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Martha Covington #2
Kiss of the Sun
In a haunting novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Girl in the Maze a gifted young woman battles her own mind . . . and finds that some voices will never be silenced.
Following her diagnosis as a schizophrenic, Martha Covington has been easing herself back into her quiet life on a small island off the Georgia coast. The trouble is, Martha’s research into local healing roots has earned her an unfounded, and frankly unwelcome, reputation as a psychic. But when an elderly couple from Atlanta tracks her down, desperate for any sign of their missing grandson, Peavy, Martha confronts a terrifying that the line between intuition and insanity may not be as clear as she’d like to believe.
First comes a spine-tingling vision that feels too real to be imagined. Then Martha receives a message in her dreams that the boy may yet be alive. Despite her therapist’s insistence that it’s all in her head, Martha travels to Atlanta to investigate Peavy’s mysterious disappearance, where she is reunited with handsome law student Jarrell Humphries. A trail of cryptic clues leads the pair deep into a heart of a dangerous conspiracy whose members will stop at nothing—including murder—to protect their secrets.
Following her diagnosis as a schizophrenic, Martha Covington has been easing herself back into her quiet life on a small island off the Georgia coast. The trouble is, Martha’s research into local healing roots has earned her an unfounded, and frankly unwelcome, reputation as a psychic. But when an elderly couple from Atlanta tracks her down, desperate for any sign of their missing grandson, Peavy, Martha confronts a terrifying that the line between intuition and insanity may not be as clear as she’d like to believe.
First comes a spine-tingling vision that feels too real to be imagined. Then Martha receives a message in her dreams that the boy may yet be alive. Despite her therapist’s insistence that it’s all in her head, Martha travels to Atlanta to investigate Peavy’s mysterious disappearance, where she is reunited with handsome law student Jarrell Humphries. A trail of cryptic clues leads the pair deep into a heart of a dangerous conspiracy whose members will stop at nothing—including murder—to protect their secrets.
- GenresFiction
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2016
43 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
R.K. Jackson
3 books55 followersR.K. Jackson is an award-winning science writer and editor at NASA, and previously worked as a senior editor at CNN, where he helped launch the network's Internet presence. He has attended the Advanced Novel Writing Workshop at UCLA as well as the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Workshop.
Jackson’s USA Today-bestselling thriller THE GIRL IN THE MAZE has been praised as “A twisty Southern gothic thriller with echoes of Tana French” (L.A. Times bestselling author Dianne Emley), “A terrific mystery” (The Book Lover’s Friend), and “A fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps you engaged from beginning to end” (Reading Femme).
Two of his plays have been staged professionally, and his short story, "All the Devils," was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock-themed issue of Penumbra Magazine. He recently co-produced the "Eyes on the Earth" and "Eyes on Exoplanets" exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
A Georgia native with roots in the state's coastal low country, he now lives with his family in California's Los Padres National Forest. His second Martha Covington thriller, KISS OF THE SUN, will be released Sept. 20, 2016, from Random House Alibi.
Jackson’s USA Today-bestselling thriller THE GIRL IN THE MAZE has been praised as “A twisty Southern gothic thriller with echoes of Tana French” (L.A. Times bestselling author Dianne Emley), “A terrific mystery” (The Book Lover’s Friend), and “A fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps you engaged from beginning to end” (Reading Femme).
Two of his plays have been staged professionally, and his short story, "All the Devils," was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock-themed issue of Penumbra Magazine. He recently co-produced the "Eyes on the Earth" and "Eyes on Exoplanets" exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
A Georgia native with roots in the state's coastal low country, he now lives with his family in California's Los Padres National Forest. His second Martha Covington thriller, KISS OF THE SUN, will be released Sept. 20, 2016, from Random House Alibi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 3, 2019
The girl in the maze I gave 3* to. It’s the same for this.
Reading so many books as I do, the standard has got higher for authors to achieve at least getting on level par with others in this genre.
It just didn’t rock my boat. But I did find it OK
Reading so many books as I do, the standard has got higher for authors to achieve at least getting on level par with others in this genre.
It just didn’t rock my boat. But I did find it OK
February 7, 2017
This is a follow-up to THE GIRL IN A MAZE featuring Martha Covington. Martha is a schizophrenic, but as long as she takes her medications, the voices in her head are silent. She's living in a small island off the Georgia coast, researching and writing a book. Her research has given her a reputation of being psychic.
An elderly couple reaches out to her for help in locating their grandson, who has been missing for 6 years. They have brought things that belonged to him and upon handling them, Martha has a vision. She then receives a dream message .. the boy might still be alive.
When she decides to at least look at the area where the boy went missing, she is reunited with Jarrell Humphries, a law student.
Their reunion leads them into a whirlwind of conspiracy, dark secrets, and people who will stop at nothing to achieve what they want.
And what, exactly, is it that they want?
I will confess. I was not overly excited reading THE GIRL IN A MAZE. KISS OF THE SUN is so much better. The character of Martha has grown exponentially. She is a much more interesting and engaging character now. I do like the author's writing, his description of living on a small island is charming.
The story premise is a good one. Action is fast paced, suspension builds. There are many surprises and twists and turns along the way that keeps the eye on every page.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Alibi / Netgalley for the uncorrected ebook. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
An elderly couple reaches out to her for help in locating their grandson, who has been missing for 6 years. They have brought things that belonged to him and upon handling them, Martha has a vision. She then receives a dream message .. the boy might still be alive.
When she decides to at least look at the area where the boy went missing, she is reunited with Jarrell Humphries, a law student.
Their reunion leads them into a whirlwind of conspiracy, dark secrets, and people who will stop at nothing to achieve what they want.
And what, exactly, is it that they want?
I will confess. I was not overly excited reading THE GIRL IN A MAZE. KISS OF THE SUN is so much better. The character of Martha has grown exponentially. She is a much more interesting and engaging character now. I do like the author's writing, his description of living on a small island is charming.
The story premise is a good one. Action is fast paced, suspension builds. There are many surprises and twists and turns along the way that keeps the eye on every page.
Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Alibi / Netgalley for the uncorrected ebook. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 18, 2016
Martha Covington is back and still hearing voices and seeing her visions. When asked to help find the missing grandson of an elderly couple she travels to Atlanta against her therapist’s advice and there she becomes involved with Jarrell and he helps her search for the missing boy. They uncover more than they had expected and the story takes off. This story did not disappoint and read as good as the first “The Girl in the Maze”. Just when you think you may know what is actually happenings it takes a turn. Surprise ending. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
September 20, 2016
A special thank you to Random House/ Alibi and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Following R. K. Jackson's debut, THE GIRL IN THE MAZE, (Martha Covington #1) a psycho-thriller of dark secrets in the small historic Georgian coastal town—with a mix of southern Gothic, evil, paranormal, intrigue, history, culture, and suspense . . . with the second installment in the series, KISS OF THE SUN.
Martha Covington returns and this time around, she is approached by an elderly couple for help finding their missing grandson which may be alive. She has no clue what she is stepping into.
From the first book, Martha has been diagnosed and institutionalized for schizophrenia. She hears voices—she is damaged goods. However, she wants to move on and try and get back to some sense of normal. Is she ready to join society?
She is enjoying her quiet life on the small Georgia coast with her Geechee neighbors, the direct descendants of slaves who had settled the island and formed an isolated community after the Civil War.
She had a deadline. However, she sees an elderly African American couple behind the screen door. They looked like characters from a 1940 vintage photograph in their Sunday best. A hallucination? She is always second guessing herself.
The couple turned out to be real and they were not from the island. Clarence and Martha, a nice couple who came from Palmetto—south of Atlanta and took the ferry over. They had heard about her practice. Of course, Martha was far removed from technology and did not advertise her services.
She explained she only does this sort of the as a hobby and a research project, after receiving a grant from the Georgia Council for Cultural Studies to write a book about the folk traditions of the Geechees. She was not a real root worker. Of course they had heard differently. She stressed she did not find missing people.
They have already been to the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Their grandson Peavy –had been missing for a number of years. A cold case. They had previously lived on St. Helena Island and had a root doctor, but he had passed. The police were of no help and she was the last resort. They even brought photos and other mementos from the boy, in a shoebox.
They had raised the boy. They had not seen him in six years. Someone was supposed to be watching him and he went out back to play baseball at a nearby park with a friend.. The only witness to what happened that evening was Peavy’s friend Jerome.
He had said the sun was going down and they were about to walk home when a car came through. The boy said it was a Buick sedan across from the park. They knew him by name. Peavy handed Jerome the baseball (which they have with them—making Martha shudder), and told him to wait. A white couple, maybe European with a funny accent. It was getting dark and Jerome decided to walk home and catch up with him later. A foreign couple. Peavy was not one to keep secrets. His mother was wild, but Peavy was different. He did well in school and wanted to become a professional baseball player.
Martha looked through the papers, and felt a chill—something familiar. The detective’s reaction to the case was odd they said. They seemed to not be trying very hard. The couple said they had heard she sees shadows of the past and they want to pay her. She is their last resort. She picked up the items and has a strange feeling.
Could she go to Atlanta? She will tell her therapist, Goodwin. She of course did not tell the couple about her illness. Her therapist does not like it. She already says that studying the mystical practices of an ancient, superstitious people is already a risk for her. She has to maintain firm boundaries between what’s read and what isn’t. She does not want her thinking she is some sort of psychic detective.
However, she knows she is compassionate. She feels she has to do it. Her therapist reiterates many people in her condition end up homeless or institutionalized. The island and its residents, the community support she currently receives have enabled her to do creative work.
Of course Martha dreams that the boy is closer than she thinks. She decides she will go to Atlanta, ignoring the warning from her therapist. A small act of rebellion. She will seek the help from Jarrell Humphries- they guy she met on Shell Heap Island. . . the now law student.
A trail of cryptic clues lead the two deep into a dangerous conspiracy whose members will stop at nothing—including murder—to protect their secrets. From investigations, bloodshed, the Organization, and the UNICOM murders.
A character-driven series of a young woman’s struggle to develop her journalism career while fighting the demons of mental illness—at the same time the setting on the Georgia coast also adds to the mystery.
The author definitely places his protagonist in compromising situations. Dr. Goodwin has to come through again to keep her out of trouble. I believe I liked the first book more than the second; enjoying the people, culture, and history- on the island. I found the first part of the book quite intriguing; however, the last half gets a little heavy; however, still filled with suspense.
For those fans who enjoy Southern Gothic and psychological suspense mixed with madness, research, history, and Southern culture.
JDCMustReadBooks
Following R. K. Jackson's debut, THE GIRL IN THE MAZE, (Martha Covington #1) a psycho-thriller of dark secrets in the small historic Georgian coastal town—with a mix of southern Gothic, evil, paranormal, intrigue, history, culture, and suspense . . . with the second installment in the series, KISS OF THE SUN.
Martha Covington returns and this time around, she is approached by an elderly couple for help finding their missing grandson which may be alive. She has no clue what she is stepping into.
From the first book, Martha has been diagnosed and institutionalized for schizophrenia. She hears voices—she is damaged goods. However, she wants to move on and try and get back to some sense of normal. Is she ready to join society?
She is enjoying her quiet life on the small Georgia coast with her Geechee neighbors, the direct descendants of slaves who had settled the island and formed an isolated community after the Civil War.
She had a deadline. However, she sees an elderly African American couple behind the screen door. They looked like characters from a 1940 vintage photograph in their Sunday best. A hallucination? She is always second guessing herself.
The couple turned out to be real and they were not from the island. Clarence and Martha, a nice couple who came from Palmetto—south of Atlanta and took the ferry over. They had heard about her practice. Of course, Martha was far removed from technology and did not advertise her services.
She explained she only does this sort of the as a hobby and a research project, after receiving a grant from the Georgia Council for Cultural Studies to write a book about the folk traditions of the Geechees. She was not a real root worker. Of course they had heard differently. She stressed she did not find missing people.
They have already been to the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Their grandson Peavy –had been missing for a number of years. A cold case. They had previously lived on St. Helena Island and had a root doctor, but he had passed. The police were of no help and she was the last resort. They even brought photos and other mementos from the boy, in a shoebox.
They had raised the boy. They had not seen him in six years. Someone was supposed to be watching him and he went out back to play baseball at a nearby park with a friend.. The only witness to what happened that evening was Peavy’s friend Jerome.
He had said the sun was going down and they were about to walk home when a car came through. The boy said it was a Buick sedan across from the park. They knew him by name. Peavy handed Jerome the baseball (which they have with them—making Martha shudder), and told him to wait. A white couple, maybe European with a funny accent. It was getting dark and Jerome decided to walk home and catch up with him later. A foreign couple. Peavy was not one to keep secrets. His mother was wild, but Peavy was different. He did well in school and wanted to become a professional baseball player.
Martha looked through the papers, and felt a chill—something familiar. The detective’s reaction to the case was odd they said. They seemed to not be trying very hard. The couple said they had heard she sees shadows of the past and they want to pay her. She is their last resort. She picked up the items and has a strange feeling.
Could she go to Atlanta? She will tell her therapist, Goodwin. She of course did not tell the couple about her illness. Her therapist does not like it. She already says that studying the mystical practices of an ancient, superstitious people is already a risk for her. She has to maintain firm boundaries between what’s read and what isn’t. She does not want her thinking she is some sort of psychic detective.
However, she knows she is compassionate. She feels she has to do it. Her therapist reiterates many people in her condition end up homeless or institutionalized. The island and its residents, the community support she currently receives have enabled her to do creative work.
Of course Martha dreams that the boy is closer than she thinks. She decides she will go to Atlanta, ignoring the warning from her therapist. A small act of rebellion. She will seek the help from Jarrell Humphries- they guy she met on Shell Heap Island. . . the now law student.
A trail of cryptic clues lead the two deep into a dangerous conspiracy whose members will stop at nothing—including murder—to protect their secrets. From investigations, bloodshed, the Organization, and the UNICOM murders.
A character-driven series of a young woman’s struggle to develop her journalism career while fighting the demons of mental illness—at the same time the setting on the Georgia coast also adds to the mystery.
The author definitely places his protagonist in compromising situations. Dr. Goodwin has to come through again to keep her out of trouble. I believe I liked the first book more than the second; enjoying the people, culture, and history- on the island. I found the first part of the book quite intriguing; however, the last half gets a little heavy; however, still filled with suspense.
For those fans who enjoy Southern Gothic and psychological suspense mixed with madness, research, history, and Southern culture.
JDCMustReadBooks
September 7, 2016
This is the second book in the series and I was so excited when I found it . This is a new adventure for Martha and Jarrell . As you start reading we find Martha settling into her new life on the small island off the coast of Georgia. She is slowly settling in and has earned the uneasy title of being psychic. After a chance meeting with an older couple throws Martha back into the cat and mouse game of finding a missing child . Along with Jarrell they uncover a ruthless organization that will not take no for an answer.
I fell in love with Martha in her first book Girl in the Maze and that love continued in this book. Martha is a complicated woman who is trying to get better. She is plagued with the voices in her head and the images that they conjure up. You see her overcome a lot in this book , she become stronger and more courageous as the story unfolds . She also has the first inklings of love for someone who is very close to her. Jarrell isn't the same man from book one, he is in Collage now and on his way to becoming what he always wanted to be. He still cares for Martha and you actually see that grow into a love as they work together to uncover the secrets of the medallions and find out what is going on with the murders . There is an evil but you honestly don't know how or who it is until the ending . I didn't even realize that it was who it was until the scene in the compound . Who knew evil could be that evil and still have a smile on your face .
The first part of this book started out with a bang and had me sucked in big time . I love the characters and I loved the direction the author was taking us. The story flowed great and the author was taking us on such an adventure . But the second half of the book got a little confusing and it kind of felt rushed and choppy. I wanted the ending to be a little different . I am hoping that book three will answer my questions of Jarrell and Martha and their relationship.
Over all I really enjoyed this book and loved the mystery and the romance. There are some fun time and scary times in the book. The author does wrap up some loose ends from book one but then opens up a new can of worms for us to fret over . I did get this book done in one day and I couldn't put it down. So if you want a good series to read check them out . You will be in for a fun filled ride
November 14, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Kiss of the Sun is R. K. Jackson's second novel featuring Martha Covington. Martha is being treated for schizophrenia but is doing well and living by herself off Georgia's Atlantic coast. She is living among the Geechee people as research for her second book.
One night, an older black couple shows up at Martha's door, asking her to help them find their missing grandson. Martha feels compelled to help these people, even though her therapist tries to discourage her. She travels to Atlanta to learn about the missing boy based on a "vision" she sees when she holds one of his possessions.
When Martha gets to the Atlanta area, she visits Jarrell Humphries, whom shehas become romantically interested in. Jarrell is a student at Morehouse College, on a scholarship from a wealthy benefactor. Jarrell and Martha are invited to a black-tie function hosted by Jarrell's scholarship benefactor. While there, Martha's purse gets mixed up with another and from there all hell breaks loose.
This book has a little bit of everything: underground global organizations, computer hacking, schizophrenia. In fact, it has a little too much. The story goes from interesting to far-fetched pretty quickly. Because the main character has schizophrenia, the reader is confused much of the time too -- is this really happening or is this just a hallucination in Martha's head?
I would have liked the story much more if it weren't so "out there". The conspiracy theory-themed thrillers just don't hold my interest because I have to have some suspension of disbelief while reading. So after a while, this story just got tedious.
I didn't read the first book in the series (Girl in the Maze), so I felt a little behind when I began reading this book, but I quickly got up to speed.
Kiss of the Sun is R. K. Jackson's second novel featuring Martha Covington. Martha is being treated for schizophrenia but is doing well and living by herself off Georgia's Atlantic coast. She is living among the Geechee people as research for her second book.
One night, an older black couple shows up at Martha's door, asking her to help them find their missing grandson. Martha feels compelled to help these people, even though her therapist tries to discourage her. She travels to Atlanta to learn about the missing boy based on a "vision" she sees when she holds one of his possessions.
When Martha gets to the Atlanta area, she visits Jarrell Humphries, whom shehas become romantically interested in. Jarrell is a student at Morehouse College, on a scholarship from a wealthy benefactor. Jarrell and Martha are invited to a black-tie function hosted by Jarrell's scholarship benefactor. While there, Martha's purse gets mixed up with another and from there all hell breaks loose.
This book has a little bit of everything: underground global organizations, computer hacking, schizophrenia. In fact, it has a little too much. The story goes from interesting to far-fetched pretty quickly. Because the main character has schizophrenia, the reader is confused much of the time too -- is this really happening or is this just a hallucination in Martha's head?
I would have liked the story much more if it weren't so "out there". The conspiracy theory-themed thrillers just don't hold my interest because I have to have some suspension of disbelief while reading. So after a while, this story just got tedious.
I didn't read the first book in the series (Girl in the Maze), so I felt a little behind when I began reading this book, but I quickly got up to speed.
September 4, 2016
Kiss of the Sun is R. K. Jackson's second novel, as well as the second book with main character Martha Covington. Martha has been treated for schizophrenia, is now doing well, and living on Shell Heap Island off Georgia's Atlantic coast. She is immersing herself in the Geechee culture, working as a root worker as part of her research for her second book.
All is well until an older black couple comes to see Martha to beg her to help them find their grandson who has been missing for six years. Against her therapists wishes, Martha tries to help these people. She travels to Atlanta to see what she can learn, or what visions she might get, with the intent of giving them this information and returning to the island.
While there she looks up Jarrell Humphries who she knows from Shell Heap Island. He has been in her thoughts since the events of the first book. The pair is invited to a special political function hosted by Jarrell's scholarship benefactor and from there the mystery spins out of control.
With Lisbeth Salander qualities, Martha engages not only her high intellect but also the insight that seems to come from her disorder, in order to help Jarrell infiltrate and uncover much more than the fate of a missing boy. This intense tale will leave you wondering. Is it impossible that such things could be in play given what we see on the world scene?
I found this book equally as fascinating as Mr. Jackson's first book, Girl in the Maze. While I would suggest reading them in order, Kissed by the Sun can certainly stand alone. From deep water to deep underground, it is one fast paced read that kept me up late into the night. I do recommend this book.
September 24, 2016
R.K. Jackson's Kiss of the Sun is the second installment in what I hope will be a long series of Martha Covington books. Martha has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is working hard to have a normal life. Approached by an elderly couple who have heard she has psychic abilities and hope she can find what happened to their grandson, Martha goes against her therapist's advice and begins to work the case. She is reunited with law-student Jarrell from book 1, and their relationship progresses. Jarrell decides to help Martha with her efforts, and the two soon find themselves up against something bigger, and more evil, than they ever imagined. As full of twists and turns as the first book, Jackson continues to hold me captive with his descriptive powers. A wonderful psychological thriller, you can't help but root for Martha and Jarrell. I eagerly await the next book in this series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House Publishing - Alibi for letting me read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House Publishing - Alibi for letting me read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2016
I received this free copy in exchange for an honest review
I found it uninteresting. I tried very hard to like the characters but I just didn't. Although R.K Jackson has a very good writing style, fast paced, clear, engaging and the plot idea was good, I couldn't bring myself to keep on reading. The only thing that kept me going on was his style.
I think the author couldn't deliver. It was too light for a story of a schizophrenic, too adventurous that distracted the reader from focusing on where Peavy has been all those years and not mysterious enough. Martha was likeable in a way but all these "special effects" took away from her and the whole attitude of all the characters seemed fake to me.
I was probably expecting more from the blurb or something different. The reason I am giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because I believe that there are people who will enjoy it as a lighter read.
I found it uninteresting. I tried very hard to like the characters but I just didn't. Although R.K Jackson has a very good writing style, fast paced, clear, engaging and the plot idea was good, I couldn't bring myself to keep on reading. The only thing that kept me going on was his style.
I think the author couldn't deliver. It was too light for a story of a schizophrenic, too adventurous that distracted the reader from focusing on where Peavy has been all those years and not mysterious enough. Martha was likeable in a way but all these "special effects" took away from her and the whole attitude of all the characters seemed fake to me.
I was probably expecting more from the blurb or something different. The reason I am giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because I believe that there are people who will enjoy it as a lighter read.
August 6, 2016
RK Jackson has good potential as a writer and this story certainly had promise but this novel read like an early draft. Too bad that he and his editors didn't take some time with it to clean up the howlers and the logistical holes. I particularly liked the character development at the beginning and the first half of the book was evolving into a nice thriller that only required a bit of willing suspension of disbelief. But then, near the end, it was like the writer realized he was running out of pages and rushed through to finish. The last few chapters in particular were all telling and no showing -- the bad guy standing up and explaining what he was doing, and why. Sheesh. And the ending? Hoo boy: all trope. A few more drafts and some good editing and this could have been brilliant.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book.
September 19, 2016
I loved the second book in this series even better than the first. I worried a lot about Martha in book 1, but this time Martha seemed more empowered and confident. I loved her courage and fearlessness in the face of both internal and external challenges.
I'm going to buck the trend here and say that I liked the second half just as much as the first, if not more. It reminded me of the kind of movie where the first half is spent establishing the characters, and in the second half, bang--everything blows up. I would recommend both books to psychological thriller fans who are looking for something off the beaten path.
I'm going to buck the trend here and say that I liked the second half just as much as the first, if not more. It reminded me of the kind of movie where the first half is spent establishing the characters, and in the second half, bang--everything blows up. I would recommend both books to psychological thriller fans who are looking for something off the beaten path.
July 28, 2016
This was a very interesting thriller and it really had me wondering what the heck was going on! So much was happening and I really wasn't expecting the big reveal. For most of the book I thought it was about one thing then it turns out it's not.
This story had a lot going for it but I think it could've been so much more. There were things I would've liked to seen fleshed out more and explored. I also think the ending was way too quick and abrupt. That's not the ending I would've liked.
I received this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
This story had a lot going for it but I think it could've been so much more. There were things I would've liked to seen fleshed out more and explored. I also think the ending was way too quick and abrupt. That's not the ending I would've liked.
I received this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
August 21, 2016
I loved The Girl in the Maze and have been looking forward to the next book in the series. Kiss of the Sun did not disappoint. The plot twists and turns the way a good psychological thriller should, embroiling Martha and Jarrell in a plot that had me guessing right up to the end—and I have to tell you, I did not guess correctly. Jackson did an excellent job tying up all the loose ends while still managing to surprise this reader. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2016
The second of the Martha Covington stories is an even wilder ride than the first. Martha's mental problems are put on display as she deals with a possible new lover and a strange disappearance. Suspense grows throughout the story, and the excitement continues from page to page as Martha and her friend Jarrell are targeted by the powerful leader of a nasty organization. Creepy characters are in good supply, and even some bad guys who turn good. This book will hold your interest and thoroughly entertain you.
September 19, 2016
In my honest opinion this book wasn't as good as the first in the series being let down by the ending . I enjoyed the first three quarters but the last quarter was too far fetched and rushed making it disappointing 3.5 stars and my thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my arc in exchange for an honest review
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September 12, 2016Got to about 30% and was just bored...couldn't force myself to keep going. thank you for the opportunity.
February 5, 2018
Great start, but weak finish
Started out intriguing. Had some colorful characters. Good scenery descriptions. However, some weak transitions between settings, a few gaps, and a finale that would be better suited to a James Bond story.
Started out intriguing. Had some colorful characters. Good scenery descriptions. However, some weak transitions between settings, a few gaps, and a finale that would be better suited to a James Bond story.
October 7, 2023
This was a really good book but it really was a long book too. This was a new author for Mr. This book was a little hard to get into.
Want to read
July 3, 2017thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Alibi and netgalley for an ARC
from the author of
http://www.randalkjackson.com
Twitter JacksonJPL
R.K. Jackson is an Internet producer at NASA and previously worked as a senior editor at CNN
from the author of
In a haunting novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Girl in the Maze (“A Southern Gothic thriller with a twisty plot and echoes of Tana French.”—Dianne Emley), a gifted young woman battles her own mind . . . and finds that some voices will never be silenced.
http://www.randalkjackson.com
Twitter JacksonJPL
R.K. Jackson is an Internet producer at NASA and previously worked as a senior editor at CNN
Review
“[This] stunning follow-up to The Girl in the Maze . . . will take your breath away.”—It’s About the Book
“Filled with suspense . . . A character-driven series of a young woman’s struggle to develop her journalism career while fighting the demons of mental illness.”—Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
“I fell in love with Martha in her first book, Girl in the Maze, and that love continued in this book.”—Books to Curl Up With
Praise for R. K. Jackson’s The Girl in the Maze
“A Southern Gothic thriller with a twisty plot and echoes of Tana French.”—Dianne Emley, bestselling author of Killing Secrets
“The Girl in the Maze has suspense, action, memorable characters and even a perfect storm.”—Savannah Morning News
“One of the best books I’ve read [this year] . . . a genre-crushing story that’s part mystery, part thriller, with elements of horror.”—Cemetery Dance
“The Girl in the Maze is as mysterious and suspenseful as it is intriguing—much like Georgia’s coastal marshland, where the tale is set.”—Santa Barbara News-Press
March 4, 2017
Loved the characters
Loved the characters. R.K. Jackson has a way of capturing the scenery so you can actually visualize the locations. You feel like you are there watching.
Loved the characters. R.K. Jackson has a way of capturing the scenery so you can actually visualize the locations. You feel like you are there watching.
December 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.
Book 2 of this series by Jackson puts on a strong show. His main character, Martha Covington, is as intriguing and compelling as she was when we met her in book 1.
It's been a year since we last spent time with Martha and in that year she has become a mostly permanent resident of Shell Heap Island and is working on her second book. Royalties from the first book and grant money for the second ensure Martha can focus on the research she wants to do for book two about the Geechee people she has come to know, love, and be accepted by. She's stable with her illness thanks to consistent medication and therapy, things are going well. A couple appears at her front door one day asking for help in finding their missing grandchild. Martha at first dismisses them but a few visions and a feeling pique her curiosity. Her therapist says no but Martha, in an act of independence, decides she's going to look into it a little more. What happens then is a series of events nobody could have predicted, least of all Martha.
As in book 1, Jackson exposes the realities someone diagnosed with schizophrenia has to live with, adjust to, be vigilant about. He also, however, exposes the very normal life someone with this illness can live. Also, the reader is exposed to yet another culture alive and active within the larger continent of North America, the Geechee's. This isn't a made up culture and people for the purpose of Jackson's series, it's a real thing. As a history nut and a person interested in people and cultures I am also loving these looks into a group of people I didn't previously know existed. I don't know if he's writing a book 3 but I certainly hope so, there's more to Martha and her story.
Book 2 of this series by Jackson puts on a strong show. His main character, Martha Covington, is as intriguing and compelling as she was when we met her in book 1.
It's been a year since we last spent time with Martha and in that year she has become a mostly permanent resident of Shell Heap Island and is working on her second book. Royalties from the first book and grant money for the second ensure Martha can focus on the research she wants to do for book two about the Geechee people she has come to know, love, and be accepted by. She's stable with her illness thanks to consistent medication and therapy, things are going well. A couple appears at her front door one day asking for help in finding their missing grandchild. Martha at first dismisses them but a few visions and a feeling pique her curiosity. Her therapist says no but Martha, in an act of independence, decides she's going to look into it a little more. What happens then is a series of events nobody could have predicted, least of all Martha.
As in book 1, Jackson exposes the realities someone diagnosed with schizophrenia has to live with, adjust to, be vigilant about. He also, however, exposes the very normal life someone with this illness can live. Also, the reader is exposed to yet another culture alive and active within the larger continent of North America, the Geechee's. This isn't a made up culture and people for the purpose of Jackson's series, it's a real thing. As a history nut and a person interested in people and cultures I am also loving these looks into a group of people I didn't previously know existed. I don't know if he's writing a book 3 but I certainly hope so, there's more to Martha and her story.
February 25, 2019
I read the first Martha Congington Book, The Girl in the Maze, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed this one until I was about one-third through it.. Then it became too predictable and too far fetched. I kept expecting Sheldon Cooper to pop up and say, "Bazinga!" (I think I felt this way about another book I read not too long ago.)
Martha is living on Shell Heap Island off the coast of Georgia at the beginning of the book. She has recently written and published a book about the Geechees, descendants of slaves who settled on the island. Their belief in healing herbs has fascinated Martha, and she begins to adopt some of their beliefs. The relaxed lifestyle of the island helps her deal with her schizophrenia. In fact, she hasn't had an "episode" in a while.
When an elderly couple from Atlanta asks for her help in finding their grandson Peavy. Martha, believing she may have psychic abilities, she heads to Atlanta. She once again teams up with Jarrell, who has become a law student (surprise! completely out of character from book one) and - no surprise - they end up walking straight into the danger of a huge conspiracy.
As much as Martha wanted to believe she could sense what happened, I could sense what was about to happen throughout the book, and I wasn't wrong.. If I wanted a story about an every-day super-hero, a secret group of psychopaths, or a medical melodrama, I would read one, but I was hoping for an edge-of-your-seat, mysterious thriller when I chose this book.
Martha is living on Shell Heap Island off the coast of Georgia at the beginning of the book. She has recently written and published a book about the Geechees, descendants of slaves who settled on the island. Their belief in healing herbs has fascinated Martha, and she begins to adopt some of their beliefs. The relaxed lifestyle of the island helps her deal with her schizophrenia. In fact, she hasn't had an "episode" in a while.
When an elderly couple from Atlanta asks for her help in finding their grandson Peavy. Martha, believing she may have psychic abilities, she heads to Atlanta. She once again teams up with Jarrell, who has become a law student (surprise! completely out of character from book one) and - no surprise - they end up walking straight into the danger of a huge conspiracy.
As much as Martha wanted to believe she could sense what happened, I could sense what was about to happen throughout the book, and I wasn't wrong.. If I wanted a story about an every-day super-hero, a secret group of psychopaths, or a medical melodrama, I would read one, but I was hoping for an edge-of-your-seat, mysterious thriller when I chose this book.
December 5, 2016
Kiss of the Sun begins with a prologue of a crime that doesn't materialize again in the story until almost the end of the novel. Until then, unless fans of author R.K. Jackson know that this is a pattern in the author's previous books, the first-time reader may have forgotten about the killer Eduardo altogether.
The actual protagonist is Martha Covington, a woman who is battling schizophrenia by living and doing cultural research on a Geechee-inhabited island off the coast of Georgia. As long as she is here writing her book about the Geechees, she is stable and getting better.
Martha is visited one day by a couple who are seeking her help as a seer in finding their missing grandson. Although she denies being a seer, she does seem to have some sort of premonition-type gift, and while she tells the couple that she can't help them, Martha is intrigued by the request, and begins to follow clues that might find the missing boy. Once off the island, against the advice of her therapist, Martha and her Geechee friend Jarrell become involved in mysterious incidents that cause them to flee and become separated. Martha's illness returns and she wakes up in a locked mental ward desparate to escape and find Jarrell to warn him of the danger that he is in.
Kiss of the Sun is a good fast read with minimal character development other than the insights into Martha's illness as she tries to sort out what is real and what is not. Readers who like strong plot will like this book.
The actual protagonist is Martha Covington, a woman who is battling schizophrenia by living and doing cultural research on a Geechee-inhabited island off the coast of Georgia. As long as she is here writing her book about the Geechees, she is stable and getting better.
Martha is visited one day by a couple who are seeking her help as a seer in finding their missing grandson. Although she denies being a seer, she does seem to have some sort of premonition-type gift, and while she tells the couple that she can't help them, Martha is intrigued by the request, and begins to follow clues that might find the missing boy. Once off the island, against the advice of her therapist, Martha and her Geechee friend Jarrell become involved in mysterious incidents that cause them to flee and become separated. Martha's illness returns and she wakes up in a locked mental ward desparate to escape and find Jarrell to warn him of the danger that he is in.
Kiss of the Sun is a good fast read with minimal character development other than the insights into Martha's illness as she tries to sort out what is real and what is not. Readers who like strong plot will like this book.
November 16, 2016
Review can be read at It's About The Book
4.5 stars
It’s not often that I take a few days and spend them in absolute, flagrant disregard of my parenting and wife-ing duties and sublimate myself in reading. It is somehow both selfish and just doing my job as a reviewer. Sometimes I get really behind and just have to take a bite out of my TBR list and lucky for me, this week’s catch was filled with big bass.
Kiss of the Sun is not a joyous read. It’s a deep dive into my subconscious that whirls and dips like shadows under water. I distinctly remember reading the first book, The Girl in the Maze, because I have such a picture of it, not clear but edgy-mostly just slabs of light and sound, of the circumnavigation Martha followed to get to Albertha’s gris gris shop when she was trying to escape. Lenny, the voice of schizophrenia in her head. And of Jarrell, who saves her.
This book is very much like that one, filled with visions in my mind that the author has carefully built, with words so powerful that they transcend the page. It’s an experience for me more than reading, which either means I get into his style or I’m crazy-you choose. But read it if it sounds like your kind of jam, because it’s very, very good.
Take the ride.
I heart you, Jarrell.
4.5 stars
It’s not often that I take a few days and spend them in absolute, flagrant disregard of my parenting and wife-ing duties and sublimate myself in reading. It is somehow both selfish and just doing my job as a reviewer. Sometimes I get really behind and just have to take a bite out of my TBR list and lucky for me, this week’s catch was filled with big bass.
Kiss of the Sun is not a joyous read. It’s a deep dive into my subconscious that whirls and dips like shadows under water. I distinctly remember reading the first book, The Girl in the Maze, because I have such a picture of it, not clear but edgy-mostly just slabs of light and sound, of the circumnavigation Martha followed to get to Albertha’s gris gris shop when she was trying to escape. Lenny, the voice of schizophrenia in her head. And of Jarrell, who saves her.
This book is very much like that one, filled with visions in my mind that the author has carefully built, with words so powerful that they transcend the page. It’s an experience for me more than reading, which either means I get into his style or I’m crazy-you choose. But read it if it sounds like your kind of jam, because it’s very, very good.
Take the ride.
I heart you, Jarrell.
September 22, 2016
Last half of book was disjointed and rushed
I read the first book in this series - THE GIRL IN THE MAZE - and especially liked protagonist Martha Covington, fighting her inner battles with schizophrenia.
This book starts off a few months after the other one ended, with Martha having published her first book on the Geechee population in Shell Heap, Georgia. She's now living in Shell Heap, gathering information on her root work and is working on a second book.
The first half of this book started out great and I would have given it four stars. But about halfway through the story, the book started to fall apart in my opinion. The author tried to cram too much information into the second half - an unbelievable storyline that just wasn't cohesive and an ending that was totally rushed and off-the-wall. The second half of the book rates two stars at the most. So I averaged out the two ratings to come up to the three stars I finally gave it.
I would have liked more on Shell Heap and its inhabitants, more of the romance. The author has a good grasp of the Georgia countryside and didn't need to try to make this into a Brad Thor thriller.
I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.
I read the first book in this series - THE GIRL IN THE MAZE - and especially liked protagonist Martha Covington, fighting her inner battles with schizophrenia.
This book starts off a few months after the other one ended, with Martha having published her first book on the Geechee population in Shell Heap, Georgia. She's now living in Shell Heap, gathering information on her root work and is working on a second book.
The first half of this book started out great and I would have given it four stars. But about halfway through the story, the book started to fall apart in my opinion. The author tried to cram too much information into the second half - an unbelievable storyline that just wasn't cohesive and an ending that was totally rushed and off-the-wall. The second half of the book rates two stars at the most. So I averaged out the two ratings to come up to the three stars I finally gave it.
I would have liked more on Shell Heap and its inhabitants, more of the romance. The author has a good grasp of the Georgia countryside and didn't need to try to make this into a Brad Thor thriller.
I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.
October 19, 2016
I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is quite an interesting novel and very ingeniously written because at times I felt I was experiencing the same hallucinations and voices that Martha was, as though I was there, jumping from reality to hallucination and back to reality, experiencing the struggle that Martha was going through as her disease began to take over.
Martha is enjoying life in Georgia, having one book published and working on another. She is coping with Schizophrenia, doing all the right things to keep it at bay, taking the pills and seeing a psychiatrist to help her with coping strategies.
One day an elderly couple request her help to find their grandson who has been missing for several years and is now considered a cold case.
Though she tries to convince the couple that she isn't psychic she feels compels to investigate and asks her friend Jarrell for help.
Bang, the adventure begins. Danger, murder, mystery, hallucinations, voices and lots more.
This book packs quite a punch. Sit back and try to dodge the bullets.
This is quite an interesting novel and very ingeniously written because at times I felt I was experiencing the same hallucinations and voices that Martha was, as though I was there, jumping from reality to hallucination and back to reality, experiencing the struggle that Martha was going through as her disease began to take over.
Martha is enjoying life in Georgia, having one book published and working on another. She is coping with Schizophrenia, doing all the right things to keep it at bay, taking the pills and seeing a psychiatrist to help her with coping strategies.
One day an elderly couple request her help to find their grandson who has been missing for several years and is now considered a cold case.
Though she tries to convince the couple that she isn't psychic she feels compels to investigate and asks her friend Jarrell for help.
Bang, the adventure begins. Danger, murder, mystery, hallucinations, voices and lots more.
This book packs quite a punch. Sit back and try to dodge the bullets.
September 21, 2016
Thank you to Random House and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I previously read The Girl in the Maze and was excited to revisit with Martha Covington to see how she moved on with her life. I felt this book tied in pretty well with the ending of the last book , to find Martha living on Shell Heap among the Geechee people. Again Martha is having psychic visions and she is led on a chase to find a missing boy from years ago. She reunites with her friend, Jarrell and together they a led down a dangerous path to seek the truth of this boy's disappearance.
I enjoyed this book better than the first, truly more of a 3.5 than a 3. The suspense was better in this book, with more unexpected twists. My main disappointment was story development. Once the action started, it was like running downhill at full speed. And before you know it the book is over. The ending was well done and left me feeling fulfilled. I would recommend this quick read to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers,
I previously read The Girl in the Maze and was excited to revisit with Martha Covington to see how she moved on with her life. I felt this book tied in pretty well with the ending of the last book , to find Martha living on Shell Heap among the Geechee people. Again Martha is having psychic visions and she is led on a chase to find a missing boy from years ago. She reunites with her friend, Jarrell and together they a led down a dangerous path to seek the truth of this boy's disappearance.
I enjoyed this book better than the first, truly more of a 3.5 than a 3. The suspense was better in this book, with more unexpected twists. My main disappointment was story development. Once the action started, it was like running downhill at full speed. And before you know it the book is over. The ending was well done and left me feeling fulfilled. I would recommend this quick read to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers,
August 23, 2016
Kiss of the Sun is a twisty, turny thriller that always leaves the reader guessing. The characters are smart and interesting, and the setting is vibrant. Most of it (especially a vivid description of a chase through an underground cave) kept me on the edge of my seat.
However, as much as I liked the book, the second half of it didn't interest me as much as the first. The first half was well-paced and the buildup made the book impossible to put down. The second half, on the other hand, seemed rushed. In fact, in some places, I wondered in parts were missing. It's not that the book was confusing, but more that it was too hurried. When I finished reading, I walked away feeling cheated.
Maybe my reaction stems from the fact that I did not read the previous book in this series. Because I enjoyed the setting and characters of Kiss of the Sun so much, I do intend to read the first book.
[I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.]
However, as much as I liked the book, the second half of it didn't interest me as much as the first. The first half was well-paced and the buildup made the book impossible to put down. The second half, on the other hand, seemed rushed. In fact, in some places, I wondered in parts were missing. It's not that the book was confusing, but more that it was too hurried. When I finished reading, I walked away feeling cheated.
Maybe my reaction stems from the fact that I did not read the previous book in this series. Because I enjoyed the setting and characters of Kiss of the Sun so much, I do intend to read the first book.
[I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.]
September 8, 2016
eARC: Netgalley
I enjoyed Kiss of the Sun, the second in the Martha Covington series, but it just didn't have the same haunting quality to it The Girl in the Maze had. Maybe because only very small parts of the story were set in the Low Country and the rest was in the Atlanta area and North Georgia? I'm not sure, I just know that I never felt a sprinkling of that je ne sais quoi that lets you know you've stumbled onto a piece of literary magic like I felt with the first in the series.
I'm still eagerly waiting for the next Martha Covington thriller and hoping R. K. Jackson brings back the mysterious underbelly of the Low Country in the next installment.
I enjoyed Kiss of the Sun, the second in the Martha Covington series, but it just didn't have the same haunting quality to it The Girl in the Maze had. Maybe because only very small parts of the story were set in the Low Country and the rest was in the Atlanta area and North Georgia? I'm not sure, I just know that I never felt a sprinkling of that je ne sais quoi that lets you know you've stumbled onto a piece of literary magic like I felt with the first in the series.
I'm still eagerly waiting for the next Martha Covington thriller and hoping R. K. Jackson brings back the mysterious underbelly of the Low Country in the next installment.
October 4, 2016
*I was provided an advanced copy in exchange for my feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I enjoyed the first book of this series - The Girl in the Maze - and was happy to see this release! Jackson does well at developing a sense of place, Martha's character is even stronger in this novel, and the story kicks into high gear right away, providing a fast pace, plenty of tension and lots of action.
While I enjoyed the rapid pace and the twists, the last bit of the book...oh, that last bit. Disappointingly, it felt a bit abrupt and disjointed. Despite that, I did enjoy the book and based on the ending, I'm hopeful there is a third book coming!
I enjoyed the first book of this series - The Girl in the Maze - and was happy to see this release! Jackson does well at developing a sense of place, Martha's character is even stronger in this novel, and the story kicks into high gear right away, providing a fast pace, plenty of tension and lots of action.
While I enjoyed the rapid pace and the twists, the last bit of the book...oh, that last bit. Disappointingly, it felt a bit abrupt and disjointed. Despite that, I did enjoy the book and based on the ending, I'm hopeful there is a third book coming!
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