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Redemptio Animae
Catriona “Kit” Witmer was a shooting star in the Secret Service. When a high profile detail goes horribly wrong, her career is derailed, leaving her to fall into a bottle. Forced to pick up low level celebrity security details to keep herself afloat, Kit is set on a path of self-destruction and increasing isolation. Claire Avondale is a Senator in need of discreet protection that falls outside of the normal security details offered by the government. Increasingly targeted by religious fanatics for her progressive push of policies in support of genetic research, Claire soon finds herself being hunted by the very people who are supposed to protect her. When Kit is hired by Claire to be her bodyguard, she is forced to face her demons, as their mutual attraction escalates and Claire’s own secrets are revealed. Will Kit be able to save herself and Claire from the enemy hell bent on destroying them? This debut novel from Sydney Gibson will leave you guessing at every twist and turn, and sucked into the sweeping romance of the two leads. Leaving you wanting more page to page.
578 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2015
52 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 30, 2017
Wow! now this is what good penmanship looks like,this has excellent writing,good storytelling,substance,a plot,it's action pact when needed and the author did it at the right time,a good mix and cast of characters and lets not forget the chemistry which was spot on..then there was high drama all the way through and a super hot love story to die for but now to the conclusion which i won't call it that because the author took our/readers breathe away when she ended this book with that cliffhanger..so the story i think continues..highly recommend
April 8, 2017
4 stars - long drawn out pleasure
First the cover: As this is some kind of genetic science fiction book, sprinkled with criminal suspense and thrilling mystery - I like that the cover reminds me of genetic code. It's not obvious, but hey sometimes I like to understand an abstract cover while in the middle of reading, or maybe I'm just a bit slow.
Second the story: It is a real edge of the seat suspense. In the beginning, it is mostly because Kit is so infuriating in her choices and actions. I admit I could not understand why Claire was so patient with her. I wanted to shake Kit so much. Then it got really intricate and mysterious and that kept me on the edge. One thing is an interesting plot device, that I'm not so sure what to think of. The suspense of the "case" is repeatedly interrupted by everyday actions that build the love relation but seem careless things to do when considering the danger Claire is in. On the one hand side I enjoyed the moving along of the relationship, but on the other hand side, I had the feeling that it sometimes destroyed the pace.
Third the characters: I think the characters are really well developed. There is a lot of character building and inner dialogue and back story. However, as afore mentioned, Kit infuriates me and in the end, Claire does too. They are both so stubborn, I guess they are made for each other.
I very much enjoyed that Kit had no problem whatsoever to being attracted to a woman, even though she doesn't seem to have had any relationships with women before. The whole angst revolves around her fear to trust, the employee-boss problem and her alcoholism ... Even though one might argue that this is unrealistic - I like that sexuality is treated so casually, it can serve as an example for life.
Fourth the science fiction: Here I have to be a little bit more critical. I sometimes had the feeling that the science was too magical and Claire too brilliant. I would not have baulked so much if the stuff had not evolved to be such a magical cure for everything. So, I'd call the science fiction aspect more supernatural magic than science.
Fifth the editing: As others before me have mentioned this is terribly done. So many mistakes ... Shudder ... I had to put on text to speech just so I would only catch the wording mistakes ...
All in all: A very long and very enjoyable read nonetheless. Suspense, love, romance, mystery, "magic", a superb bad guy and an opening for a sequel at the end - I sincerely hope there will be one. I'd gladly read another book by the author.
First the cover: As this is some kind of genetic science fiction book, sprinkled with criminal suspense and thrilling mystery - I like that the cover reminds me of genetic code. It's not obvious, but hey sometimes I like to understand an abstract cover while in the middle of reading, or maybe I'm just a bit slow.
Second the story: It is a real edge of the seat suspense. In the beginning, it is mostly because Kit is so infuriating in her choices and actions. I admit I could not understand why Claire was so patient with her. I wanted to shake Kit so much. Then it got really intricate and mysterious and that kept me on the edge. One thing is an interesting plot device, that I'm not so sure what to think of. The suspense of the "case" is repeatedly interrupted by everyday actions that build the love relation but seem careless things to do when considering the danger Claire is in. On the one hand side I enjoyed the moving along of the relationship, but on the other hand side, I had the feeling that it sometimes destroyed the pace.
Third the characters: I think the characters are really well developed. There is a lot of character building and inner dialogue and back story. However, as afore mentioned, Kit infuriates me and in the end, Claire does too. They are both so stubborn, I guess they are made for each other.
I very much enjoyed that Kit had no problem whatsoever to being attracted to a woman, even though she doesn't seem to have had any relationships with women before. The whole angst revolves around her fear to trust, the employee-boss problem and her alcoholism ... Even though one might argue that this is unrealistic - I like that sexuality is treated so casually, it can serve as an example for life.
Fourth the science fiction: Here I have to be a little bit more critical. I sometimes had the feeling that the science was too magical and Claire too brilliant. I would not have baulked so much if the stuff had not evolved to be such a magical cure for everything. So, I'd call the science fiction aspect more supernatural magic than science.
Fifth the editing: As others before me have mentioned this is terribly done. So many mistakes ... Shudder ... I had to put on text to speech just so I would only catch the wording mistakes ...
All in all: A very long and very enjoyable read nonetheless. Suspense, love, romance, mystery, "magic", a superb bad guy and an opening for a sequel at the end - I sincerely hope there will be one. I'd gladly read another book by the author.
June 27, 2021
Redemptio Animae took me 1 day too many to complete; it really was a long read. Not sure what to make of RA. It’s an action packed, insta-love romance with sci-fi in the mix. Now, even though the romance between Senator/Doctor Claire Avondale and Assistant/Bodyguard Kit Witmer is insta-love, it took a long time for them to be at a good place. The back and forth was just a tad too many for my liking and it kind of finally stop at 30% of the book which is 578 pages long - imagine that. Loads of action with many assassination attempts on Claire with Kit coming to the rescue and surviving whatever came her way; the saying a cat has nine lives is so apt here. The author really kept me on my toes with all the action, suspense and mystery. Towards the last third of the book all hell broke loose and that’s when sci-fi come to play. Believable or not?? Well it’s fiction, you either like or not.
I’m not one to criticise too much on the editing but I really do think that more work need to be done on the editing. Its just way too many and could be a deal-breaker for some readers. Please do better with the editing for book 2; which I hope there will be given the ending 😊
All in all, RA was an enjoyable read and I would rate it as 4⭐️
I’m not one to criticise too much on the editing but I really do think that more work need to be done on the editing. Its just way too many and could be a deal-breaker for some readers. Please do better with the editing for book 2; which I hope there will be given the ending 😊
All in all, RA was an enjoyable read and I would rate it as 4⭐️
December 15, 2017
This is the first book by Gibson, and there is some evidence of that. However, it also stands up as a fascinating and comprehensive tale of two strong women who are very different, and yet similar in their attraction to one another, and their will to change the world for the better.
Claire Avondale is a Senator in the US Government. Well, at least as far as the public knows. However, she also has a secret identity as Dr Claire Avondale, a research scientist developing gene technology to heal errors in human DNA.
Claire has been solving chemistry problems from the age of 7. Her genius was fostered by her loving parents, and supported by their vast wealth. She knows the CIA wants access to her work, and will go to great lengths to get it. As a result she declines the offer of protection from the Secret Service, and pays for her own security.
Now that Claire is being targeting by a violent religious group as well as the CIA, she needs even better protection and a new security specialist.
Kit Witmer was a rising star in the Secret Service, protecting Senators and officials until a protection detail goes very wrong. The guilt from this episode caused Kit to bail out of the service, and as far out of life as she could go. A drunk for three years, she crashes from job to job, finding just enough income and booze to stay alive.
Recommended for the high profile security of Senator Avondale by a mutual friend, Kit realizes she has to clean up her act. Getting sober is a big enough hurdle to overcome, but a more difficult job might be managing her growing attraction to the Senator.
This is a complex thriller about the potential developments in gene therapy, and the impact this might have on the individuals involved. It also has a slow burn romance between the two leads.
There is a lot to like about this book, and I can see why other readers gave it 5 stars. However, there were problems with the book too, so I think 4 stars is a better gauge of its readability.
This is a long book, and the length of it gives Gibson the room to really develop the characters, which I really liked. It allowed me to get to know them at a deeper level than I might have with a shorter book. It also allowed the author to develop a more complex storyline, which worked with the scale of the drama unfolding.
The author switches from the perspectives of both of the main characters, which gives us the opportunity to see the world from each of their viewpoints. There is also occasionally some overlap of particular events, which can be interesting too, as it amplified the differences between them as we saw the same event through both perspectives.
Both main characters are well drawn. Having the luxury of the room to develop a slow burn romance between them helps with the unresolved sexual tension in the first part of the book. Claire is definitely the genius chemist, very focused on her work and diligent about her safety. Kit is a loose canon, extremely capable and yet also has a fragility that threatens to undo her when pushed emotionally.
As a romance, the slow burn was great. Gibson did a good job of building the romantic elements in the book, and there was a lot of sexual tension which was fun to read. I did think the falling in love part happened very fast though, and that stretched credulity a bit. From then on it was more about balancing the needs of the thriller with the needs of the love story.
The thriller aspects of the book were very creative, and had some clever moments. I gave the book an extra 1/2 star for this. However, there was a fundamental flaw evident in the lack of research by the author into protection details, and this meant that the book felt less real as a result. The idea that an expert can suddenly become a fantastic bodyguard after three years of being drunk, with no training physically or mentally, defies belief. In addition, the core premise of the book is that a super smart person, and a great ex-agent, would think getting involved could provide good protection for the client, which is patently absurd. And if there are that many people after the Senator, why is no one else pulled in to assist in her protection? These flaws in logic made what could have been a tight and fantastic thriller move more into the fantasy realm. I like fantasy, but more realism in some of those aspects would have been great.
So in order to enjoy the book for what it was, I had to let go of those fundamental flaws in the plot. Once that was done, I was free to enjoy this as an adventure, with interesting characters and a clever and complex plot. It was very imaginative, and a lot of fun to spend so much time with the characters.
Claire Avondale is a Senator in the US Government. Well, at least as far as the public knows. However, she also has a secret identity as Dr Claire Avondale, a research scientist developing gene technology to heal errors in human DNA.
Claire has been solving chemistry problems from the age of 7. Her genius was fostered by her loving parents, and supported by their vast wealth. She knows the CIA wants access to her work, and will go to great lengths to get it. As a result she declines the offer of protection from the Secret Service, and pays for her own security.
Now that Claire is being targeting by a violent religious group as well as the CIA, she needs even better protection and a new security specialist.
Kit Witmer was a rising star in the Secret Service, protecting Senators and officials until a protection detail goes very wrong. The guilt from this episode caused Kit to bail out of the service, and as far out of life as she could go. A drunk for three years, she crashes from job to job, finding just enough income and booze to stay alive.
Recommended for the high profile security of Senator Avondale by a mutual friend, Kit realizes she has to clean up her act. Getting sober is a big enough hurdle to overcome, but a more difficult job might be managing her growing attraction to the Senator.
This is a complex thriller about the potential developments in gene therapy, and the impact this might have on the individuals involved. It also has a slow burn romance between the two leads.
There is a lot to like about this book, and I can see why other readers gave it 5 stars. However, there were problems with the book too, so I think 4 stars is a better gauge of its readability.
This is a long book, and the length of it gives Gibson the room to really develop the characters, which I really liked. It allowed me to get to know them at a deeper level than I might have with a shorter book. It also allowed the author to develop a more complex storyline, which worked with the scale of the drama unfolding.
The author switches from the perspectives of both of the main characters, which gives us the opportunity to see the world from each of their viewpoints. There is also occasionally some overlap of particular events, which can be interesting too, as it amplified the differences between them as we saw the same event through both perspectives.
Both main characters are well drawn. Having the luxury of the room to develop a slow burn romance between them helps with the unresolved sexual tension in the first part of the book. Claire is definitely the genius chemist, very focused on her work and diligent about her safety. Kit is a loose canon, extremely capable and yet also has a fragility that threatens to undo her when pushed emotionally.
As a romance, the slow burn was great. Gibson did a good job of building the romantic elements in the book, and there was a lot of sexual tension which was fun to read. I did think the falling in love part happened very fast though, and that stretched credulity a bit. From then on it was more about balancing the needs of the thriller with the needs of the love story.
The thriller aspects of the book were very creative, and had some clever moments. I gave the book an extra 1/2 star for this. However, there was a fundamental flaw evident in the lack of research by the author into protection details, and this meant that the book felt less real as a result. The idea that an expert can suddenly become a fantastic bodyguard after three years of being drunk, with no training physically or mentally, defies belief. In addition, the core premise of the book is that a super smart person, and a great ex-agent, would think getting involved could provide good protection for the client, which is patently absurd. And if there are that many people after the Senator, why is no one else pulled in to assist in her protection? These flaws in logic made what could have been a tight and fantastic thriller move more into the fantasy realm. I like fantasy, but more realism in some of those aspects would have been great.
So in order to enjoy the book for what it was, I had to let go of those fundamental flaws in the plot. Once that was done, I was free to enjoy this as an adventure, with interesting characters and a clever and complex plot. It was very imaginative, and a lot of fun to spend so much time with the characters.
June 12, 2016
3.5 rounding up to 4 stars. First the good -
It really is a great story with well characterized main & support characters. You get to know them well & what drives them. A really compelling story. I also liked that for once the parents were loving "normal" parents. it's tiring to read yet another psycho mother or homophobic parents. I don't deny they exist, but so do supportive ones. Well written, edge of your seat action!
Now the problems I had with the book. With some editing, it could easily be a 5 star book. When I first started the book I thought I would breeze through it, but I was wrong. Either it was pacing or maybe parts could have been cut because it started to get redundant. There also were wrong or missing words or misspellings and a few sentence structures that pulled me out of the story. This is saying a lot because I usually miss most errors. I'm wondering if the author has lived in So. Cal? I do and you don't casually make the drive between San Diego & Malibu. It is easily 2.5-3 hrs one way with normal traffic, gruesome with traffic.
All in all I enjoyed the book, loved the characters. I'll definitely read a sequel, if she writes one. I plan to read her second book ( I have it) but I'll wait for part 2 to be published. I hate long periods between books, especially if it has cliffhangers - which I gather the first book has.
It really is a great story with well characterized main & support characters. You get to know them well & what drives them. A really compelling story. I also liked that for once the parents were loving "normal" parents. it's tiring to read yet another psycho mother or homophobic parents. I don't deny they exist, but so do supportive ones. Well written, edge of your seat action!
Now the problems I had with the book. With some editing, it could easily be a 5 star book. When I first started the book I thought I would breeze through it, but I was wrong. Either it was pacing or maybe parts could have been cut because it started to get redundant. There also were wrong or missing words or misspellings and a few sentence structures that pulled me out of the story. This is saying a lot because I usually miss most errors. I'm wondering if the author has lived in So. Cal? I do and you don't casually make the drive between San Diego & Malibu. It is easily 2.5-3 hrs one way with normal traffic, gruesome with traffic.
All in all I enjoyed the book, loved the characters. I'll definitely read a sequel, if she writes one. I plan to read her second book ( I have it) but I'll wait for part 2 to be published. I hate long periods between books, especially if it has cliffhangers - which I gather the first book has.
February 19, 2018
Whoa!
4.5 Stars:
Superb and intense read. I want to give it 5 stars. The only thing preventing that is some editing oversights. But still, this book was amazing. A fine line between believable and unbelievable..lol. Science vs science fiction. The cliffhanger at the end is intriguing. I went to the authors blog to see if book 2 was in the works. I was kinda disappointed to see that it isn't. But...I'm intrigued that Claire and Kit will be integrated as key characters in "Devil's in the details, Book 2" . "Devil's" was the 1st book I've read from the author and I liked her style. This book was really long to me.
Would highly recommend.
4.5 Stars:
Superb and intense read. I want to give it 5 stars. The only thing preventing that is some editing oversights. But still, this book was amazing. A fine line between believable and unbelievable..lol. Science vs science fiction. The cliffhanger at the end is intriguing. I went to the authors blog to see if book 2 was in the works. I was kinda disappointed to see that it isn't. But...I'm intrigued that Claire and Kit will be integrated as key characters in "Devil's in the details, Book 2" . "Devil's" was the 1st book I've read from the author and I liked her style. This book was really long to me.
Would highly recommend.
May 10, 2016
Loved it! I honestly feel like I just finished a marathon when finishing this book. This is the longest I have read as I am normally someone who can get bored easily, that wasn't the case with this book.
May 22, 2016
So this is a tough book to review. I don't like to focus on negatives, but will start off by explaining (defending?) why I removed two stars from a book with 5 star potential.
I admit a whole star was taken off simply for the lack of editing in this novel. I was pulled from the story constantly with bad grammar and run on sentences. It's a little harsh, but it really did tarnish my overall enjoyment of the story as it occurs on nearly every other page - most noticeably was the "I vs Me"situation. It was always "so-and-so and I", which is often not correct. My spelling/grammar is less than perfect, but I'm not selling novels.
This is a long book, which is not in and of itself a bad thing, especially in les fic where I can blow through most offerings in a day or two. However, there was a lot of repetition. Sydney Gibson does a great job of showing the story through her characters, but unfortunately what was shown is then often analyzed by the characters in such detail that I skipped through paragraphs. Again, some good editing could have tidied this up.
The 2nd star removed is for numerous niggles that are personal peeves of mine and could be things that other readers enjoyed. Don't you just love subjectivity?
First of all, this is pretty much insta-love. Not necessarily in the pages it took, but the in-story time frame was super quick. Not just insta-love, but constantly questioned and professed, then doubted and reassured... I wanted off that ride and was pleased when it did stop. When all was settled, what a sweet couple! I love how they clicked. The small moments made Claire and Kit more endearing and believable than long, internal monologue about how much one loved the other because reasons.
Niggle #2 is the perfect brains/looks/wealth/power of Claire. It took me a while to get on board with her. The author did a fantastic job in humaising Claire via Kit, so it is only a minor thing, but it's such a cliche and I always feel a little disappointed these talented writers use it. Also, we are reminded every few pages early in the story that Kit, too, is/was the perfect secret service agent...
Which leads to the frustration of (I know there's a spoiler tag, but seriously, there are some big spoilers in here, you guys):
So, those are my reasons for less than five stars.
The positives: Sydney Gibson uses the first person narrative well and switches between characters without it becoming confusing to read. Kit's struggles with her past is especially well written and I enjoyed reading her journey as she grew.
The secondary characters are a fabulous and fleshed out cast. The villians are interesting, unique, varied and unpredictable. I was nervous of everyone we met through the main characters. The author writes tension very well. She also is good with a few sucker punches, which I enjoyed.
There is a lot of action; there is also a lot of substance. It's so important to balance the two and I was very happy with how well these were written.
The story is quite different from what I expected going in. It was much deeper and interesting than the blurb lets on, which is great.
Final rating is 3.5 stars, which I have rounded down. Not the easiest decision, but I have to admit some of the book was a grind to get through and back to the good bits.
I admit a whole star was taken off simply for the lack of editing in this novel. I was pulled from the story constantly with bad grammar and run on sentences. It's a little harsh, but it really did tarnish my overall enjoyment of the story as it occurs on nearly every other page - most noticeably was the "I vs Me"situation. It was always "so-and-so and I", which is often not correct. My spelling/grammar is less than perfect, but I'm not selling novels.
This is a long book, which is not in and of itself a bad thing, especially in les fic where I can blow through most offerings in a day or two. However, there was a lot of repetition. Sydney Gibson does a great job of showing the story through her characters, but unfortunately what was shown is then often analyzed by the characters in such detail that I skipped through paragraphs. Again, some good editing could have tidied this up.
The 2nd star removed is for numerous niggles that are personal peeves of mine and could be things that other readers enjoyed. Don't you just love subjectivity?
First of all, this is pretty much insta-love. Not necessarily in the pages it took, but the in-story time frame was super quick. Not just insta-love, but constantly questioned and professed, then doubted and reassured... I wanted off that ride and was pleased when it did stop. When all was settled, what a sweet couple! I love how they clicked. The small moments made Claire and Kit more endearing and believable than long, internal monologue about how much one loved the other because reasons.
Niggle #2 is the perfect brains/looks/wealth/power of Claire. It took me a while to get on board with her. The author did a fantastic job in humaising Claire via Kit, so it is only a minor thing, but it's such a cliche and I always feel a little disappointed these talented writers use it. Also, we are reminded every few pages early in the story that Kit, too, is/was the perfect secret service agent...
Which leads to the frustration of (I know there's a spoiler tag, but seriously, there are some big spoilers in here, you guys):
So, those are my reasons for less than five stars.
The positives: Sydney Gibson uses the first person narrative well and switches between characters without it becoming confusing to read. Kit's struggles with her past is especially well written and I enjoyed reading her journey as she grew.
The secondary characters are a fabulous and fleshed out cast. The villians are interesting, unique, varied and unpredictable. I was nervous of everyone we met through the main characters. The author writes tension very well. She also is good with a few sucker punches, which I enjoyed.
There is a lot of action; there is also a lot of substance. It's so important to balance the two and I was very happy with how well these were written.
The story is quite different from what I expected going in. It was much deeper and interesting than the blurb lets on, which is great.
Final rating is 3.5 stars, which I have rounded down. Not the easiest decision, but I have to admit some of the book was a grind to get through and back to the good bits.
March 25, 2018
Read this in ebook form some years ago and enjoyed it so much, I recently purchased a hard copy.
Overlooking all the missed editing, this was a gripping romance/thriller that left me wanting more. I was so thoroughly hooked, I read through the night. Kudos to Ms. Gibson.
5 stars
Overlooking all the missed editing, this was a gripping romance/thriller that left me wanting more. I was so thoroughly hooked, I read through the night. Kudos to Ms. Gibson.
5 stars
May 25, 2016
The editing errors appeared here and there kinda ruined some moments of the book, making it hard to enjoy a good storyline. Luckily, in the author's other book Devil's in the Details got a much better editing skill than this one.
The ending felt like something bad is gonna happened. I felt kind of sorry for our two protagonists who can't even take a break after all their near-death moments. Yet, it leaves room for a very nice sequel if the author ever considers it. I still love having an epilogue though. Unfortunately, this one felt like a minor cliffhanger, but the whole romance is pretty solid, and the main problems of the plot seemed to be done with and finished.
I put the book down several times, then picked it back up, put it down again, and picked it back up...until I finally finished the whole thing. The point is, this book is inconsistent in term of story line. There are a lot of scenes where I just got bored and wanted to skip pages, and there are moments when I couldn't put the book down at all because things had gotten so interesting.
Sydney Gibson is an author with a lot of potential, and I actually want more of her works despite the average rating for this one.
The ending felt like something bad is gonna happened. I felt kind of sorry for our two protagonists who can't even take a break after all their near-death moments. Yet, it leaves room for a very nice sequel if the author ever considers it. I still love having an epilogue though. Unfortunately, this one felt like a minor cliffhanger, but the whole romance is pretty solid, and the main problems of the plot seemed to be done with and finished.
I put the book down several times, then picked it back up, put it down again, and picked it back up...until I finally finished the whole thing. The point is, this book is inconsistent in term of story line. There are a lot of scenes where I just got bored and wanted to skip pages, and there are moments when I couldn't put the book down at all because things had gotten so interesting.
Sydney Gibson is an author with a lot of potential, and I actually want more of her works despite the average rating for this one.
April 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. It is quite a long book but you get so involved in the story that it goes by quickly. I really liked the characters and would be interested in reading a sequel where they deal with that awful woman Olivia!
April 23, 2016
This book is an absolute knock out, especially if you're into thrillers laced with romance. I've been completely sucked into the story after the first chapter. The chemistry between Kit and Claire has been intense almost since the first scene or day they're meeting each other. I've especially liked that the book is written with the alternate voices of both Kit and Claire, so you really get the feeling on what's going in their head.
As to the plot and thriller itself - be prepared to buckle up for one hell of an adventure full of twist and turns, with every single scene carved out in such great details which makes you feel like watching a movie. Love the way how this book feels a bit like reading a conspiracy thriller, but also a little bit like reading an urban fantasy towards the end.
Judging from the way it ended - I take there should be a second book coming? I would absolutely love to have another book on Kit and Claire. This book will be on my re-read list.
As to the plot and thriller itself - be prepared to buckle up for one hell of an adventure full of twist and turns, with every single scene carved out in such great details which makes you feel like watching a movie. Love the way how this book feels a bit like reading a conspiracy thriller, but also a little bit like reading an urban fantasy towards the end.
Judging from the way it ended - I take there should be a second book coming? I would absolutely love to have another book on Kit and Claire. This book will be on my re-read list.
November 20, 2017
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
A really long book but very worth it. It starts off slow but picks up its pace after. I really enjoyed how the connection between Kit and Claire was formed and strengthened through each difficulty they face. Despite the length of the book, I was never once bored while reading it and that is amazing.
The storyline was really interesting and captivating even though some parts were really predictable. It ended off on a strange note to me but I really enjoyed this read.
Overall, an impressive story that I will definitely like to read again!
A really long book but very worth it. It starts off slow but picks up its pace after. I really enjoyed how the connection between Kit and Claire was formed and strengthened through each difficulty they face. Despite the length of the book, I was never once bored while reading it and that is amazing.
The storyline was really interesting and captivating even though some parts were really predictable. It ended off on a strange note to me but I really enjoyed this read.
Overall, an impressive story that I will definitely like to read again!
April 18, 2016
Excellent!
This story grabs your attention from the beginning. The characters are intense individuals and the storyline is captivating. The plight of Claire and Kit is full of action packed moments that keep you turning the pages. Davey was also a wonderful character and friend to both women and fit in perfectly. The ideas in this story of life and science, was quite interesting and the Author did a good job taking us through the phases. Excellent
This story grabs your attention from the beginning. The characters are intense individuals and the storyline is captivating. The plight of Claire and Kit is full of action packed moments that keep you turning the pages. Davey was also a wonderful character and friend to both women and fit in perfectly. The ideas in this story of life and science, was quite interesting and the Author did a good job taking us through the phases. Excellent
February 1, 2018
Just a very simple review to advise you to read this book, to which I give without hesitation 5/5. 5/5This book is a surprise, a very good surprise. Unknown author for me and I admit that this very long book scared me. I thought it would be too long, too boring, too repetitive but no, it is very well written and is especially a captivating story. The characters are very well described and endearing. Very nice book, really. I recommend it !!
March 31, 2016
Enjoyed the story but...
The grammar errors were really distracting and near the end I was paying more attention to where the next mistake was going to be rather than how the story was resolving itself. I look forward to SG's next book but if it is full of grammatical errors like Redemptio I probably won't be looking for anymore.
The grammar errors were really distracting and near the end I was paying more attention to where the next mistake was going to be rather than how the story was resolving itself. I look forward to SG's next book but if it is full of grammatical errors like Redemptio I probably won't be looking for anymore.
January 22, 2019
I recommend this book
this is my 5Th time reading the book I love the sifi story between senator Avondale and kit I hope is a second book
this is my 5Th time reading the book I love the sifi story between senator Avondale and kit I hope is a second book
February 25, 2020
First of all, the book feels super un-beta read. There are several sentences here and there where the thought cuts off, or names are mixed up in the context of what’s happening. Plus, you can’t read in dark mode because of the picture symbols used to indicate whose POV we are reading (i.e. the three spirals for Kit and the fleur-de-lis for Claire).
The plot itself was fairly standard. But I didn’t like how the author just conveniently threw out names when we were figuring out who were the people making their lives hell. Like, Halston? Named in the last few chapters of the book. It just felt like a convenient way to throw out the need to intricately weave in the antagonist into the story. She was everywhere and she knew every little thing about them, but she didn’t feel very present. I think I might have felt differently if the recruitment story, and the name Halston itself, was presented way earlier. Then maybe I wouldn’t have felt like it popped up out of nowhere?
Aside from the formatting, I really liked the science aspect of this, as someone in the field of Biochemistry. There was enough research done such that I believed it myself. Considering that Claire IS a billionaire, I don’t think it’s really that far-fetched. If we dedicated that amount of funding to science today, of course we’d get results. Unfortunately, rich people aren’t necessarily smart people too.
As for the gays, I was a little put off by the instant romance, or maybe that’s just because I don’t believe in love at first sight. The way Claire and Kit started just screamed that they knew they were going to end up together, which isn’t necessarily bad, but I think it could have been done better.
I did like Kit’s character development though! To quote from the book, “Sometimes the only way out is through.” And her growth really was like that, she pushed through and through until it finally got better.
The plot itself was fairly standard. But I didn’t like how the author just conveniently threw out names when we were figuring out who were the people making their lives hell. Like, Halston? Named in the last few chapters of the book. It just felt like a convenient way to throw out the need to intricately weave in the antagonist into the story. She was everywhere and she knew every little thing about them, but she didn’t feel very present. I think I might have felt differently if the recruitment story, and the name Halston itself, was presented way earlier. Then maybe I wouldn’t have felt like it popped up out of nowhere?
Aside from the formatting, I really liked the science aspect of this, as someone in the field of Biochemistry. There was enough research done such that I believed it myself. Considering that Claire IS a billionaire, I don’t think it’s really that far-fetched. If we dedicated that amount of funding to science today, of course we’d get results. Unfortunately, rich people aren’t necessarily smart people too.
As for the gays, I was a little put off by the instant romance, or maybe that’s just because I don’t believe in love at first sight. The way Claire and Kit started just screamed that they knew they were going to end up together, which isn’t necessarily bad, but I think it could have been done better.
I did like Kit’s character development though! To quote from the book, “Sometimes the only way out is through.” And her growth really was like that, she pushed through and through until it finally got better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2017
Finally...
After weeks of spending every waking moment of free time I had reading this book, I'm simultaneously glad and sad to be done with this. I felt like I was experiencing Kit and Claire's growing love and that really invigorating but the novel fell short me in certain areas. The inconsistencies and errors were often distracting. Also, I found myself wishing the author delved into the science fiction aspect in this book. Like, equally a thriller and science fiction novel...maybe it was and just fell flat for me.
Despite this, I would still recommend this book to anyone because I am truly obsessed with the author's writing style.
After weeks of spending every waking moment of free time I had reading this book, I'm simultaneously glad and sad to be done with this. I felt like I was experiencing Kit and Claire's growing love and that really invigorating but the novel fell short me in certain areas. The inconsistencies and errors were often distracting. Also, I found myself wishing the author delved into the science fiction aspect in this book. Like, equally a thriller and science fiction novel...maybe it was and just fell flat for me.
Despite this, I would still recommend this book to anyone because I am truly obsessed with the author's writing style.
June 14, 2018
Very well done.
A good mystery. Good romance. Excellent characters. Claire is great. Kit is wonderful. A bit of fantasy to it. Some truly real emotions. One of the better true love stories out there. The characters do not spend the entire book trying to think of reasons they shouldn't be together. I liked that part. I liked the painful parts of it too. Highly recommend this book. I really have to say that this book exceeds the usual two hundred pages so common in this genre and that is very refreshing. Kit is truly one of the better characters created in a long time. Other authors could learn so much from this. Love is nice but there can be so much more to a story. It doesn't all have to be love, sex, and marriage. Give the audience more. Readers are capable of reading more then 150 pages of fluffy garbage. Highly recommended.
A good mystery. Good romance. Excellent characters. Claire is great. Kit is wonderful. A bit of fantasy to it. Some truly real emotions. One of the better true love stories out there. The characters do not spend the entire book trying to think of reasons they shouldn't be together. I liked that part. I liked the painful parts of it too. Highly recommend this book. I really have to say that this book exceeds the usual two hundred pages so common in this genre and that is very refreshing. Kit is truly one of the better characters created in a long time. Other authors could learn so much from this. Love is nice but there can be so much more to a story. It doesn't all have to be love, sex, and marriage. Give the audience more. Readers are capable of reading more then 150 pages of fluffy garbage. Highly recommended.
June 18, 2016
Loved it!
The first book I read by Sydney Gibson was Devil in the Details and it infuriated me with the lack of emotion displayed by one of the main characters and the needless torture she put someone she claimed to love so deeply through and I still haven't forgiven her for it. This book was not like that. There were shaky moments but the reader never has a doubt about their true love for one another. The plot was very good, some fantasy mixed in here and there but only enough to make the reader wonder if it actually would be possible. Great chemistry, fun conversation and flirting, but deadly serious. The writer nailed this book and won me back after losing me with her second book, which I read first. I would like to see these two again. Someone is still out there and Kit and Claire have to deal with her. This book wipes away SOME of the bad taste left in my mind by Victoria Bancroft AKA E. A. Lamont. I almost forgot my favorite part. A year apart was pure torture for Kit and Claire and that was real. The reader could feel their agony and grief and the joy of their togetherness. A year felt like a lifetime. 4 years went by in a blink for Victoria and a lifetime for Alex. More proof that it was never love for a sociopath like Victoria. Yeah, I am still bitter. When I saw Victoria's name in this book I almost put it down. Very happy I read on. Well done by the writer. She nailed every single emotion in this book.
The first book I read by Sydney Gibson was Devil in the Details and it infuriated me with the lack of emotion displayed by one of the main characters and the needless torture she put someone she claimed to love so deeply through and I still haven't forgiven her for it. This book was not like that. There were shaky moments but the reader never has a doubt about their true love for one another. The plot was very good, some fantasy mixed in here and there but only enough to make the reader wonder if it actually would be possible. Great chemistry, fun conversation and flirting, but deadly serious. The writer nailed this book and won me back after losing me with her second book, which I read first. I would like to see these two again. Someone is still out there and Kit and Claire have to deal with her. This book wipes away SOME of the bad taste left in my mind by Victoria Bancroft AKA E. A. Lamont. I almost forgot my favorite part. A year apart was pure torture for Kit and Claire and that was real. The reader could feel their agony and grief and the joy of their togetherness. A year felt like a lifetime. 4 years went by in a blink for Victoria and a lifetime for Alex. More proof that it was never love for a sociopath like Victoria. Yeah, I am still bitter. When I saw Victoria's name in this book I almost put it down. Very happy I read on. Well done by the writer. She nailed every single emotion in this book.
August 6, 2016
This book was so boring that I could not finish it (80%). I can't remember the last time this happened to me.
The way the story is told, by two first persons (Kit and Clare), does not help at all, as I frequently felt that they both were repeating themselves, adding little to the story.
Clare's character is interesting but way too perfect for my tastes. She is almost a superwoman (Expect that she can not roller skate. Oh, poor girl...) and it made her completely unbelievable.
Kit and Clare fall in love at first side, and I just could not buy it. At least not from Clare's side. Their love story presents also no real setbacks, or conflicts, once Kit's main problem is solved, and that happens at the very beginning. Of course both partners face life threatening situations, but their love is never compromised and that does not help either to make the story less boring.
The thriller side of the story was the most interesting part of the book, but it was also too long and repetitive.
The way the story is told, by two first persons (Kit and Clare), does not help at all, as I frequently felt that they both were repeating themselves, adding little to the story.
Clare's character is interesting but way too perfect for my tastes. She is almost a superwoman (Expect that she can not roller skate. Oh, poor girl...) and it made her completely unbelievable.
Kit and Clare fall in love at first side, and I just could not buy it. At least not from Clare's side. Their love story presents also no real setbacks, or conflicts, once Kit's main problem is solved, and that happens at the very beginning. Of course both partners face life threatening situations, but their love is never compromised and that does not help either to make the story less boring.
The thriller side of the story was the most interesting part of the book, but it was also too long and repetitive.
February 5, 2018
I LOVE this book! *warning* this book is long and the story is complex. Every single time you decide you know what's going on, the storyline slaps the back of your head and says "think again." I just finished this book for the second time ( I gave it 4 stars the first time but now I feel it's a solid 5). I'm not sure if it's the intrigue, the science, the character interactions, or the word flow, but I had to read it again. The story grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I had no choice but to visit the characters again. You WILL become emotionally invested in the main characters. Don't get caught up hating the "villain henchmen" because FEELS. Although, to be honest, this entire book tramples all over your feels. The only downside I can think of is that these characters aren't real and I can't be friends with them. If it weren't for my pride I'd drop to my knees and beg for a second book. I have a fondness for this author and would definitely recommend all her books.
February 7, 2018
A talented writer...
This book is worth all 5 stars and more. I loved it from the very first page to the last. Yes it is a long novel, but by no means was any of it boring. Even when you knew what all the characters were doing, you were kept in suspense as to when and how the killer was going to accomplish the task or how the couple would survive. It was a fascinating fascinating read, one you won't want to end, but will be helpless to continue turning the pages.
I have only one disappointment...........Gibson could you please hurry with the next book :). I simply can't wait. It was so good
This book is worth all 5 stars and more. I loved it from the very first page to the last. Yes it is a long novel, but by no means was any of it boring. Even when you knew what all the characters were doing, you were kept in suspense as to when and how the killer was going to accomplish the task or how the couple would survive. It was a fascinating fascinating read, one you won't want to end, but will be helpless to continue turning the pages.
I have only one disappointment...........Gibson could you please hurry with the next book :). I simply can't wait. It was so good
August 17, 2016
This needs to be a movie!
The depth of Sydney's writing always pulls me in from the start. I forget that I'm reading her stories rather than watching them like a fly on the wall.
I loved the twists and turns and of course the slow burn romance. This will always be a "classic" in my library.
The depth of Sydney's writing always pulls me in from the start. I forget that I'm reading her stories rather than watching them like a fly on the wall.
I loved the twists and turns and of course the slow burn romance. This will always be a "classic" in my library.
January 31, 2016
Suspense! Suspense! Suspense!
First time reading this author, and I can tell you I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I read it in two days and was sadden when I came to the end, but surprised at the last page. Well done Sydney Gibson!
First time reading this author, and I can tell you I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I read it in two days and was sadden when I came to the end, but surprised at the last page. Well done Sydney Gibson!
April 24, 2016
Amazing!
I loved how so many different things were involved CIA, NSA, science, medicine, religion and relationships. This book touches on so many subjects and it constantly keeps you thinking. Redemptio Animae is one of the best books I've read in a long time!
I loved how so many different things were involved CIA, NSA, science, medicine, religion and relationships. This book touches on so many subjects and it constantly keeps you thinking. Redemptio Animae is one of the best books I've read in a long time!
July 17, 2016
I really liked this one... It kept my attention all the way through it, up until the moment when it becomes Sci-fi... Wasn't expecting it, and I'm not sure I like the turn around... Hence the 4 stars, not 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2016
Loved it
This book was great loved the characters and the story was fantastic I couldn't put it down was up late because I lost track of time. Please let it be a sequel.
This book was great loved the characters and the story was fantastic I couldn't put it down was up late because I lost track of time. Please let it be a sequel.
February 24, 2016
Awesome!
Loved the book. Loved the characters! Definitely will have this author as one of my top five. Great story with plenty of twists. Get the book.....you won't be disappointed!
Loved the book. Loved the characters! Definitely will have this author as one of my top five. Great story with plenty of twists. Get the book.....you won't be disappointed!
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