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Power of Lightning #1
Flash of Fear
Lightning gave her powers, but she paid a steep price.
Forensic artist Molly Nyland survived a freak lightning strike as a child that marked her skin with Lichtenberg figures and gave her the ability to tell when what people describe doesn’t match what they actually witnessed. This truth she can never share, because if her abilities are exposed, the criminals she has helped put away could go free.
Assigned to a brutal murder case, she is shocked to discover that her new partner is Desmond Rankin, the detective she briefly hooked up with five years ago. And to her dismay, the sexual tension between them still sparks hot and heavy.
Des has his own mysteries, which involves the details of the bad drug bust that killed his former partner. He moved to Prairie Falls for a fresh start. The last thing he needs is being distracted by the forensic artist who could solve his case and thereby resurrect his career. But how is he supposed to resist the woman he’s never forgotten?
As Molly and Des struggle to keep their secrets, more bodies are discovered and it’s clear that the town is dealing with its first serial killer. To find the perpetrator before another life is lost, Molly must stretch the limits of her powers, not only to save her town, but to actually stay alive.
Forensic artist Molly Nyland survived a freak lightning strike as a child that marked her skin with Lichtenberg figures and gave her the ability to tell when what people describe doesn’t match what they actually witnessed. This truth she can never share, because if her abilities are exposed, the criminals she has helped put away could go free.
Assigned to a brutal murder case, she is shocked to discover that her new partner is Desmond Rankin, the detective she briefly hooked up with five years ago. And to her dismay, the sexual tension between them still sparks hot and heavy.
Des has his own mysteries, which involves the details of the bad drug bust that killed his former partner. He moved to Prairie Falls for a fresh start. The last thing he needs is being distracted by the forensic artist who could solve his case and thereby resurrect his career. But how is he supposed to resist the woman he’s never forgotten?
As Molly and Des struggle to keep their secrets, more bodies are discovered and it’s clear that the town is dealing with its first serial killer. To find the perpetrator before another life is lost, Molly must stretch the limits of her powers, not only to save her town, but to actually stay alive.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2019
215 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Asa Maria Bradley
27 books521 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired her sexy paranormal romance and urban fantasy series.
Subscribe to her newsletter at www.asamariabradley.com/newsletter.
Booklist attributes Asa's writing with “nonstop action, satisfying romantic encounters, and intriguing world building” and Entertainment Weekly says “when it comes to paranormal romance with explosive action scenes, Bradley has that nailed.” Her work has received the honors of a double nomination for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest, a Reviewers’ Choice Award nomination, a Holt Medallion win, and a Booksellers’ Best Award win.
Asa came to the United States as a high school exchange student and quickly fell in love with ranch dressing and crime TV dramas of all flavors, two addictions she unfortunately still struggles with. Currently, she lives on a lake deep in the forest of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of indeterminate breed. Sadly, neither of them obeys any of her commands.
Subscribe to her newsletter at www.asamariabradley.com/newsletter.
Booklist attributes Asa's writing with “nonstop action, satisfying romantic encounters, and intriguing world building” and Entertainment Weekly says “when it comes to paranormal romance with explosive action scenes, Bradley has that nailed.” Her work has received the honors of a double nomination for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest, a Reviewers’ Choice Award nomination, a Holt Medallion win, and a Booksellers’ Best Award win.
Asa came to the United States as a high school exchange student and quickly fell in love with ranch dressing and crime TV dramas of all flavors, two addictions she unfortunately still struggles with. Currently, she lives on a lake deep in the forest of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of indeterminate breed. Sadly, neither of them obeys any of her commands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 8, 2023
Flash of Fear is book one in the Power of Lightning series by Asa Maria Bradley.
This story had potential, but for me they’re wasn’t enough flushing out of the storyline and characters. Molly sounds like a cool character and she was, but her hang ups were a downer and just made her seem mean to our lead hero Desmond.
As for the story there is a lot going on; a murder mystery, some weird club, odd characters that I can’t figure out (are they supernatural), and a hot/cold romance. There was just too much and not enough of it was developed for me to get into the story or characters.
I ended up DNFing this at 47%. I really tried to like this story and wanted to since the blurb made it sound interesting, but it wasn't for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Rated: DNF
This story had potential, but for me they’re wasn’t enough flushing out of the storyline and characters. Molly sounds like a cool character and she was, but her hang ups were a downer and just made her seem mean to our lead hero Desmond.
As for the story there is a lot going on; a murder mystery, some weird club, odd characters that I can’t figure out (are they supernatural), and a hot/cold romance. There was just too much and not enough of it was developed for me to get into the story or characters.
I ended up DNFing this at 47%. I really tried to like this story and wanted to since the blurb made it sound interesting, but it wasn't for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Rated: DNF
February 18, 2021
2.5
A mix of PNR and UF, FoF wasn’t bad to read. It lacked world building and stretched credulity when it moved from paranormal (she has some extra senses) to urban fantasy (with weres and unknown and unspecified Others). Unfortunately that *is* a side effect of lack of world building.
And I think the one moment in the story where I thought WTH it’s due to this same lack So an unimportant details got way to much attention in my memory.
Overall all the plot needed a better foundation that it got .
So I’m not sure I can recommend FoF to hardcore UF fans. It may appeal more to romance reader.
A mix of PNR and UF, FoF wasn’t bad to read. It lacked world building and stretched credulity when it moved from paranormal (she has some extra senses) to urban fantasy (with weres and unknown and unspecified Others). Unfortunately that *is* a side effect of lack of world building.
And I think the one moment in the story where I thought WTH it’s due to this same lack So an unimportant details got way to much attention in my memory.
Overall all the plot needed a better foundation that it got .
So I’m not sure I can recommend FoF to hardcore UF fans. It may appeal more to romance reader.
June 27, 2020
I was super lucky to win this book in a giveaway and I had no idea what to expect when I started reading it. Didn't even read the blurb because I judged it on the cover and definitely thought I would enjoy it regardless. I definitely enjoyed it and it really kept me intrigued throughout. I would have finished it in a day if I hadn't had a birthday lockdown surprise party to organise, which is apparently harder to do than a non-lockdown party.
If you enjoy books by Kelley Armstrong then this read is for you. I loved the undercover work alongside this and the very grounded and normal everyday work these characters do. It felt very grounded and real with a twisted fantasy element. The characters are so interesting and have such great chemistry between themselves and as a reader, I really connected with them. I am dyinggggg to know what the hell is happening with Molly. Like I can't believe we didn't find out before the ending. There has to be some other reasoning to her powers other than being hit by lightning. Right?
I suppose I'll have to patiently wait for the next book. Patience is not one of my strong suits btw.
If you enjoy books by Kelley Armstrong then this read is for you. I loved the undercover work alongside this and the very grounded and normal everyday work these characters do. It felt very grounded and real with a twisted fantasy element. The characters are so interesting and have such great chemistry between themselves and as a reader, I really connected with them. I am dyinggggg to know what the hell is happening with Molly. Like I can't believe we didn't find out before the ending. There has to be some other reasoning to her powers other than being hit by lightning. Right?
I suppose I'll have to patiently wait for the next book. Patience is not one of my strong suits btw.
September 27, 2020
This might have been higher, but Molly hit a weak stretch in the middle which really lost her points. Plus a fair amount of typos and editing issues. 3 stars.
Molly Nyland (h) was struck by lightning at age 12, leaving her with scars and a rather unique ability: when she draws, she gets feelings up her scar, reflecting the accuracy and appropriateness of the details in her drawings. She has channeled that into a career as a graphic designer, while moonlighting as a uncannily accurate forensic sketch artist. The newest detective in her small town, Des Rankin (H), was a one night stand of hers 5 years ago - both Molly's most passionate romantic encounter and one she's been trying to escape. Des, on the other hand, would love to rekindle their connection. Unfortunately, a series of gruesome murders - Prairie Falls' first serial killer, in fact - are creating a hurdle. And possibly bringing Molly and her friends into danger...
I liked some of the unique aspects to this story. Molly's talents and their origin were unique. And the mystery of the music club was built well. You could see some suspect details, and have an idea where things were headed (yes, the actual villains were pretty obvious), but it took a while to fully see where the author was going with her supernatural world here. Always nice when you get some surprises in the details.
Molly, while being a unique and pretty enjoyable h in a lot of ways, hit a rough stretch about 2/3 of the way through the story. It just built and built until I was just about done with her. She had been stubborn and independent throughout the story, but she also became hypersensitive and judgmental and irrational through that section. It didn't feel totally in character, which made it extra frustrating. Like her reaction to Rankin's response to her gifts. 'Hey, I'm practically magic, which is just one more supernatural cherry you're getting on your sundae of a day, but I'm expecting you to roll with it immediately and not be shocked or surprised at all.' Seriously, he didn't say anything bad, he didn't look at her in disgust - he was stunned, which was perfectly understandable in the circumstances. And yet, she goes off on him. Hypersensitive, much? Or about him holding details of the case. She's not a detective. She's not a police officer. She's not even a full-time PD employee. She's a freelancing contractor working with one tiny, specific aspect of the investigative process. There's absolutely no reason for him to be sharing details of the crime scene evidence with her, as it has no bearing on the limited work she actually does do with the department! Yet she's all butt-hurt when she finds out that he knew more about the case than he'd told her. Being a little hurt might be understandable, since they were friends-ish, but not to the extent that she reacted. And it was extra hypocritical, when she was fussing later that detectives usually filled her in on details, even though it "wasn’t standard procedures, might even violate a few." Did she really expect by-the-book Rankin to do that, especially being the new guy in the office? And then there's the full-out TSTL 'my errand at the office will be just a moment' leading into the climax. At any rate, these couple situations coming on top of each other, and all the emotional drama that Molly created for herself and Rankin as a result... dropped a solid star for me.
There were some details that weren't developed here, but I'm guessing that they're laying the groundwork for developments later in the series. Dakota calls Rankin "Brother Wolf" when there isn't really a reason, for example, and there's a bit of posturing and growling that doesn't make completely sense (yet?). Rankin's shown absolutely no supernatural tendencies or abilities at this point. And I'd love to see Nana and Dakota's connection (and Nana's slightly witchy background) explored more - we just got a little teaser here.
There are quite a lot of typos, though. Plenty of one-letter typos (if/of, dessert/desert, synopses forming in the brain, rather than synapses, that sort of thing) and missing words, especially in verb phrases (reacted to). Sometimes just the wrong word or name (the town is even referred to by the wrong name at one point). My favorite was the "chicken coup" - made me think of Chicken Run. A fair number of comma and apostrophe errors too. And a pair of sentences repeated verbatim about two pages later. While the typos were distracting (and at times amusing), the continuity errors were the more distracting. Characters refilling the same glasses in back-to-back paragraphs, for example. And at one point, she's flashing back to "the animal she’d seen the night she’d driven out to the farmhouse"... except she didn't see any animals that night, just animal tracks. Even if Molly hadn't lost points in the middle, the proofreading needs would have definitely kept this from being 4+ or 5 stars.
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating (at least from the leads), and no love triangles. No OW/OM drama, exactly, but definitely some Mean Girl antics and petty workplace drama. Molly started as a good lead, but lost some serious points when the drama built - as I've already fussed about above. Des wasn't bad, but a little flat at times - more time was definitely spent with Molly's emotional issues. Not really an HEA, but the main mystery is resolved and the main couple is coming together. More slow-burn SPN romance/urban fantasy romance than a full-on fast SPN romance (which usually tend to be a bit more fast paced).
Would I read more in the series? Sure, particularly if they were other sale/free Kindle finds. I'd definitely be interested in a Dakota/Nana story (maybe even more than more about Molly/Des).
Molly Nyland (h) was struck by lightning at age 12, leaving her with scars and a rather unique ability: when she draws, she gets feelings up her scar, reflecting the accuracy and appropriateness of the details in her drawings. She has channeled that into a career as a graphic designer, while moonlighting as a uncannily accurate forensic sketch artist. The newest detective in her small town, Des Rankin (H), was a one night stand of hers 5 years ago - both Molly's most passionate romantic encounter and one she's been trying to escape. Des, on the other hand, would love to rekindle their connection. Unfortunately, a series of gruesome murders - Prairie Falls' first serial killer, in fact - are creating a hurdle. And possibly bringing Molly and her friends into danger...
I liked some of the unique aspects to this story. Molly's talents and their origin were unique. And the mystery of the music club was built well. You could see some suspect details, and have an idea where things were headed (yes, the actual villains were pretty obvious), but it took a while to fully see where the author was going with her supernatural world here. Always nice when you get some surprises in the details.
Molly, while being a unique and pretty enjoyable h in a lot of ways, hit a rough stretch about 2/3 of the way through the story. It just built and built until I was just about done with her. She had been stubborn and independent throughout the story, but she also became hypersensitive and judgmental and irrational through that section. It didn't feel totally in character, which made it extra frustrating. Like her reaction to Rankin's response to her gifts. 'Hey, I'm practically magic, which is just one more supernatural cherry you're getting on your sundae of a day, but I'm expecting you to roll with it immediately and not be shocked or surprised at all.' Seriously, he didn't say anything bad, he didn't look at her in disgust - he was stunned, which was perfectly understandable in the circumstances. And yet, she goes off on him. Hypersensitive, much? Or about him holding details of the case. She's not a detective. She's not a police officer. She's not even a full-time PD employee. She's a freelancing contractor working with one tiny, specific aspect of the investigative process. There's absolutely no reason for him to be sharing details of the crime scene evidence with her, as it has no bearing on the limited work she actually does do with the department! Yet she's all butt-hurt when she finds out that he knew more about the case than he'd told her. Being a little hurt might be understandable, since they were friends-ish, but not to the extent that she reacted. And it was extra hypocritical, when she was fussing later that detectives usually filled her in on details, even though it "wasn’t standard procedures, might even violate a few." Did she really expect by-the-book Rankin to do that, especially being the new guy in the office? And then there's the full-out TSTL 'my errand at the office will be just a moment' leading into the climax. At any rate, these couple situations coming on top of each other, and all the emotional drama that Molly created for herself and Rankin as a result... dropped a solid star for me.
There were some details that weren't developed here, but I'm guessing that they're laying the groundwork for developments later in the series. Dakota calls Rankin "Brother Wolf" when there isn't really a reason, for example, and there's a bit of posturing and growling that doesn't make completely sense (yet?). Rankin's shown absolutely no supernatural tendencies or abilities at this point. And I'd love to see Nana and Dakota's connection (and Nana's slightly witchy background) explored more - we just got a little teaser here.
There are quite a lot of typos, though. Plenty of one-letter typos (if/of, dessert/desert, synopses forming in the brain, rather than synapses, that sort of thing) and missing words, especially in verb phrases (reacted to). Sometimes just the wrong word or name (the town is even referred to by the wrong name at one point). My favorite was the "chicken coup" - made me think of Chicken Run. A fair number of comma and apostrophe errors too. And a pair of sentences repeated verbatim about two pages later. While the typos were distracting (and at times amusing), the continuity errors were the more distracting. Characters refilling the same glasses in back-to-back paragraphs, for example. And at one point, she's flashing back to "the animal she’d seen the night she’d driven out to the farmhouse"... except she didn't see any animals that night, just animal tracks. Even if Molly hadn't lost points in the middle, the proofreading needs would have definitely kept this from being 4+ or 5 stars.
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating (at least from the leads), and no love triangles. No OW/OM drama, exactly, but definitely some Mean Girl antics and petty workplace drama. Molly started as a good lead, but lost some serious points when the drama built - as I've already fussed about above. Des wasn't bad, but a little flat at times - more time was definitely spent with Molly's emotional issues. Not really an HEA, but the main mystery is resolved and the main couple is coming together. More slow-burn SPN romance/urban fantasy romance than a full-on fast SPN romance (which usually tend to be a bit more fast paced).
Would I read more in the series? Sure, particularly if they were other sale/free Kindle finds. I'd definitely be interested in a Dakota/Nana story (maybe even more than more about Molly/Des).
May 19, 2019
After surviving a freak lightning streak, Molly Nyland has the ability to tell what people describe doesn’t match what they actually witnessed. This is a truth that she can never share and one that she has paid a steep price for. Desmond Rankin has moved to Prairie Falls for a fresh start and the last thing he needs is to be distracted by Molly. As they struggle to keep their secrets, more bodies are discovered and it becomes clear that they are dealing with a serial killer and Molly will have to stretch the limits of her powers not only to save the town but to actually stay alive.
The first book in a new paranormal romance trilogy keeps readers guessing until the very end. The characters are strong, captivating and easily draw readers into their story while the chemistry between the hero and heroine heats up the pages. The romance between Molly and Desmond has lots of emotional turmoil that adds depth to these characters and makes them seem life like and the relationship is hindered by secrets and a past that makes it hard for this couple to move forward.
The plot is fast paced and very suspenseful keeping readers glued to the pages and wondering what will be revealed next. The suspense is spine tingling and some there are a couple of unexpected twists that readers don’t see coming although this story doesn’t quite satisfy readers curiosity in regards to some elements, those elements are very intriguing and it’s obvious that more will be revealed throughout the trilogy so readers will definitely be looking forward to reading them.
The first book in a new paranormal romance trilogy keeps readers guessing until the very end. The characters are strong, captivating and easily draw readers into their story while the chemistry between the hero and heroine heats up the pages. The romance between Molly and Desmond has lots of emotional turmoil that adds depth to these characters and makes them seem life like and the relationship is hindered by secrets and a past that makes it hard for this couple to move forward.
The plot is fast paced and very suspenseful keeping readers glued to the pages and wondering what will be revealed next. The suspense is spine tingling and some there are a couple of unexpected twists that readers don’t see coming although this story doesn’t quite satisfy readers curiosity in regards to some elements, those elements are very intriguing and it’s obvious that more will be revealed throughout the trilogy so readers will definitely be looking forward to reading them.
September 19, 2021
Danger stalks
Wow! What a suspenseful adventure! Lots of murder and mayhem, secrets and surprises, danger and evil is stalking her! Who to trust? Who is the murderer? Why does he seem to want her? Amidst these stressful times will love have time to grow?mmor is it to late?
Wow! What a suspenseful adventure! Lots of murder and mayhem, secrets and surprises, danger and evil is stalking her! Who to trust? Who is the murderer? Why does he seem to want her? Amidst these stressful times will love have time to grow?mmor is it to late?
May 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book very much. Good chemistry between Molly and Des as well as a very good plot. It was my first book by Asa Maria Bradley, but it won't be my last.
September 21, 2020
The blurb of this book does not give away what truly goes on in this book. I really enjoyed being surprised. This is one hot, sexy paranormal with a great cast of characters. Looking forward to the next book.
May 16, 2019
3+ Stars
The first time I read Asa Maria Bradley’s book was the “Viking Warriors” series. Her writing clicked with me - especially her “Viking Warrior Rebel” - that I jumped at the chance of reading her new AU paranormal story. As the introduction to the “Power of Lightning” trilogy, FLASH OF FEAR set the groundwork of the world building and presented a blend of interesting characters.
Molly Nyland survived a freak lightning strike as a child and the following abuse (in the name of devil riddance) from her family, to be a successful designer slash forensic artist for the police. Still, the abuse left her scarred and kept people at arm’s length. Desmond Raskin struggled with mystery that caused his former partner killed in a peculiar way. The job transfer to Prairie Falls PD was meant to be a fresh start as well following lead left by his dead partner. When he met the forensic artist he had had unforgettable hook up with on his first case, it was a combustion waiting to happen.
In the ballpark, the storyline sounded like something you’ve read before. Having read Bradley’s books before, I’m confident she got quite some twist here and there - and I was not disappointed!! The first half of the book was mainly focusing on Molly and her rare ability, before the bogeyman and all interesting characters started to come crawling out of the woodwork. While I haven’t got full picture on the world building yet (there were wolf/man, full wolfman, wolf hunter, wise man, etc etc) I think I got the handle of it enough. Here’s hoping the next two installments would give clearer illustration of it (for me) to understand.
Mystery wise, it was somewhat obvious from the start whom to suspect (I mean, there’s no evidence to file away, but please!! oblivious much to clues thrown here and there??). Molly often struck me as naive and too goodie two shoes, considering she had special gift with intuition. Granted, she might haven’t commanded her full power yet, but I just went GAH!!! whenever she decided to do something out of sheer stubbornness, like the famous ”I’ll be in and out in no time at all.” As soon as she said that, I just KNEW something was about to happen.
Another thing, the story didn’t much delved on the police work so there’s not much glory to be had for Des, other than his prowess in seducing Molly it seemed. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the sizzling romance between him and Molly. But I wish he could back up his ability of his protective streak other than using words and grinned his way out of trouble!!
As the first entry to the trilogy, this FLASH OF FEAR is quite an engaging story (you could tell from my rants above how invested I was to the story), but overall felt slightly unrefined. But I’m still looking forward to the sequels and hoping my reading experience will much improve from this time.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first time I read Asa Maria Bradley’s book was the “Viking Warriors” series. Her writing clicked with me - especially her “Viking Warrior Rebel” - that I jumped at the chance of reading her new AU paranormal story. As the introduction to the “Power of Lightning” trilogy, FLASH OF FEAR set the groundwork of the world building and presented a blend of interesting characters.
Molly Nyland survived a freak lightning strike as a child and the following abuse (in the name of devil riddance) from her family, to be a successful designer slash forensic artist for the police. Still, the abuse left her scarred and kept people at arm’s length. Desmond Raskin struggled with mystery that caused his former partner killed in a peculiar way. The job transfer to Prairie Falls PD was meant to be a fresh start as well following lead left by his dead partner. When he met the forensic artist he had had unforgettable hook up with on his first case, it was a combustion waiting to happen.
In the ballpark, the storyline sounded like something you’ve read before. Having read Bradley’s books before, I’m confident she got quite some twist here and there - and I was not disappointed!! The first half of the book was mainly focusing on Molly and her rare ability, before the bogeyman and all interesting characters started to come crawling out of the woodwork. While I haven’t got full picture on the world building yet (there were wolf/man, full wolfman, wolf hunter, wise man, etc etc) I think I got the handle of it enough. Here’s hoping the next two installments would give clearer illustration of it (for me) to understand.
Mystery wise, it was somewhat obvious from the start whom to suspect (I mean, there’s no evidence to file away, but please!! oblivious much to clues thrown here and there??). Molly often struck me as naive and too goodie two shoes, considering she had special gift with intuition. Granted, she might haven’t commanded her full power yet, but I just went GAH!!! whenever she decided to do something out of sheer stubbornness, like the famous ”I’ll be in and out in no time at all.” As soon as she said that, I just KNEW something was about to happen.
Another thing, the story didn’t much delved on the police work so there’s not much glory to be had for Des, other than his prowess in seducing Molly it seemed. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the sizzling romance between him and Molly. But I wish he could back up his ability of his protective streak other than using words and grinned his way out of trouble!!
As the first entry to the trilogy, this FLASH OF FEAR is quite an engaging story (you could tell from my rants above how invested I was to the story), but overall felt slightly unrefined. But I’m still looking forward to the sequels and hoping my reading experience will much improve from this time.
Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2019
I love fantasy, but urban/paranormal fantasy is definitely not my thing, so readers who like that facet of the genre might like this book more than me.
Molly was struck by lightning as a child which left scars along her arm and gifted her with a supernatural ability. Working as a forensic artist, she can tell when a witness is inaccurately describing the crimes they saw and gets case-solving sketches as a result of her careful questioning.
When her hometown (which bears a certain resemblance to my home - the author is local) has its first serial killer ever, Molly is partnered with Desmond Rankin, a detective she had a brief affair with several years ago and never expected to see again. Des is new to town and eager to prove himself by catching the murderer. He can also tell that Molly is hiding something and is determined to find out her secret.
The story is pretty simple - most readers will be able to guess what will happen between Molly and Des as well as who the murderer is. Other than Molly's ability, it takes awhile for the supernatural elements to come to the foreground. When the more extravagant paranormal aspects appear, it threw me off a little bit because the world-building so far had been mostly grounded in reality.
The biggest issue I had with the novel were the typos. There were SO many of them - almost one per page. Most of them were incorrect words, such as rumbled instead of ruffled. I'm enough of a grammar nerd that I find frequent errors to be grating. Just because a book is self-published doesn't mean it shouldn't be edited at all.
Not so terrible that I struggled to read it, but not so great that I want to check out the sequel.
Disclaimer: I won this book for free from the author during a giveaway at a writer's conference I attended. I know of the author, since she is local, but she did not ask me to read this book or write a review.
Molly was struck by lightning as a child which left scars along her arm and gifted her with a supernatural ability. Working as a forensic artist, she can tell when a witness is inaccurately describing the crimes they saw and gets case-solving sketches as a result of her careful questioning.
When her hometown (which bears a certain resemblance to my home - the author is local) has its first serial killer ever, Molly is partnered with Desmond Rankin, a detective she had a brief affair with several years ago and never expected to see again. Des is new to town and eager to prove himself by catching the murderer. He can also tell that Molly is hiding something and is determined to find out her secret.
The story is pretty simple - most readers will be able to guess what will happen between Molly and Des as well as who the murderer is. Other than Molly's ability, it takes awhile for the supernatural elements to come to the foreground. When the more extravagant paranormal aspects appear, it threw me off a little bit because the world-building so far had been mostly grounded in reality.
The biggest issue I had with the novel were the typos. There were SO many of them - almost one per page. Most of them were incorrect words, such as rumbled instead of ruffled. I'm enough of a grammar nerd that I find frequent errors to be grating. Just because a book is self-published doesn't mean it shouldn't be edited at all.
Not so terrible that I struggled to read it, but not so great that I want to check out the sequel.
Disclaimer: I won this book for free from the author during a giveaway at a writer's conference I attended. I know of the author, since she is local, but she did not ask me to read this book or write a review.
September 22, 2020
“Flash of Fear”is an interesting paranormal reading experience. Yes, there are werewolves/shapeshifters but what makes this unique is that the main character, Molly Nyland was struck by lightning when she was twelve years old. Raised by a religious zealot grandmother she was tortured and abused in order to “rid the devil from her.”
Molly went away to college where she became a graphic artist. She also works on the side as a police sketch artist. The lightning strike enhances her ability to draw incredible likenesses of suspects but no one knows her secret. When a young girl is witness to a murder Molly is called upon to draw a likeness of the perp. What she didn’t realize is that a new Detective, Desmond Rankin will be working with her. She and Rankin slept together once and she ran out on him before they could talk about it. Now he is here and he wants to resume where they left off.
There is a serial killer in town and they have a strange connection to one of the hottest night clubs in town. The question is what is the connection and why is Molly the new target of the killer? This is a really interesting read. I liked the author’s writing style as well as her characterizations. The world building was good as well. My only criticism is there was a real lack of action in this read up until the very end. I believe that if the author had included more this series has the potential to be outstanding. Hopefully the next book will take care of this. If you are interested in a fresh new take on the paranormal world, I recommend “Flash of Fear.”
Molly went away to college where she became a graphic artist. She also works on the side as a police sketch artist. The lightning strike enhances her ability to draw incredible likenesses of suspects but no one knows her secret. When a young girl is witness to a murder Molly is called upon to draw a likeness of the perp. What she didn’t realize is that a new Detective, Desmond Rankin will be working with her. She and Rankin slept together once and she ran out on him before they could talk about it. Now he is here and he wants to resume where they left off.
There is a serial killer in town and they have a strange connection to one of the hottest night clubs in town. The question is what is the connection and why is Molly the new target of the killer? This is a really interesting read. I liked the author’s writing style as well as her characterizations. The world building was good as well. My only criticism is there was a real lack of action in this read up until the very end. I believe that if the author had included more this series has the potential to be outstanding. Hopefully the next book will take care of this. If you are interested in a fresh new take on the paranormal world, I recommend “Flash of Fear.”
January 1, 2021
“Flash of Fear” is the first installment in the “Power of Lighting” Trilogy by Asa Maria Bradley, a mix of urban fantasy, paranormal romance and police procedural combined to create a satisfying story, set in a well-crafted world, with interesting, relatable characters, refreshing situations, twisted mysteries and a highly enjoyable plot.
Molly Nyland (FMC) was struck by lighting in her childhood, an event that left her with Lichtenberg figures engraved in her skin and the power to actually know when people are telling the truth or lying, an ability that comes in handy in her work as forensic artist sketching for the police, but that has to be hidden at all cost, to avoid the culprits to go free for unlawful procedure. As Molly is assigned to a high-profile case with a new partner, Desmond Rankin, things unravel. Desmond and Molly enjoyed a brief flirt over five year previous. With the old chemistry running high, Molly has to try to stay on track of the case while hiding her ability, while Desmond hopes for resurrecting his own career after loosing her partner keep going sidetracked by Molly’s presence, the woman he hasn’t be able to forget.
But love and affection have to take a back seat in the presence of a serial killer, who is prowling the town and forcing Molly to stretch her magic boundaries to the limit.
This is a very interesting addiction to the UF genre, with immediately likeable characters that come as a double treat. It’s a good book that could become great with a better edition. Nevertheless, the story well-deserves the lecture.
Molly Nyland (FMC) was struck by lighting in her childhood, an event that left her with Lichtenberg figures engraved in her skin and the power to actually know when people are telling the truth or lying, an ability that comes in handy in her work as forensic artist sketching for the police, but that has to be hidden at all cost, to avoid the culprits to go free for unlawful procedure. As Molly is assigned to a high-profile case with a new partner, Desmond Rankin, things unravel. Desmond and Molly enjoyed a brief flirt over five year previous. With the old chemistry running high, Molly has to try to stay on track of the case while hiding her ability, while Desmond hopes for resurrecting his own career after loosing her partner keep going sidetracked by Molly’s presence, the woman he hasn’t be able to forget.
But love and affection have to take a back seat in the presence of a serial killer, who is prowling the town and forcing Molly to stretch her magic boundaries to the limit.
This is a very interesting addiction to the UF genre, with immediately likeable characters that come as a double treat. It’s a good book that could become great with a better edition. Nevertheless, the story well-deserves the lecture.
January 4, 2021
Good
Molly is an artist, who sometimes works as a freelance forensic artist for the local police. She has a special gift for knowing when a witness isn’t entirely truthful, and uses it to make accurate pictures.
When she is called upon to draw what a witness to a murder saw, she is reintroduced to Detective Des Rankin, the man she had a fling with five years before.
Des is new to the area, after leaving his former position when his previous partner died. Now he’s the new guy on the force, desperate to prove himself, and lead detective in what turns out to be a serial murder case.
There are mysterious things happening in the town though, and Molly and Des find themselves in a world, where not everything is as it seems.
This is the first book in a series that is part romantic suspense, and part paranormal romance. While the first half of the book seems pretty normal, we soon learn that things aren’t always quite as they seem, and that perhaps there is more to life than we realize.
It’s a good book, gradually building on a framework of ‘normal’, and by the end of the book, the original mystery might be solved, but new questions have risen and the reader is sure to be curious about ‘what’s next’.
Recommended for those who love paranormal mystery and suspense.
Molly is an artist, who sometimes works as a freelance forensic artist for the local police. She has a special gift for knowing when a witness isn’t entirely truthful, and uses it to make accurate pictures.
When she is called upon to draw what a witness to a murder saw, she is reintroduced to Detective Des Rankin, the man she had a fling with five years before.
Des is new to the area, after leaving his former position when his previous partner died. Now he’s the new guy on the force, desperate to prove himself, and lead detective in what turns out to be a serial murder case.
There are mysterious things happening in the town though, and Molly and Des find themselves in a world, where not everything is as it seems.
This is the first book in a series that is part romantic suspense, and part paranormal romance. While the first half of the book seems pretty normal, we soon learn that things aren’t always quite as they seem, and that perhaps there is more to life than we realize.
It’s a good book, gradually building on a framework of ‘normal’, and by the end of the book, the original mystery might be solved, but new questions have risen and the reader is sure to be curious about ‘what’s next’.
Recommended for those who love paranormal mystery and suspense.
January 5, 2024
When Molly was younger, she was struck by lightning and it gave her powers. It scarred her shoulder and arm. Her grandmother and great uncle tried to beat the devil out of her. They thought she had a demon in her. Now she is a graphic designer and works part time as a forensic artist with the police. She has a high success rate because her scars tingle when someone isn’t describing exactly what they saw. She’s called to a scene and finds a one night stand has been transferred to her town.
Des was a cop in Sacramento when his partner was killed under suspicious circumstances. He moved to Washington because his partner had Prairie Falls written down in a notebook. Now he is working again with Molly after she run out on him after sharing an explosive night.
People Molly knows are ending up dead by their blood being drained. She becomes a person of interest but her fellow cop friends work hard to prove her innocence. Will the killer get her next before they find them?
Really good story. A little sex. Action. Molly thinks she’s ugly because of her scars and doesn’t let anyone close. Des is still dealing with his partner’s death and isn’t looking for a relationship. I will say Molly was a little prickly about her scars and abilities.
Des was a cop in Sacramento when his partner was killed under suspicious circumstances. He moved to Washington because his partner had Prairie Falls written down in a notebook. Now he is working again with Molly after she run out on him after sharing an explosive night.
People Molly knows are ending up dead by their blood being drained. She becomes a person of interest but her fellow cop friends work hard to prove her innocence. Will the killer get her next before they find them?
Really good story. A little sex. Action. Molly thinks she’s ugly because of her scars and doesn’t let anyone close. Des is still dealing with his partner’s death and isn’t looking for a relationship. I will say Molly was a little prickly about her scars and abilities.
April 10, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
FYI It alternates POV between a female and a male main character.
I liked both MC's.
I liked the other characters.
I'm interested in learning more about the world.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
FYI It alternates POV between a female and a male main character.
I liked both MC's.
I liked the other characters.
I'm interested in learning more about the world.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
September 23, 2020
It’s good, but...
This is a decent book and I wanted to give it more stars but there are some major issues. The characters are likable, the magic takes a back seat to the story, and the storyline is pretty good. However, the author decides that the main character, who is a string self assured woman with some body complex issues, should lose all reason whenever a man walks close to her, and loses her mind whenever the male lead is close. I understand putting sex in a story, and I don’t mind it, but when an author totally undoes the characters personalities whenever it come to sex ,it ruins the story. In this case the male lead is a jerk but one look gets the main to drop her pants. It’s so unreasonable, as the author makes no attempt to have them fall in love. If characters are wanting to move in together but the author makes no attempt to develop their feelings then you turn a good character into a robotic zombie only thinking down below. If that’s what the author wants then write that story, don’t shove it needlessly in a nice urban fantasy slash mystery murder. I mean, she never even gets the jerk to start being nice to her... really?
This is a decent book and I wanted to give it more stars but there are some major issues. The characters are likable, the magic takes a back seat to the story, and the storyline is pretty good. However, the author decides that the main character, who is a string self assured woman with some body complex issues, should lose all reason whenever a man walks close to her, and loses her mind whenever the male lead is close. I understand putting sex in a story, and I don’t mind it, but when an author totally undoes the characters personalities whenever it come to sex ,it ruins the story. In this case the male lead is a jerk but one look gets the main to drop her pants. It’s so unreasonable, as the author makes no attempt to have them fall in love. If characters are wanting to move in together but the author makes no attempt to develop their feelings then you turn a good character into a robotic zombie only thinking down below. If that’s what the author wants then write that story, don’t shove it needlessly in a nice urban fantasy slash mystery murder. I mean, she never even gets the jerk to start being nice to her... really?
July 12, 2023
This is a good introduction to what may be a very great series. My absolute fave character was Molly who experienced a lightening strike as a young child. This left her definitely marked but also with special powers which she is just becoming to learn more about. My next favorite character was Detective Zedler. We learn more about him as the book progresses but, from the beginning, he came across as a strong, supportive, and even caring lawman. Tasunke/Dakota and Eric Enfrid and even Detective Faurk seemed to be more noble, driven, and caring about Molly. Last, and least IMO, was Detective Desmond (Des) Rankin. He seems to have a lot of growing up and maturing to do and operated throughout the book on a much lower and more physical plane. Maybe we’ll see that in future books. The LT, female, foul-mouthed and always angry about how fast crimes are/are not solved, also needs a little personal work. A good LT understand the efforts her/his staff is putting out and appreciates it while pushing for closure. Anyway, the story line is subtle and picks up in the later parts of the book and the cast of good guys earned this rating.
May 12, 2019
A gripping, suspenseful romantic suspense novel with paranormal elements that I couldn't get enough of! As the story unfolds you find yourself guessing about things only to be surprised when answers are revealed. Just when you think you've figured out something, a twist comes along that keeps you glued to the pages. Molly is a graphic designer who freelances as a forensic artist for the police. When called to sketch a suspect in the first murder the town has seen in years, she finds herself facing the one night stand that sent her running. Des came to town seeking answers to the death of his partner and is surprised to run into Molly but delighted and determined to get a second chance with her. Their attraction sizzles and as things heat up between them they both find themselves fighting against the inevitable. But as more murders occur, Molly finds herself drawn into danger with more questions than answers leading to an ending that surprises you. The potential and possibilities for this series are endless and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Des and Molly!
July 6, 2020
Struck by lightning as a little girl, Molly Nyland has scars along with a gift, or curse, that helps her as a forensic artist. She has the ability to tell when what a witness is describing is not really what they saw and she can ask more questions to get an accurate depiction. When she's assigned to a new case along with a new detective in town, she's shocked to see that the new guy is Desmond Rankin, someone she knew back in California. As the murders get closer to home, she's going to have to work through her feelings and really work with Rankin or she may be next.
I really enjoyed this book. Although there were a lot of typos and grammatical errors throughout the book, the storyline did grab my attention from the beginning and keep me hooked until the end. I loved the characters who were all done well with great relationships. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. Although there were a lot of typos and grammatical errors throughout the book, the storyline did grab my attention from the beginning and keep me hooked until the end. I loved the characters who were all done well with great relationships. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 7, 2025
Unique Premise with a Romantic Focus
Flash of Fear blends urban fantasy with a strong romantic core, centering on the connection between Des and Molly. While the fantasy elements are light in the beginning, the story shines in its exploration of Molly’s intriguing gift—equal parts power and curse. Her dynamic with Des drives the plot, making this more of a romance with fantasy flavor rather than the reverse.
There were a few grammatical hiccups that occasionally disrupted the flow, and readers seeking rich fantasy world-building may find that aspect underplayed. However, the emotional depth and chemistry between the leads keep the momentum going. For those who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of the supernatural, Flash of Fear offers a fresh take on love and power.
Flash of Fear blends urban fantasy with a strong romantic core, centering on the connection between Des and Molly. While the fantasy elements are light in the beginning, the story shines in its exploration of Molly’s intriguing gift—equal parts power and curse. Her dynamic with Des drives the plot, making this more of a romance with fantasy flavor rather than the reverse.
There were a few grammatical hiccups that occasionally disrupted the flow, and readers seeking rich fantasy world-building may find that aspect underplayed. However, the emotional depth and chemistry between the leads keep the momentum going. For those who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of the supernatural, Flash of Fear offers a fresh take on love and power.
November 27, 2024
A sizzling hot alpha male, a smart & sassy heroine, and a serial killer...
Wow! An amazing, unique paranormal romance - an absolute must read. I couldn't put it down, and now I'm desperate to read on to the next book.
Molly was struck by lightning as a child, and ended up with a unique talent for working as a forensic artist. Des is a detective that she works with and one that she had a one night stand with years ago. She ran out on him rather than let him see the scars from the lightning strike.
SPOILERS: Now, years later, they are paired on a serial killer case. The truth comes out. Des is shocked. Someone tries to frame Molly as the killer. And then Molly is taken...
December 26, 2020
An exciting and tantalising read
I didn't know what to expect from this book, the author was new to me and if I'm honest I hadn't even read the blurb. A friend recommended it so I dived in and boy am I glad I did.
This book was wrapped in suspense and mystery. The main female character was unique with powers that were suttle and different from other PNR books I've read. Although the book revolves around the supernatural, it almost takes a backseat to the murders and growing heat between the characters. An intricate world was created in this book and I ha e a feeling there is still so much to uncover.
A captivating read full of mystery and suspense.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, the author was new to me and if I'm honest I hadn't even read the blurb. A friend recommended it so I dived in and boy am I glad I did.
This book was wrapped in suspense and mystery. The main female character was unique with powers that were suttle and different from other PNR books I've read. Although the book revolves around the supernatural, it almost takes a backseat to the murders and growing heat between the characters. An intricate world was created in this book and I ha e a feeling there is still so much to uncover.
A captivating read full of mystery and suspense.
May 14, 2019
Contemporary paranormal romantic suspense. Very unique story and characters. The author did a really good job drawing the reader into the story as well as developed entertaining characters. I understand this is part of set to be a Trilogy but this story ends with a HFN. I was hesitant at first to read it as I dislike cliffhangers but this book doesn't have one. It leaves a few answers unfinished so I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review.
May 15, 2019
This is a great blend of murder mystery, police procedure, enhanced human, paranormal, romance story. The story quickly drew me in, and despite my best intentions, I was unable to put it down until I finished it. The main characters are fully developed and the secondary characters are interesting to say the least. The author seems to have two more stories to feature this couple, but by the end of this story, they are together. The major story arc isn’t resolved yet so I can’t wait to read the other stories.
September 22, 2020
An interesting story, with enough twist and turns to keep the reader turning the pages. A forensic artist, who as a child was struck by lightening gets pulled into a series of murder. She has her secrets, which keep the cops she works with wondering. Her skills has helped close many cases, now one cop wants to know her secrets. The same cop, who has secrets of his own. Can the artist and the cop join forces and learn the truth before the artist winds up dead. Death by wolf is not a typical way to die, but can happen without leaving clues behind.
April 6, 2022
That was extremely interesting and it flowed really well. It was interesting how she thought it was a curse with her strange ability but I look at the same as her best friend did as a blessing that mother nature gave her 2 help in a way that benefited mankind. Until sum rogue assholes started killing people but it was good that the 2 people had 2 loose was on the good side not bad. But it was a extra bonus that she also ran into her one night stand from her past that helps her through alot and her "father figure" friend 2.
January 13, 2024
I received this book as a freebie through another author's newsletter and I thought why not give it a try, the premise seemed interesting. And it was. I had no problem following the plot and the world building. We, as the readers, discovered this paranormal world along with Molly and Des. There were a few questions left at the end, but I just assumed that this might get addressed later on if this series continued. I liked Molly and Des, Des was just a bit unreasonably possessive at times, and I would love to read more of them.
December 20, 2023
I picked this up because I like the idea of the forensic artist MC. I did enjoy the characters but not so much how romance forward the story is. The paranormal plot is really slow to develop - we don’t learn that werewolves exist until 2/3 through. (Still not a spoiler because there’s one on the cover.) Consequently the wrap up is rushed, leaving unanswered questions and a couple of things that don’t make sense.
May 25, 2019
I enjoyed the story as it developed into a paranormal book. There were plenty of twists along the way. I would have given it 5 Stars except I got tired of the two main characters and their obsession for each other. It was way too predominant within the story for my taste. I will read the next two books in the series when they come out as I did enjoy the main storyline.
October 7, 2020
Fresh new take on the world of the paranormal
This book was so refreshing. It had paranormal activity, romance, and mystery all rolled into one. The characters were lovable and relatable and drew me right in. Oh, and the twists and turns were quite surprising. I loved it and can't wait to dive into book 2!
This book was so refreshing. It had paranormal activity, romance, and mystery all rolled into one. The characters were lovable and relatable and drew me right in. Oh, and the twists and turns were quite surprising. I loved it and can't wait to dive into book 2!
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