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Circuit #1
Specter
Two years ago, I joined an organization that was so top secret not even the FBI could locate us.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a hacker, I teetered on the edge of right and wrong every single day, breaking the law to make the world around me a better place.
I knew how dangerous my work at Circuit was. I knew I could get caught one day and wind up behind bars for the rest of my life.
I didn’t care.
And then the packages started to show up on my doorstep. One after another. Never the same gift twice. Never the same day.
I warned my team, tried to get them to prepare for a takedown. They didn't seem as concerned as I was to learn my identity as Specter had been compromised.
I prepared for everything.
And then Sage Maddison appeared with one of the packages, snow-white hair and eyes filled with fear.
I was not prepared for her.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a hacker, I teetered on the edge of right and wrong every single day, breaking the law to make the world around me a better place.
I knew how dangerous my work at Circuit was. I knew I could get caught one day and wind up behind bars for the rest of my life.
I didn’t care.
And then the packages started to show up on my doorstep. One after another. Never the same gift twice. Never the same day.
I warned my team, tried to get them to prepare for a takedown. They didn't seem as concerned as I was to learn my identity as Specter had been compromised.
I prepared for everything.
And then Sage Maddison appeared with one of the packages, snow-white hair and eyes filled with fear.
I was not prepared for her.
- GenresRomanceDark Romance
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2018
40 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Lacey Dailey
10 books71 followersThe best place to find Lacey is with her nose in a book. She’s a sucker for a good love story and a happy ending that has her swooning. When she’s not obsessing over giving her own characters a happy ending, you can find her in the dance studio empowering young dancers and giving out tons of stickers. Thanks to her mother’s pizzeria, Lacey can make a delicious pizza.
When she’s not putting on her dance shoes or inhaling a slice of pizza, she’s in front of her computer binge watching romantic comedies and penning stories with love so powerful, it’ll last a lifetime. As a recent graduate of Central Michigan University, Lacey intends to keep inspiring people through dance and lots and lots of words. She currently lives in Central Michigan surrounded by her family and unpredictable weather.
When she’s not putting on her dance shoes or inhaling a slice of pizza, she’s in front of her computer binge watching romantic comedies and penning stories with love so powerful, it’ll last a lifetime. As a recent graduate of Central Michigan University, Lacey intends to keep inspiring people through dance and lots and lots of words. She currently lives in Central Michigan surrounded by her family and unpredictable weather.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 28, 2018
So before I start gushing like a teenager at a Bieber concert, I have to say that this cover does not do this book justice at all. So please take my advice and block it from your memory...
I am seriously kind of speechless right now. I have been trying lately to read more books by new (or new to me) authors. Which as you all know can be a bit of a gamble. But this book...was just...gaah. I literally have no words to describe how excellent this book was. There wasn't a lick of sex in it. The hero was a giant redheaded nerdy introvert covered in freckles. I loved him. He was just amazing with Sage. Kind. Patience. Sweet. Adorably awkward. The heroine broke my heart. I wanted to wrap her in a hug. She was so very broken but strong at the same time. It was a pleasure to watch her bloom with the help of Wren (and a few others).
The feels...good lord the FEELS this book gave me. I spent almost the entire book with tears in my eyes. The slow build relationship between Wren and Sage was masterfully done. The secondary characters were amazing, and I hope we get to see them get stories of their own. Ace especially. The whole "hacker mystery" angle took a bit of a back seat, but it worked perfectly. I am sure since this was just book one of a series we will be getting more on that front in later books. Especially given how this book ended.
So yea, honestly, if I could give this book a gazzilion stars I would. It was simply one of THE best books I have read in a long time, and I can't wait to see what this author has up her sleeve for the CIRCUIT gang next.
October 5, 2018
★ 5 STARS ★
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
What an incredible and beautiful book! 💖💖💖💖
Wren ou Specter... como não se apaixonar por esse nerd ruivo e cheio de sardas? Como não se encantar com as suas manias estranhas, seu vício em Coca Diet e seu jeito peculiar, doce e bobo? É, não teve jeito! E eu me apaixonei ainda mais por ele após seu caminho cruzar com a Sage. Sou só suspiros!
Sage... meu Deus! Como meu coração ficou apertado com essa mocinha. Minha conexão com ela foi praticamente instantânea. Senti uma imensa empatia e torci muito para que ela conseguisse superar os seus medos, o seu trauma.
Ambos os personagens são adoráveis! Foi doloroso acompanhar os passos da Sage e o que ela enfrentava dia após dia. Passar pelo que ela passou durante um longo período de tempo deixa marcas profundas e que não se curam da noite para o dia. Eu fui capaz de sentir todas as emoções que a Sage estava vivenciado. A autora soube retratar perfeitamente isso, teve cuidado, tato e sensibilidade.
Foi encantador e maravilhoso ver a ligação entre o casal se fortalecer, de como o relacionamento foi progredindo pouco a pouco... Wren foi simplesmente incrível nessa parte. Tão atencioso, cuidadoso e paciente. Adorei a maneira como ele tratava a Sage. Sempre em sintonia com o que ela precisava ou não em determinados momentos e situações.
O enredo é bem interessante e me manteve cativada do início ao fim. A história foi muito bem escrita, desenvolvida e os personagens bem construídos. A narrativa da autora é muito boa e rica de detalhes e talvez por esse motivo houve partes em que a leitura ficou um pouquinho arrastada pra mim, mas nada que tivesse um grande peso ou me fizesse perder o interesse.
Os personagens secundários também foram maravilhosos, principalmente o Ace, gostei demais dele!
Eu não sei explicar, mas essa história e personagens me tocaram, mexeram com o meu coraçãozinho e com certeza conseguiram deixar sua marca nele.
Leitura pra lá de prazerosa e surpreendente. Uma experiência incrível e eu amei demais! 💖💖
“Even when she was living in the dark, she found it inside herself to be bright.”
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
What an incredible and beautiful book! 💖💖💖💖
Wren ou Specter... como não se apaixonar por esse nerd ruivo e cheio de sardas? Como não se encantar com as suas manias estranhas, seu vício em Coca Diet e seu jeito peculiar, doce e bobo? É, não teve jeito! E eu me apaixonei ainda mais por ele após seu caminho cruzar com a Sage. Sou só suspiros!
“A beautiful man with a soul that shines bright, overpowering a cloud of darkness.”
Sage... meu Deus! Como meu coração ficou apertado com essa mocinha. Minha conexão com ela foi praticamente instantânea. Senti uma imensa empatia e torci muito para que ela conseguisse superar os seus medos, o seu trauma.
“She had a fire in her eyes, brewing in the ocean that surrounded them.”
Ambos os personagens são adoráveis! Foi doloroso acompanhar os passos da Sage e o que ela enfrentava dia após dia. Passar pelo que ela passou durante um longo período de tempo deixa marcas profundas e que não se curam da noite para o dia. Eu fui capaz de sentir todas as emoções que a Sage estava vivenciado. A autora soube retratar perfeitamente isso, teve cuidado, tato e sensibilidade.
“I’d thought a hug was just a hug. And then Sage put her arms around me, and I knew then how intimate two humans wrapped around one another could be.”
Foi encantador e maravilhoso ver a ligação entre o casal se fortalecer, de como o relacionamento foi progredindo pouco a pouco... Wren foi simplesmente incrível nessa parte. Tão atencioso, cuidadoso e paciente. Adorei a maneira como ele tratava a Sage. Sempre em sintonia com o que ela precisava ou não em determinados momentos e situações.
“I put my face in my hands and begged the universe to keep her from any more pain. Give it to me. I’ll carry it for her.”
O enredo é bem interessante e me manteve cativada do início ao fim. A história foi muito bem escrita, desenvolvida e os personagens bem construídos. A narrativa da autora é muito boa e rica de detalhes e talvez por esse motivo houve partes em que a leitura ficou um pouquinho arrastada pra mim, mas nada que tivesse um grande peso ou me fizesse perder o interesse.
“...when my mind gets all heavy, you’re my favorite place to go when I need to feel light again.”
Os personagens secundários também foram maravilhosos, principalmente o Ace, gostei demais dele!
Eu não sei explicar, mas essa história e personagens me tocaram, mexeram com o meu coraçãozinho e com certeza conseguiram deixar sua marca nele.
Leitura pra lá de prazerosa e surpreendente. Uma experiência incrível e eu amei demais! 💖💖
September 10, 2019
Such a sweet & beautiful love story. My heart hurt for Sage & what she’d gone through. Wren was adorable. A normal, regular guy who was her sunshine. It was the cutest to read how their relationship unravelled. I thought the author did a fabulous job at developing the characters & the delicate subject of post traumatic stress. I’d definitely recommend this story.
October 8, 2018
Achei muito perspicaz a autora nos mostrar pessoas normais sem o personagem principal ser o melhor, o mais forte! Um tema abordado com muita sutileza e inteligência.
Vale a leitura.
Vale a leitura.
August 14, 2019
This was a romance that I wasn’t expecting.
A girl who suffered. A girl who needed to heal. And the sunshine that helped her to do that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Sage has been through a traumatic time. The things that she has seen, and the things that she has had done to her make her the wreck that she is when the story starts. Watching her heal throughout the story was brilliant, and she couldn’t have done that without Wren. Her sunshine. The person that helped her heal.
I loved Wren and the way that he was able to tell exactly what Sage needed.
This is the first book that I have read by Lacey and it certainly won’t be the last.
5 stars for this truly gripping read.
A girl who suffered. A girl who needed to heal. And the sunshine that helped her to do that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Sage has been through a traumatic time. The things that she has seen, and the things that she has had done to her make her the wreck that she is when the story starts. Watching her heal throughout the story was brilliant, and she couldn’t have done that without Wren. Her sunshine. The person that helped her heal.
I loved Wren and the way that he was able to tell exactly what Sage needed.
This is the first book that I have read by Lacey and it certainly won’t be the last.
5 stars for this truly gripping read.
March 16, 2019
Thank you so much Lacey Dailey for a review copy of this book because it is a phenomenal story.
All I can say is that I'm speechless, the story was just a rollercoaster of emotions that had you hooked from the dedication. Let me tell you one thing, that dedication doesn't let you down in the story, if anything it lives up to the excitement within it and so much more.
Specter or Wren, is your conventional guy. Having to deal with a boring tech day job that consists of watching ice melt he doesn't have much excitement in his life. Yet when darkness comes out to play so does he turning to his job at Circuit where he's a hacktivist, saving people's lives even though it may be in an illegal way.
His heart is always in the right place and the sweet caring nature of him has you captivated by his character from the start. Now when he starts getting packages from a mysterious person wanting to thank his secret work, he's put on edge. However when finding our who this mystery person is his life changes in the best way possible.
Sage, is a fragile yet strong, powerful woman. After being kidnapped for under 2 years and surviving she is trying to build herself back together. Even though it's difficult and she struggles to open up with her family, which does have you in tears at times, she tries to better herself.
When meeting Wren, the guy she knows had part in saving her life, she can't help but feel an attachment to him. They meet and as she slowly opens up to him she ends up stalking parts of his heart in her wake.
The story is heartbreakingly, beautiful. There is an essence of humour and heart, but most of all Dailey was able to bring such a spectacular story to life with characters that will be stuck inside your heart forever.
I was in for one hell of a ride and most certainly enjoyed it, with the intensity and brilliance in story writing, this will become an author I and you will want to read from again.
All I can say is that I'm speechless, the story was just a rollercoaster of emotions that had you hooked from the dedication. Let me tell you one thing, that dedication doesn't let you down in the story, if anything it lives up to the excitement within it and so much more.
Specter or Wren, is your conventional guy. Having to deal with a boring tech day job that consists of watching ice melt he doesn't have much excitement in his life. Yet when darkness comes out to play so does he turning to his job at Circuit where he's a hacktivist, saving people's lives even though it may be in an illegal way.
His heart is always in the right place and the sweet caring nature of him has you captivated by his character from the start. Now when he starts getting packages from a mysterious person wanting to thank his secret work, he's put on edge. However when finding our who this mystery person is his life changes in the best way possible.
Sage, is a fragile yet strong, powerful woman. After being kidnapped for under 2 years and surviving she is trying to build herself back together. Even though it's difficult and she struggles to open up with her family, which does have you in tears at times, she tries to better herself.
When meeting Wren, the guy she knows had part in saving her life, she can't help but feel an attachment to him. They meet and as she slowly opens up to him she ends up stalking parts of his heart in her wake.
The story is heartbreakingly, beautiful. There is an essence of humour and heart, but most of all Dailey was able to bring such a spectacular story to life with characters that will be stuck inside your heart forever.
I was in for one hell of a ride and most certainly enjoyed it, with the intensity and brilliance in story writing, this will become an author I and you will want to read from again.
March 23, 2019
4.5 estrelas
Eu não conhecia o trabalho dessa autora e peguei esse livro por acaso , mas que livro mais fofo e muito bem escrito.Foi impossível não se apaixonar por Sage e Wren e a história deles , tudo com o devido cuidado e sensibilidade que essa história merecia .
A história ainda tem um toque de suspense , que confesso que me pegou de surpresa pois não imaginava aquele caminho .
Os demais personagens todos despertaram minha curiosidade, mais o que mais me chamou atenção foi o mistérioso Cruz e fiquei feliz de ver que teremos uma história dele ( que eu espero que seja com quem eu estou esperando ).
Uma série ótima com personagens cativantes , uma história fofa e sagaz e uma grata surpresa .
Eu não conhecia o trabalho dessa autora e peguei esse livro por acaso , mas que livro mais fofo e muito bem escrito.Foi impossível não se apaixonar por Sage e Wren e a história deles , tudo com o devido cuidado e sensibilidade que essa história merecia .
A história ainda tem um toque de suspense , que confesso que me pegou de surpresa pois não imaginava aquele caminho .
Os demais personagens todos despertaram minha curiosidade, mais o que mais me chamou atenção foi o mistérioso Cruz e fiquei feliz de ver que teremos uma história dele ( que eu espero que seja com quem eu estou esperando ).
Uma série ótima com personagens cativantes , uma história fofa e sagaz e uma grata surpresa .
October 11, 2018
3,5 * wren * estrelas
Wowww que agradável surpresa, esse livro foge de muitas coisas que eu leio, pois geralmente (99% dos casos) temos um mocinho deus grego e que a gente nunca vê na vida, mas vemos vários Wren caminhando na rua todos os dias e isso já me ganhou nesse livro. Temos uma mocinha incrível também.
E a historia foi muito boa, apesar de não ter sido nem um pouco surpreendente pra mim.
Mas no geral adorei muito o livro.
E já quero o livro dos outros personagens!!!
Wowww que agradável surpresa, esse livro foge de muitas coisas que eu leio, pois geralmente (99% dos casos) temos um mocinho deus grego e que a gente nunca vê na vida, mas vemos vários Wren caminhando na rua todos os dias e isso já me ganhou nesse livro. Temos uma mocinha incrível também.
E a historia foi muito boa, apesar de não ter sido nem um pouco surpreendente pra mim.
Mas no geral adorei muito o livro.
E já quero o livro dos outros personagens!!!
May 11, 2020
Oh MAN. Everything about this story was unexpected.
I didn't know it would go so dark. I didn't know light could pierce darkness like that. I didn't expect to fall in love with these characters or their company as fast and fiercely as I did. Watching this story and its central relationships unfold was pure magic. The writing is gorgeous - it transported me fully. And I've never rooted for a heroine more than I did for Sage.
I love how this book shattered my assumptions that I didn't like romantic suspense or sweet/clean romance. I like steam/heat in my romance, but this was one of the most satisfying stories of love and healing I've ever read.
I could gush on and on. Well done, Ms. Dailey. I'll be thinking of this one for a long, long time.
I didn't know it would go so dark. I didn't know light could pierce darkness like that. I didn't expect to fall in love with these characters or their company as fast and fiercely as I did. Watching this story and its central relationships unfold was pure magic. The writing is gorgeous - it transported me fully. And I've never rooted for a heroine more than I did for Sage.
I love how this book shattered my assumptions that I didn't like romantic suspense or sweet/clean romance. I like steam/heat in my romance, but this was one of the most satisfying stories of love and healing I've ever read.
I could gush on and on. Well done, Ms. Dailey. I'll be thinking of this one for a long, long time.
January 28, 2020
Wow!
What a book! Dailey’s writing hooked me right from the beginning and it didn’t let go until the very end. With all the intrigue and emotion and character growth that happened, the twist at the end took me completely by surprise. The underworld hacker theme was really interesting, kind of comic book era meets modern day tech, while the drama was heartrending and what kept me turning pages. I look forward to reading more books by this fabulous author.
What a book! Dailey’s writing hooked me right from the beginning and it didn’t let go until the very end. With all the intrigue and emotion and character growth that happened, the twist at the end took me completely by surprise. The underworld hacker theme was really interesting, kind of comic book era meets modern day tech, while the drama was heartrending and what kept me turning pages. I look forward to reading more books by this fabulous author.
October 4, 2018
I LOVED this book! It was so different from the usual romance book but I can honestly say that I loved it just as much. It made me cry sad tears and happy tears (several times). I was racing to the end to see what happened next! I highly recommend!
September 1, 2019
This was an incredible read! This story showed a cruel dark underworld no one ever would want to encounter and weaved in a sweet love story to heal the brokenness that world brings.
There is so much more to the story than the blurb reveals. The heartbreak, sadness, excitement, joy, this story evokes is amazing. There were a few times I was brought to tears by the utter despair or joy I felt while reading. This is only able to be done with characters who feel real and relatable.
Sage is trying to recover from the most brutal ordeal a person could survive. Although many months have gone by, she is feeling as though even though she survived, she will never live a “normal” life again. She is drowning in fear at all times.
Specter/Wren is a computer hacker by night trying to help the world one keystroke at a time. He and his team don’t always know the impact they have until the packages begin to arrive.
Sage & Wren’s relationship begins by accident. He is the ☀️sunshine☀️ she has avoided since being saved from her tragedy. She is unaware she has begun the healing process. All she knows is he brings light to her darkness.
The pacing in the book was spot on. It never lagged or felt rushed. Each milestone of healing seemed to develop organically and never felt forced.
There is so much more to the story than the blurb reveals. The heartbreak, sadness, excitement, joy, this story evokes is amazing. There were a few times I was brought to tears by the utter despair or joy I felt while reading. This is only able to be done with characters who feel real and relatable.
Sage is trying to recover from the most brutal ordeal a person could survive. Although many months have gone by, she is feeling as though even though she survived, she will never live a “normal” life again. She is drowning in fear at all times.
Specter/Wren is a computer hacker by night trying to help the world one keystroke at a time. He and his team don’t always know the impact they have until the packages begin to arrive.
Sage & Wren’s relationship begins by accident. He is the ☀️sunshine☀️ she has avoided since being saved from her tragedy. She is unaware she has begun the healing process. All she knows is he brings light to her darkness.
The pacing in the book was spot on. It never lagged or felt rushed. Each milestone of healing seemed to develop organically and never felt forced.
June 17, 2019
Disclaimer: I won this book in a giveaway. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Circuit Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: PTSD-like moments from main
Publication Date: October 26, 2018
Genre: Romance/Sci-fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (PTSD, love, romance, death, some violence)
Publisher: Self - Published
Pages: 288
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Two years ago, I joined an organization that was so top secret not even the FBI could locate us.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a hacker, I teetered on the edge of right and wrong every single day, breaking the law to make the world around me a better place.
I knew how dangerous my work at Circuit was. I knew I could get caught one day and wind up behind bars for the rest of my life.
I didn’t care.
And then the packages started to show up on my doorstep. One after another. Never the same gift twice. Never the same day.
I warned my team, tried to get them to prepare for a takedown. They didn't seem as concerned as I was to learn my identity as Specter had been compromised.
I prepared for everything.
And then Sage Maddison appeared with one of the packages, snow-white hair and eyes filled with fear.
I was not prepared for her.
Review: I felt that if you are in for a romance book then this is your book. The characters are engaging and the story flows well. The characters are developed and the story is pretty well fleshed out. The pacing is also very even throughout the book.
However, I feel there are a lot of cliché moments that I wasn’t a fan of and I felt that some of the terms used were a bit cringy.
Verdict: A great romance.
Book Series: Circuit Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: PTSD-like moments from main
Publication Date: October 26, 2018
Genre: Romance/Sci-fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (PTSD, love, romance, death, some violence)
Publisher: Self - Published
Pages: 288
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Two years ago, I joined an organization that was so top secret not even the FBI could locate us.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As a hacker, I teetered on the edge of right and wrong every single day, breaking the law to make the world around me a better place.
I knew how dangerous my work at Circuit was. I knew I could get caught one day and wind up behind bars for the rest of my life.
I didn’t care.
And then the packages started to show up on my doorstep. One after another. Never the same gift twice. Never the same day.
I warned my team, tried to get them to prepare for a takedown. They didn't seem as concerned as I was to learn my identity as Specter had been compromised.
I prepared for everything.
And then Sage Maddison appeared with one of the packages, snow-white hair and eyes filled with fear.
I was not prepared for her.
Review: I felt that if you are in for a romance book then this is your book. The characters are engaging and the story flows well. The characters are developed and the story is pretty well fleshed out. The pacing is also very even throughout the book.
However, I feel there are a lot of cliché moments that I wasn’t a fan of and I felt that some of the terms used were a bit cringy.
Verdict: A great romance.
October 1, 2018
Completely different from what I usually read, yet still endlessly wonderful. I was captivated by Specter right from the prologue. Mysterious, intensely emotional, and still retaining a heartwarming sweetness between Sage and Wren I found myself hooked to their story and unable to put it down. I’m not usually one for a clean romance, but I have to say I didn’t even notice the lack of steam because I was so pulled in by the deep emotional connection these two have.
I feel like for their story, and the people they are the steam wasn’t needed and truthfully made complete sense for them making them seem that much more real. The sweetness however, now that stole my heart. Even with how intense things were there was an almost innocent sweetness between Wren and Sage that left my heart feeling incredibly full. The slow build into love that they had was incredibly natural and made for something truly lovely that grows throughout the many emotional twists and turns that Sage goes through.
I was honestly surprised by how much I completely loved Specter! The blurb had me intrigued because it sounded so different, but nothing could have prepared me for just how much I would love Sage and Wren!
I feel like for their story, and the people they are the steam wasn’t needed and truthfully made complete sense for them making them seem that much more real. The sweetness however, now that stole my heart. Even with how intense things were there was an almost innocent sweetness between Wren and Sage that left my heart feeling incredibly full. The slow build into love that they had was incredibly natural and made for something truly lovely that grows throughout the many emotional twists and turns that Sage goes through.
I was honestly surprised by how much I completely loved Specter! The blurb had me intrigued because it sounded so different, but nothing could have prepared me for just how much I would love Sage and Wren!
April 16, 2023
tenia muchas ganas de un libro con estas vibes y me estaba gustando mucho, pero a partir de mas o menos la mitad todo pasó muy rápido en la historia y los personajes me tenían confundida entonces ya el final no me convenció :(
February 9, 2022
I need to find more books about soft nerdy introverted male MC's because this was perfect.
I know I'm going to love the other books in the series.
I know I'm going to love the other books in the series.
March 18, 2019
I loved watching Sage open up, and I loved Wren right out the gate! Lots of emotion & great writing in this story. I loved the roller coaster of emotions & the unexpected twists.
March 17, 2019
I bought Specter on one of my Amazon book-buying sprees and was planning on reading it during one of my testing trips to the medical centre because it sounded interesting enough to occupy me but not so much that I wasn't aware of what all was going on around me. And then, back in January, Ms Dailey reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing it. Why not? So I said sure! And that's how we wound up here, readers. I figured that since the FTC is the great and powerful governing agency, I should make it clear, I already owned the book, the review was requested, and I'm all about the open and honest policy, someone give me some coffee or a cookie the size of my fat head.
I managed to get through Specter, but I had a difficult time with it. Specter isn't without its good points but, I'm sorry, this won't be a very favourable review, I'm cranky, one of my dogs is being put to sleep next week and I had an unhappy book experience. I honestly had a hard time getting truly into Specter, but it was a passable 'remise en bouche' for between my usual books and that's about it.
I was delighted by the synopsis, a romance involving a hacktivist group that fights for the greater good and the whisperings of suspense? Yes, please! But it fell short. Specter was basically a bit of a light fluff novella dressed up as a contemporary romantic suspense novel. This basically cleared my mind up so I've got it ready for my next book. 'remise en bouche'.
I liked the cuteness of Wren and Sage and their 'sunshine' bit and all, but I also wanted to gouge my eyes out with the heaping yellow pile of overly cute because it basically made light of everything that people who have PTSD and anxiety live with. Sage goes from having debilitating C-PTSD and anxiety issues and then, within the short timespan that occurs within this book, she's suddenly fine for the most part? I'll sit back here with some Ativan for her future psychological breakdown because that's a pretty picture you're painting but that doesn't happen. I'm 30 years old in June and I've been dealing with C-PTSD and severe anxiety since I was a toddler. It is a hellacious nightmare and it doesn't get solved with some splash of colour and thinking about some cute boy, hero or not.
Now for some characters. We have POC and we have LGBT+ characters which had me seeing sparkly rainbows of joy there for a hot minute and I did enjoy the gay best friend. But the characters of Specter came off rather flat and one-dimensional. We get tossed some cute tidbits, which I liked, but then we just float back to obscure-ville and I was so frustrated. We get vague references to so-and-so and their not-relationship and nothing really happens there, just a couple jokes and a reference to it. Yes, I know, series, future book, yada-yada, but it was annoying as all get-out to get a really juicy note about a character and then have very little interaction between the main characters and this character. If you're building a series, build the characters throughout the series, that way your books are actually tied together and not just using the same cardboard figures over and over again.
This is suposed to be contemporary romance, no grandeur or anything, right? But Circuit has an FBI agent as one of their members who has somehow managed to pass all the security measures the FBI has in place and hasn't earned any suspicions from their co-workers because they're so good. But when everything goes to hell in a pretty handbasket, said agent is right there with the circuit members, pulling strings and making sure nobody's arrested or anything? Just no. If he were to do this in an official capacity, flashing a badge, getting somebody out of a holding cell, in a weird situation, his superiors would be pulling him into an office to find out the whosits and whatsits at the very least, at worst, his connection to Circuit would be discovered and he'd be facing more criminal charges than his Circuit compatriots would be because of his position within the agency.
Now, if you still want to check this book out, I want to forewarn you and post a couple content warnings here. Without posting spoilers, I want to caution anybody who might have issues reading about recurring references to drug use (including forced administration), repeated sexual assault, kidnapping, and death through gun violence. None of these things occur as a scene in the book but are heavily referenced throughout the book, I did find one reference scene a bit disturbing personally and that's why I'm being extra careful with this content warning.
Overall, I'm giving Specter 2 stars because I can see there is a good story in there somewhere, but it's still waiting to come out. I'm hoping the next book has some major improvements all around, and yes, I'm still going to read the next one just to see if it does improve.
I managed to get through Specter, but I had a difficult time with it. Specter isn't without its good points but, I'm sorry, this won't be a very favourable review, I'm cranky, one of my dogs is being put to sleep next week and I had an unhappy book experience. I honestly had a hard time getting truly into Specter, but it was a passable 'remise en bouche' for between my usual books and that's about it.
I was delighted by the synopsis, a romance involving a hacktivist group that fights for the greater good and the whisperings of suspense? Yes, please! But it fell short. Specter was basically a bit of a light fluff novella dressed up as a contemporary romantic suspense novel. This basically cleared my mind up so I've got it ready for my next book. 'remise en bouche'.
I liked the cuteness of Wren and Sage and their 'sunshine' bit and all, but I also wanted to gouge my eyes out with the heaping yellow pile of overly cute because it basically made light of everything that people who have PTSD and anxiety live with. Sage goes from having debilitating C-PTSD and anxiety issues and then, within the short timespan that occurs within this book, she's suddenly fine for the most part? I'll sit back here with some Ativan for her future psychological breakdown because that's a pretty picture you're painting but that doesn't happen. I'm 30 years old in June and I've been dealing with C-PTSD and severe anxiety since I was a toddler. It is a hellacious nightmare and it doesn't get solved with some splash of colour and thinking about some cute boy, hero or not.
Now for some characters. We have POC and we have LGBT+ characters which had me seeing sparkly rainbows of joy there for a hot minute and I did enjoy the gay best friend. But the characters of Specter came off rather flat and one-dimensional. We get tossed some cute tidbits, which I liked, but then we just float back to obscure-ville and I was so frustrated. We get vague references to so-and-so and their not-relationship and nothing really happens there, just a couple jokes and a reference to it. Yes, I know, series, future book, yada-yada, but it was annoying as all get-out to get a really juicy note about a character and then have very little interaction between the main characters and this character. If you're building a series, build the characters throughout the series, that way your books are actually tied together and not just using the same cardboard figures over and over again.
This is suposed to be contemporary romance, no grandeur or anything, right? But Circuit has an FBI agent as one of their members who has somehow managed to pass all the security measures the FBI has in place and hasn't earned any suspicions from their co-workers because they're so good. But when everything goes to hell in a pretty handbasket, said agent is right there with the circuit members, pulling strings and making sure nobody's arrested or anything? Just no. If he were to do this in an official capacity, flashing a badge, getting somebody out of a holding cell, in a weird situation, his superiors would be pulling him into an office to find out the whosits and whatsits at the very least, at worst, his connection to Circuit would be discovered and he'd be facing more criminal charges than his Circuit compatriots would be because of his position within the agency.
Now, if you still want to check this book out, I want to forewarn you and post a couple content warnings here. Without posting spoilers, I want to caution anybody who might have issues reading about recurring references to drug use (including forced administration), repeated sexual assault, kidnapping, and death through gun violence. None of these things occur as a scene in the book but are heavily referenced throughout the book, I did find one reference scene a bit disturbing personally and that's why I'm being extra careful with this content warning.
Overall, I'm giving Specter 2 stars because I can see there is a good story in there somewhere, but it's still waiting to come out. I'm hoping the next book has some major improvements all around, and yes, I'm still going to read the next one just to see if it does improve.
February 25, 2019
DNFd at 40% in sheer disgust at the emptiness and vapidity of both protagonists, at the monstrous lack of realism in any of the situations depicted between those covers, and at the cringe-worthy stamp of what befalls the entire cast, the unnecessary verbosity of the tasteless writing (despite rather strong grammar and orthograph, which it is a pity to see so badly deployed) adding insult to injury. Let a few quotes demonstrate what this book is like.
Here is Wren's first impression as a narrator; cliché much, lady?
"I stared into my paper cup, eyes fixated on the lone ice cube that was fighting not to become another reason why my Diet Coke went from fizzy and delicious to lukewarm and flat (?). It floated towards the top, not much thicker than my fingernail at that point but I had to give it credit for being the last cube floating.
In the end, it would perish (!).
Just like the other twelve cubes did.
I lifted the paper cup off my desk, using the sleeve of my fleece sweater to wipe away the ring of condensation it left on the wood. I was extra careful not to swallow the ice cube warrior (!).
His defeat would come.
But I wouldn’t be the reason for it.
Watching ice melt was an exceedingly underwhelming way to spend an afternoon. But it was how I spent all of them. My undeniable addiction to Diet Coke (?) was a topic of conversation every time I visited my mother. She was positive my Coca-Cola intake would result in a cancer diagnosis.
What type of cancer I’d get was still unknown.
But according to her, each time I took a sip of the stuff I was one step closer to death.
So I sipped it slowly. Prolonging my good health and impending cancer diagnosis. But giving up Diet Coke all together was something I could not do. The Aspartame in that one cup was like Nicotine to a smoker. It got me through the day (?).
When I was offered the position to be head of Tech Support for a start-up company pegged to make six figures in their first six months of business straight out of college, I’d thought I hit the motherload. Turns out, head of Tech Support for a recruiting firm was more mundane than watching ice melt. I was rarely needed (!). When the services I spent four years perfecting at DeVry University were requested, I used them long enough to shuffle down a hall and into an office to plug in a power cord that somehow fell out of the power strip located on the bottom of somebody’s desk.
Then it was back to my ice warrior.
Don’t get me wrong, SevTeck paid me well. So well I often felt bad for spending hours on end naming small blocks of ice and watching them die. My mom told me having a job that pays well and barely lifting a finger to earn those wages was every man’s dream.
It’s why I stayed and spent my time plugging in power cords for aggressive headhunters instead of stopping servers from crashing like I thought I’d be doing.
SevTeck must be pretty damn hooked up in the Tech department for not having one serious crash in the last two years.
Wonder who programmed their system."
As for Sage, she forever comes across as someone, if not adled, at the very least intellectually challenged, given the particuliars of her internal discourse:
"His phony facade was long gone. He wasn’t the polite gentleman he was a few minutes ago. Though she’d instigated his switch, something told her it didn’t usually take much to flip it. "
"They were bad guys. Despite the fact they consistently helped her husband, they were bad humans. She knew it down to her bones. And she wasn’t so sure she believed a man who smelled of liquor."
"Tears rolled down her cheeks at the way this man spoke about her husband. Her best friend. The sweet boy she’d met at the age of fourteen. They’d conquered every milestone together.
And she didn’t know how to handle his death without him (!)."
"And his house call suddenly made sense. This man felt no sympathy. He had justice to seek for his friend. And agents to rain revenge down on. He didn’t have time to visit widows. Unless it benefitted him."
Who would want to inflect on themselves 250+ pages filled with such balbutience? Not me.
Here is Wren's first impression as a narrator; cliché much, lady?
"I stared into my paper cup, eyes fixated on the lone ice cube that was fighting not to become another reason why my Diet Coke went from fizzy and delicious to lukewarm and flat (?). It floated towards the top, not much thicker than my fingernail at that point but I had to give it credit for being the last cube floating.
In the end, it would perish (!).
Just like the other twelve cubes did.
I lifted the paper cup off my desk, using the sleeve of my fleece sweater to wipe away the ring of condensation it left on the wood. I was extra careful not to swallow the ice cube warrior (!).
His defeat would come.
But I wouldn’t be the reason for it.
Watching ice melt was an exceedingly underwhelming way to spend an afternoon. But it was how I spent all of them. My undeniable addiction to Diet Coke (?) was a topic of conversation every time I visited my mother. She was positive my Coca-Cola intake would result in a cancer diagnosis.
What type of cancer I’d get was still unknown.
But according to her, each time I took a sip of the stuff I was one step closer to death.
So I sipped it slowly. Prolonging my good health and impending cancer diagnosis. But giving up Diet Coke all together was something I could not do. The Aspartame in that one cup was like Nicotine to a smoker. It got me through the day (?).
When I was offered the position to be head of Tech Support for a start-up company pegged to make six figures in their first six months of business straight out of college, I’d thought I hit the motherload. Turns out, head of Tech Support for a recruiting firm was more mundane than watching ice melt. I was rarely needed (!). When the services I spent four years perfecting at DeVry University were requested, I used them long enough to shuffle down a hall and into an office to plug in a power cord that somehow fell out of the power strip located on the bottom of somebody’s desk.
Then it was back to my ice warrior.
Don’t get me wrong, SevTeck paid me well. So well I often felt bad for spending hours on end naming small blocks of ice and watching them die. My mom told me having a job that pays well and barely lifting a finger to earn those wages was every man’s dream.
It’s why I stayed and spent my time plugging in power cords for aggressive headhunters instead of stopping servers from crashing like I thought I’d be doing.
SevTeck must be pretty damn hooked up in the Tech department for not having one serious crash in the last two years.
Wonder who programmed their system."
As for Sage, she forever comes across as someone, if not adled, at the very least intellectually challenged, given the particuliars of her internal discourse:
"His phony facade was long gone. He wasn’t the polite gentleman he was a few minutes ago. Though she’d instigated his switch, something told her it didn’t usually take much to flip it. "
"They were bad guys. Despite the fact they consistently helped her husband, they were bad humans. She knew it down to her bones. And she wasn’t so sure she believed a man who smelled of liquor."
"Tears rolled down her cheeks at the way this man spoke about her husband. Her best friend. The sweet boy she’d met at the age of fourteen. They’d conquered every milestone together.
And she didn’t know how to handle his death without him (!)."
"And his house call suddenly made sense. This man felt no sympathy. He had justice to seek for his friend. And agents to rain revenge down on. He didn’t have time to visit widows. Unless it benefitted him."
Who would want to inflect on themselves 250+ pages filled with such balbutience? Not me.
October 2, 2018
I had a chance to Beta-Read this book, and it really took me by surprise. I did not know what to expect from the world of hackers, but I was intrigued! The Prologue drew me in and I just wanted to dive right into the story.
These characters, Sage & Wren, were so unique to me. I had never read about a character with Sage's phobia, and I found myself wanting to know everything about it. Sage is such a strong, yet fragile young woman, and the slow unveiling of what really happened to her was done very well. It kept her story a mystery, and left me glued to the pages. Wren is one of those heroes you can't help but love. He is genuine, down to earth, humble, a computer genius, sensitive, and he is drawn to Sage immediately.
Sage & Wren's relationship evolved so naturally - just as it should with the state that Sage was in when they initially met. Although they do not jump right into a physical/romantic relationship, and there are no steamy sex scenes in this book, I loved how patient and understanding Wren was with Sage. It was very realistic considering Sage's state. I could tell that their developing feelings for each other were truly real and organic, and towards the end of their story, it seemed perfectly natural and feasible that Sage had grown to trust and care for Wren so deeply.
There are some great secondary characters in this book, and I would love to read Ace's story - Wren's closest friend. He is a charmer and hilarious, and provided some comic relief during what could have been some very serious scenes. This book will make you laugh, surprise you, and keep you glued to the pages. You will fall for Wren and his quirky and sweet personality, and cheer on Sage to overcome her past demons. Well done once again, L. Dailey!
These characters, Sage & Wren, were so unique to me. I had never read about a character with Sage's phobia, and I found myself wanting to know everything about it. Sage is such a strong, yet fragile young woman, and the slow unveiling of what really happened to her was done very well. It kept her story a mystery, and left me glued to the pages. Wren is one of those heroes you can't help but love. He is genuine, down to earth, humble, a computer genius, sensitive, and he is drawn to Sage immediately.
Sage & Wren's relationship evolved so naturally - just as it should with the state that Sage was in when they initially met. Although they do not jump right into a physical/romantic relationship, and there are no steamy sex scenes in this book, I loved how patient and understanding Wren was with Sage. It was very realistic considering Sage's state. I could tell that their developing feelings for each other were truly real and organic, and towards the end of their story, it seemed perfectly natural and feasible that Sage had grown to trust and care for Wren so deeply.
There are some great secondary characters in this book, and I would love to read Ace's story - Wren's closest friend. He is a charmer and hilarious, and provided some comic relief during what could have been some very serious scenes. This book will make you laugh, surprise you, and keep you glued to the pages. You will fall for Wren and his quirky and sweet personality, and cheer on Sage to overcome her past demons. Well done once again, L. Dailey!
October 3, 2018
I've read Lacey's 'Devil Side' and was really pulled into that story. Lacey does such a great job at reeling you into the story from the getgo. Specter was really different than what I normally read, but it definitely kept me in check while reading. I couldn't put it down. Wren's character, uber smart, likeable, sweet, the reachable guy, sensitive and in tune with his phantom girl. There is something about Sage that pulls her to him. She went through a traumatic event, and while Wren wasn't personally involved with her saving, he was part of the Circuit group that did. A very secretive hacking group that criminals should be scared of. Their initial meeting, had me on edge. The author really described everything and I felt like I was there. She really went through the ringer and as a result, her weariness, her being scared, her nervousness, her paranoia around people.
This is such a great story, while there are no steamy scenes, their emotional connection and pull towards each other was enough. While it would've been good to see them together together, I somehow didn't miss it. I really enjoyed this story. Dual POVs, my favorite and I can't wait for more in this series!
This is such a great story, while there are no steamy scenes, their emotional connection and pull towards each other was enough. While it would've been good to see them together together, I somehow didn't miss it. I really enjoyed this story. Dual POVs, my favorite and I can't wait for more in this series!
September 24, 2018
This story took me by surprise. It was a fantastic read with perfect touch of humor , emotions and suspense to keep it interesting and captivating throughout. Wren Wilder and Sage Maddison were amazing characters . Wren reminded me of Clark Kent 😍 He was oh so perfect. Without giving any spoilers this story was captivating and the banter between characters was so perfect. There are some serious moments and issues that has been brought to light but the author has balanced it out so perfectly.
I am really hoping Lacey is planning on giving us stories for other characters in Circuit . I am really looking forward to reading Ace and Cruz story. Ace was my favorite character after Wren . This was the first time I have read Lacey and definitely it won’t be the last. I received an arc of this book . The story had captured my attention from its cover and blurb and I am so glad It totally maintained to retain to captivate me through out until I was done. Definitely a must read.
I am really hoping Lacey is planning on giving us stories for other characters in Circuit . I am really looking forward to reading Ace and Cruz story. Ace was my favorite character after Wren . This was the first time I have read Lacey and definitely it won’t be the last. I received an arc of this book . The story had captured my attention from its cover and blurb and I am so glad It totally maintained to retain to captivate me through out until I was done. Definitely a must read.
March 16, 2024
3/15 for whatever reason I thought the place where he works at kidnapped her and he took a liking to her and you know now once to protect her from the place he works at don’t ask me why, but that’s what I thought the plot was not that it was normal day and she got kidnapped by somebody else and he saved her and you know how it went I didn’t know how to feel about it at first because it took them a while to meet and I’m gonna be honest I kind of skipped some parts or you know read some parts but once I got to the meeting and what not I did enjoy it. I enjoyed their relationship and how she slowly trusted him and they became friends and I liked how he was protective over her and I like the concept of you know her bringing gifts to show her appreciation and I like that I don’t know it wasn’t bad. Their relationship was kind of what had me going though, but I liked it. I liked the ending and stuff but yeah.
April 2, 2022
This review doesn’t have spoilers:)
This book was way better than I had imagined. I’ve read so many book (At least 100+ a year) and this one had a story line I couldn’t automatically guess. I read this all within a few short hours which although common for me I will admit it’s now 5:02am and I really should have gone to bed. Anyway the characters in this book are funny and I like how it didn’t feel rushed to fix Sages “struggles” I’ve read similar books and I always felt they rushed the main character to get “fixed” which in real life doesn’t happen so I enjoyed how this book played out. Definitely worth the read.
This book was way better than I had imagined. I’ve read so many book (At least 100+ a year) and this one had a story line I couldn’t automatically guess. I read this all within a few short hours which although common for me I will admit it’s now 5:02am and I really should have gone to bed. Anyway the characters in this book are funny and I like how it didn’t feel rushed to fix Sages “struggles” I’ve read similar books and I always felt they rushed the main character to get “fixed” which in real life doesn’t happen so I enjoyed how this book played out. Definitely worth the read.
October 13, 2018
This book was interesting, especially how the author collaborated how one organisation isn't really criminal. And how they help people.
I loved Wren, he is sweet, nerdy and protective. He has a double life, but it never gets him down.
I loved Sage, she maybe scared, but she pushes herself. She is sweet, and wants to just say thank you to those who helped her. She gets out of her shell.
I liked this story, and highly recommend it. Wtmo
I loved Wren, he is sweet, nerdy and protective. He has a double life, but it never gets him down.
I loved Sage, she maybe scared, but she pushes herself. She is sweet, and wants to just say thank you to those who helped her. She gets out of her shell.
I liked this story, and highly recommend it. Wtmo
February 13, 2023
I don’t normally read books like this, but I’m glad I read this one, and I’m gunna start searching for more like this!! And I hate to say it but I really don’t like when there are no smut scenes in a romance book, BUT I didn’t even think about it once while reading this book! I was so sucked into the plot that I had nothing else on my mind!
October 5, 2018
5 full stars!
What an amazing story and I do not like NA!
However, this story stole my heart from the beginning and never a dull moment
Looking forward to reading more of Ms Dailey books
What an amazing story and I do not like NA!
However, this story stole my heart from the beginning and never a dull moment
Looking forward to reading more of Ms Dailey books
October 14, 2018
3.75 Solid Stars
October 17, 2018
Loved this one. I really can't wait to read about more about circuit peeps
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