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Maeve Tidewell #1
Pay Attention: A Novel of Suspense
A young woman, a man from her past, and a psychic connection between two strangers sets the stage for a dangerous game where heroes emerge when we least expect them to. Maeve Tidewell has a gift, of sorts. She sees glimpses of the future in her dreams. Unfortunately for her, Joseph Binyon wants that gift for his own. When Maeve wakes to find she is being held captive by the disturbed man from her past, she realizes she stands to lose much more than her vision. She stands to lose her life. As Maeve plans her daring escape, a stranger enters her dreams. She reaches out to him for help before Joseph has time to complete his bizarre ceremony. ***** Ben Drake hopes to strengthen his relationship with his teenage son during a road trip that takes him from California to the picture perfect mountains of Colorado. But strange dreams begin to fill Ben's nights and, when he discovers Maeve Tidewell is missing, he is compelled to search for her in the vast woodlands high above the valley floor they call home. Ben doesn
265 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
About the author
K.L. Barnes
13 books8 followersK.L. Barnes is the author of three novels in the psychic suspense Pay Series, Including Pay Attention, Pay the Piper, and Pay Penance featuring Maeve Tidewell and Ben Drake, as well as the stand-alone psychic suspense novella, Up Roan Creek. Her brand new release, The Dells, ventures into the humorous world of chick-lit suspense and, like all of her books, is based on her own life experiences and relationships.
Having always had a vivid imagination and the fantasy of someday becoming a real life hero, she puts her characters in situations with elements of excitement and danger. You never can tell where a hero might emerge.
Barnes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, and combines her fondness for mystery and suspense with her love of writing. Born and raised in Colorado, she now lives happily in Phoenix Arizona.
Barnes always loves hearing from readers and fans!
Visit her website at http://k-l-barnes.com/index/
Sign up to hear about new releases at http://k-l-barnes.com/books/
Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Barnes
Follow her on Twitter @_KLBarnes https://twitter.com/_KLBarnes
WHAT READERS AND REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT K.L. BARNES BOOKS:
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but won't dull your mind October 31, 2014
By Irene Riot
When I came across this book, I was looking for a light chick-lit read. What I got was a suspense thriller with a chick-lit feel. Instead of a 20 something heroine whose main dilemma is to decide which credit card to use to pay her Jimmy Choos with, I came across a book whose heroine is a kick butt cougar momma who will claw the life out of anyone who dares to mess with her cubs.
5.0 out of 5 stars Pay attention
By Willow
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Had a good hook and a few chapters in you just have to see what happens next. Can't wait for the next one.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
By Alex06
"Pay Attention" is an exceptional book. Whenever I look for a good book to read I want something that will keep me interested all the way through to the point of never putting it down. This book really does grab your attention, keeps you on your toes and is exciting from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone.
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to read the next one!, May 4, 2014
By Terry Hardin
I’m an avid reader, mostly of suspense, and I’m always looking for something new and different. I was out of reading material so I picked this up – then blew off a lunch date with my mother! I was so enthralled with Pay Attention that I just couldn’t stop reading. Maeve Tidewell is my kind of heroine for sure. This isn’t my first suspense novel by a long shot, so when I say it’s worth reading, I mean it!
- See more at: http://k-l-barnes.com/press/#sthash.i...
Having always had a vivid imagination and the fantasy of someday becoming a real life hero, she puts her characters in situations with elements of excitement and danger. You never can tell where a hero might emerge.
Barnes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, and combines her fondness for mystery and suspense with her love of writing. Born and raised in Colorado, she now lives happily in Phoenix Arizona.
Barnes always loves hearing from readers and fans!
Visit her website at http://k-l-barnes.com/index/
Sign up to hear about new releases at http://k-l-barnes.com/books/
Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Barnes
Follow her on Twitter @_KLBarnes https://twitter.com/_KLBarnes
WHAT READERS AND REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT K.L. BARNES BOOKS:
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but won't dull your mind October 31, 2014
By Irene Riot
When I came across this book, I was looking for a light chick-lit read. What I got was a suspense thriller with a chick-lit feel. Instead of a 20 something heroine whose main dilemma is to decide which credit card to use to pay her Jimmy Choos with, I came across a book whose heroine is a kick butt cougar momma who will claw the life out of anyone who dares to mess with her cubs.
5.0 out of 5 stars Pay attention
By Willow
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Had a good hook and a few chapters in you just have to see what happens next. Can't wait for the next one.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
By Alex06
"Pay Attention" is an exceptional book. Whenever I look for a good book to read I want something that will keep me interested all the way through to the point of never putting it down. This book really does grab your attention, keeps you on your toes and is exciting from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone.
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to read the next one!, May 4, 2014
By Terry Hardin
I’m an avid reader, mostly of suspense, and I’m always looking for something new and different. I was out of reading material so I picked this up – then blew off a lunch date with my mother! I was so enthralled with Pay Attention that I just couldn’t stop reading. Maeve Tidewell is my kind of heroine for sure. This isn’t my first suspense novel by a long shot, so when I say it’s worth reading, I mean it!
- See more at: http://k-l-barnes.com/press/#sthash.i...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 29, 2014
Great read! K.L. Barnes has crafted a well-thought out, fast-paced story of suspense that kept me guessing. Her descriptive writing and fully-fleshed out characters made this book a pleasure to read. Now on to the next book in her series!
November 1, 2014
I am about 80% done with this book and I like what I have read so far. I will post a complete review of this book on the Amazon site after I finish reading.
What stands out to me is the way the author portrays the qualities of her characters. The heroine, Meave Tidewell, is a kick butt single mother who will claw the life out of anyone who tries to mess with her cubs while the antagonist is this creepy fat guy who makes me want to slough off the first layer of my skin with a sanitizing handy wipe.
The author was able to create characters with integrity, strength and calculating minds as well as characters that were cold and lacked not only sympathy but also a human soul.
This book is a light read. It is entertaining but won't make half your brain fall out. I will read the complete series.
My review continued...
When I came across this book, I was looking for a light chick-lit read. What I got was a suspense thriller with a chick-lit feel. Instead of a 20 something heroine whose main dilemma is to decide which credit card to use to pay her Jimmy Choos with, I came across a book whose heroine is a kick butt cougar momma who will claw the life out of anyone who dares to mess with her cubs.
The story revolves around the heroine Maeve Tidewell and her attempt to save her children and other innocent lives from the deluded anti-hero Joseph Binyon. Maeve has a “gift” Binyon wants thinking that by “taking” her gift, great power would be bestowed upon him.
The author was able to present her characters in a credible way; the “good guys” had integrity, were endearing and did their best to help while ensuring the ones they loved were kept safe. The author was able to showcase the warped delusional thinking of her antagonists; Binyon and his son Carl are both evil with violent tendencies and total disregard for humanity. These two characters provided the shock appeal necessary for a suspense thriller however I didn’t find the details overly gory or sickening.
The conflicts in the story felt like natural turns in the road as oppose to abrupt twists and distracting turns. One of the characters’ “gift” was revealed in a way that caught me off guard. I have to say, I did not see that one coming but the scenario was presented in a way that flowed naturally with the story and created that “OMG! It can’t be her!” thrill. The ending gave me that “Aw, why can’t they be together” sense of longing as Ben, the “leading man”, and Maeve do NOT end up together. Their parting did give me warm fuzzies.
This book is a light read. As mentioned earlier, this book is entertaining but won't make half your brain fall out.
What stands out to me is the way the author portrays the qualities of her characters. The heroine, Meave Tidewell, is a kick butt single mother who will claw the life out of anyone who tries to mess with her cubs while the antagonist is this creepy fat guy who makes me want to slough off the first layer of my skin with a sanitizing handy wipe.
The author was able to create characters with integrity, strength and calculating minds as well as characters that were cold and lacked not only sympathy but also a human soul.
This book is a light read. It is entertaining but won't make half your brain fall out. I will read the complete series.
My review continued...
When I came across this book, I was looking for a light chick-lit read. What I got was a suspense thriller with a chick-lit feel. Instead of a 20 something heroine whose main dilemma is to decide which credit card to use to pay her Jimmy Choos with, I came across a book whose heroine is a kick butt cougar momma who will claw the life out of anyone who dares to mess with her cubs.
The story revolves around the heroine Maeve Tidewell and her attempt to save her children and other innocent lives from the deluded anti-hero Joseph Binyon. Maeve has a “gift” Binyon wants thinking that by “taking” her gift, great power would be bestowed upon him.
The author was able to present her characters in a credible way; the “good guys” had integrity, were endearing and did their best to help while ensuring the ones they loved were kept safe. The author was able to showcase the warped delusional thinking of her antagonists; Binyon and his son Carl are both evil with violent tendencies and total disregard for humanity. These two characters provided the shock appeal necessary for a suspense thriller however I didn’t find the details overly gory or sickening.
The conflicts in the story felt like natural turns in the road as oppose to abrupt twists and distracting turns. One of the characters’ “gift” was revealed in a way that caught me off guard. I have to say, I did not see that one coming but the scenario was presented in a way that flowed naturally with the story and created that “OMG! It can’t be her!” thrill. The ending gave me that “Aw, why can’t they be together” sense of longing as Ben, the “leading man”, and Maeve do NOT end up together. Their parting did give me warm fuzzies.
This book is a light read. As mentioned earlier, this book is entertaining but won't make half your brain fall out.
November 21, 2014
Note: I was provded with a copy of this book for review.
With her suspense novel Barnes brings together the thriller and the mystery with a touch of the unknown. The story is intriguing and enjoyable and works as a good introduction to the series by sparking your interest with suspense and good characters.
Barnes uses her characters well and through their actions and behaviour you are able to get a detailed sense of who they are and which side they are on. Maeve is strong willed and clever, and a fierce protector of her family. She learns to use Binyon's delusions to her advantage to keep herself and other safe, and bides time until help can arrive. When she sees the mysterious man in her dreams she reaches out to him for help, but she also does not rely on him to save her.
Ben on the other hand has integrity and strong sense of doing what is right, no matter what. These traits are also seen in his son, Jason. While starting off bored and uninterested, as their road trip continues Jason learns more about his dad, and grows a bit himself, and becomes stronger in the end. Ben's unexplained connection with Maeve confuses him but he does not let it stop him from trying to help, and what I liked was that he uses proper channels such as going to the police before jumping straight into danger and a rescue mission.
The "villains" of the story are shown to be harsh and cruel, giving a startling contrast to the good nature of the other characters. Binyon and his son Carl add an element of the unexpected and you're never sure of what they will do which brings a wonderful suspense to the story. With Carl you can see there are the makings of a psychopath and serial killer, but his father comes across more as a misguided and delusional person, but still showing signs of being a little psychotic.
There is a gripping, fast-paced conclusion where it seems anything can happen, and does. Barnes brings all the pieces of the puzzle together with a few unexpected surprises along the way but still leaves an air of mystery and the unresolved as well, which will no doubt be uncovered and developed as the series goes on.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/20...
With her suspense novel Barnes brings together the thriller and the mystery with a touch of the unknown. The story is intriguing and enjoyable and works as a good introduction to the series by sparking your interest with suspense and good characters.
Barnes uses her characters well and through their actions and behaviour you are able to get a detailed sense of who they are and which side they are on. Maeve is strong willed and clever, and a fierce protector of her family. She learns to use Binyon's delusions to her advantage to keep herself and other safe, and bides time until help can arrive. When she sees the mysterious man in her dreams she reaches out to him for help, but she also does not rely on him to save her.
Ben on the other hand has integrity and strong sense of doing what is right, no matter what. These traits are also seen in his son, Jason. While starting off bored and uninterested, as their road trip continues Jason learns more about his dad, and grows a bit himself, and becomes stronger in the end. Ben's unexplained connection with Maeve confuses him but he does not let it stop him from trying to help, and what I liked was that he uses proper channels such as going to the police before jumping straight into danger and a rescue mission.
The "villains" of the story are shown to be harsh and cruel, giving a startling contrast to the good nature of the other characters. Binyon and his son Carl add an element of the unexpected and you're never sure of what they will do which brings a wonderful suspense to the story. With Carl you can see there are the makings of a psychopath and serial killer, but his father comes across more as a misguided and delusional person, but still showing signs of being a little psychotic.
There is a gripping, fast-paced conclusion where it seems anything can happen, and does. Barnes brings all the pieces of the puzzle together with a few unexpected surprises along the way but still leaves an air of mystery and the unresolved as well, which will no doubt be uncovered and developed as the series goes on.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/20...
December 27, 2015
Unlikely heroes are sometimes the best kind. I've had this book for over a year and am glad I finally got around to reading it. The characters were likeable and the plot was interesting and unusual. I rate this one 4.7 stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews