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Havelock #1
Havelock
Eliana Havelock is a female with no past, whose determination to bring down a Karachi arms dealer catches the attention of the British Secret Intelligence Service. MI-6 is currently fractured due to political upheaval with many of its covert programs dissolved or disbanded. When Eliana presents the opportunity to divert an international arms disaster, the head of MI-6 partners her with one of it’s best and brightest, the enigmatic, Connor Blackwell. But in a world of secrets and hidden agendas, who can Eliana trust? And what, or who, is Eliana really after?
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2015
3 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Jane D. Everly
3 books14 followersJane D Everly was born in Nottingham, England where she developed a depthless love of fiction. While aspiring to be a romance novelist, she discovered an edge to her work that was quite unexpected. It appeared that her love of action and adventure stories would forever prevent her from writing the stories of sappy romantic entanglements she believed she had always been meant to write. Instead, heavily influenced by the rise of geek culture, she began to write stories filled with kick-ass heroines and villains with delusions of attaining world domination.
Jane relocated to Vancouver, BC, Canada in 2013 to pursue her writing career. She now lives in a beautiful downtown Vancouver apartment with her cat, Mr Bojangles, and an entire world of espionage and intrigue poised at her fingertips.
Jane relocated to Vancouver, BC, Canada in 2013 to pursue her writing career. She now lives in a beautiful downtown Vancouver apartment with her cat, Mr Bojangles, and an entire world of espionage and intrigue poised at her fingertips.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 26, 2015
An author I have become friendly with emailed me and asked if I wanted to read book one in this serial. I adore that author. *Shocking I know* and thought what the heck, they know I don't discriminate whether they are my friend or not. If I hate the book I'll tell it loud.
Usually female sorta-spy stories are hit or miss with me. I bet that author is frigging laughing their ass off right now.
This first part of the story was just pure fun. You have a thirty something female named Eliana who at the beginning has gotten caught watching some bad guys as they do their thing. She doesn't like that much.
I use his own momentum and drive the knife up into his throat. Strained gurgling, and he topples over, blood spraying from the wound, painting me crimson.
It's fine, red looks good on me.
The story goes on and several people all over the world go a tad crazy and go on a killing spree. Taking out some very prominent people. There is a reason behind it and I don't want to spoil but I liked how it's going so far.
Eliana teams up with one of the guys from the British Secret Intelligence Service and the hunt begins.
I LOVE Eliana's character. Some advice that she got from her mom.
Own your body, Eliana. We are given few natural gifts in this world, and none more valuable than your own skin. Wear it proudly, take care of it, use it as it needs to be used. It can be a hindrance if you allow insecurities to inhibit your mind. But if used correctly, it can be as powerful a weapon as any that exist. And it's all yours.
I will admit I'm not crazy about serial releases but when it's done. I'll definitely read the rest of it.
So clear my schedule!
Usually female sorta-spy stories are hit or miss with me. I bet that author is frigging laughing their ass off right now.
This first part of the story was just pure fun. You have a thirty something female named Eliana who at the beginning has gotten caught watching some bad guys as they do their thing. She doesn't like that much.
I use his own momentum and drive the knife up into his throat. Strained gurgling, and he topples over, blood spraying from the wound, painting me crimson.
It's fine, red looks good on me.
The story goes on and several people all over the world go a tad crazy and go on a killing spree. Taking out some very prominent people. There is a reason behind it and I don't want to spoil but I liked how it's going so far.
Eliana teams up with one of the guys from the British Secret Intelligence Service and the hunt begins.
I LOVE Eliana's character. Some advice that she got from her mom.
Own your body, Eliana. We are given few natural gifts in this world, and none more valuable than your own skin. Wear it proudly, take care of it, use it as it needs to be used. It can be a hindrance if you allow insecurities to inhibit your mind. But if used correctly, it can be as powerful a weapon as any that exist. And it's all yours.
I will admit I'm not crazy about serial releases but when it's done. I'll definitely read the rest of it.
So clear my schedule!
February 11, 2016
[I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.]
I started reading this novel as a serial last year, and now that the full novel is available, well, here's the full review.
The style is a little surprising, in that it mixes parts from Eliana's point of view (1st person, present tense), and parts seen through other characters (3rd person, past tense). I'm not sure what the intent was—more and more novels do that, so I'm actually never really sure—but it didn't bother me the way it did in other stories. It lent a certain immediacy to Eliana's scenes, and since they were of the action-packed kind, it fitted. I liked her humorous way of describing situations, too (that scene with the psychatrist? Totally something *I* would have one of my RPG characters do), and how she played her assets while totally embracing who she was. With an agenda of her own, she nevertheless lends her skills to MI6 in a loyal way.
There's a lot of mystery surrounding the characters in the beginning. Nothing's revealed about Eliana, but she clearly demonstrates resourcefulness and abilities to fight and get out of dire straits. More is to be learnt later, cast in the shadow of her origins, and if you read between the lines, those origins are easy to translate into another name, another myth.
Other characters are also close to tropes clearly reminiscent of typical spy narratives, yet a lot of things here work in a reversed way. The dashing spy/action type is a woman. The big boss is also a woman (and got there through years of service in which she played an active role, even getting severaly wounded, not because she was a paper-pusher). The potential mark-to-be-seduced is a guy. The villain is... villainish, yet his ruthlessness and his plan make him enjoyable. We have plants, betrayals, red tape bearing down on the good guys, and if you like spy novels, this book provides a lot of nods to the genre, while playing the tropes close to our 21st century world and problematics (terrorism rather than cold war, etc.).
The story's plot looked promising, and overall it remained enjoyable. The chase goes on for quite a few chapters, with some action scenes described in an enjoyable way. The villain and his sidekick are one step ahead, while the "heroes" are also skilled enough to try and keep up no matter what.
I was a bit less satisfied with the latest chapters, mostly because some events fseemed to unfold a bit too fast: I wouldn't have minded a few more scenes, a few more occasions to see our heroes in action. I rooted for the “good guys”, I wanted to see them win, but I also felt like the mastermind's plan would have deserved more attention—that Eliana would have met a couple more reversals, sort of, as the enemy had a definitely strong scheme, and I didn't want to see them beaten too quickly either. Still, I enjoyed the story as a whole, so it's a 3.5 to 4 stars for me.
Conclusion: A bit stereotypical, but of the kind that was fairly entertaining.
I started reading this novel as a serial last year, and now that the full novel is available, well, here's the full review.
The style is a little surprising, in that it mixes parts from Eliana's point of view (1st person, present tense), and parts seen through other characters (3rd person, past tense). I'm not sure what the intent was—more and more novels do that, so I'm actually never really sure—but it didn't bother me the way it did in other stories. It lent a certain immediacy to Eliana's scenes, and since they were of the action-packed kind, it fitted. I liked her humorous way of describing situations, too (that scene with the psychatrist? Totally something *I* would have one of my RPG characters do), and how she played her assets while totally embracing who she was. With an agenda of her own, she nevertheless lends her skills to MI6 in a loyal way.
There's a lot of mystery surrounding the characters in the beginning. Nothing's revealed about Eliana, but she clearly demonstrates resourcefulness and abilities to fight and get out of dire straits. More is to be learnt later, cast in the shadow of her origins, and if you read between the lines, those origins are easy to translate into another name, another myth.
Other characters are also close to tropes clearly reminiscent of typical spy narratives, yet a lot of things here work in a reversed way. The dashing spy/action type is a woman. The big boss is also a woman (and got there through years of service in which she played an active role, even getting severaly wounded, not because she was a paper-pusher). The potential mark-to-be-seduced is a guy. The villain is... villainish, yet his ruthlessness and his plan make him enjoyable. We have plants, betrayals, red tape bearing down on the good guys, and if you like spy novels, this book provides a lot of nods to the genre, while playing the tropes close to our 21st century world and problematics (terrorism rather than cold war, etc.).
The story's plot looked promising, and overall it remained enjoyable. The chase goes on for quite a few chapters, with some action scenes described in an enjoyable way. The villain and his sidekick are one step ahead, while the "heroes" are also skilled enough to try and keep up no matter what.
I was a bit less satisfied with the latest chapters, mostly because some events fseemed to unfold a bit too fast: I wouldn't have minded a few more scenes, a few more occasions to see our heroes in action. I rooted for the “good guys”, I wanted to see them win, but I also felt like the mastermind's plan would have deserved more attention—that Eliana would have met a couple more reversals, sort of, as the enemy had a definitely strong scheme, and I didn't want to see them beaten too quickly either. Still, I enjoyed the story as a whole, so it's a 3.5 to 4 stars for me.
Conclusion: A bit stereotypical, but of the kind that was fairly entertaining.
July 12, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
This is the first part of a serial novel and now I realise again why I usually wait until the full book is available to read a serial. I don't need to read a complete series back to back but a book at a time is preferred.
It's hard to say too much about these first six chapters besides that I really enjoyed them. The spy-thing, Eliana's arrogance and her really nice way of describing things (and since she's a first-person POV the writing was working very good for me). The setting is London, which also scores bonus points with me. The story, for as far as I can tell up on this point is going to be an interesting one. It's a very good first part of the story.
When can I get the next instalment?
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is the first part of a serial novel and now I realise again why I usually wait until the full book is available to read a serial. I don't need to read a complete series back to back but a book at a time is preferred.
It's hard to say too much about these first six chapters besides that I really enjoyed them. The spy-thing, Eliana's arrogance and her really nice way of describing things (and since she's a first-person POV the writing was working very good for me). The setting is London, which also scores bonus points with me. The story, for as far as I can tell up on this point is going to be an interesting one. It's a very good first part of the story.
When can I get the next instalment?
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 20, 2016
There wasn't that much happening because it was more like an introduction to the characters and all that.
But I really liked the writing style and the mysteries in there!!
Looking forward to be reading the next book in this series!
But I really liked the writing style and the mysteries in there!!
Looking forward to be reading the next book in this series!
December 8, 2015
**** 4 out of 5 stars
Review by: Mark Palm
I’d Rather Be Bond...
When asked if she would like to play a Bond girl in a installment of the famous film franchise Angelina Jolie was quoted as saying “Actually, I’d refer to play him; I’d rather be Bond.” The same thing could be said, in the best way possible, about the eponymous hero of Jane. D. Everly’s novel Havelock.
It’s taken me months to finish this novel, because it was published in serial form. When I received the final installment and read it, then re-read the entire book, and it works well either way. Whether Ms. Everly wrote it in installments or not has no effect on the finished product. And it’s a fun, fast paced product, in case you are wondering.
Since I gave you the basic synopsis in the first review I will keep it brief; Havelock is the story of Eliana Havelock, an enigmatic adventuress who infiltrates MI-6 to stop Mason Treadik, a super-rich evil genius who wants to corner the contract-killer market for the entire world by creating the ultimate assassins. The story unfolds in alternating first and third person chapters, and while the third-person sections are important the first-person chapters, from the point-of-view of our heroine, are the ones that really make this book a blast. Ms. Everly really seems to be at her best when she is looking through the eyes of her protagonist, and while the author makes several nods to the works of Ian Fleming, her creation, Eliana Havelocke, is definitely her own woman. She has all the prowess of Bond, but with more humor and an ironic sense of self-awareness that helps ground the more sensational aspects of the plot. Some of the science and technology might be questionable, but the action is well-described and realistic, and the last time I checked I don’t read thrillers for procedural accuracy and text-book dryness.
The characters are solid if unspectacular, except for Eliana, and she’s the one the matters. That her mission has a personal reason, which is hinted but not spelled-out, gives her story a bit more urgency than many spy thrillers, and Ms. Everly gives us just enough to sate us, but leaves enough mystery to make us want to come back. I got a particular kick out of Ms. Everly’s take on Treadik’s end-game, which was a real nod to the classic British spy genre, and her handling of her heroine’s sexuality, which was a reversal of the same. Ms. Everly even gives us an evil organization with a catchy names, and if this wasn’t an ARC I would quote her homage to a classic line from the Bond canon. All in all Havelock is a fast-moving clever thriller that left me me waiting for the next installment.
Full reviews available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
Review by: Mark Palm
I’d Rather Be Bond...
When asked if she would like to play a Bond girl in a installment of the famous film franchise Angelina Jolie was quoted as saying “Actually, I’d refer to play him; I’d rather be Bond.” The same thing could be said, in the best way possible, about the eponymous hero of Jane. D. Everly’s novel Havelock.
It’s taken me months to finish this novel, because it was published in serial form. When I received the final installment and read it, then re-read the entire book, and it works well either way. Whether Ms. Everly wrote it in installments or not has no effect on the finished product. And it’s a fun, fast paced product, in case you are wondering.
Since I gave you the basic synopsis in the first review I will keep it brief; Havelock is the story of Eliana Havelock, an enigmatic adventuress who infiltrates MI-6 to stop Mason Treadik, a super-rich evil genius who wants to corner the contract-killer market for the entire world by creating the ultimate assassins. The story unfolds in alternating first and third person chapters, and while the third-person sections are important the first-person chapters, from the point-of-view of our heroine, are the ones that really make this book a blast. Ms. Everly really seems to be at her best when she is looking through the eyes of her protagonist, and while the author makes several nods to the works of Ian Fleming, her creation, Eliana Havelocke, is definitely her own woman. She has all the prowess of Bond, but with more humor and an ironic sense of self-awareness that helps ground the more sensational aspects of the plot. Some of the science and technology might be questionable, but the action is well-described and realistic, and the last time I checked I don’t read thrillers for procedural accuracy and text-book dryness.
The characters are solid if unspectacular, except for Eliana, and she’s the one the matters. That her mission has a personal reason, which is hinted but not spelled-out, gives her story a bit more urgency than many spy thrillers, and Ms. Everly gives us just enough to sate us, but leaves enough mystery to make us want to come back. I got a particular kick out of Ms. Everly’s take on Treadik’s end-game, which was a real nod to the classic British spy genre, and her handling of her heroine’s sexuality, which was a reversal of the same. Ms. Everly even gives us an evil organization with a catchy names, and if this wasn’t an ARC I would quote her homage to a classic line from the Bond canon. All in all Havelock is a fast-moving clever thriller that left me me waiting for the next installment.
Full reviews available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
December 13, 2016
Very rarely do I come across a book that I literally can't put down. Havelock, by Jane D. Everly, hooked me from page one and I spent the better part of a day reading from chapter two through to the end.
Eliana Havelock is not just a strong female protagonist and spy; she's James Bond and Jason Bourne rolled into the body of Angelina Jolie (at least that's how I imagined her).
Eliana stalks into MI-6 with an agenda that she won't reveal until the final pages. She brings vital information regarding an enemy with global implications. Using MI-6 resources, and making new enemies along the way, she leads the search for the man behind mysterious and unexplainable killings across the globe.
Gadgets, double-agents, tuxedoes and sexy evening gowns fill this exciting novel with danger, intrigue, and even a few romps.
What I liked: Everything!
What I didn't like: Not a damn thing!
I'm a Jane Everly fan for life now!
If you like spy thrillers, you'll love Havelock!
Eliana Havelock is not just a strong female protagonist and spy; she's James Bond and Jason Bourne rolled into the body of Angelina Jolie (at least that's how I imagined her).
Eliana stalks into MI-6 with an agenda that she won't reveal until the final pages. She brings vital information regarding an enemy with global implications. Using MI-6 resources, and making new enemies along the way, she leads the search for the man behind mysterious and unexplainable killings across the globe.
Gadgets, double-agents, tuxedoes and sexy evening gowns fill this exciting novel with danger, intrigue, and even a few romps.
What I liked: Everything!
What I didn't like: Not a damn thing!
I'm a Jane Everly fan for life now!
If you like spy thrillers, you'll love Havelock!
December 29, 2016
REVIEW
Having read and enjoyed another "mystery, thriller" I fancied reading this one. The genre is somewhat newer to me and so I'd say I am still discovering authors/books I enjoy. The plot was making me ask questions quite early on in the book, for example, How does Eliana know of Treadik and can she stop him?
The cover shows a female who I'd say is Eliana, with her hand outstretched, showing her bright red nail polish. Above her hand is a large pill/tablet with the title of the book, Havelock across it.
This book is listed as being Adult, Contemporary, Mystery and Thriller, which I think describes the book well, and I agree with those genres.
I began reading this one quite some time ago and just couldn't get into it, so I filed it away to try again in the future. After reading a YA Mystery/Thriller, and a couple of Adult, Mystery, Thriller's so I decided to give this book another go.
The central character in this book is Eliana Havelock, who is described as having crystal blue eyes, a dark complexion. The book goes on to tell us, the reader, that Eliana is a strong independent woman, taught to be that way by her mother. Eliana's mother died whilst she was still young, yet her father never appeared to claim her. Which is why Eliana is looking for her father, she wants answers. Currently Eliana is following the drugs trade and we meet her whilst she is being held captive by those she had been watching. When attacked by one of the men, Eliana manages to cut his face as retaliation, which angers her captor even more. The man and Eliana continue fighting with Eliana using the man's overconfidence and manages to get hold of the mans own gun and shoot him with it! So we now know that Eliana is one tough cookie, who can fight her own battles. Eliana does not enjoy killing for the sake of it, she views it merely as a case of survival of the fittest. It's whilst she is assessing her own injuries that the door to the room she is in is kicked in and in swarm two men in combat gear, and another rather attractive looking guy. She quickly assess the new situation she finds herself in. I really enjoyed reading about Eliana, her character and the people she comes into contact with, within the book.
The other character I read most about in the book was Jeremy Lampert. To say he is the opposite of Eliana's character is an understatement. Jeremy is a 39 year old male married to a woman who loves sending much more money than they have coming in. This man can see no way out of this debt and no light at the end of the tunnel for his life, private or business work life. Jeremy married his wife Vanessa when they were very young, they have three children. Their eldest Evie is in a rehab centre in South Florida. To be totally honest I found Jeremy a little irritating...I wanted to physically shake him to wake him up and break him out of his monotonous life that he is seemingly just plodding along in. One minnute Jeremy is doing the daily drudge of going to work, goes to the bathroom and recives a phonecall from his wife. . . then the next minute he is once again driving in his car and see's it is 10.03am and he has some how lost the last 45 minutes of his life/day. Then Jeremy notices blood on his hands and car steering wheel....he then hears his name on the car radio, saying that there is a city wide hunt out for him, it's believed that he is guilty of being part of an assassination plot! I read further on where Eliana is in contact with and then soon working in conjunction with MI6.
I felt like there were too many slower paced parts in the book for my reading taste and I became more and more irritated to a point I was avoiding reading! It was then that I decided I should finally DNF (Did Not Finish) this book. I don't know if it's just this specific book, it characters or slower plot that made it so I couldn't get along with, or the fact that the book is in a genre I do not read a lot of.
I would say please don't let me put you off this book just because I didn't enjoy it, doesn't mean you won't. I think this book, it's plot and characters would have been more my dad's "cup of tea"/book type than mine. The thing is you don't learn anything if you don't try new genres and new authors, and like I stated at the beginning of this review, I had recently broadened the parameters of the genres I read. So I have actually read and thoroughly enjoyed other contemporary, mystery, thriller books.
To sum up this particular title was just not for me, hence my Did Not Finish.
Having read and enjoyed another "mystery, thriller" I fancied reading this one. The genre is somewhat newer to me and so I'd say I am still discovering authors/books I enjoy. The plot was making me ask questions quite early on in the book, for example, How does Eliana know of Treadik and can she stop him?
The cover shows a female who I'd say is Eliana, with her hand outstretched, showing her bright red nail polish. Above her hand is a large pill/tablet with the title of the book, Havelock across it.
This book is listed as being Adult, Contemporary, Mystery and Thriller, which I think describes the book well, and I agree with those genres.
I began reading this one quite some time ago and just couldn't get into it, so I filed it away to try again in the future. After reading a YA Mystery/Thriller, and a couple of Adult, Mystery, Thriller's so I decided to give this book another go.
The central character in this book is Eliana Havelock, who is described as having crystal blue eyes, a dark complexion. The book goes on to tell us, the reader, that Eliana is a strong independent woman, taught to be that way by her mother. Eliana's mother died whilst she was still young, yet her father never appeared to claim her. Which is why Eliana is looking for her father, she wants answers. Currently Eliana is following the drugs trade and we meet her whilst she is being held captive by those she had been watching. When attacked by one of the men, Eliana manages to cut his face as retaliation, which angers her captor even more. The man and Eliana continue fighting with Eliana using the man's overconfidence and manages to get hold of the mans own gun and shoot him with it! So we now know that Eliana is one tough cookie, who can fight her own battles. Eliana does not enjoy killing for the sake of it, she views it merely as a case of survival of the fittest. It's whilst she is assessing her own injuries that the door to the room she is in is kicked in and in swarm two men in combat gear, and another rather attractive looking guy. She quickly assess the new situation she finds herself in. I really enjoyed reading about Eliana, her character and the people she comes into contact with, within the book.
The other character I read most about in the book was Jeremy Lampert. To say he is the opposite of Eliana's character is an understatement. Jeremy is a 39 year old male married to a woman who loves sending much more money than they have coming in. This man can see no way out of this debt and no light at the end of the tunnel for his life, private or business work life. Jeremy married his wife Vanessa when they were very young, they have three children. Their eldest Evie is in a rehab centre in South Florida. To be totally honest I found Jeremy a little irritating...I wanted to physically shake him to wake him up and break him out of his monotonous life that he is seemingly just plodding along in. One minnute Jeremy is doing the daily drudge of going to work, goes to the bathroom and recives a phonecall from his wife. . . then the next minute he is once again driving in his car and see's it is 10.03am and he has some how lost the last 45 minutes of his life/day. Then Jeremy notices blood on his hands and car steering wheel....he then hears his name on the car radio, saying that there is a city wide hunt out for him, it's believed that he is guilty of being part of an assassination plot! I read further on where Eliana is in contact with and then soon working in conjunction with MI6.
I felt like there were too many slower paced parts in the book for my reading taste and I became more and more irritated to a point I was avoiding reading! It was then that I decided I should finally DNF (Did Not Finish) this book. I don't know if it's just this specific book, it characters or slower plot that made it so I couldn't get along with, or the fact that the book is in a genre I do not read a lot of.
I would say please don't let me put you off this book just because I didn't enjoy it, doesn't mean you won't. I think this book, it's plot and characters would have been more my dad's "cup of tea"/book type than mine. The thing is you don't learn anything if you don't try new genres and new authors, and like I stated at the beginning of this review, I had recently broadened the parameters of the genres I read. So I have actually read and thoroughly enjoyed other contemporary, mystery, thriller books.
To sum up this particular title was just not for me, hence my Did Not Finish.
January 22, 2016
Combining expensive toys and dramatic fights with institutional paranoia and gritty realism, Everly creates a spy story that will appeal both to readers seeking explosions and those seeking a more cerebral experience.
When an unassuming businessman displays skills usually only found in élite soldiers, assassinates a venture capitalist, and evades the resulting search for hours, MI-6 log it. But when similar incidents occur in other locations, they realise something more sinister is happening. And Eliana, a woman with no past but plenty of half-answers, claims she knows who’s behind it. With the British Government determined to publicly clean up the Secret Services, can MI-6 afford to accept her help? But, with evidence their opponent is one of the own turned rogue, can the afford not to?
Everly has produced a fast-paced thriller that turns on bleeding edge technology without relying on it. As such, this novel will appeal to fans of James Bond.
A comparison that equally applies to the sexual charge between the two main protagonists; albeit reversed from the usual playboy-seduces-glamorous-woman dynamic.
The one potential weakness in the plot is the technology behind the villain’s plot. Providing neither a detailed explanation of the mechanisms nor confining herself to saying it works without explaining how, Everly places the burden on the reader to decide whether what information there is supports the effect; as such, the plausibility is vulnerable to readers at both ends of the scale.
However, this is novel is more than an homage to classic Bond; drawing on post-Snowden themes of over-reaching by the intelligence community, Everly adds a thread of political paranoia that would feel entirely at home in Le Carré.
From the moment the reader meets her in a dirty basement, Eliana is a sympathetic – if amoral – character. Revealing her past in snippets as MI-6 discover it or past incidents have direct relevance, while giving her the majority of the point-of-view, Everly sustains the sense that Eliana isn’t loyal to MI-6 without revealing whether she is loyal to this marriage of convenience.
Connor Blackwell, the agent assigned to handle Eliana, is equally cast in the shifting present. With his initial decision to rescue her from imprisonment either a terrible mistake or brilliant coup, he is trapped between giving her the space she needs to betray MI-6 and stopping her from helping them.
Echoing without duplicating the characters of high-octane spy thrillers, Everly creates a similarly recognisable yet nuanced supporting cast.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a modern spy story or engaging techno-thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
When an unassuming businessman displays skills usually only found in élite soldiers, assassinates a venture capitalist, and evades the resulting search for hours, MI-6 log it. But when similar incidents occur in other locations, they realise something more sinister is happening. And Eliana, a woman with no past but plenty of half-answers, claims she knows who’s behind it. With the British Government determined to publicly clean up the Secret Services, can MI-6 afford to accept her help? But, with evidence their opponent is one of the own turned rogue, can the afford not to?
Everly has produced a fast-paced thriller that turns on bleeding edge technology without relying on it. As such, this novel will appeal to fans of James Bond.
A comparison that equally applies to the sexual charge between the two main protagonists; albeit reversed from the usual playboy-seduces-glamorous-woman dynamic.
The one potential weakness in the plot is the technology behind the villain’s plot. Providing neither a detailed explanation of the mechanisms nor confining herself to saying it works without explaining how, Everly places the burden on the reader to decide whether what information there is supports the effect; as such, the plausibility is vulnerable to readers at both ends of the scale.
However, this is novel is more than an homage to classic Bond; drawing on post-Snowden themes of over-reaching by the intelligence community, Everly adds a thread of political paranoia that would feel entirely at home in Le Carré.
From the moment the reader meets her in a dirty basement, Eliana is a sympathetic – if amoral – character. Revealing her past in snippets as MI-6 discover it or past incidents have direct relevance, while giving her the majority of the point-of-view, Everly sustains the sense that Eliana isn’t loyal to MI-6 without revealing whether she is loyal to this marriage of convenience.
Connor Blackwell, the agent assigned to handle Eliana, is equally cast in the shifting present. With his initial decision to rescue her from imprisonment either a terrible mistake or brilliant coup, he is trapped between giving her the space she needs to betray MI-6 and stopping her from helping them.
Echoing without duplicating the characters of high-octane spy thrillers, Everly creates a similarly recognisable yet nuanced supporting cast.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a modern spy story or engaging techno-thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
February 3, 2016
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Three Stars
I will admit up front that from a reader’s perspective, I have no patience with serials (not the
same as a series of stand- alone novels) offered for commercial consumption. Having said that, I
will try to be as fair as my predisposition against serials will allow.
What, exactly, is a multi-talented female protagonist, Eliana, doing being tortured in an
interrogation cell in Kurachi? Unfortunately, we’ll never know unless we read the rest of Ms
Everly’s Havelock serial and that could stretch into many books. This one, at sixty-six pages, is
minimally a novella. Eliana is a bigger-than-life female character endowed with superior strength and agility,
superhuman martial arts skills with an ingrained need to beat-up on British MI6 agents and bad
guys with equal vigor. Eliana is an enigma, as far as MI6, Spiral (the incipient criminal
organization) and the readers are concerned. She is a fictional character that while, perhaps,
portraying a noble quest, isn’t blessed with the slightest hint of believable humanity or
vulnerability. Yet, there she is on the page in front of you, making MI6 look like amateurs and
Pakistani bad guys look like choir-boys.
The other main character, MI6 Director, Rawlston is slightly more believable than Eliana,
but a Board of Inquiry looking into MI6’s operations, while tense, is just another day in the life
of a national intelligence agency. The author never really says this board has any real power to
affect the agency; although its ability to threaten the agency is implied, it is never spelled out and
thus becomes the specter of a threat, more of an irritation, than a real part of the story.”
Nothing in this installment provides Eliana with any creditability. Nothing alludes to her
motives or provided her with any incentive or sanction for being where she is. She is, for
purposes of this installment at least, a dangerously loose cannon. The lack of knowledge of
Eliana’s motives is the basis for Director Rawlston’s concern, and the basis upon which a reader
should be concerned as well since Eliana seems not to represent any interests but her own
undefined self-interest.
The text is written in short simple sentences. There are some misused words and other
editorial errors but they are not overwhelming. Havelock, a Serial should appeal to young adults
who enjoy stories about heroes of near inhuman invincibility taking on enemies against near
impossible odds. The female hero, Eliana, is perhaps reminiscent of Emma Peel (the Avengers)
or perhaps Lara Croft of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider fame and may perhaps, be expected to appeal
to a similar demographic. Three Stars.
Clabe Polk
Three Stars
I will admit up front that from a reader’s perspective, I have no patience with serials (not the
same as a series of stand- alone novels) offered for commercial consumption. Having said that, I
will try to be as fair as my predisposition against serials will allow.
What, exactly, is a multi-talented female protagonist, Eliana, doing being tortured in an
interrogation cell in Kurachi? Unfortunately, we’ll never know unless we read the rest of Ms
Everly’s Havelock serial and that could stretch into many books. This one, at sixty-six pages, is
minimally a novella. Eliana is a bigger-than-life female character endowed with superior strength and agility,
superhuman martial arts skills with an ingrained need to beat-up on British MI6 agents and bad
guys with equal vigor. Eliana is an enigma, as far as MI6, Spiral (the incipient criminal
organization) and the readers are concerned. She is a fictional character that while, perhaps,
portraying a noble quest, isn’t blessed with the slightest hint of believable humanity or
vulnerability. Yet, there she is on the page in front of you, making MI6 look like amateurs and
Pakistani bad guys look like choir-boys.
The other main character, MI6 Director, Rawlston is slightly more believable than Eliana,
but a Board of Inquiry looking into MI6’s operations, while tense, is just another day in the life
of a national intelligence agency. The author never really says this board has any real power to
affect the agency; although its ability to threaten the agency is implied, it is never spelled out and
thus becomes the specter of a threat, more of an irritation, than a real part of the story.”
Nothing in this installment provides Eliana with any creditability. Nothing alludes to her
motives or provided her with any incentive or sanction for being where she is. She is, for
purposes of this installment at least, a dangerously loose cannon. The lack of knowledge of
Eliana’s motives is the basis for Director Rawlston’s concern, and the basis upon which a reader
should be concerned as well since Eliana seems not to represent any interests but her own
undefined self-interest.
The text is written in short simple sentences. There are some misused words and other
editorial errors but they are not overwhelming. Havelock, a Serial should appeal to young adults
who enjoy stories about heroes of near inhuman invincibility taking on enemies against near
impossible odds. The female hero, Eliana, is perhaps reminiscent of Emma Peel (the Avengers)
or perhaps Lara Croft of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider fame and may perhaps, be expected to appeal
to a similar demographic. Three Stars.
Clabe Polk
January 12, 2016
“Havelock” eBook was published 2015 and was authored by Jane D. Everly (https://www.facebook.com/janedeverlya...). This is Ms. Everly’s first publication.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The setting of this Thriller novel is various cities in contemporary Europe and the US.
The primary character is Eliana Havelock. A young woman with an incredible skill set, but no discernible past. She has set her aim on Mason Treadik. Treadik is a former MI6 agent, now on his own and developing a mind control system. While closing in on Treadik’s trail, Havelock is captured. Before she can escape, MI6 raids the location where she is being held, and she is taken back to London.
Havelock will only tell MI6 her first name, Eliana. MI6 can find no trace of Havelock in any records, yet they recognize that she is a skilled agent. MI6 reluctantly agrees to team with Havelock to find and neutralize Treadik. Havelock and MI6 agent Connor Blackwell begin to follow the trail back to Treadik, but they have one deadly encounter after another.
Havelock has an agenda of her own - destroying Treadik and finding her father. She is a bit of a mystery even to the reader. You find that her mother is dead and her father, an MI6 agent himself, disappeared a few years earlier. Her grand parents on her mother’s side were also agents who were killed in the line of duty. She shares little with MI6, ignoring protocol and taking things into her own hands.
This was a great spy Thriller like those I read in the 60’s and 70’s. I enjoyed the 5.5 hours I spent reading this 240 page novel. The action was non-stop and it was only just a little far fetched. I look forward to reading more about Havelock. (SPOILER - by the time you have finished the novel you will guess who her father was, though no names are ever spoken in the novel. A little creative we searching on ‘havelock’ should confirm your suspicions.) I give this novel a 4.8 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The setting of this Thriller novel is various cities in contemporary Europe and the US.
The primary character is Eliana Havelock. A young woman with an incredible skill set, but no discernible past. She has set her aim on Mason Treadik. Treadik is a former MI6 agent, now on his own and developing a mind control system. While closing in on Treadik’s trail, Havelock is captured. Before she can escape, MI6 raids the location where she is being held, and she is taken back to London.
Havelock will only tell MI6 her first name, Eliana. MI6 can find no trace of Havelock in any records, yet they recognize that she is a skilled agent. MI6 reluctantly agrees to team with Havelock to find and neutralize Treadik. Havelock and MI6 agent Connor Blackwell begin to follow the trail back to Treadik, but they have one deadly encounter after another.
Havelock has an agenda of her own - destroying Treadik and finding her father. She is a bit of a mystery even to the reader. You find that her mother is dead and her father, an MI6 agent himself, disappeared a few years earlier. Her grand parents on her mother’s side were also agents who were killed in the line of duty. She shares little with MI6, ignoring protocol and taking things into her own hands.
This was a great spy Thriller like those I read in the 60’s and 70’s. I enjoyed the 5.5 hours I spent reading this 240 page novel. The action was non-stop and it was only just a little far fetched. I look forward to reading more about Havelock. (SPOILER - by the time you have finished the novel you will guess who her father was, though no names are ever spoken in the novel. A little creative we searching on ‘havelock’ should confirm your suspicions.) I give this novel a 4.8 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
August 15, 2017
I received this book from the publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, for an honest review.
Havelock is a spy action thriller serial that is now just coming out. Each episode is a few chapters long, but in those chapters you get a lot of action and bits of the puzzle. For episode one, we meet Eliana, learn a mystery, and meet the people Eliana gets help from: MI-6. It is written in a mixture of first person and third person. When we are just reading Eliana, it's first person.
Dare I say it, Eliana is a serious badass. I fell in love with her right in the beginning. She can take down anyone she needs to, she's resourceful, and she's flirtatious. She is one of the ultimate femme fatale characters. You would think that her segments, being in first person, should throw you off, but they actually didn't. I was able to grasp what was going on and feel who she was as a character.
I believe we are shown only Eliana's inner thoughts because we are supposed to connect with her. Since there is a secret service involved in the series, the idea of trust is going to be a big issue. Eliana's inner thoughts may help the reader establish a relationship and root for her if a betrayal is in the mix. Which should prove to be fun given how awesome she is.
Now, this is a serial, if you're not into that then wait, but this is something you may want to read. Especially if you like action. Can't wait for the second one.
Havelock is a spy action thriller serial that is now just coming out. Each episode is a few chapters long, but in those chapters you get a lot of action and bits of the puzzle. For episode one, we meet Eliana, learn a mystery, and meet the people Eliana gets help from: MI-6. It is written in a mixture of first person and third person. When we are just reading Eliana, it's first person.
Dare I say it, Eliana is a serious badass. I fell in love with her right in the beginning. She can take down anyone she needs to, she's resourceful, and she's flirtatious. She is one of the ultimate femme fatale characters. You would think that her segments, being in first person, should throw you off, but they actually didn't. I was able to grasp what was going on and feel who she was as a character.
I believe we are shown only Eliana's inner thoughts because we are supposed to connect with her. Since there is a secret service involved in the series, the idea of trust is going to be a big issue. Eliana's inner thoughts may help the reader establish a relationship and root for her if a betrayal is in the mix. Which should prove to be fun given how awesome she is.
Now, this is a serial, if you're not into that then wait, but this is something you may want to read. Especially if you like action. Can't wait for the second one.
July 10, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I really enjoyed this one. It had a kick ass female character and a lot of action. However, I felt like it needed more explanation as there was a lot of the story that felt rushed over. I had to draw some of my own conclusions and it would have been rated higher had there been less of that.
I also wasn't a fan of the switching between first person with Eliana and third person with the MI-6 squad. I thought it made it a bit hard to follow and I wasn't sure who the other "main" character of the bunch was. I thought maybe it would be Waterstone but I think it is supposed to be Blackwell. I'm not sure.
I did love Eliana though. I wanted so much more about her and from her. Like where did she get some of her information from? Why does she not have a last name? She was such an interesting character, I really enjoyed reading through her voice. She was witty and badass and someone to admire.
The rest of the characters meshed together for me. I do hope the next in the serial has a bit more explanation about them and their personalities.
Overall: 3.5/5 mostly because it was very short. I feel like there were some things and scenes that could have been better developed.
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I really enjoyed this one. It had a kick ass female character and a lot of action. However, I felt like it needed more explanation as there was a lot of the story that felt rushed over. I had to draw some of my own conclusions and it would have been rated higher had there been less of that.
I also wasn't a fan of the switching between first person with Eliana and third person with the MI-6 squad. I thought it made it a bit hard to follow and I wasn't sure who the other "main" character of the bunch was. I thought maybe it would be Waterstone but I think it is supposed to be Blackwell. I'm not sure.
I did love Eliana though. I wanted so much more about her and from her. Like where did she get some of her information from? Why does she not have a last name? She was such an interesting character, I really enjoyed reading through her voice. She was witty and badass and someone to admire.
The rest of the characters meshed together for me. I do hope the next in the serial has a bit more explanation about them and their personalities.
Overall: 3.5/5 mostly because it was very short. I feel like there were some things and scenes that could have been better developed.
June 9, 2015
Havelock is a story about an anonymous (basically) woman who had a chance encounter with the MI6 and decided to turn it to her advantage. The book is the first in a series of books. The first part is short (63 pages) and easy to read.
Eliana is a different woman. She has superior combat training and can take on two armed drug dealers by herself, tied to a chair. She is after information, but what? Or who? When Agent Blackwell of MI6 happens upon her after their raid on the Mexican drug cell, he decides to take her back to London with him. After a display of skills, wit, and carefully selected information MI6 is left no choice than to join forces with this stranger to bring down a drug cartel. This in order to keep their organization alive.
I love Eliana. I think a lot of women would secretly aspire to be her: hot and kickass. I also think she and Agent Blackwell are in for a funny, very bumpy ride. There's going to be a lot of bruising and scraping, and maybe not just physical ones.
I love Everly's sense of humour. However, I felt that I was pushed into the story too quickly, i.e., there was not enough build up. I would love to read the next installment, if not to find out who Eliana really is and what she's truly after, then for the humor and for the detailed description of every fight move. Lol.
Eliana is a different woman. She has superior combat training and can take on two armed drug dealers by herself, tied to a chair. She is after information, but what? Or who? When Agent Blackwell of MI6 happens upon her after their raid on the Mexican drug cell, he decides to take her back to London with him. After a display of skills, wit, and carefully selected information MI6 is left no choice than to join forces with this stranger to bring down a drug cartel. This in order to keep their organization alive.
I love Eliana. I think a lot of women would secretly aspire to be her: hot and kickass. I also think she and Agent Blackwell are in for a funny, very bumpy ride. There's going to be a lot of bruising and scraping, and maybe not just physical ones.
I love Everly's sense of humour. However, I felt that I was pushed into the story too quickly, i.e., there was not enough build up. I would love to read the next installment, if not to find out who Eliana really is and what she's truly after, then for the humor and for the detailed description of every fight move. Lol.
June 29, 2015
WOW! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ? Seriously, I am at loss for words. This is an amazing story. It is so refreshing, new, mind-blowing, and unique. It is so action-packed. It never got boring, not a single part. Plus, the main character. Eliana is one kick-ass heroine! It also seems like it was meticulously written.
I must say (and I must say it now!) that Everly did a really great job. Dearest Jane, if ever you are reading this, please know that I feel so pleasured for having read your work. You are now one of my new favorite authors.
So basically, all I have to write in this review are praises and good things and all the lovely things about Havelock because I honestly loved it so much that I couldn’t think of anything else to say aside from it’s really got THAT something.
You wouldn’t know what I am feeling or what I am talking crazily about unless you read this. It just blew my mind off.
Get your mind blown. Give your imagination a new place to live in. Grab a copy of Havelock, and read it immediately.
There’s a sad part, though. This is a major cliffhanger. I’d have to wait until August for the second installment, then I’d have to wait until November to December for the final one. :(
I recommend this to everyone. Literally, everyone.
I must say (and I must say it now!) that Everly did a really great job. Dearest Jane, if ever you are reading this, please know that I feel so pleasured for having read your work. You are now one of my new favorite authors.
So basically, all I have to write in this review are praises and good things and all the lovely things about Havelock because I honestly loved it so much that I couldn’t think of anything else to say aside from it’s really got THAT something.
You wouldn’t know what I am feeling or what I am talking crazily about unless you read this. It just blew my mind off.
Get your mind blown. Give your imagination a new place to live in. Grab a copy of Havelock, and read it immediately.
There’s a sad part, though. This is a major cliffhanger. I’d have to wait until August for the second installment, then I’d have to wait until November to December for the final one. :(
I recommend this to everyone. Literally, everyone.
December 20, 2015
Curiosity Quills Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Eliana Havelock started out looking for her long lost father and ended up embroiled in a mess of epic proportions near Karachi, Pakistan. Rescued by MI6 operatives from a group that call themselves Spiral, Eliana decides to take matters into her own hands and leave the hospital before being questioned. Meanwhile, a rash of killings around the world are troubling and Agent Blackwell of MI6 who, incidentally, brought in Eliana, is on the case and needs her help to solve it. Working with British Secret Intelligence Service was not exactly what she wanted, but there is definitely not one dull moment.
With nonstop action and a fast paced plot, Havelock has a great deal of character development that you might not expect. Eliana Havelock is a great main character - that combination of skill, strength, and intelligence, coupled with a no nonsense attitude, makes this book interesting to read. With a good plot twist near the conclusion, Havelock hit many of the marks of a great thriller for me. I would have liked a little more background on Eliana, but I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend Havelock to fans of mystery/thrillers.
Eliana Havelock started out looking for her long lost father and ended up embroiled in a mess of epic proportions near Karachi, Pakistan. Rescued by MI6 operatives from a group that call themselves Spiral, Eliana decides to take matters into her own hands and leave the hospital before being questioned. Meanwhile, a rash of killings around the world are troubling and Agent Blackwell of MI6 who, incidentally, brought in Eliana, is on the case and needs her help to solve it. Working with British Secret Intelligence Service was not exactly what she wanted, but there is definitely not one dull moment.
With nonstop action and a fast paced plot, Havelock has a great deal of character development that you might not expect. Eliana Havelock is a great main character - that combination of skill, strength, and intelligence, coupled with a no nonsense attitude, makes this book interesting to read. With a good plot twist near the conclusion, Havelock hit many of the marks of a great thriller for me. I would have liked a little more background on Eliana, but I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend Havelock to fans of mystery/thrillers.
July 24, 2015
This was a fantastic book. I am very fortunate to have read it, as I do not usually go for action books. I really liked the main character. She comes across as sassy, strong, capable, and determined. I immediately liked her, something that is very important for a main character.
The book is chock full of action and gets you thinking. I can't think of a single character that was not well developed or believable. I was quite impressed with the dialogue and how adept the author was at describing the action sequences. I personally have always found action sequences to be incredibly hard to write. Jane Everly does an impressive job at clearly painting a picture and making it easy to visualize. Bravo for that.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys James Bond-ish action and adventure, or for someone, like myself, who has grown a bit bored with their normal genre reading and wants to read something a little bit different.
Overall, well written and formatted book. I highly recommend it.
:-)
The book is chock full of action and gets you thinking. I can't think of a single character that was not well developed or believable. I was quite impressed with the dialogue and how adept the author was at describing the action sequences. I personally have always found action sequences to be incredibly hard to write. Jane Everly does an impressive job at clearly painting a picture and making it easy to visualize. Bravo for that.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys James Bond-ish action and adventure, or for someone, like myself, who has grown a bit bored with their normal genre reading and wants to read something a little bit different.
Overall, well written and formatted book. I highly recommend it.
:-)
January 31, 2016
I received a free copy of Havelock through NetGalley (a full edition, all three parts in one ebook)
3.5 stars
This was fun! A bit like Bond, but female and a little more raw (although a martini is still involved ;-) ) There was plenty of action and the pace moved quite quickly, but I never felt like things were being rushed. There was a twist toward the end, which I did not see coming but made perfect sense for the story. Not quite four stars for me because there wasn't anything terribly original about it, but it was a well-written spy-thriller.
Based on the final ending I'm assuming this is the first book of a larger series, and I'll absolutely read more when new books become available!
3.5 stars
This was fun! A bit like Bond, but female and a little more raw (although a martini is still involved ;-) ) There was plenty of action and the pace moved quite quickly, but I never felt like things were being rushed. There was a twist toward the end, which I did not see coming but made perfect sense for the story. Not quite four stars for me because there wasn't anything terribly original about it, but it was a well-written spy-thriller.
Based on the final ending I'm assuming this is the first book of a larger series, and I'll absolutely read more when new books become available!
June 11, 2015
Havlock is entirely entertaining. It starts off running with mystery and action, pausing here and there for a dash of suspense, and finishes with enough unanswered secrets and questions to keep the reader wanting. I can hardly wait to read the next installments and cross the finish line! The main character, Eliana is compellingly mysterious and in complete control of herself and her situation, despite it taking unanticipated turns. Or is she? And who is she? Where does she come from and what does she really want? Everly keeps those pages turning! This is the most fun I’ve had reading a spy novel. A start like this promises an exciting story!
December 13, 2015
4.5 stars... I received a copy of this book from net galley in return for an honest review.
I had very low expectations for the book just based on the cover, so I was definitely surprised by the strong female character and the action packed plot. I just loved the sassy, kick ass, mystery girl of a main character, Eliana. She made this book interesting and fun. Most of the male characters were more stock character types, but that worked just fine for the plot. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I had very low expectations for the book just based on the cover, so I was definitely surprised by the strong female character and the action packed plot. I just loved the sassy, kick ass, mystery girl of a main character, Eliana. She made this book interesting and fun. Most of the male characters were more stock character types, but that worked just fine for the plot. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Read
February 1, 2016I am not, by rule, a lover of modern fiction. I am a fantasy lover through and through. Yet, this book absolutely hooked me.
I fell in love instantly with the ass kicking main character and her give-no-shits attitude. Have you ever wondered what James Bond would be like as a crass female? Well, that is Eliana. She makes one of the most sophisticated intel agencies in the world look like they are overactive preschoolers. MI-6 was never ready for Eliana Havelock, and neither was I.
Look for a more detailed review at: cussingbookworm.tumblr.com
I fell in love instantly with the ass kicking main character and her give-no-shits attitude. Have you ever wondered what James Bond would be like as a crass female? Well, that is Eliana. She makes one of the most sophisticated intel agencies in the world look like they are overactive preschoolers. MI-6 was never ready for Eliana Havelock, and neither was I.
Look for a more detailed review at: cussingbookworm.tumblr.com
July 6, 2015
Although it's a short read (63 pages) I truly enjoyed this book. Havelock is a fast paced and full of action type of book that is bound to leave you frustrated as you wait for the next installment. Think Bourne Identity and Mission Impossible all combine in one sweet package.
All I have to say is that Jane D. Everly is an excellent writer and I can't wait to read more work from her.
Thank you Curiosity Quills Press for the chance to read Havelock in exchange for a honest review.
All I have to say is that Jane D. Everly is an excellent writer and I can't wait to read more work from her.
Thank you Curiosity Quills Press for the chance to read Havelock in exchange for a honest review.
June 16, 2015
Why oh Why do I have to suffer and wait for the next story!
When I received an email from the author asking if I'd like to review this I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I've enjoyed previous books- why should this be any different. I was NOT disappointed- well, only about having to WAIT!!
When I received an email from the author asking if I'd like to review this I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I've enjoyed previous books- why should this be any different. I was NOT disappointed- well, only about having to WAIT!!
December 7, 2015
I was provided a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish! I love this authors writing style and the character development. I cannot wait for the next in the series to find out what happens and hopefully get more background on the main characters past.
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
February 23, 2016
There were several things about this book that I really disliked, and yet I found myself continuing to read more and more! The plot of this action thriller is quite good, rather unique, and has just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is a classic spy story, with lots of intrigue and mystery. Even with several things that I disliked about the book, the storyline and writing style was so good that it just pulled me along.
There’s also a hint of sci-fi in the weapon utilized by the main bad guy and his numerous minions. It is definitely something that you don’t see in the news today, but it is certainly believable enough that you can imagine something like it truly being invented. Let alone that there are those out there, like Treadik, who would be crazy enough to use it. He is a truly chilling antagonist, with a weapon so powerful that it goes beyond scary.
I love that the main protagonist is a female, and butt-kicking female at that! There are so few books with really strong women characters, especially not many who are as physically tough and resilient as Eliana Havelock. The author also has an incredible, dry, understated sense of humor with which she infuses Eliana that I found entirely delightful.
Most of the other characters are also fairly well developed for the varying amounts of attention that are paid to them. I found many of the MI-6 crew intriguing; I was especially impressed with Rawlston and Waterstone, and really liked Quentin. Even many minor characters with whom we did not spend much time came across as fairly well fleshed out. Some of those who met an untimely end even engendered some sadness, which you wouldn’t expect from a one or two scene introduction.
I did find many of the action scenes extremely unrealistic, especially the one where Eliana falls from a moving vehicle and basically walks away from the encounter. All of the other injuries that she sustains throughout the course of the book, would seem to make nearly any activity very difficult, let alone some of the complex and strenuous things that she does.
There was a lot of rather graphic violence that I found distasteful. Not much of it was unwarranted for the plot of the story, but I still found it rather bothersome, some of it a little too descriptive. This is definitely not a book for younger or squeamish readers. And that doesn’t even touch on the often, shall we say, mature language; or the gratuitous sex scenes.
The thing that I disliked the most was the switching in perspective from first-person present tense (from Eliana’s point of view) to third-person past tense with everyone else. I was extremely annoying at first, although it did kind of grow on me a bit. It made it easier to explain what the main character was thinking, as well as to see what was going on with everyone else. Overall it was rather confusing and disconcerting to me as the reader, although I must say that the author did a superb job of switching between the two.
I really enjoyed the ending in that it was fairly definitive, not a total cliff-hanger; but it left plenty of questions unanswered and lots of plot points with which to play. I would guess there are is going to be at least one sequel, and possibly several more additions to the series. Despite all of the things that I didn’t like about this book, I enjoyed it enough to read any future volumes, and would definitely recommend it as a very entertaining read.
(I understand that this story was first released in a serialized format, but I read the full book in it’s entirety.)
I received a free Kindle electronic copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.
There’s also a hint of sci-fi in the weapon utilized by the main bad guy and his numerous minions. It is definitely something that you don’t see in the news today, but it is certainly believable enough that you can imagine something like it truly being invented. Let alone that there are those out there, like Treadik, who would be crazy enough to use it. He is a truly chilling antagonist, with a weapon so powerful that it goes beyond scary.
I love that the main protagonist is a female, and butt-kicking female at that! There are so few books with really strong women characters, especially not many who are as physically tough and resilient as Eliana Havelock. The author also has an incredible, dry, understated sense of humor with which she infuses Eliana that I found entirely delightful.
Most of the other characters are also fairly well developed for the varying amounts of attention that are paid to them. I found many of the MI-6 crew intriguing; I was especially impressed with Rawlston and Waterstone, and really liked Quentin. Even many minor characters with whom we did not spend much time came across as fairly well fleshed out. Some of those who met an untimely end even engendered some sadness, which you wouldn’t expect from a one or two scene introduction.
I did find many of the action scenes extremely unrealistic, especially the one where Eliana falls from a moving vehicle and basically walks away from the encounter. All of the other injuries that she sustains throughout the course of the book, would seem to make nearly any activity very difficult, let alone some of the complex and strenuous things that she does.
There was a lot of rather graphic violence that I found distasteful. Not much of it was unwarranted for the plot of the story, but I still found it rather bothersome, some of it a little too descriptive. This is definitely not a book for younger or squeamish readers. And that doesn’t even touch on the often, shall we say, mature language; or the gratuitous sex scenes.
The thing that I disliked the most was the switching in perspective from first-person present tense (from Eliana’s point of view) to third-person past tense with everyone else. I was extremely annoying at first, although it did kind of grow on me a bit. It made it easier to explain what the main character was thinking, as well as to see what was going on with everyone else. Overall it was rather confusing and disconcerting to me as the reader, although I must say that the author did a superb job of switching between the two.
I really enjoyed the ending in that it was fairly definitive, not a total cliff-hanger; but it left plenty of questions unanswered and lots of plot points with which to play. I would guess there are is going to be at least one sequel, and possibly several more additions to the series. Despite all of the things that I didn’t like about this book, I enjoyed it enough to read any future volumes, and would definitely recommend it as a very entertaining read.
(I understand that this story was first released in a serialized format, but I read the full book in it’s entirety.)
I received a free Kindle electronic copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2015
Just finished the first part. I LOVE THIS. It's the perfect spy/thriller/mystery to fill the void James Bond left behind. I really loved the POVs in this one. Expertly done; and the voice was on-point. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the serial novel!
July 22, 2016
Well written, lots of suspense and action. This was an up to date spy novel, set in today's world.
April 29, 2017
Eliana Havelock is a female with no past, who comes to the attention of the British Secret Service. Filled with action, I enjoyed plot of the book and getting to know this Bond-like character. Many twists and turns kept me engaged until the very end.
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