Deadly Star

by C.J. Petterson

Mirabel Campbell is a brilliant but bored scientist and amateur astronomer who wants to trade in her microscope and telescope for a career with a little more excitement. She abruptly gets her wish—her life is transformed into nothing less than high adventure when she spots what she thinks might be a new comet in the California desert night sky.

What she doesn’t know could kill her because the flash of light is really a top-secret nanosatellite, and its discovery combined with her scientific specialty makes her the target of a mysterious psychopath who sends an assassin to silence her. Instead, her friends begin to die around her.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Sully, her CIA ex-husband, whom she still loves, gets involved. Now, she also has to deal with the government and some long-buried emotions.

Mirabel must learn how to stay alive in a covert world of political intrigue where the unexpected is the norm, and she’s not the kind of woman who’ll wait for her ex-husband or anyone else to make her decisions. She made a promise to find out what’s so special about that tiny point of light in the sky, and she intends to keep that promise.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2013

About the author

Born in Texas, raised in Michigan, now living in Mobile, Alabama.

Retired from Chrysler Corp in Auburn Hills, MI.

Reviews

[Rose Belle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled with this one. I will say that the beginning was fantastic, but the story fizzled from there. Characters were a bit wooden. The story was heavily reliant on action, and none of the characters were developed properly. Eventually, I got bored and gave up. I did see some very good reviews for it, so it might be your cup of tea. There was just too much wrong for me to continue with it.

[Kim]

review to follow :-)

[The Book Breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petterson’s debut novel enters the romance/thriller genre with a bang. Her taut tension and well-crafted prose introduce Mirabel Campbell, an accomplished scientist who makes her biggest discovery while perusing the stars as a hobby. Obviously, petterson did her research: astronomy, international intrigue, law enforcement in many forms, and the psychology of families. She cautiously walks through the door of international espionage, taking us with her to discover surreptitiously guarded secrets – secrets held by governments, including her own.
A woman more comfortable in her quiet laboratory, Mirabel is thrust into high-speed car chases, kidnappings, murders, and the reappearance of her CIA ex-husband, whom she had worked hard to forget. Petterson’s self-assured, independent female protagonist leaves no doubt that she will not tolerate the insults and deaths of her friends and those she loves without a fight.
Her innocent foray into stargazing thrusts her back in the arms of her ex, but not without a fight from both of them that leaves you annoyed and amused as the complexity of their lives grows on all fronts. This story is a powerful look inside scientific issues, involving biological genome research, currently being fought around the world. Let’s hope Mirabel will be back for another exciting journey.

This review was provided by Mahala Church for her column in the April edition of The Book Breeze

[Nancy Luebke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense story. It was No. 10 and the last book in the Running To Love box set.This was a fast moving, action packed, hold on to your seat ride that had an ending that leaves room for more. I fell in love with the main character and just wanted to know what would happen next. It was a hard to put down kind of read.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thrill read. Kept me interested all the way to the finish line.

[Marilyn]

A quick read with action and happily ever after