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Wanted and Wired #1
Wanted and Wired
Heron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what's left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas--sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo. Mari has been lusting after her mysterious handler for months. But when a by-the-book hit goes horribly sideways, she and Heron land on the universal most wanted list. Someone set them up. Desperate and on the run, they must trust each other to survive, while hiding devastating secrets. As their explosive chemistry heats up, it's the perfect storm . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
275 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Jackson
13 books104 followersVivien Jackson writes fantastical, futuristic, down-home salacious kissery. A devoted Whovian Browncoat Sindarin Jedi gamer, she has a degree in English, which just means she's read gobs of stuff in that language. With her similarly geeky partner, children, and hairy little pets, she lives in Austin, Texas, and watches a lot of football.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
October 15, 2025
Wanted and Wired is a unique, dystopian, scifi romance.
Mari is a gun for hire and Heron is her back up. When an assignment goes horribly wrong, Mari finds herself on the run from the law with Heron doing everything he can to help save her.
Heron is in love with Mari and has been for years but she has never seen him as more than a technologically enhanced friend, but the with them being on the run together, Mari starts to see Heron for the person he truly is.
Jackson writes a highly original and masterfully imaginative tale. I was blown away by the pictures that Jackson could create with words. Those pictures pulled you in and made for some amazing world building.
I received this ARC copy of Wanted and Wired from Sourcebooks Casablanca. This is my honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication April 4, 2017.
My Rating: 4 stars
Mari is a gun for hire and Heron is her back up. When an assignment goes horribly wrong, Mari finds herself on the run from the law with Heron doing everything he can to help save her.
Heron is in love with Mari and has been for years but she has never seen him as more than a technologically enhanced friend, but the with them being on the run together, Mari starts to see Heron for the person he truly is.
Jackson writes a highly original and masterfully imaginative tale. I was blown away by the pictures that Jackson could create with words. Those pictures pulled you in and made for some amazing world building.
I received this ARC copy of Wanted and Wired from Sourcebooks Casablanca. This is my honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication April 4, 2017.
My Rating: 4 stars
April 26, 2017
I really expected to love this book, in theory it contains everything I look for in a fun sci-fi romance and I should have enjoyed every minute of it but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. Vivien Jackson has some really interesting ideas and I'm sure there could be a great world in here somewhere but we never quite got to see it in all it's glory. This book managed a rare combination of giving you both too much information and also too little, the story is bogged down by lots of new technologies and different terminology but most of it is never explained in enough depth for readers to understand it. We know there has been some kind of environmental disaster but not what caused it, we know that Texas is now considered a country completely separate from the rest of the United States but we don't know why. I never really got a good picture in my head about what life is like now and I had so many questions that never seemed to be answered.
I could probably have looked past all of that if I'd loved the main characters but unfortunately I struggled there too. Mari is a mercenary who is willing to take any job as long as the price is right, she works alongside Heron who is her handler. It's Heron's job to get her any background information she needs, make sure she has all the equipment required and to get her safely into position and back out safely after the job is completed. Everything goes to hell for the two of them when they are hired to destroy an android version of a well known politician, they believe that the real man is safe and they're targeting an imposter but the job was a complete failure and they're now on the run for murder.
The story had lots of action and that's probably the main reason I kept reading. Mari and Heron were both okay characters but neither of them were particularly memorable and getting both of their points of view was like being stuck inside the heads of a pair of horny teenagers. Practically every other thought either of them has is how hot their partner is and how desperate they are for sex and I was constantly rolling my eyes and wishing they'd just get on with it already. The chemistry between them felt forced and there wasn't much in the way of actual romance between them.
I am kind of curious to see whether the world building improves as the series continues but none of the side characters introduced particularly caught my attention and I'm not sure if I'm interested enough to try reading future books. I think it's probably a case of this series just not being a good fit for me.
Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Initial thoughts after finishing the book
I can't decide if this gets 2 or 3 stars. I think it probably falls in at exactly 2.5 but do I round up or down? I need to think about this for a bit & perhaps writing my review will make the rating clearer
I could probably have looked past all of that if I'd loved the main characters but unfortunately I struggled there too. Mari is a mercenary who is willing to take any job as long as the price is right, she works alongside Heron who is her handler. It's Heron's job to get her any background information she needs, make sure she has all the equipment required and to get her safely into position and back out safely after the job is completed. Everything goes to hell for the two of them when they are hired to destroy an android version of a well known politician, they believe that the real man is safe and they're targeting an imposter but the job was a complete failure and they're now on the run for murder.
The story had lots of action and that's probably the main reason I kept reading. Mari and Heron were both okay characters but neither of them were particularly memorable and getting both of their points of view was like being stuck inside the heads of a pair of horny teenagers. Practically every other thought either of them has is how hot their partner is and how desperate they are for sex and I was constantly rolling my eyes and wishing they'd just get on with it already. The chemistry between them felt forced and there wasn't much in the way of actual romance between them.
I am kind of curious to see whether the world building improves as the series continues but none of the side characters introduced particularly caught my attention and I'm not sure if I'm interested enough to try reading future books. I think it's probably a case of this series just not being a good fit for me.
Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Initial thoughts after finishing the book
I can't decide if this gets 2 or 3 stars. I think it probably falls in at exactly 2.5 but do I round up or down? I need to think about this for a bit & perhaps writing my review will make the rating clearer
April 3, 2017
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
3.5 stars
Even though I don't read a lot of sci-fi romance novels the blurb of this book sounded really good. It seemed like it had a very original story-line, which I find very important in my books. I was intrigued as soon as I started Wanted and Wired. The author did a very good job at creating a whole new world that had me wanting to know more about it.
Mari is a gun for hire and she sometimes shares contracts with Heron, who is post-human (someone with implanted tech). Mari's usual contracts involve thieving, demolition, and corporate data smuggling. But this time she took a assassination job. With Heron as her backup this should've been a very easy job, but the moment the hit is done, she realizes something is wrong. They are put on the most wanted list and have to run. Mari had been lusting after Heron for a while now. Heron himself isn't without feelings for her either, but he knows of Mari's dislike for post-humans so he never initiated anything more than a friendship. They normally don't spend any time outside work but know that they are on the run together, they are forced to deal with their feelings.
I really enjoyed them discovering that they both felt something for each other. Mari is a very fierce and strong woman who gets things done. Heron was very mysterious and the more I got to know him, the more interesting he got to me. There are secrets that are revealed and I really loved the twist the author added towards the end, because I didn't see it coming. Things I didn't like were the heavy use of sci-fi terms, they made it difficult for me to get fully into the story. I understand that this is the first book in the series and world-building is very important but it really slowed the pace for me. Also a couple of scenes could've been shorter, this way there would be more room for story and character development. However I am looking forward to the next book in the series, I have no idea if it will focus on the same main characters. There are a couple of side characters that are intriguing and I hope that the next books will focus on them.
3.5 stars
Even though I don't read a lot of sci-fi romance novels the blurb of this book sounded really good. It seemed like it had a very original story-line, which I find very important in my books. I was intrigued as soon as I started Wanted and Wired. The author did a very good job at creating a whole new world that had me wanting to know more about it.
Mari is a gun for hire and she sometimes shares contracts with Heron, who is post-human (someone with implanted tech). Mari's usual contracts involve thieving, demolition, and corporate data smuggling. But this time she took a assassination job. With Heron as her backup this should've been a very easy job, but the moment the hit is done, she realizes something is wrong. They are put on the most wanted list and have to run. Mari had been lusting after Heron for a while now. Heron himself isn't without feelings for her either, but he knows of Mari's dislike for post-humans so he never initiated anything more than a friendship. They normally don't spend any time outside work but know that they are on the run together, they are forced to deal with their feelings.
I really enjoyed them discovering that they both felt something for each other. Mari is a very fierce and strong woman who gets things done. Heron was very mysterious and the more I got to know him, the more interesting he got to me. There are secrets that are revealed and I really loved the twist the author added towards the end, because I didn't see it coming. Things I didn't like were the heavy use of sci-fi terms, they made it difficult for me to get fully into the story. I understand that this is the first book in the series and world-building is very important but it really slowed the pace for me. Also a couple of scenes could've been shorter, this way there would be more room for story and character development. However I am looking forward to the next book in the series, I have no idea if it will focus on the same main characters. There are a couple of side characters that are intriguing and I hope that the next books will focus on them.
April 20, 2017
On paper this book has everything I think I want; action, sci fi, snarky heroine, hot ‘n heavy romance. In reality it took me weeks and weeks to get to 46% of the book and the thought of trying to wade through it just left me feeling a little depressed. Why didn’t I like it? My head was telling me I should, my heart was bored and begging me to just move on. By 46% I was listening to my heart and Wanted and Wired has now been relegated to my DNF pile.
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with this book, unlike some DNFs or 1 star reviews I have nothing I want to rant about and point out as awful. I simply could not connect with either the characters or the story. I found the heroine’s hedonistic approach to life a little distasteful, although it didn’t make me dislike her, I just didn’t get her. The hero…was okay.
As for the storyline, there was both too little and not enough. I wasn’t entirely certain what they were running from, nor was I entirely sure of the factions that were mentioned in the book. It all seemed very scrambled and left me feeling the same way.
As much as I wanted to, I just didn’t like this book, I tried hard, but I kept thinking…should it really be this hard to sit and enjoy a book? The answer was no, so I decided it was the right time to put it down and move on.
February 18, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I ended up liking this book quite a bit. I was actually surprised just how much I did like it. Once I started reading, I was somewhat mesmerized by this futuristic world. I thought that it was a little different than the books that I usually pick up and I found myself enjoying the originality. I am so glad that I finally decided to pick up this entertaining read.
This book opens with a bang. Quite literally. Mari is sent to do a job and things go horribly wrong. Before she knows it, she is on the run with her handler, Heron. It quickly becomes apparent that Heron is more than he appears to be on the surface. I really liked Mari and Heron and thought that the chemistry between them was very well done. I loved the fact that there were a few surprises in the book that I did not see coming which kept things very interesting.
Johanna Parker did a wonderful job with the narration. I have had a lot of luck with this narrator in the past and she did not disappoint. I liked the various voices that she used and I thought that she added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story. She has a very pleasant voice and I feel that her narration added to y overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. This book had a lot of things going for it with its futuristic setting, great characters, a lot of action, and a swoon-worthy romance. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Initial Thoughts
I ended up liking this one quite a bit. It was really exciting and I liked the futuristic world that it was set in. There were enough surprises along the way to keep my interest peaked. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Joanna Parker did a fabulous job with the narration. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series very soon.
Booksource: Library
I ended up liking this book quite a bit. I was actually surprised just how much I did like it. Once I started reading, I was somewhat mesmerized by this futuristic world. I thought that it was a little different than the books that I usually pick up and I found myself enjoying the originality. I am so glad that I finally decided to pick up this entertaining read.
This book opens with a bang. Quite literally. Mari is sent to do a job and things go horribly wrong. Before she knows it, she is on the run with her handler, Heron. It quickly becomes apparent that Heron is more than he appears to be on the surface. I really liked Mari and Heron and thought that the chemistry between them was very well done. I loved the fact that there were a few surprises in the book that I did not see coming which kept things very interesting.
Johanna Parker did a wonderful job with the narration. I have had a lot of luck with this narrator in the past and she did not disappoint. I liked the various voices that she used and I thought that she added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story. She has a very pleasant voice and I feel that her narration added to y overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. This book had a lot of things going for it with its futuristic setting, great characters, a lot of action, and a swoon-worthy romance. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Initial Thoughts
I ended up liking this one quite a bit. It was really exciting and I liked the futuristic world that it was set in. There were enough surprises along the way to keep my interest peaked. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Joanna Parker did a fabulous job with the narration. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series very soon.
Booksource: Library
June 26, 2017
It reads easily, like a cold pop on a hot summer day. But, as with a soda, after the first refreshing sips, you end up more thirsty than ever.
There's a good story in it, and some interesting points to be made. Had it been a dark and gritty sci fi, it would have been a really good book. Unfortunately it goes for the fun, action-romancey side. But its main pitfall is its superficiality.
You can't touch heavy topics and dismiss them: politics, the same human nature. It's going to be disappointing.
Here every thing, and I really mean everything, the heroine does or knows is steeped in lies and betrayal, and it never computes. She ends up reading fake because her reactions are never natural, and maybe that was the author' intention given the final truth, but it made her difficult to believe in.
It was nice to read, but the aftertaste that lingers isn't that good.
The beginning was stronger than the ending, far all those reasons.
Not going to keep reading this series.
There's a good story in it, and some interesting points to be made. Had it been a dark and gritty sci fi, it would have been a really good book. Unfortunately it goes for the fun, action-romancey side. But its main pitfall is its superficiality.
You can't touch heavy topics and dismiss them: politics, the same human nature. It's going to be disappointing.
Here every thing, and I really mean everything, the heroine does or knows is steeped in lies and betrayal, and it never computes. She ends up reading fake because her reactions are never natural, and maybe that was the author' intention given the final truth, but it made her difficult to believe in.
It was nice to read, but the aftertaste that lingers isn't that good.
The beginning was stronger than the ending, far all those reasons.
Not going to keep reading this series.
April 24, 2017
Good story, but not quite the book for me.
Wanted and Wired takes our obsession with technological advancements to the nth degree while exploring ideas about how the human heart survives when the head has gone to the machines. It’s an interesting idea that’s perfect for a Science Fiction story; however it gets rather convoluted when romance is thrown into the mix. Add in a dash of post-apocalyptic dreariness and the final product is a confusing and rather dry story.
War, disease and ecological disasters have decimated the United States, destroying the union and leaving two factions battling for control. The former state of Texas has seceded into their own country while the other states have created a United North American Nation. Mari Vallejo was raised near San Antonio but has operated outside of either government for many years as a gun for hire. Working for whoever can afford her services has made her loyal to no one except herself and her partner Heron. Their relationship has always fallen into a gray area, because although Mari implicitly trusts Heron, she’s put off by his nature as a post-human. His cybernetic implants and enhancements have made him more machine than man and Mari has long prided herself on being completely flesh and blood. It’s a prejudice that doesn’t affect their working relationship but has put any of her lustful thoughts about him strictly on hold.
Their latest job should be a straightforward contract to destroy an android duplicate of an influential senator’s husband. Heron’s research can find no complications with the situation and Mari is more than comfortable taking out a machine even if it looks like a man. Things go to hell when Mari takes her shot but the victim bleeds organic blood and dies in a graphic way. Instead of destroying a machine Mari has just killed a human – which is still an illegal act for both governments. Heron’s precautions give the pair a narrow window to escape the scene but his link to the CCTV and news feeds tells him that the authorities were tipped off about the hit and are already looking for Mari.
Please read the full review at All About Romance
Wanted and Wired takes our obsession with technological advancements to the nth degree while exploring ideas about how the human heart survives when the head has gone to the machines. It’s an interesting idea that’s perfect for a Science Fiction story; however it gets rather convoluted when romance is thrown into the mix. Add in a dash of post-apocalyptic dreariness and the final product is a confusing and rather dry story.
War, disease and ecological disasters have decimated the United States, destroying the union and leaving two factions battling for control. The former state of Texas has seceded into their own country while the other states have created a United North American Nation. Mari Vallejo was raised near San Antonio but has operated outside of either government for many years as a gun for hire. Working for whoever can afford her services has made her loyal to no one except herself and her partner Heron. Their relationship has always fallen into a gray area, because although Mari implicitly trusts Heron, she’s put off by his nature as a post-human. His cybernetic implants and enhancements have made him more machine than man and Mari has long prided herself on being completely flesh and blood. It’s a prejudice that doesn’t affect their working relationship but has put any of her lustful thoughts about him strictly on hold.
Their latest job should be a straightforward contract to destroy an android duplicate of an influential senator’s husband. Heron’s research can find no complications with the situation and Mari is more than comfortable taking out a machine even if it looks like a man. Things go to hell when Mari takes her shot but the victim bleeds organic blood and dies in a graphic way. Instead of destroying a machine Mari has just killed a human – which is still an illegal act for both governments. Heron’s precautions give the pair a narrow window to escape the scene but his link to the CCTV and news feeds tells him that the authorities were tipped off about the hit and are already looking for Mari.
Please read the full review at All About Romance
March 21, 2017
I have to start by saying this is not a paranormal story but very definitely a science fiction look at a dystopian Texas with amazing technology. It has a brutal eloquence and whilst at times I admit the technological terms did seem to run away with the story I understood that it's the first book in a series so there's an awful lot of world building going on. Perhaps the author tried too hard at times to impress how very different things are but once I got past about the twenty percent mark I was fully on board and happily turning the pages.
Once Mari and Heron are on the run its fast paced and full of interesting characters . I'm almost reminded of TVs shows such as Farscape and Firefly in terms of the 'crew' that support Heron but there the similarities end. There's a war coming and unfortunately it looks like it's because of Mari's latest assignment but her partner Heron will go to any lengths to save her . Heron is I suppose you could say genetically modified with absolutely astounding abilities that really helped charge up the romance side of this story! If blunt their initial scenes of ogling each other felt infantile and odd considering how long they have worked together but happily the author quickly gets over that giving her readers a very satisfying romance.
Mari is kind of a conundrum really. It's not easy to make a female assassin likeable but she's not the sort to go quietly and frankly runs full tilt at every problem she encounters. Yet there's a reticence to her, a softness that few get to see but I thought the author did a really good job in showing the different sides to her when she interacted with those around Heron. No spoilers but a lot of this story is connected to Mari's past and as her memory is shaky at best there's a lot she doesn't know. What she does know though is she's not the only one in danger and she might be the only one who can turn the tables!
I liked that Mari could own her own sexuality unapologetically and applaud the author for that. I will be brutally honest and say I tried reading this three times as I struggled with the couples internal monologues initially but once they left the city wow did this story take off! Who doesn't like a guy like Heron? He's totally smitten and has been for quite some time but I think there's still a lot more to learn about the world these characters are living in. I mentioned that I was perhaps a little bewildered by Mari and her past and have to say there are two revelations at the end that make sense and yet really don't! Proof positive that the author still has a trick or two up her sleeve as I will be thinking about these characters and pondering just what to think for quite some time
This voluntary opinion is of a copy provided for me by Netgalley and these thoughts are my own honest opinion
Once Mari and Heron are on the run its fast paced and full of interesting characters . I'm almost reminded of TVs shows such as Farscape and Firefly in terms of the 'crew' that support Heron but there the similarities end. There's a war coming and unfortunately it looks like it's because of Mari's latest assignment but her partner Heron will go to any lengths to save her . Heron is I suppose you could say genetically modified with absolutely astounding abilities that really helped charge up the romance side of this story! If blunt their initial scenes of ogling each other felt infantile and odd considering how long they have worked together but happily the author quickly gets over that giving her readers a very satisfying romance.
Mari is kind of a conundrum really. It's not easy to make a female assassin likeable but she's not the sort to go quietly and frankly runs full tilt at every problem she encounters. Yet there's a reticence to her, a softness that few get to see but I thought the author did a really good job in showing the different sides to her when she interacted with those around Heron. No spoilers but a lot of this story is connected to Mari's past and as her memory is shaky at best there's a lot she doesn't know. What she does know though is she's not the only one in danger and she might be the only one who can turn the tables!
I liked that Mari could own her own sexuality unapologetically and applaud the author for that. I will be brutally honest and say I tried reading this three times as I struggled with the couples internal monologues initially but once they left the city wow did this story take off! Who doesn't like a guy like Heron? He's totally smitten and has been for quite some time but I think there's still a lot more to learn about the world these characters are living in. I mentioned that I was perhaps a little bewildered by Mari and her past and have to say there are two revelations at the end that make sense and yet really don't! Proof positive that the author still has a trick or two up her sleeve as I will be thinking about these characters and pondering just what to think for quite some time
This voluntary opinion is of a copy provided for me by Netgalley and these thoughts are my own honest opinion
April 12, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I love a book with really interesting world building and WANTED AND WIRED has a really fun semi-dystopian future world with augmented humans existing alongside non augmented humans and even clones. There is definitely a cyber-punk vibe going on with various sorts of implants humans can get to give themselves abilities like night vision, GPS, and even temporarily connect themselves with machinery. I would have been fine with more pages about just how the world worked.
World building aside, the plot was thrilling with Mari being on the run, double crosses, mysterious pasts, and surprising revelations that keep coming. There is also a fun romance at the center which was interesting as it involves an augmented human. The way in which Mari and Heron connect on physically and mentally was pretty cool and unique. Both Mari and Heron have really fun backstories that were unraveled slowly through the hyper fast paced story.
WANTED AND WIRED is more science fiction futuristic romance than anything paranormal. The characters are well developed and compelling. It's a highly imaginative, hyper sci-fi story filled with danger, cool tech, and a unique romance. I am looking forward to seeing more of this world in the future books in this series.
I love a book with really interesting world building and WANTED AND WIRED has a really fun semi-dystopian future world with augmented humans existing alongside non augmented humans and even clones. There is definitely a cyber-punk vibe going on with various sorts of implants humans can get to give themselves abilities like night vision, GPS, and even temporarily connect themselves with machinery. I would have been fine with more pages about just how the world worked.
World building aside, the plot was thrilling with Mari being on the run, double crosses, mysterious pasts, and surprising revelations that keep coming. There is also a fun romance at the center which was interesting as it involves an augmented human. The way in which Mari and Heron connect on physically and mentally was pretty cool and unique. Both Mari and Heron have really fun backstories that were unraveled slowly through the hyper fast paced story.
WANTED AND WIRED is more science fiction futuristic romance than anything paranormal. The characters are well developed and compelling. It's a highly imaginative, hyper sci-fi story filled with danger, cool tech, and a unique romance. I am looking forward to seeing more of this world in the future books in this series.
February 9, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/02/0...
Publisher: Sourccebooks
Publishing Date:
ISBN: 9781492648161
Genre: SciFi
Rating: DNF
Publishers Description: Heron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what’s left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas–sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo.
Review: Oh my fuk this was stoopid. From page one, and every page after is two people lusting after each other in their THOUGHTS and not following through. This has to be the worst experience I have ever had other than Simon Green’s “Mistworld”. What is really frustrating is that the author IS a good writer but really? Every other sentence is copping a feel, looking at her ass, filing away his lust in his cybernetic brain while shunting blood flow from his dick so he has no noticeable boner. From a shower scene where Mari hopes he bangs her cuz she needs the come down sex after an op to bathing in his warm voice. I stopped reading this pretty quickly. Maybe it gets better but I don’t care.
Publisher: Sourccebooks
Publishing Date:
ISBN: 9781492648161
Genre: SciFi
Rating: DNF
Publishers Description: Heron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what’s left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas–sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo.
Review: Oh my fuk this was stoopid. From page one, and every page after is two people lusting after each other in their THOUGHTS and not following through. This has to be the worst experience I have ever had other than Simon Green’s “Mistworld”. What is really frustrating is that the author IS a good writer but really? Every other sentence is copping a feel, looking at her ass, filing away his lust in his cybernetic brain while shunting blood flow from his dick so he has no noticeable boner. From a shower scene where Mari hopes he bangs her cuz she needs the come down sex after an op to bathing in his warm voice. I stopped reading this pretty quickly. Maybe it gets better but I don’t care.
August 13, 2019
An Amazon Best Book of 2017 and Romance Writers of America® RITA® Finalist!
This book deserved every nanobyte of its accolades. Smart and creative sci-fi headlines a book filled characters you care about in a dystopian, somewhat post-apocalyptic world. Some places are technological marvels and others are not. Any political preaching takes a back seat to the romance and action adventure, but conscience, tech ethics and megalomaniacal ambition lurk on the edges. Such a thrill ride. This book was fantastic, and I downloaded the two sequels as soon as I finished book one. The best kind of sci-fi romance is found right here. And you might need a fan for more than your computer processor.
This book deserved every nanobyte of its accolades. Smart and creative sci-fi headlines a book filled characters you care about in a dystopian, somewhat post-apocalyptic world. Some places are technological marvels and others are not. Any political preaching takes a back seat to the romance and action adventure, but conscience, tech ethics and megalomaniacal ambition lurk on the edges. Such a thrill ride. This book was fantastic, and I downloaded the two sequels as soon as I finished book one. The best kind of sci-fi romance is found right here. And you might need a fan for more than your computer processor.
August 14, 2017
Wanted and Wired (Tether #1) by Vivien Jackson
Author: Vivien Jackson
Title: Wanted and Wired
Series: Tether
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
Rogue scientist • technologically enhanced • deliciously attractiveHeron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what's left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas-sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo.Gun for hire • Texan rebel • always hits her markMari has been lusting after her mysterious handler for months. But when a by-the-book hit goes horribly sideways, she and Heron land on the universal most wanted list. Someone set them up. Desperate and on the run, they must trust each other to survive, while hiding devastating secrets. As their explosive chemistry heats up, it's the perfect storm.
Wanted and Wired was a great book and its loaded with a lot of development and building info that kind of interfered with my ability to really enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped to enjoy it. However I think its a great book with a large very expanded world that is very intriguing.
Wanted and Wired falls along the lines of Sci Fi and Urban Fiction genre but it also had a bit of a Steam Punk kind of feel to it as well. So for those of you who enjoy a little bit of that world blend this may be a book you'd like to pick up.
I did like the H&H however they felt a little muted by everything else the author was trying to develop and give life to so it felt as if their personalities and possibilities were more than a little stifled by it all.
It wasn't bad but I felt they definitely could have used more development as they are the ones who should be carrying the reader through the story.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
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Author: Vivien Jackson
Title: Wanted and Wired
Series: Tether
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
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Rogue scientist • technologically enhanced • deliciously attractiveHeron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what's left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas-sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo.Gun for hire • Texan rebel • always hits her markMari has been lusting after her mysterious handler for months. But when a by-the-book hit goes horribly sideways, she and Heron land on the universal most wanted list. Someone set them up. Desperate and on the run, they must trust each other to survive, while hiding devastating secrets. As their explosive chemistry heats up, it's the perfect storm.
Wanted and Wired was a great book and its loaded with a lot of development and building info that kind of interfered with my ability to really enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped to enjoy it. However I think its a great book with a large very expanded world that is very intriguing.
Wanted and Wired falls along the lines of Sci Fi and Urban Fiction genre but it also had a bit of a Steam Punk kind of feel to it as well. So for those of you who enjoy a little bit of that world blend this may be a book you'd like to pick up.
I did like the H&H however they felt a little muted by everything else the author was trying to develop and give life to so it felt as if their personalities and possibilities were more than a little stifled by it all.
It wasn't bad but I felt they definitely could have used more development as they are the ones who should be carrying the reader through the story.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has a QR code for your phone!
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November 14, 2019
Have you ever picked up a book, fallen in love with it, and then became mad at the world because why the heck didn’t anyone tell you how awesome it is? That’s how I feel about this book.
Plot in a Nutshell: an assassin is hired to take out the clone-mech husband of a politician, only to find out she killed the politician’s real husband. The assassin goes on the run with her super hot, super awesome, enhanced partner who can’t want her like she wants him.
This book smolders from page one, you guys. If you don’t like reading steamy romance, then this isn’t for you. But if you DO like it, and you love books that have just as much high-octane plot as it does edge-of-your-seat romance, read this.
The world the author created was pretty intriguing. Most people are technologically enhanced in some way. Our assassin, Mari, is not. In fact, she kind of pushes back against all the enhanced people. Except for her partner, Heron, who has All of the Enhancements.
I loved these two together! Heron had mad tech skills, and it was awesome seeing how he worked, how efficient he could be, how much power he could harness. Mari was a good, strong character too who didn’t sit on the sidelines and let other people solve her problems. She knew she was in deep shit, and she was dealing with it.
This was one of my favorite reads of the year. <3
Plot in a Nutshell: an assassin is hired to take out the clone-mech husband of a politician, only to find out she killed the politician’s real husband. The assassin goes on the run with her super hot, super awesome, enhanced partner who can’t want her like she wants him.
This book smolders from page one, you guys. If you don’t like reading steamy romance, then this isn’t for you. But if you DO like it, and you love books that have just as much high-octane plot as it does edge-of-your-seat romance, read this.
The world the author created was pretty intriguing. Most people are technologically enhanced in some way. Our assassin, Mari, is not. In fact, she kind of pushes back against all the enhanced people. Except for her partner, Heron, who has All of the Enhancements.
I loved these two together! Heron had mad tech skills, and it was awesome seeing how he worked, how efficient he could be, how much power he could harness. Mari was a good, strong character too who didn’t sit on the sidelines and let other people solve her problems. She knew she was in deep shit, and she was dealing with it.
This was one of my favorite reads of the year. <3
April 20, 2017
This book blew me away. I don’t think I’ve read a romance with a cyborg as realistically crafted as Heron in Vivien Jackson’s Wanted and Wired. As a reader, you don’t read this book, you step into the world in all its vivid, techie detail. Fact and fiction, science and pseudo science blend together to become in distinguishable. Everything about Wanted and Wired is wonderful: the character development, the plotting, the world-building, the dialogue, and the sci-fi techie stuff, and the author’s imagination. As I read, I kept wondering what twists were in store for me and where the author would take me next. If you like geeky, but hot, heroes, kickass heroines, and strong tech with your romance, you won’t want to miss this one.
April 2, 2017
Review For: Wanted and Wired
'Wanted and Wired' by Vivien Jackson is book One in the "Tether" series. This is the story of Heron and Mari. Heron and Mari are working as a Team that Heron heads up. It is a uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what's left of humanity. But on one of these assignments something goes wrong and they end up on the run. This sets them up to start working more closely and they end up starting to act on how they have been feeling toward each other. Wanted and Wired is an exciting Sci-fi romance read!*A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection*https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68https:/... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
'Wanted and Wired' by Vivien Jackson is book One in the "Tether" series. This is the story of Heron and Mari. Heron and Mari are working as a Team that Heron heads up. It is a uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what's left of humanity. But on one of these assignments something goes wrong and they end up on the run. This sets them up to start working more closely and they end up starting to act on how they have been feeling toward each other. Wanted and Wired is an exciting Sci-fi romance read!*A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection*https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68https:/... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
July 21, 2019
This had a lot of interesting ideas, and I would like to read more science fiction focused romance, but sadly the book didn't deliver what I was hoping for. I didn't like the narrator of the audiobook either which made me like it even less.
April 6, 2018
I loved this book so hard! It has everything: smart takes on technology and the near future, a hot hero with raging passion and perfect control, a kickass heorine who keeps going despite her wounds. I immediately bought the sequel, read one page, and am hooked.
dnf-set-aside-for-later
March 30, 2017I spotted this one and was gung-ho ready to go when I saw it was a dystopian-futuristic-sci-fi romance by a new to me author. It looked exciting with the two main characters on the run after they are set up while out on a job. She's a paid assassin and he's her handler. She's fully human and he's enhanced. The future is not a bright world, but one holding on by a fingernail. Yes, I was very excited for this one.
I ended up DNF-ing at 26%.
The bottom line is that it was not grabbing me. This may seem odd to say since the opening scene was the heroine, Mari, out on a hit job with things going south and then the ensuing effort by the government and other entities to pursue and catch her and her handler, Heron. And, since it was all a set up and the cops and the government knew exactly who pulled the trigger even before she actually pulled it.
But yes, I distractedly read through six chapters barely noticing that Mari and Heron were on the run. There was a distance from the action and the intensity of the chase was absent even between the pair of main characters. They could have been out for a drive in the park the way they responded to the situation. And beyond that, there was all the futuristic tech language, her not so believable tough gal-ness, and the pair of main characters doing a lot of internal monologuing and unrequited lusting for each other.
I also started having early issues with the heroine. Full disclosure here, I'm on a bit of a short fuse with heroines lying and keeping secrets particularly in dangerous situations that also happen to involve others because I have seriously had a string of these lately. So in chapter one when she keeps a secret from her handler and lies about it also ignoring when he said something was really wrong about this job and they should abort and her disregarding this thus putting them on the run, I was not impressed with said heroine. Then to have her guiltily mull over this for several chapters straight in long monologues of thought? Nope!
On the flip side, I will say that there was some pretty cool futuristic elements and setting here. And the conspiracy- set up issue does have me curious. I love the idea of the partners on the run situation.
But, in the end, I didn't feel like skimming or skipping to see if there is a point where the story jumps off and roars into vivid life. I'm also not sure a more exciting and intense fast-action plot would be enough to change my mind about Mari. So, do consult a few more reviews to see if maybe its just a slow starter and builds to some great future-dystopian romance action.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
I ended up DNF-ing at 26%.
The bottom line is that it was not grabbing me. This may seem odd to say since the opening scene was the heroine, Mari, out on a hit job with things going south and then the ensuing effort by the government and other entities to pursue and catch her and her handler, Heron. And, since it was all a set up and the cops and the government knew exactly who pulled the trigger even before she actually pulled it.
But yes, I distractedly read through six chapters barely noticing that Mari and Heron were on the run. There was a distance from the action and the intensity of the chase was absent even between the pair of main characters. They could have been out for a drive in the park the way they responded to the situation. And beyond that, there was all the futuristic tech language, her not so believable tough gal-ness, and the pair of main characters doing a lot of internal monologuing and unrequited lusting for each other.
I also started having early issues with the heroine. Full disclosure here, I'm on a bit of a short fuse with heroines lying and keeping secrets particularly in dangerous situations that also happen to involve others because I have seriously had a string of these lately. So in chapter one when she keeps a secret from her handler and lies about it also ignoring when he said something was really wrong about this job and they should abort and her disregarding this thus putting them on the run, I was not impressed with said heroine. Then to have her guiltily mull over this for several chapters straight in long monologues of thought? Nope!
On the flip side, I will say that there was some pretty cool futuristic elements and setting here. And the conspiracy- set up issue does have me curious. I love the idea of the partners on the run situation.
But, in the end, I didn't feel like skimming or skipping to see if there is a point where the story jumps off and roars into vivid life. I'm also not sure a more exciting and intense fast-action plot would be enough to change my mind about Mari. So, do consult a few more reviews to see if maybe its just a slow starter and builds to some great future-dystopian romance action.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2019
I had fair warning before ever starting this, so I was not surprised by the foul language. This was supposed to be a group read for the Summer romance book bingo, but most people ended up abandoning it before I ever started on it. I don't know if it was just curiosity or if I'm just a glutton for punishment, but I decided to proceed with it since it is on the Audible Escape package. I ended up speeding through it on faster than 2.0 speed in order to finish it for the group-read time frame.
There may be a decent story line in there somewhere because the premise sounds unique and interesting. And since I went through it quickly, I would, in some circumstances, go back and listen more carefully in order to get the full story. However in this case, the foul language and the constant angsty lust of the main characters were too distracting for me to attempt this again. I want likable characters in books and I had no respect for these two. The sex scenes were not passionate or sexy, just crass and pornographic (in my opinion). I definitely will not read more from this series or author (unless of course she has a come-to-Jesus meeting)! :)
There may be a decent story line in there somewhere because the premise sounds unique and interesting. And since I went through it quickly, I would, in some circumstances, go back and listen more carefully in order to get the full story. However in this case, the foul language and the constant angsty lust of the main characters were too distracting for me to attempt this again. I want likable characters in books and I had no respect for these two. The sex scenes were not passionate or sexy, just crass and pornographic (in my opinion). I definitely will not read more from this series or author (unless of course she has a come-to-Jesus meeting)! :)
July 22, 2019
Well, Wanted and Wired is a two and a half stars, not so much my cup of tea. Maybe it is because I don't read so science-fiction. I picked up this e-book because of a summer challenge; it is the July read-along of the challenge.
Wanted and Wired takes our obsession with technological advancements to the nth degree while exploring ideas about how the human heart survives when the head has gone to the machines. Add in a dash of post-apocalyptic dreariness and the final product is a confusing and slightly dry story.
Wanted and Wired takes our obsession with technological advancements to the nth degree while exploring ideas about how the human heart survives when the head has gone to the machines. Add in a dash of post-apocalyptic dreariness and the final product is a confusing and slightly dry story.
September 30, 2017
Plot: 3/5
Characterisation: 2.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5
Too much information (technical jargon), not enough explanation on how the world works. Doesn't matter if the characters are more machine than human, it doesn't excuse the one-dimensional characters.
Characterisation: 2.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5
Too much information (technical jargon), not enough explanation on how the world works. Doesn't matter if the characters are more machine than human, it doesn't excuse the one-dimensional characters.
April 12, 2017
This book is way more science-fictiony than what I expected from the blurb or the book cover. We’re talking futuristic earth, clones, space station, and hi-tech human alterations. When merged with two amazing characters that have a connection that is deeper than either of them imagined, you get non-stop, top-fuel action and heat from page 1 to page done.
Mari is flirty and has always had a thing for her partner Heron. She is the wit in Wanted & Wired, smart-mouthed, tough, and resilient. And engaged in an occupation that is not always 100% legitimate. Mari’s partner, Heron, brings the geekiness to the scene and maybe a little sophistication. Plus his own deep-running regard for Mari. These are two very different people who have become partners and, consequently, end up in an ontherun situation.
See how I made up that word – ontherun. Mari does that a lot (well, maybe it is the author, but the words pop up while Mari is in charge of the storyline). Words like pinchedlipsdrawntotheside and howcouldihavesiredandidiot. Why use a fancy word when appending several plain words will due. This is Mari.
Heron, is wired, or ‘post-human’. His brain has been altered to run super fast, super efficiently, and can handle almost unlimited multi-tasking, calculating, planning and projecting. He easily connects to other systems or the ‘cloud’. He is the epitome of the 21st century techno-geek dream. Eat your heart out Elon Musk. Heron is not all zeros and ones though. He is “the gentle guardian angel who made a living out of pillowing her [Mari’s] wild-hare crazy.” In this futuristic vision of human augmentation, the results are mixed, but Heron is the best-case scenario.
That is not to say that he is not flawed in a way that makes him vulnerable. It is this vulnerability that will further complicate the lives of Mari and Heron as they attempt to evade the authorities.
The physical relationship between Mari and the post-human Heron is really quite fascinating. Heron’s technology puts a new spin on sex scenes that takes them to a whole new dimension. Traditional sex comes off as very creative when you add a bit of technology. And get your mind out of the gutter – not that kind of technology. On the other hand, the sex is pretty electric, so maybe the gutter isn’t completely inappropriate!
These two characters, Mari and Heron, make the story. But there are several other aspects that fill in a lot more color. Different settings, and creative use of color and of language stand out and give Mari and Heron a solid backdrop.
Part of the action takes place on a space station that is tethered to the earth. Another part takes place in an arcology that becomes a refuge for our wanted heroine and hero. But most interesting may be that Wanted & Wired takes place at some time in the future when Texas has seceded from the United States, for reasons not made clear in the story. The Texas Provisional Authority and the United North American Nations are the two governments that play roles in the story.
There is an orange silk dress. Orange is not a color that is often used to describe fashion in fiction. I know. It is my favorite color and I am aware there is a dearth of orange in fiction. Its presence in the story makes its own statement, which I can’t get into without a bit of a spoiler. But I loved it. The orange on the cover may be what drew me to this book on the NetGalley site.
There are some very cool uses of words that just made me stop and highlight on my tablet. Some I understood, a few others I looked up. For instance – ‘crisscross-applesauce’, which I take to mean sitting cross-legged. How about ‘all hat, no cattle’, ‘on the pull’, ‘haired out’ and ‘gophernuts’. Are these Texas idioms? Ms. Jackson is from that great state. But my favorite new word is petrichor – which refers to the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. I love that smell and now I know what to call it.
I would describe Wanted & Wired as relentless action with non-stop geekiness, a few scorching love scenes and a heroine and hero with fierce intents and emotions. Wanted & Wired is book 1 of what appears to be an new series with plenty of potential. Wanted & Wired gets 5 stars.
NetGalley provided a copy of this book so that I could bring you this unbiased review.
Originally posted at Whiskey With My Book.
Mari is flirty and has always had a thing for her partner Heron. She is the wit in Wanted & Wired, smart-mouthed, tough, and resilient. And engaged in an occupation that is not always 100% legitimate. Mari’s partner, Heron, brings the geekiness to the scene and maybe a little sophistication. Plus his own deep-running regard for Mari. These are two very different people who have become partners and, consequently, end up in an ontherun situation.
See how I made up that word – ontherun. Mari does that a lot (well, maybe it is the author, but the words pop up while Mari is in charge of the storyline). Words like pinchedlipsdrawntotheside and howcouldihavesiredandidiot. Why use a fancy word when appending several plain words will due. This is Mari.
Heron, is wired, or ‘post-human’. His brain has been altered to run super fast, super efficiently, and can handle almost unlimited multi-tasking, calculating, planning and projecting. He easily connects to other systems or the ‘cloud’. He is the epitome of the 21st century techno-geek dream. Eat your heart out Elon Musk. Heron is not all zeros and ones though. He is “the gentle guardian angel who made a living out of pillowing her [Mari’s] wild-hare crazy.” In this futuristic vision of human augmentation, the results are mixed, but Heron is the best-case scenario.
That is not to say that he is not flawed in a way that makes him vulnerable. It is this vulnerability that will further complicate the lives of Mari and Heron as they attempt to evade the authorities.
The physical relationship between Mari and the post-human Heron is really quite fascinating. Heron’s technology puts a new spin on sex scenes that takes them to a whole new dimension. Traditional sex comes off as very creative when you add a bit of technology. And get your mind out of the gutter – not that kind of technology. On the other hand, the sex is pretty electric, so maybe the gutter isn’t completely inappropriate!
These two characters, Mari and Heron, make the story. But there are several other aspects that fill in a lot more color. Different settings, and creative use of color and of language stand out and give Mari and Heron a solid backdrop.
Part of the action takes place on a space station that is tethered to the earth. Another part takes place in an arcology that becomes a refuge for our wanted heroine and hero. But most interesting may be that Wanted & Wired takes place at some time in the future when Texas has seceded from the United States, for reasons not made clear in the story. The Texas Provisional Authority and the United North American Nations are the two governments that play roles in the story.
There is an orange silk dress. Orange is not a color that is often used to describe fashion in fiction. I know. It is my favorite color and I am aware there is a dearth of orange in fiction. Its presence in the story makes its own statement, which I can’t get into without a bit of a spoiler. But I loved it. The orange on the cover may be what drew me to this book on the NetGalley site.
There are some very cool uses of words that just made me stop and highlight on my tablet. Some I understood, a few others I looked up. For instance – ‘crisscross-applesauce’, which I take to mean sitting cross-legged. How about ‘all hat, no cattle’, ‘on the pull’, ‘haired out’ and ‘gophernuts’. Are these Texas idioms? Ms. Jackson is from that great state. But my favorite new word is petrichor – which refers to the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. I love that smell and now I know what to call it.
I would describe Wanted & Wired as relentless action with non-stop geekiness, a few scorching love scenes and a heroine and hero with fierce intents and emotions. Wanted & Wired is book 1 of what appears to be an new series with plenty of potential. Wanted & Wired gets 5 stars.
NetGalley provided a copy of this book so that I could bring you this unbiased review.
Originally posted at Whiskey With My Book.
April 4, 2017
Review coming soon
October 24, 2017
I'm very hard to please when it comes to finding a great science fiction romance story, but this book was PHENOMENAL! The writing was sharp, witty, fresh, imaginative and often emotional, and shot-through with many brilliant turns of phrase. The characters were unique--some of them VERY unique as only a great SFR can deliver--and the technology was awe-inspiring. Nothing was predictable and as the story unfolded, the world around these characters just kept getting bigger, more awesome and more tangled.
I won't spell out the entire plot here, because I want to leave that for other readers to discover. What I will say is the romance is a slow burn and the relationship that takes time to build on many different levels. The sparks between Mari and Heron are definitely there--and have been since before the story opened--but these two complex characters need to work through a lot of emotional red tape before they can give in to their cravings. They have deep-seated misconceptions and misunderstandings that need to be overcome before they can build genuine trust. When they finally do, the depth of the bond they share, along with some pretty high-energy lust, results in love scenes that are dreamy, lush, intense and often surprising.
But as much as I loved the sci-fi elements, this story will also satisfy the hardline paranormal romance readers, because some of the tech clearly takes bold steps into the paranormal realm, while still remaining bonafide science fiction.
I also want to comment on the prose, because it's wonderfully crafted, beautifully edited and completely seamless. No stumbling over misspelled or missing words. It was as close to technically perfect as I've seen, and that's important to me as a reader. In today's market, where even professionally edited books are fraught with errors, it was wonderful to fully immerse in the reading experience without tripping and stumbling along.
I also enjoyed the glimpse into the next story in the series and I'll be waiting to snap it up. Future Vivien Jackson books are now an auto-buy for me.
I won't spell out the entire plot here, because I want to leave that for other readers to discover. What I will say is the romance is a slow burn and the relationship that takes time to build on many different levels. The sparks between Mari and Heron are definitely there--and have been since before the story opened--but these two complex characters need to work through a lot of emotional red tape before they can give in to their cravings. They have deep-seated misconceptions and misunderstandings that need to be overcome before they can build genuine trust. When they finally do, the depth of the bond they share, along with some pretty high-energy lust, results in love scenes that are dreamy, lush, intense and often surprising.
But as much as I loved the sci-fi elements, this story will also satisfy the hardline paranormal romance readers, because some of the tech clearly takes bold steps into the paranormal realm, while still remaining bonafide science fiction.
I also want to comment on the prose, because it's wonderfully crafted, beautifully edited and completely seamless. No stumbling over misspelled or missing words. It was as close to technically perfect as I've seen, and that's important to me as a reader. In today's market, where even professionally edited books are fraught with errors, it was wonderful to fully immerse in the reading experience without tripping and stumbling along.
I also enjoyed the glimpse into the next story in the series and I'll be waiting to snap it up. Future Vivien Jackson books are now an auto-buy for me.
January 2, 2018
This was an enjoyable read but felt a bit out of balance.
It starts out with a hit gone wrong and Mari and Heron on the run. While on the run they suddenly feel the need to give in to the lust they feel for each other. Now I absolutely have nothing against romance, but I seriously hate it when people who are in danger start making out instead of waiting with their make out session until they're safe.
Still the story was entertaining enough to stick with it. I really liked the writing and a lot of the characters.
Then the story took a turn that didn't work for me. It felt like the romance climax came much too soon and then there was a lot of extra story still left. I'd have liked the story better if the romance had been stretched out until the end instead of getting resolved long before the action storyline.
I might still try the next book in this series though, as I liked the world, and the hero of the next book was introduced in this one and I liked him.
It starts out with a hit gone wrong and Mari and Heron on the run. While on the run they suddenly feel the need to give in to the lust they feel for each other. Now I absolutely have nothing against romance, but I seriously hate it when people who are in danger start making out instead of waiting with their make out session until they're safe.
Still the story was entertaining enough to stick with it. I really liked the writing and a lot of the characters.
Then the story took a turn that didn't work for me. It felt like the romance climax came much too soon and then there was a lot of extra story still left. I'd have liked the story better if the romance had been stretched out until the end instead of getting resolved long before the action storyline.
I might still try the next book in this series though, as I liked the world, and the hero of the next book was introduced in this one and I liked him.
September 16, 2018
Wanted & Wired was a revelation! It's an incredible sci-fi romance. SO MUCH YEARNING but also funny and clever. Heron is easily one of the sexiest heroes who is also part robot. (That might be too simplistic of an explanation but he's human who also had technology implanted, which ultimately saved his life.) His fingers have sense tips, which give him data but also adjust to give Mari the ultimate pleasure. Those scenes were sexy as hell! The characters' voices were so distinct, particularly Mari's voice. I loved what a badass she was but also how she was loyal and fiercely protected those she loves. There was a game-changing twist I never saw coming, which upended my whole reading experience in the best way. I'm super impressed with Vivien Jackson and can't wait to read the next book.
May 30, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the review copy!
I think the hardest part for me to get into Wanted and Wired was the world and plot. I hate to admit it, but I was actually pretty confused with the intricacies of the extremely technologically-inclined world that the author builds. There's equal parts plot and romance, but what parts of the plot I read, I kind of sped by to get to more of the romance. The biggest part lay in the details, which Jackson expounds on to write an intricate setting. While as a reader, I really appreciated this writing, I also personally found it cumbersome at times just because a lot of new concepts, terminology, and technology made it a slower read than what I first set out to have it as.
From the beginning, readers are thrown into a convoluted plot where the two main characters are caught up in. Suddenly, a job has gone wrong and Mari finds herself on the run with Heron, who is her partner in crime and who she's been lusting for for a while now. This fugitive plot makes for a great development in romantic relationships, as well as character introspection as well as Mari and Heron both come to accept themselves, as much as they do the other. Heron, despite his rather meh name, was a pretty cool male lead. He seemed actually quite passive, put side by side with the Alpha males out there in the Urban Fantasy genre. However, he's still super skilled and tough - especially dealing with the people he loves. There's a push-and-pull element to the two characters as Heron doesn't think he deserves Mari, being a technologically enhanced man, and Mari doesn't think that Heron is into her. It gets pretty heated up, but it was hard to really get into the book because of the cumbersome world the author set up.
“‘No, it is real. And you are. You’re the realest thing in my whole world. And the best.’”
I think the romance itself was pretty well-done, I just thought perhaps the world could have been either dimmed down a bit in terms of detail and terminology, or presented a bigger part of the plot if the author made it that big of a deal. That part really dragged for me when reading, and the whole time I was really just looking towards the parts with the main characters and their relationship development. That sucks, mostly because I usually adore scifi settings and plot! This one just didn't stick with me, however. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series, but it was overall rather fun and entertaining, if not a bit forgettable with all the cumbersome details.
I think the hardest part for me to get into Wanted and Wired was the world and plot. I hate to admit it, but I was actually pretty confused with the intricacies of the extremely technologically-inclined world that the author builds. There's equal parts plot and romance, but what parts of the plot I read, I kind of sped by to get to more of the romance. The biggest part lay in the details, which Jackson expounds on to write an intricate setting. While as a reader, I really appreciated this writing, I also personally found it cumbersome at times just because a lot of new concepts, terminology, and technology made it a slower read than what I first set out to have it as.
From the beginning, readers are thrown into a convoluted plot where the two main characters are caught up in. Suddenly, a job has gone wrong and Mari finds herself on the run with Heron, who is her partner in crime and who she's been lusting for for a while now. This fugitive plot makes for a great development in romantic relationships, as well as character introspection as well as Mari and Heron both come to accept themselves, as much as they do the other. Heron, despite his rather meh name, was a pretty cool male lead. He seemed actually quite passive, put side by side with the Alpha males out there in the Urban Fantasy genre. However, he's still super skilled and tough - especially dealing with the people he loves. There's a push-and-pull element to the two characters as Heron doesn't think he deserves Mari, being a technologically enhanced man, and Mari doesn't think that Heron is into her. It gets pretty heated up, but it was hard to really get into the book because of the cumbersome world the author set up.
“‘No, it is real. And you are. You’re the realest thing in my whole world. And the best.’”
I think the romance itself was pretty well-done, I just thought perhaps the world could have been either dimmed down a bit in terms of detail and terminology, or presented a bigger part of the plot if the author made it that big of a deal. That part really dragged for me when reading, and the whole time I was really just looking towards the parts with the main characters and their relationship development. That sucks, mostly because I usually adore scifi settings and plot! This one just didn't stick with me, however. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series, but it was overall rather fun and entertaining, if not a bit forgettable with all the cumbersome details.
April 7, 2017
Wanted & Wired by Vivien Jackson is the first book in her new sci-Fi Tether series. I enjoy reading some sci-fi with a fantasy element, but I do tend to enjoy straight fantasy more. I had mixed feelings about Wanted & Wired. This had a lot of possibilities, a good story line, and some really interesting and likeable characters. I also thought Jackson’s writing was very good.
Mari is a tough heroine, who is also a crack shot who never misses. She partners with our hero, Heron, who is human and part droid (technically advanced). When things go wrong on an assignment, Heron uses his technical ability to be one step ahead of those trying to catch them. During this adventure, we meet many people who are technically enhanced or complete droids. The key to the story is to find out who betrayed them in the assignment, as well as to keep Mari safe from those who want her killed.
My mixed feelings: The story was very technical, which was either a bit redundant or confusing for me. Though I like my fantasy and sci-fi, I do not like too much technical terms which takes me out of the story. I also thought the constant sexual innuendos, and situations seemed to be constant. Wherever, whenever, whoever was around, it was all about their lust for each other. I like my books to be story oriented, with the sexual chemistry and situations part of the story.
I did think that Heron and Mari were very good heroes, if we had the time to learn about them; as well as some of the secondary characters that were well done, such as Chloe, Kellen, Adele, just to name a few. If you enjoy Sci-Fi with advanced humans or droids, and a heavily sexual story then Wanted & Wired would be a good read.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Mari is a tough heroine, who is also a crack shot who never misses. She partners with our hero, Heron, who is human and part droid (technically advanced). When things go wrong on an assignment, Heron uses his technical ability to be one step ahead of those trying to catch them. During this adventure, we meet many people who are technically enhanced or complete droids. The key to the story is to find out who betrayed them in the assignment, as well as to keep Mari safe from those who want her killed.
My mixed feelings: The story was very technical, which was either a bit redundant or confusing for me. Though I like my fantasy and sci-fi, I do not like too much technical terms which takes me out of the story. I also thought the constant sexual innuendos, and situations seemed to be constant. Wherever, whenever, whoever was around, it was all about their lust for each other. I like my books to be story oriented, with the sexual chemistry and situations part of the story.
I did think that Heron and Mari were very good heroes, if we had the time to learn about them; as well as some of the secondary characters that were well done, such as Chloe, Kellen, Adele, just to name a few. If you enjoy Sci-Fi with advanced humans or droids, and a heavily sexual story then Wanted & Wired would be a good read.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
April 5, 2017
3.5
Vivien Jackson has the ability to paint a world where everything has fallen apart. From the landscape to the people everything is written with a unique style all to her own. The story while focus a little too much on there lead characters inner thoughts the landscape around the two leads will keep reader connected.
Wanted and Wired is more focused on the technologically enhanced people.
This story drags on while the two leads lust after each other bring the face pace story to a snails pace. After a while readers will yell get it on already. Creating a friendship into romance works when you are not reading each characters inner thoughts and listening to their endless thoughts or lack of blood flow. A reason why the book isn't a 4. I will read the next in the series to see where the story is going.
There is an over the top eye rolling moment and when you read it you will know why. (Mari )
Advance Copy from Netgalley for my thoughts
Vivien Jackson has the ability to paint a world where everything has fallen apart. From the landscape to the people everything is written with a unique style all to her own. The story while focus a little too much on there lead characters inner thoughts the landscape around the two leads will keep reader connected.
Wanted and Wired is more focused on the technologically enhanced people.
This story drags on while the two leads lust after each other bring the face pace story to a snails pace. After a while readers will yell get it on already. Creating a friendship into romance works when you are not reading each characters inner thoughts and listening to their endless thoughts or lack of blood flow. A reason why the book isn't a 4. I will read the next in the series to see where the story is going.
There is an over the top eye rolling moment and when you read it you will know why. (Mari )
Advance Copy from Netgalley for my thoughts
June 23, 2017
Unique World Building
Rating R
Genre Urban Fantasy
Sub Genre Science Fiction
Sexuality M/F
Violence: PG 13
Audience: Definitely 18+ for Hot sexual situations.
Pros: Jackson has unique world building in a dystopian world of a fractured USA. She has likable characters. She has great banter and I did feel the connection between the characters.
Cons: I book felt too rushed. As a reader despite the banter amongst the characters I felt I was missing a backstory or a previous book. I think the book would have worked better with flashbacks more than there were. The book left the how and why to questions unresolved. I honestly felt this should have been book three or four of a series, not the first book.
Rating R
Genre Urban Fantasy
Sub Genre Science Fiction
Sexuality M/F
Violence: PG 13
Audience: Definitely 18+ for Hot sexual situations.
Pros: Jackson has unique world building in a dystopian world of a fractured USA. She has likable characters. She has great banter and I did feel the connection between the characters.
Cons: I book felt too rushed. As a reader despite the banter amongst the characters I felt I was missing a backstory or a previous book. I think the book would have worked better with flashbacks more than there were. The book left the how and why to questions unresolved. I honestly felt this should have been book three or four of a series, not the first book.
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