and he is determined to get Katie to change her mind and help him out. Jared eventually wears Katie down and she agrees to help him find this missing child. What Katie never expected was to start to have feelings for Jared. As if life was not hard enough but add Jared into the mix and it is very confusing. See Jared has a girlfriend but he does have feelings for Katie. As they share more and more time together they both begin to have feelings for one another.
Katie can't seem to control her visions or control her feelings for Jared. What will happen between Katie and Jared? Will they find the missing child in time? Come along for a great reading ride with Fist Visions and see what Kate can see! I need to read book two like ASAP to see what happens next.
While Katie was in a coma she was able to slip into the mind of a little boy who was kidnapped. Her Psychic visions lead her to where the boy was being held. When Katie woke up she told the police about the little boy and where he was. That is when her normal life changed because the media was all over her and they wanted to know what she was and how she knew where the boy was. With Katie's life in the public she drops out of college and becomes a recluse. Her family and friends treat her differently and she feels like they don't believe her gift. With this knowledge Katie stays to herself and spends her time in her mother's house doing nothing wasting away.
Then another child goes missing and Detective Jared Corbett seeks out the help of Katie. But Katie has been living a life of a recluse and denies she has any abilities. Jared knows she can help him find this missing boy and he is determined to get Katie to change her mind and help him out. Jared eventually wears Katie down and she agrees to help him find this missing child. What Katie never expected was to start to have feelings for Jared. As if life was not hard enough but add Jared into the mix and it is very confusing. See Jared has a girlfriend but he does have feelings for Katie. As they share more and more time together they both begin to have feelings for one another.
Katie can't seem to control her visions or control her feelings for Jared. What will happen between Katie and Jared? Will they find the missing child in time? Come along for a great reading ride with Fist Visions and see what Kate can see! I need to read book two like ASAP to see what happens next.
March 13, 2013
First Visions is one of those books that introduced me to a new topic: waking up after a coma to discover you now have psychic powers. I mean... really? I'm very scared of comas and not ever waking up but if after a coma something like that happens to me that would be pretty awesome.
Still, not everything is flowers and unicorns. With a power like that there has to be a downside, right? And that's what Kate, the main character, discovers after a while.
Despite everything she's been going through Kate has an amazing personality, she is sarcastic -one of the things my favorite characters always have-, her antics were great and funny and her snarky attitude was awesome. Plus, she cares for other people, she is vulnerable and wants to protect herself from others discovering her secret and judging her but still she is willing to put herself in the line to save a little boy.
And then of course we have Jared -can somebody explain to me why is that name so amazingly hot and cute at the same time?!- who is the detective in charge of the case. This gentleman, ladies, is one of those rare specimens we barely get to read about right now.
Don't get me wrong, I love bad boys -they are the spice in life- but to find a good boy who is stubborn for the right reasons, who cares, who is nice and genuine is refreshing, really refreshing.
Of course, their relationship was kind of prohibited because he already has a girlfriend but we can sense something is going on there and I loved the opportunity to see the feelings evolve and their conversations flow.
But beside the main plot and the romance what I enjoyed the most was Kate's relationship with her mother, Darlene. I don't usually find books that have a special place for mothers and I miss it. I mean, if a person rocks it's usually because his/her mom was awesome too, right? And just like any mom Darlene had her ups and downs but she's also learned and evolved throughout the book and I was delighted to share it with her.
The book is short but the pace is fast and something is always going on so I'm pretty sure everybody will finish the book in one seat, just like I did. The mystery around the kidnapping, Jared's girlfriend and the romance made me read the book so fast that when I finished it I immediately wanted to have the second part in my hands... and since it's already out hopefully I won't have to wait too long.
Still, not everything is flowers and unicorns. With a power like that there has to be a downside, right? And that's what Kate, the main character, discovers after a while.
Despite everything she's been going through Kate has an amazing personality, she is sarcastic -one of the things my favorite characters always have-, her antics were great and funny and her snarky attitude was awesome. Plus, she cares for other people, she is vulnerable and wants to protect herself from others discovering her secret and judging her but still she is willing to put herself in the line to save a little boy.
And then of course we have Jared -can somebody explain to me why is that name so amazingly hot and cute at the same time?!- who is the detective in charge of the case. This gentleman, ladies, is one of those rare specimens we barely get to read about right now.
Don't get me wrong, I love bad boys -they are the spice in life- but to find a good boy who is stubborn for the right reasons, who cares, who is nice and genuine is refreshing, really refreshing.
Of course, their relationship was kind of prohibited because he already has a girlfriend but we can sense something is going on there and I loved the opportunity to see the feelings evolve and their conversations flow.
But beside the main plot and the romance what I enjoyed the most was Kate's relationship with her mother, Darlene. I don't usually find books that have a special place for mothers and I miss it. I mean, if a person rocks it's usually because his/her mom was awesome too, right? And just like any mom Darlene had her ups and downs but she's also learned and evolved throughout the book and I was delighted to share it with her.
The book is short but the pace is fast and something is always going on so I'm pretty sure everybody will finish the book in one seat, just like I did. The mystery around the kidnapping, Jared's girlfriend and the romance made me read the book so fast that when I finished it I immediately wanted to have the second part in my hands... and since it's already out hopefully I won't have to wait too long.
June 19, 2012
My review can be found at my blog Taking It One Place at a Time.
Disclaimer: I received this for review as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tour.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel not necessarily knowing what to expect. I love romantic suspense and have read a few novels along this vain (Meg Cabot's series and Lisa McMann's series) and enjoyed them so I thought I'd give this a chance.
I actually really enjoyed this novel. The plot line drew me in from the beginning and I was immediately hooked. And I loved the characters. Kate had a kick-butt attitude. She was snarky and even came across bitter at times, but underneath that exterior she was kind and really interesting to read about.
Then there was Jared, who was definitely crush worthy. Watching the chemistry between them proved very intriguing and compelling. There was definitely a sexual tension between the two of them, but Wood did not cross the line. Her novel wasn't squeaky clean, but it definitely wasn't explicit.
Wood's novel left me engaged in the story and I quickly read through the tale. First Visions is a great start to a new series that I think people will quickly fall in love with.
I've always loved romantic suspense and this novel definitely was well done. The suspense and the romance were nicely combined and I for one would be interested in seeing how Kate's physic abilities and solving crimes go together. And of course, watching how the romance build between Kate and Jared.
In Summary: Overall, this novel was thoroughly compelling and well worth reading. It kept me captivated and I loved the characters. Definitely one I'd be interested in continuing reading.
Warnings/Side-notes: Like I've mentioned, there is a sexual undertone to this novel. It wasn't crude or lewd, but it was definitely there. Also, there was some instances of strong language. Not too often, but it was definitely prevalent.
The Wrap-up: A novel that I really loved reading. It was a great read. Wood's writing for the most part was fairly solid. The first few pages and the last few pages read a little stilted, but other than that I loved it. Great read.
Disclaimer: I received this for review as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tour.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel not necessarily knowing what to expect. I love romantic suspense and have read a few novels along this vain (Meg Cabot's series and Lisa McMann's series) and enjoyed them so I thought I'd give this a chance.
I actually really enjoyed this novel. The plot line drew me in from the beginning and I was immediately hooked. And I loved the characters. Kate had a kick-butt attitude. She was snarky and even came across bitter at times, but underneath that exterior she was kind and really interesting to read about.
Then there was Jared, who was definitely crush worthy. Watching the chemistry between them proved very intriguing and compelling. There was definitely a sexual tension between the two of them, but Wood did not cross the line. Her novel wasn't squeaky clean, but it definitely wasn't explicit.
Wood's novel left me engaged in the story and I quickly read through the tale. First Visions is a great start to a new series that I think people will quickly fall in love with.
I've always loved romantic suspense and this novel definitely was well done. The suspense and the romance were nicely combined and I for one would be interested in seeing how Kate's physic abilities and solving crimes go together. And of course, watching how the romance build between Kate and Jared.
In Summary: Overall, this novel was thoroughly compelling and well worth reading. It kept me captivated and I loved the characters. Definitely one I'd be interested in continuing reading.
Warnings/Side-notes: Like I've mentioned, there is a sexual undertone to this novel. It wasn't crude or lewd, but it was definitely there. Also, there was some instances of strong language. Not too often, but it was definitely prevalent.
The Wrap-up: A novel that I really loved reading. It was a great read. Wood's writing for the most part was fairly solid. The first few pages and the last few pages read a little stilted, but other than that I loved it. Great read.
June 6, 2012
The funny thing about reading a book to review is that you pay attention to the book a lot more and definitely analyze it to death. There are some books you don’t want to finish and others you don’t want to end. This friends is one that I barely had to analyze and didn’t want to end. Kate Edwards is a 21 year old girl who woke up from a coma and was able to help police find a missing boy. It’s been two years since then and she barely goes out of the house because of the media circus that ensued. When a super hot detective Jared comes into her life and involves her in the case of his girlfriend’s missing 8 year old sister Cori, Kate’s life is about to change.
I gotta say before I say anything else that I loved, love, and loved this book. I want a new one right now. I love Kate she is an awesome protagonist. She is sarcastic and has a tongue like a gun. She has this gift and doesn’t want to be dragged into anything. On a promise from detective Jared Corbett to keep her name out of the media, Kate decides to help the police again. Unlike other psychics she has no control over her powers and she doesn’t know if she will ever get a vision, but if she thinks a lot about the case she may have a dream about it. She begins to get visions from Cori’s point of view. She tries to help Jared, but her attraction for him has her a little distracted. He has a girlfriend, Kate knows this, but she can’t help how she feels about him. She just knows she has to save Cori. I love Kate because she uses sarcasm to cover up how she really feels. The author of this book Heather Topham Wood is an outstanding writer. Not once did I feel that this story was contrived. All the characters had a life of their own. I like that Kate puts herself in situations where she isn’t sure how they will turn out, as the reader, you are just as surprised by events as Kate is. The pacing of this book was phenomenal. This is just a fantastic read. I can’t wait for more. I honestly can’t praise this enough.
I gotta say before I say anything else that I loved, love, and loved this book. I want a new one right now. I love Kate she is an awesome protagonist. She is sarcastic and has a tongue like a gun. She has this gift and doesn’t want to be dragged into anything. On a promise from detective Jared Corbett to keep her name out of the media, Kate decides to help the police again. Unlike other psychics she has no control over her powers and she doesn’t know if she will ever get a vision, but if she thinks a lot about the case she may have a dream about it. She begins to get visions from Cori’s point of view. She tries to help Jared, but her attraction for him has her a little distracted. He has a girlfriend, Kate knows this, but she can’t help how she feels about him. She just knows she has to save Cori. I love Kate because she uses sarcasm to cover up how she really feels. The author of this book Heather Topham Wood is an outstanding writer. Not once did I feel that this story was contrived. All the characters had a life of their own. I like that Kate puts herself in situations where she isn’t sure how they will turn out, as the reader, you are just as surprised by events as Kate is. The pacing of this book was phenomenal. This is just a fantastic read. I can’t wait for more. I honestly can’t praise this enough.
March 21, 2013
Had this on my to-read list for a while but luckily I was able to get it off Amazon for free yesterday.
Great read, I was up late into the early hours of the morning finishing up this book. So for me, (ignoring the fact that I’m always up late) yes it was that good. From the very beginning of the story— the first sentence of the prologue I was sucked in.
The story begins with 21 year old Kate Edwards whose life was changed by a near death experience a couple of years prior. Surviving meningitis and waking up from a coma caused by it was one thing, waking with psychic abilities was a whole other story. It’s definitely a pill to swallow for Kate. As soon as she wakes she is able to solve an abduction case that had taken place while she was unconscious.
But this revelation of her new found gifts puts a strain on her relationship with her family and costs her most of her friends. The attention from the media causes her to become somewhat of a recluse. The end result is her pretending that she no longer has visions.
Unfortunately another child is missing and whether she wants to admit to being psychic or not Detective Jared Corbett remembers the article published about her solving that one and only kidnapping case wants and needs her help.
This book is so well written. There are some intense and humorous moments. I loved the characters Kate, Jared, and Darlene. The character development between them was amazingly realistic. They were all very human. I especially loved the development between Kate and Jared. With Kate we have a character who is so isolated because of what she can do because in the past peoples' reactions to it, so naturally she has her walls up. Jared is one of the first people who understands her loneliness and accepts what she can do.
I’m a such a picky person when it comes to books and out of all the books I've read this year there are only a handful of those that I can say I really liked. But this was a great read from beginning to end.
Great read, I was up late into the early hours of the morning finishing up this book. So for me, (ignoring the fact that I’m always up late) yes it was that good. From the very beginning of the story— the first sentence of the prologue I was sucked in.
The story begins with 21 year old Kate Edwards whose life was changed by a near death experience a couple of years prior. Surviving meningitis and waking up from a coma caused by it was one thing, waking with psychic abilities was a whole other story. It’s definitely a pill to swallow for Kate. As soon as she wakes she is able to solve an abduction case that had taken place while she was unconscious.
But this revelation of her new found gifts puts a strain on her relationship with her family and costs her most of her friends. The attention from the media causes her to become somewhat of a recluse. The end result is her pretending that she no longer has visions.
Unfortunately another child is missing and whether she wants to admit to being psychic or not Detective Jared Corbett remembers the article published about her solving that one and only kidnapping case wants and needs her help.
This book is so well written. There are some intense and humorous moments. I loved the characters Kate, Jared, and Darlene. The character development between them was amazingly realistic. They were all very human. I especially loved the development between Kate and Jared. With Kate we have a character who is so isolated because of what she can do because in the past peoples' reactions to it, so naturally she has her walls up. Jared is one of the first people who understands her loneliness and accepts what she can do.
I’m a such a picky person when it comes to books and out of all the books I've read this year there are only a handful of those that I can say I really liked. But this was a great read from beginning to end.
September 23, 2012
Ebook: First Visions: Second Sight Book One
Author :Heather Topham
Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this by the author for an honest review
Summary: Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were sceptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home.
Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.
The Review
I loved this book, it was extremely well written, I was totally enthralled by Katie and the problems she had after her coma, I loved the dynamic she had with Jared the detective, I really loved the ending by the way, I just had to put that in there, This had so much going on in it, I just could not put it down, The only thing wrong with this book was the fact that it ended, I would love to have known how they get on, although hopefully we will find out in Book 2, whenever that comes out, I would highly recommend this to all my friends, I know a few who would get a kick out of it, it caters to many genres, there are those who love detectives, those that love Psychic powers, those that love romance, 5/5
Author :Heather Topham
Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this by the author for an honest review
Summary: Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were sceptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home.
Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.
The Review
I loved this book, it was extremely well written, I was totally enthralled by Katie and the problems she had after her coma, I loved the dynamic she had with Jared the detective, I really loved the ending by the way, I just had to put that in there, This had so much going on in it, I just could not put it down, The only thing wrong with this book was the fact that it ended, I would love to have known how they get on, although hopefully we will find out in Book 2, whenever that comes out, I would highly recommend this to all my friends, I know a few who would get a kick out of it, it caters to many genres, there are those who love detectives, those that love Psychic powers, those that love romance, 5/5
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