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Noel Casey #1
Decoy
Lieutenant Noel Casey is taken aback by her newest assignment, overseeing a genetically engineered soldier designed by the United States Army. She's not accustomed to working with people created for warfare, and Killian's indifference is making it difficult to see past his robotic demeanor.
But when Noel is attacked and Killian intervenes, their relationship is altered. The predator is now the protector in Noel's eyes, and she's unsettled by her growing captivation with the intimidating man.
Plagued by nightmares since arriving at Fort Braeden, Noel begins to question the true reason for her relocation, an answer she’s convinced lies with the reticent Killian. Torn between accepting unconvincing explanations and rejecting her comfortable ignorance for an unimaginable truth, she realizes the choice has already been made for her.
Noel's understanding of science is about to be shattered.
But when Noel is attacked and Killian intervenes, their relationship is altered. The predator is now the protector in Noel's eyes, and she's unsettled by her growing captivation with the intimidating man.
Plagued by nightmares since arriving at Fort Braeden, Noel begins to question the true reason for her relocation, an answer she’s convinced lies with the reticent Killian. Torn between accepting unconvincing explanations and rejecting her comfortable ignorance for an unimaginable truth, she realizes the choice has already been made for her.
Noel's understanding of science is about to be shattered.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2012
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 6, 2012
I really loved this story. It was unique and engaging. I loved the science and the science fiction mixed in with the storyline. I did think the story was going to be about one thing and it went a whole other direction however I was not disappointed because it was a really good book. I give this story a solid 4 stars.
Noel is a scientist that works on antidotes for biological warfare however it is not this job that gets her pulled to this top secret base but supposedly her minor in psychology. The whole circumstances that she is recruited under seem suspicious but she didn’t argue and yes it is explained later in the story. Noel did have a hard time after getting to the base she is attacked and saved, she has to put up with rude comments from men constantly and she keeps having these weird dreams that seem somewhat prophetic.
Killian was a great character. He comes across tough and unreadable at first but then you see his softer side in glimpses. He is supposed to be a killing machine but he turns out to be something completely different. I really felt bad for him when we thought he was confined to his little room except for training.
Taylor is the other main character. He claims he is a mathematician but he doesn’t look or act like one. He likes Noel and later develops a special bond with her. All of that is explained but I will not spoil it. Again Taylor is also a great character. I am curious about his tattoo especially since Noel dreams about it.
I am curious about the creatures in the forest and if they will have any more to do with the story or not. Another thing is why wasn’t Noel just told the secret earlier instead of letting her wander around uninformed. Also I sense a love triangle building in the story maybe more will come to light in the next book? Hopefully we will know soon! The story had a lot of surprising twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the next book.
All in all the characters are well written in this story. The plot keeps the story moving and intriguing and there is still plenty of mystery to keep me reading on the next book. I can’t wait. This was a great debut novel for Michaela.
*received from author for an honest review
Noel is a scientist that works on antidotes for biological warfare however it is not this job that gets her pulled to this top secret base but supposedly her minor in psychology. The whole circumstances that she is recruited under seem suspicious but she didn’t argue and yes it is explained later in the story. Noel did have a hard time after getting to the base she is attacked and saved, she has to put up with rude comments from men constantly and she keeps having these weird dreams that seem somewhat prophetic.
Killian was a great character. He comes across tough and unreadable at first but then you see his softer side in glimpses. He is supposed to be a killing machine but he turns out to be something completely different. I really felt bad for him when we thought he was confined to his little room except for training.
Taylor is the other main character. He claims he is a mathematician but he doesn’t look or act like one. He likes Noel and later develops a special bond with her. All of that is explained but I will not spoil it. Again Taylor is also a great character. I am curious about his tattoo especially since Noel dreams about it.
I am curious about the creatures in the forest and if they will have any more to do with the story or not. Another thing is why wasn’t Noel just told the secret earlier instead of letting her wander around uninformed. Also I sense a love triangle building in the story maybe more will come to light in the next book? Hopefully we will know soon! The story had a lot of surprising twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the next book.
All in all the characters are well written in this story. The plot keeps the story moving and intriguing and there is still plenty of mystery to keep me reading on the next book. I can’t wait. This was a great debut novel for Michaela.
*received from author for an honest review
July 8, 2012
I'm torn on how I feel about this book. I did like several aspects of it but I was slightly confused on the reasoning behind why some things happened. Namely, why did Killian and crew carry on their deception as long as they did when they knew that there was a potential for danger for Noel? That one stumps me. I understand the deception they used to get her there but once they had verified that she was who she was, why continue the lie? -pauses to think about it- Sorry, I got nothing.
Now, I did like the idea behind Killian and his people. I liked that he and Noel had an instant connection (insta-love, just add water. One of my favorites). However, I think I've been reading waaaaaay too many menage books because my first thought when Noel's mate problems were brought up was "Why choose? Two is better than one!" *creeps away*
One thing that did pull me out of the story was the excessive use of large caliber words. I like big words. I use big words. But I don't use big words to the exclusion of all others and there were times when I was left frowning over the word choices. This is a relatively minor issue but it did keep me from immersing myself completely in Killian and Noel's world.
While the mystery of why Noel was brought to this hidden base and what her place was in the new society she found herself in was explained, there were enough threads left to leave you wondering how book 2 would play out. Overall, it was an interesting idea but I was never entirely drawn into the world created.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Now, I did like the idea behind Killian and his people. I liked that he and Noel had an instant connection (insta-love, just add water. One of my favorites). However, I think I've been reading waaaaaay too many menage books because my first thought when Noel's mate problems were brought up was "Why choose? Two is better than one!" *creeps away*
One thing that did pull me out of the story was the excessive use of large caliber words. I like big words. I use big words. But I don't use big words to the exclusion of all others and there were times when I was left frowning over the word choices. This is a relatively minor issue but it did keep me from immersing myself completely in Killian and Noel's world.
While the mystery of why Noel was brought to this hidden base and what her place was in the new society she found herself in was explained, there were enough threads left to leave you wondering how book 2 would play out. Overall, it was an interesting idea but I was never entirely drawn into the world created.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 17, 2012
I had many, many problems with this one. I decided to read it based on the blurb. When I read the hero is, “a genetically engineered soldier designed for exceptional strength and intelligence.” I couldn’t resist. The heroine works with stolen samples of other countries biological weapons and tries to create vaccines for US soldiers. Hello, over the top plot. I like it. Except once I read the book, it all fell apart. And if you do want to read this one, there are spoilers coming. First of all, every man in this top secret, military fort pretty much sexually harasses the heroine. Yes, she is one of the few females that work there, but in a profession as high ranking as this fort encompasses, why would they allow this type of behavior from every man? And, would this really happen in real life? Next, the hero at one point, breaks through impenetrable glass to save the heroine from a rape attempt, yet the soldiers replace the glass and put him back in his cell. Um, but he can break through it. There are many more examples of things that don’t add up, but I’ll leave it at that.
What comes of the whole thing is that actually the hero is an alien! Ah – that makes perfect sense. Not really. The heroine never acted like she had any type of degree, although she was suppose to be super smart. The romance is flat and never develops. I don’t recommend this one.
What comes of the whole thing is that actually the hero is an alien! Ah – that makes perfect sense. Not really. The heroine never acted like she had any type of degree, although she was suppose to be super smart. The romance is flat and never develops. I don’t recommend this one.
June 11, 2012
First Thoughts:
This book was definitely really interesting, the concept and pace of this book was really unique and new to me. I loved the fact that I didn’t totally understand it all at once; it took time for each little detail to sink in. There was plenty of action, fight scenes and mysteries…I think one of the best aspect of this book was the fact that it had the sci-fi and thriller vibe to it. It kind of really made me think of all those movies I watched that had a similar vibe…this was definitely an interesting and somewhat spooky read.
Plot:
There was definitely a lot going on in this book; a whole new world was created and I really enjoyed the idea of the military…it seemed so realistic and unreal at the same time. The concept was unique and I found myself shocked at times to discover some of the secrets this little world was holding. There were a few moments of chaos where I found the plot was a little disoriented; I couldn’t really tell exactly what was happening but soon the plot worked itself out and everything made sense. As far as the pace of the story it was fast at most times and there were a few slower moments where the characters were adjusting and sorting through their ordeals. I really enjoyed seeing something different; something out of the norm for YA, it can get old reading the same plot over and over and this certainly wasn’t the same thrown out YA plot; it had its own rhythm and ideas; it just had a different read to it…made me think more of mystery and conspiracies…it seemed to follow more along the line of striving to make the readers question their reality. But I really thought this book had its own written rules, it had flare and creativity and it was fun to read. There were a few sketchy moments in the story where I couldn’t quite determine what was going on but there weren’t many of them and like I mentioned earlier they were eventually explained to where the reader and could understand. So overall I enjoyed the uniqueness and creativity this author put into creating this world, it was certainly interesting to see all the little quirks and secrets it withheld.
Romance:
Ugh! This was one area I did not enjoy about this book…I loved the idea of why the love triangle existed but that wasn’t the problem it was the semi love triangle that caused me to groan at times in the story. I’m all for romance but I’m getting tired of the love triangles, it’s been used so many times in books that it’s just annoying to read any more. I just enjoy a good old romance. I just wished the idea the author had of the love triangle could have been tweaked to fit into the story differently…like perhaps making the triangle not a conflict but a source of resolution…I don’t know but this was one area I did not enjoy with this book.
Characters:
I wasn’t able to connect well with the main character in the very beginning, the way she thought and acted was stiff and elusive it wasn’t until later on in the book that I was able to start to understand why she was the way she was and to see the world from her perspective. I soon grew to love her and I really liked that about this book…yes it’s always good to connect with the main character as soon as possible but I think for this book the approach the author took was perfect…it made the reader work for the connection. Now as far as the other characters they were easy to read and understand and each one had their own role to play and therefore left no room for unnecessary characters. So overall I did in the end enjoy this aspect of the book.
Transformation of the Character:
There were a few transformations in this book, some were more subtle than others and most of them were expected. It was nice to see the transformations as a process…to see the beginning and slowly see the steps that lead to the final product…though I believe that there’s still room for growing and therefore expect larger transformations as the series continues.
Description:
I really enjoyed the description in this book; it really allowed me to feel the chill factor when the scenes required it. Some of the best written description in this book was of the woods…the build-up of suspense and then full on action really gave the reader a great experience. I really liked the way the author chose to describe the area; the landscape. I think by pure description of the surroundings and moods you could really tell what was happening and the state of the situation. A lot of the colors and weather she chose added an even more somber and eerie mood; therefore adding even more to the mystery factor. As for the amount of description I didn’t feel like there was too much or too little, I think it was just the right amount. And as far as dialogue went though it was a bit awkward at times it was overall just right.
Style:
The author chose to write in one POV and in first person. By using these two styles it allowed the story to be more focused on just one area instead of the whole world and it allowed the mystery to be there. I liked that I was able to understand what was going on with Noel’s line of thinking, we were really privileged to know some of her past and how she was processing each new piece of information…it helped the reader eventually better connect to her. But as far as the author’s writing itself I had no problem reading it and found it to be really well written and fun to read.
Quote of the book:
““Does anyone have a pen? I deposited mine in Quinn’s shoulder,” I said with a prosaic tone.
“That’s so hot,” Taylor nudged Daniels.”
Goodreads Summary:
Lieutenant Noel Casey is taken aback by her newest military assignment. Her usual routine of vaccine development is interrupted when she's assigned to analyze Killian, a genetically engineered soldier designed for exceptional strength and intelligence. She's not accustomed to working with human subjects, especially a person created for warfare, and Killian's indifference is making it difficult to see past his robotic demeanor.
When Noel is attacked outside Killian's containment quarters, he is forced to intervene. The altruistic act instantly transforms their relationship, though neither will admit to the shift in sentiment. The predator is now the protector in Noel's eyes, and she's thrown off by her growing captivation.
As if her infatuation with a virtual stranger isn't enough of a distraction, she begins having terrifying nightmares. Her cryptic dreams appear to harbor an elusive warning as she watches them materialize into existence, proving the nightly visions foretelling. She begins to suspect the military base is concealing far more than an experimental soldier, and she can't shake the feeling Killian is the axis of the chaos. Noel must decide whether she'll accept the unconvincing explanations offered by her peers, or reject her comfortable environment for an unimaginable truth. With her premonitions pointing towards a violent outcome and her irrational draw to Killian becoming impossible to ignore, she realizes the choice has already been made for her. Noel's understanding of science is about to be shattered.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to fans of sci-fi and mystery. This was a really cool book to experience and I was able to really picture this town. Though I didn’t enjoy the romance aspect of the story, I did enjoy the concept of the military and how we really got an inside look at possibilities of what our government is doing and how they might function. I do want to continue this story and see if perhaps the semi-triangle romance would change in a different direction and I can see there’s so much more in store for these characters, so I say bring on the next book!
This book was definitely really interesting, the concept and pace of this book was really unique and new to me. I loved the fact that I didn’t totally understand it all at once; it took time for each little detail to sink in. There was plenty of action, fight scenes and mysteries…I think one of the best aspect of this book was the fact that it had the sci-fi and thriller vibe to it. It kind of really made me think of all those movies I watched that had a similar vibe…this was definitely an interesting and somewhat spooky read.
Plot:
There was definitely a lot going on in this book; a whole new world was created and I really enjoyed the idea of the military…it seemed so realistic and unreal at the same time. The concept was unique and I found myself shocked at times to discover some of the secrets this little world was holding. There were a few moments of chaos where I found the plot was a little disoriented; I couldn’t really tell exactly what was happening but soon the plot worked itself out and everything made sense. As far as the pace of the story it was fast at most times and there were a few slower moments where the characters were adjusting and sorting through their ordeals. I really enjoyed seeing something different; something out of the norm for YA, it can get old reading the same plot over and over and this certainly wasn’t the same thrown out YA plot; it had its own rhythm and ideas; it just had a different read to it…made me think more of mystery and conspiracies…it seemed to follow more along the line of striving to make the readers question their reality. But I really thought this book had its own written rules, it had flare and creativity and it was fun to read. There were a few sketchy moments in the story where I couldn’t quite determine what was going on but there weren’t many of them and like I mentioned earlier they were eventually explained to where the reader and could understand. So overall I enjoyed the uniqueness and creativity this author put into creating this world, it was certainly interesting to see all the little quirks and secrets it withheld.
Romance:
Ugh! This was one area I did not enjoy about this book…I loved the idea of why the love triangle existed but that wasn’t the problem it was the semi love triangle that caused me to groan at times in the story. I’m all for romance but I’m getting tired of the love triangles, it’s been used so many times in books that it’s just annoying to read any more. I just enjoy a good old romance. I just wished the idea the author had of the love triangle could have been tweaked to fit into the story differently…like perhaps making the triangle not a conflict but a source of resolution…I don’t know but this was one area I did not enjoy with this book.
Characters:
I wasn’t able to connect well with the main character in the very beginning, the way she thought and acted was stiff and elusive it wasn’t until later on in the book that I was able to start to understand why she was the way she was and to see the world from her perspective. I soon grew to love her and I really liked that about this book…yes it’s always good to connect with the main character as soon as possible but I think for this book the approach the author took was perfect…it made the reader work for the connection. Now as far as the other characters they were easy to read and understand and each one had their own role to play and therefore left no room for unnecessary characters. So overall I did in the end enjoy this aspect of the book.
Transformation of the Character:
There were a few transformations in this book, some were more subtle than others and most of them were expected. It was nice to see the transformations as a process…to see the beginning and slowly see the steps that lead to the final product…though I believe that there’s still room for growing and therefore expect larger transformations as the series continues.
Description:
I really enjoyed the description in this book; it really allowed me to feel the chill factor when the scenes required it. Some of the best written description in this book was of the woods…the build-up of suspense and then full on action really gave the reader a great experience. I really liked the way the author chose to describe the area; the landscape. I think by pure description of the surroundings and moods you could really tell what was happening and the state of the situation. A lot of the colors and weather she chose added an even more somber and eerie mood; therefore adding even more to the mystery factor. As for the amount of description I didn’t feel like there was too much or too little, I think it was just the right amount. And as far as dialogue went though it was a bit awkward at times it was overall just right.
Style:
The author chose to write in one POV and in first person. By using these two styles it allowed the story to be more focused on just one area instead of the whole world and it allowed the mystery to be there. I liked that I was able to understand what was going on with Noel’s line of thinking, we were really privileged to know some of her past and how she was processing each new piece of information…it helped the reader eventually better connect to her. But as far as the author’s writing itself I had no problem reading it and found it to be really well written and fun to read.
Quote of the book:
““Does anyone have a pen? I deposited mine in Quinn’s shoulder,” I said with a prosaic tone.
“That’s so hot,” Taylor nudged Daniels.”
Goodreads Summary:
Lieutenant Noel Casey is taken aback by her newest military assignment. Her usual routine of vaccine development is interrupted when she's assigned to analyze Killian, a genetically engineered soldier designed for exceptional strength and intelligence. She's not accustomed to working with human subjects, especially a person created for warfare, and Killian's indifference is making it difficult to see past his robotic demeanor.
When Noel is attacked outside Killian's containment quarters, he is forced to intervene. The altruistic act instantly transforms their relationship, though neither will admit to the shift in sentiment. The predator is now the protector in Noel's eyes, and she's thrown off by her growing captivation.
As if her infatuation with a virtual stranger isn't enough of a distraction, she begins having terrifying nightmares. Her cryptic dreams appear to harbor an elusive warning as she watches them materialize into existence, proving the nightly visions foretelling. She begins to suspect the military base is concealing far more than an experimental soldier, and she can't shake the feeling Killian is the axis of the chaos. Noel must decide whether she'll accept the unconvincing explanations offered by her peers, or reject her comfortable environment for an unimaginable truth. With her premonitions pointing towards a violent outcome and her irrational draw to Killian becoming impossible to ignore, she realizes the choice has already been made for her. Noel's understanding of science is about to be shattered.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to fans of sci-fi and mystery. This was a really cool book to experience and I was able to really picture this town. Though I didn’t enjoy the romance aspect of the story, I did enjoy the concept of the military and how we really got an inside look at possibilities of what our government is doing and how they might function. I do want to continue this story and see if perhaps the semi-triangle romance would change in a different direction and I can see there’s so much more in store for these characters, so I say bring on the next book!
July 15, 2012
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Lee
Lieutenant Noel Casey doesn’t fit into any preconceived molds or stereotypes as a character. She is a 26-year-old scientist in the United States Army who loves makeup, skin care, and high heels as much as she loves testing vaccines and serving her country through her studies of biological warfare. She can melt at the touch of a man she finds herself attracted to but will stand up for herself against all matter of unwanted attentions. She has a mysterious past involving a missing mother, but doesn’t allow herself to become too weepy about it. Overall, she’s a great example of a heroine who doesn’t sacrifice her femininity to kick ass in a boy’s world.
However, this world ends up being a lot more than Noel bargained for. Used to being one of only a few women in the armed forces, she didn’t expect to be the only one at Fort Braeden, subject to extreme sexual harassment and borderline rape. She didn’t expect her assignment to be so psychology-oriented given that it was only her minor in college. Most importantly, she didn’t expect the super-soldier subject of her assignment to draw her in romantically rather than professionally.
The romance is only one piece of the puzzle that is Decoy. There are the visions that Noel finds herself plagued with, visions that end up being diagnosed as premonitions. There is Taylor, one of her only allies at Fort Braeden and who appears to be more mysteriously entwined with Killian and Noel than she originally would have thought. The reasons for Killian’s superior abilities end up having an explanation that will stun the reader, and which opens up a million more doors in the story for Noel to traverse through—and hopefully come out alive. I don’t want to give away too much more about the storyline, suffice to say that many surprises are in store and the pages fly by.
The plot is a little too unwieldy at times for the page length; it is understood that there will be more books chronicling Noel’s adventures but so much happens within Decoy that the reader is often overwhelmed. I would have appreciated more pages and more description, and more background in this first book in order to wrap my brain around the plot and be prepared for the next volume. Debelius’s writing thrives on detail and description that grounds the more out-there science-fiction elements in a world the reader understands, so more pages of such would have indeed been enjoyable. Killian is a little too stiff and boring as a romantic interest; one can understand Noel’s instant attraction to him as he is described as unbelievably sexy and has a literal scientific chemistry with him that cannot be helped. However, he’s not terribly likeable apart from the steamy scenes in which he and Noel give in to their impulses. Taylor is a far more amusing and interesting male lead, and one can’t help but wonder how his role in the love triangle will change and evolve in any further Noel Casey novels.
Overall, Debelius has put together a complicated world, a juicy, science-laced mystery, and a great female protagonist to take the reader along on her ride through it. Goodness knows, no one would ever insist on simplicity from a book; most people do enjoy being challenged when they read. However, one can only hope that as Noel learns more and more about Killian, Taylor, and her connection to them, that things will become a little clearer for the reader as well.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...
Lieutenant Noel Casey doesn’t fit into any preconceived molds or stereotypes as a character. She is a 26-year-old scientist in the United States Army who loves makeup, skin care, and high heels as much as she loves testing vaccines and serving her country through her studies of biological warfare. She can melt at the touch of a man she finds herself attracted to but will stand up for herself against all matter of unwanted attentions. She has a mysterious past involving a missing mother, but doesn’t allow herself to become too weepy about it. Overall, she’s a great example of a heroine who doesn’t sacrifice her femininity to kick ass in a boy’s world.
However, this world ends up being a lot more than Noel bargained for. Used to being one of only a few women in the armed forces, she didn’t expect to be the only one at Fort Braeden, subject to extreme sexual harassment and borderline rape. She didn’t expect her assignment to be so psychology-oriented given that it was only her minor in college. Most importantly, she didn’t expect the super-soldier subject of her assignment to draw her in romantically rather than professionally.
The romance is only one piece of the puzzle that is Decoy. There are the visions that Noel finds herself plagued with, visions that end up being diagnosed as premonitions. There is Taylor, one of her only allies at Fort Braeden and who appears to be more mysteriously entwined with Killian and Noel than she originally would have thought. The reasons for Killian’s superior abilities end up having an explanation that will stun the reader, and which opens up a million more doors in the story for Noel to traverse through—and hopefully come out alive. I don’t want to give away too much more about the storyline, suffice to say that many surprises are in store and the pages fly by.
The plot is a little too unwieldy at times for the page length; it is understood that there will be more books chronicling Noel’s adventures but so much happens within Decoy that the reader is often overwhelmed. I would have appreciated more pages and more description, and more background in this first book in order to wrap my brain around the plot and be prepared for the next volume. Debelius’s writing thrives on detail and description that grounds the more out-there science-fiction elements in a world the reader understands, so more pages of such would have indeed been enjoyable. Killian is a little too stiff and boring as a romantic interest; one can understand Noel’s instant attraction to him as he is described as unbelievably sexy and has a literal scientific chemistry with him that cannot be helped. However, he’s not terribly likeable apart from the steamy scenes in which he and Noel give in to their impulses. Taylor is a far more amusing and interesting male lead, and one can’t help but wonder how his role in the love triangle will change and evolve in any further Noel Casey novels.
Overall, Debelius has put together a complicated world, a juicy, science-laced mystery, and a great female protagonist to take the reader along on her ride through it. Goodness knows, no one would ever insist on simplicity from a book; most people do enjoy being challenged when they read. However, one can only hope that as Noel learns more and more about Killian, Taylor, and her connection to them, that things will become a little clearer for the reader as well.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...
March 26, 2013
Oh, this one just grabbed me from the start with its mysterious military installation and odd duty assignment for the heroine, Noel Casey. Everything about the story stayed shadowy and mysterious until well over the halfway point. I love that off-kelter feeling I get when I'm reading a nicely developing plot.
The story opens with Lt. Noel Casey, a scientist, being assigned to a top secret base. She soon learns that her assignment isn't for her role as a leading germ expert, but in her secondary degree as a psychologist. She's been brought in to assess the battle readiness of a genetically altered human. It is all odd from the start and the clues are starting to add up that she's involved in something that goes much deeper than she has been told. The altered human, Killian, first draws her sympathy for the sterile life he has had living in a lab all his life, but there's something off about him even while she grows more and more attracted. Killian is more than a lab experiment to her and she wants to be his friend and maybe something more if she's being honest with herself. Then she encounters danger from being in an almost all male environment as well as a distraction in the friendly, but mysterious Lt. Russo. And what's with the odd dreams and scary creatures in the forest?
I know I was pretty vague with my plot summary, but I didn't want to spoil it for anyone. Some stories really need to be experienced without undue influence and that's how I feel about much of this book. Now there were moments once I was let in on the situation that the tension and mystery finally broke and I felt some lag from the need to get the explanation out. At that point, the tension turned in another direction becoming more romance related not that there wasn't the slow build of romance in the beginning. It just wasn't the only focal point. I confess that this was a story where I was more enamored with the beginning three-fourths than the last. I have trouble with love triangles so that's just on me and someone else might not mind so much. I had a hard time shifting gears, but once I got onto the new plot path I was tracking along nicely- well until that startling last sentence. I just sat there at 'the end' thinking, 'no, really? we're going to end it now?' It was the good sort of disappointment where I was vested in the story and didn't want it to end. Definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Those who enjoy Sci-Fi Romances with some baked in intrigue should give this one a go.
The story opens with Lt. Noel Casey, a scientist, being assigned to a top secret base. She soon learns that her assignment isn't for her role as a leading germ expert, but in her secondary degree as a psychologist. She's been brought in to assess the battle readiness of a genetically altered human. It is all odd from the start and the clues are starting to add up that she's involved in something that goes much deeper than she has been told. The altered human, Killian, first draws her sympathy for the sterile life he has had living in a lab all his life, but there's something off about him even while she grows more and more attracted. Killian is more than a lab experiment to her and she wants to be his friend and maybe something more if she's being honest with herself. Then she encounters danger from being in an almost all male environment as well as a distraction in the friendly, but mysterious Lt. Russo. And what's with the odd dreams and scary creatures in the forest?
I know I was pretty vague with my plot summary, but I didn't want to spoil it for anyone. Some stories really need to be experienced without undue influence and that's how I feel about much of this book. Now there were moments once I was let in on the situation that the tension and mystery finally broke and I felt some lag from the need to get the explanation out. At that point, the tension turned in another direction becoming more romance related not that there wasn't the slow build of romance in the beginning. It just wasn't the only focal point. I confess that this was a story where I was more enamored with the beginning three-fourths than the last. I have trouble with love triangles so that's just on me and someone else might not mind so much. I had a hard time shifting gears, but once I got onto the new plot path I was tracking along nicely- well until that startling last sentence. I just sat there at 'the end' thinking, 'no, really? we're going to end it now?' It was the good sort of disappointment where I was vested in the story and didn't want it to end. Definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Those who enjoy Sci-Fi Romances with some baked in intrigue should give this one a go.
May 3, 2015
3.5
This book was not at all what I expected from reading the blurb. That's not always a bad thing, but I wanted to read the story described. The one I got wasn't a bad story, it just wasn't the one I set out to read. Having said that I did like quite a few aspects of it.
I liked that even when frightened, confused, lied to, exhausted and overwhelmed Noel still held her own. Yes, she got pushed around by the men a bit, but she was still strong willed and determined. I liked Killian as the intimidating super-soldier. I also liked him as the gentle lover and considerate brother. I liked Taylor and the his relationship with the rest of the guys. I liked the basic writing style and the occasional vocabulary that forced me to utilise my Kindle's dictionary capabilities. And I am amused to have encountered what must have been the most ethereal sex scene ever. Heck, I'm not sure that first one ever even happened.
What I didn't like were the things left unexplained. What was up with the tickers? How exactly did people live right there among them, since they have an obvious tendency to attack people at random? (Unless it wasn't supposed to be random, but that's never addressed so I'm left to assume it was.) Why did everyone keep the deception up even after they had verified Noel's identity and why, for god's sake, why didn't they call in any help once it was apparent Quinn was homicidal. If she's supposed to be so darned important you would think people would help the group out a little. Half the base was supposed to be Eneathian after all. (I'm not swearing I spelled that right.)
There were also simply a few aspects of the story that irked me. How was I not supposed to get tired of the attempted rapes? I swear every time Noel turned around someone was trying to rape her. How am I not supposed to feel bad for poor Taylor? I was actually hoping this would turn into a ménage à trois just so he wouldn't be left out. Lastly, while it was lovely that the Russo's took her into their home, having so many men about made it feel very much like she was living in a co-ed dorm. Being essentially newlyweds didn't they deserve their own space?
All-in-all not a bad read, just one that wasn't what I expected and then left me with a few questions. I'm hoping book two comes up on the free list. I'd be glad to give it a read.
This book was not at all what I expected from reading the blurb. That's not always a bad thing, but I wanted to read the story described. The one I got wasn't a bad story, it just wasn't the one I set out to read. Having said that I did like quite a few aspects of it.
I liked that even when frightened, confused, lied to, exhausted and overwhelmed Noel still held her own. Yes, she got pushed around by the men a bit, but she was still strong willed and determined. I liked Killian as the intimidating super-soldier. I also liked him as the gentle lover and considerate brother. I liked Taylor and the his relationship with the rest of the guys. I liked the basic writing style and the occasional vocabulary that forced me to utilise my Kindle's dictionary capabilities. And I am amused to have encountered what must have been the most ethereal sex scene ever. Heck, I'm not sure that first one ever even happened.
What I didn't like were the things left unexplained. What was up with the tickers? How exactly did people live right there among them, since they have an obvious tendency to attack people at random? (Unless it wasn't supposed to be random, but that's never addressed so I'm left to assume it was.) Why did everyone keep the deception up even after they had verified Noel's identity and why, for god's sake, why didn't they call in any help once it was apparent Quinn was homicidal. If she's supposed to be so darned important you would think people would help the group out a little. Half the base was supposed to be Eneathian after all. (I'm not swearing I spelled that right.)
There were also simply a few aspects of the story that irked me. How was I not supposed to get tired of the attempted rapes? I swear every time Noel turned around someone was trying to rape her. How am I not supposed to feel bad for poor Taylor? I was actually hoping this would turn into a ménage à trois just so he wouldn't be left out. Lastly, while it was lovely that the Russo's took her into their home, having so many men about made it feel very much like she was living in a co-ed dorm. Being essentially newlyweds didn't they deserve their own space?
All-in-all not a bad read, just one that wasn't what I expected and then left me with a few questions. I'm hoping book two comes up on the free list. I'd be glad to give it a read.
June 24, 2012
Hmmn.. where to start with this one… I am a little conflicted because, while I admire the perseverance and determination of anyone who writes a novel and tries to get it to market, for me this novel was the book equivalent of the good, the bad and the ugly (although not necessarily in equal parts).
Let’s get the bad bits out of the way first. For me it was mostly to do with unmet expectations. Firstly, the author bills herself as a writer of paranormal romance incorporating Sci-fi and thriller elements. I have done nothing but read paranormal romance (PNR) for the last 3 years (and I read A LOT) and this novel does not read like a PNR. There are no paranormal beings (that I could see) although the ‘tickers’ in the woods may ultimately turn out to be freakish werewolves or something, which might justify this genre grouping. I think this book is better billed as Sci-fi thriller with a touch of romance. And that leads us onto the other niggly thing- there was only a little romance (of a chaste and obliquely referred-to type) and no descriptive sex. These are hardcore elements (please pardon the really bad double entendre) of any PNR worth its’ salt and there was an obvious absence of both. However, as a sci-fi thriller, this story worked very well!
And now (briefly) for the ugly, with a heartfelt plea to Ms Debelius: please, please get yourself a decent editor or someone with sharp copy-editing skills to look over the sequel before you publish it. I counted 27 errors on a first read, ranging from clunky grammar to the misuse of homonyms. I am a stickler for good spelling and grammatically correct prose so these errors were jarring and really detracted the smooth flow of my reading, and my overall enjoyment of this story.
Ah, the story. Now this is the ‘good’ -the very good! Ms Debelius has created a fascinating world of an alien people housed on an experimental army base, along with experiments that have gone wrong. The pacing of the plot was tight and I enjoyed learning more about the Eneathers (great name!) and their skills. I am intrigued enough, despite my reservations above, to come back to find out what happened next, especially if we get more fleshing out of the Killian/Noel/ Taylor dynamic in terms of character exposition.
Let’s get the bad bits out of the way first. For me it was mostly to do with unmet expectations. Firstly, the author bills herself as a writer of paranormal romance incorporating Sci-fi and thriller elements. I have done nothing but read paranormal romance (PNR) for the last 3 years (and I read A LOT) and this novel does not read like a PNR. There are no paranormal beings (that I could see) although the ‘tickers’ in the woods may ultimately turn out to be freakish werewolves or something, which might justify this genre grouping. I think this book is better billed as Sci-fi thriller with a touch of romance. And that leads us onto the other niggly thing- there was only a little romance (of a chaste and obliquely referred-to type) and no descriptive sex. These are hardcore elements (please pardon the really bad double entendre) of any PNR worth its’ salt and there was an obvious absence of both. However, as a sci-fi thriller, this story worked very well!
And now (briefly) for the ugly, with a heartfelt plea to Ms Debelius: please, please get yourself a decent editor or someone with sharp copy-editing skills to look over the sequel before you publish it. I counted 27 errors on a first read, ranging from clunky grammar to the misuse of homonyms. I am a stickler for good spelling and grammatically correct prose so these errors were jarring and really detracted the smooth flow of my reading, and my overall enjoyment of this story.
Ah, the story. Now this is the ‘good’ -the very good! Ms Debelius has created a fascinating world of an alien people housed on an experimental army base, along with experiments that have gone wrong. The pacing of the plot was tight and I enjoyed learning more about the Eneathers (great name!) and their skills. I am intrigued enough, despite my reservations above, to come back to find out what happened next, especially if we get more fleshing out of the Killian/Noel/ Taylor dynamic in terms of character exposition.
June 30, 2012
3.5 stars
When Lieutenant Noel Casey, a scientist is assigned to an isolated Military mission in Fort Braden she is of the belief that her scientific experience and skills are required. Instead, when she arrives at the male dominated military base, it is her intuitive and personal skills that are needed. She is assigned to determine whether a genetically engineered soldier, Killian, is loyal to his service prior to serving for the country.
Although, Noel is disgusted by the treatment of Killian, she is also fascinated by this handsome, strong and intelligent man. Initially he is indifferent towards her, but she is drawn to him and determined take her assignment seriously. But when Noel is attacked by a colleague, Killian comes to the rescue and her professional relationship with him becomes blurry. Despite her professional integrity, she is drawn to him; his candidness is reflected in her own open expression of feelings which surprises them both. At the base, Noel befriends playful lieutenant, Taylor who she has an immediate connection with and one of the only personnel she can trust. Most of the men at Fort Braden ogle her, especially Quinn who has his sadistic eyes set on her from the outset.
Noel realises she is quite vulnerable on the base and when she starts having vivid nightmares that come true, she wonders whether there’s something else going on at Fort Braden that she is not being privy to.
I was instantly hooked with Decoy. The eerie setting of Fort Braden, the mysterious and intense Killian and fun, loyal Taylor made this a very interesting story. There’s plenty of suspense and action and some twists that surprised me. Noel is a strong female protagonist, who is smart and fiercely independent. But those qualities are challenged when her feelings for Killian are sparked.
Decoy by indie author, Michaela Debulius is an intriguing start to a paranormal series and I look forward to reading more. With paranormal and fantasy elements, suspense and romance, it makes for a great addition to your virtual bookshelf .
When Lieutenant Noel Casey, a scientist is assigned to an isolated Military mission in Fort Braden she is of the belief that her scientific experience and skills are required. Instead, when she arrives at the male dominated military base, it is her intuitive and personal skills that are needed. She is assigned to determine whether a genetically engineered soldier, Killian, is loyal to his service prior to serving for the country.
Although, Noel is disgusted by the treatment of Killian, she is also fascinated by this handsome, strong and intelligent man. Initially he is indifferent towards her, but she is drawn to him and determined take her assignment seriously. But when Noel is attacked by a colleague, Killian comes to the rescue and her professional relationship with him becomes blurry. Despite her professional integrity, she is drawn to him; his candidness is reflected in her own open expression of feelings which surprises them both. At the base, Noel befriends playful lieutenant, Taylor who she has an immediate connection with and one of the only personnel she can trust. Most of the men at Fort Braden ogle her, especially Quinn who has his sadistic eyes set on her from the outset.
Noel realises she is quite vulnerable on the base and when she starts having vivid nightmares that come true, she wonders whether there’s something else going on at Fort Braden that she is not being privy to.
I was instantly hooked with Decoy. The eerie setting of Fort Braden, the mysterious and intense Killian and fun, loyal Taylor made this a very interesting story. There’s plenty of suspense and action and some twists that surprised me. Noel is a strong female protagonist, who is smart and fiercely independent. But those qualities are challenged when her feelings for Killian are sparked.
Decoy by indie author, Michaela Debulius is an intriguing start to a paranormal series and I look forward to reading more. With paranormal and fantasy elements, suspense and romance, it makes for a great addition to your virtual bookshelf .
June 16, 2012
This story took me in from the moment I started reading. I must say I couldn’t predict it at all. It starts with a woman working in a military base. Being one of three women in whole base is not very easy. A woman must handle with many problems (read: men). Everyday bad situations were well described.
The sci-fi story was interesting and very refreshing. Genetic projects, genetic byproducts, aliens, radium. Area 51, forget it. This is much more than that. Creatures in the woods, crows all over the place, that scary sound, tick, tick, tick. Interesting mix of horror and mystery.
The love triangle was a little bit confusing. Noel shares thoughts with one man and everything else with another. She feels attraction for both of them. She cares for both, she likes them both, but only one of them is her mate.
Overall, I liked Noel’s character. All her life she didn’t belong anywhere. She grew up without a mother, so her father was her family. The house where she grew up wasn’t a home for her. She was standing all alone her entire life. I didn’t connect with her very much, but I liked her making her own decisions and not being easily scared. Always in a search for the truth, no matter how much it hurts.
Killian’s character wasn’t described well. He was described well physically, but there was nothing about his feelings. Only a few exchanged dialogues. The story was narrated from Noel’s perspective, but I wanted to find out more about this handsome guy.
I also liked Taylor’s personality. He shares his thoughts with Noel, he can read her minds, so she can read his. I’ve found more about him from the shared thoughts. I liked him.
I would recommend this book for everyone. It’s a very promising start for a debut author. Mystery, horror, love, romance. This story has it all.
The sci-fi story was interesting and very refreshing. Genetic projects, genetic byproducts, aliens, radium. Area 51, forget it. This is much more than that. Creatures in the woods, crows all over the place, that scary sound, tick, tick, tick. Interesting mix of horror and mystery.
The love triangle was a little bit confusing. Noel shares thoughts with one man and everything else with another. She feels attraction for both of them. She cares for both, she likes them both, but only one of them is her mate.
Overall, I liked Noel’s character. All her life she didn’t belong anywhere. She grew up without a mother, so her father was her family. The house where she grew up wasn’t a home for her. She was standing all alone her entire life. I didn’t connect with her very much, but I liked her making her own decisions and not being easily scared. Always in a search for the truth, no matter how much it hurts.
Killian’s character wasn’t described well. He was described well physically, but there was nothing about his feelings. Only a few exchanged dialogues. The story was narrated from Noel’s perspective, but I wanted to find out more about this handsome guy.
I also liked Taylor’s personality. He shares his thoughts with Noel, he can read her minds, so she can read his. I’ve found more about him from the shared thoughts. I liked him.
I would recommend this book for everyone. It’s a very promising start for a debut author. Mystery, horror, love, romance. This story has it all.
May 3, 2012
"Decoy" by Michaela Debelius is a very satisfying book that leaves you wanting more. The beginning immediately grabbed my attention and as the story progressed, it did not disappoint. The main characters have steamy chemistry that lured me in. On top of that is a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing the whole way through. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this journey with Noel Casey as she tried to figure out the truth of what was really going on at Fort Braeden. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the paranormal and/or romance genre. This is a great story by a great writer. I hope she writes more books as I am looking forward to reading more!
July 9, 2012
4*s
Really good!
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Really good!
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June 8, 2012
Loved it!!! Great new author.
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