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Illicit Minds #1
Illicit Senses
Previously published as Eye Contact (The Conditioned #1) It has been extensively re-edited and much of the story has changed.
Anomalies. Abnormals. Curiosities. Freaks. Threats. The Conditioned bear many labels, heavy restrictions, intolerable scorn, and unforgiving laws. For thirty years they have been consigned to regulation behind the walls of safe houses and camps. The Conditioned have no rights. They are not people. They are the damned.
The heir apparent to the Wade Corporation, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions incarcerating the Conditioned and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she turns to Safe Dawn, and the Conditioned it houses, in a desperate hour. Her nephew has been kidnapped and she is desperate and out of options. She will do anything, even risk her secrets, to get him back.
Spencer Lewis is well-known as a locator, there is no one he can’t find and he has a soft spot for missing children—even children with the despised last name of Wade. Following the death of his partner and anchor, tackling this case threatens more than Spencer’s sanity and safety—it threatens his heart.
In a world where nothing is as it seems and threats lurk around every corner, Addison and Spencer must learn to trust each other. Does their relationship stand a chance in a world that wants them dead for just being born?
*Please note this book was previously published under another name. and another series name. It has been extensively re-edited and much of the story has changed. But, if you feel this sounds similar to something you've read, you may have read it. Please also note that the author suggests you always read the forwards in her books before reading the book for information about things that may or may not be triggering for you.*
Anomalies. Abnormals. Curiosities. Freaks. Threats. The Conditioned bear many labels, heavy restrictions, intolerable scorn, and unforgiving laws. For thirty years they have been consigned to regulation behind the walls of safe houses and camps. The Conditioned have no rights. They are not people. They are the damned.
The heir apparent to the Wade Corporation, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions incarcerating the Conditioned and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she turns to Safe Dawn, and the Conditioned it houses, in a desperate hour. Her nephew has been kidnapped and she is desperate and out of options. She will do anything, even risk her secrets, to get him back.
Spencer Lewis is well-known as a locator, there is no one he can’t find and he has a soft spot for missing children—even children with the despised last name of Wade. Following the death of his partner and anchor, tackling this case threatens more than Spencer’s sanity and safety—it threatens his heart.
In a world where nothing is as it seems and threats lurk around every corner, Addison and Spencer must learn to trust each other. Does their relationship stand a chance in a world that wants them dead for just being born?
*Please note this book was previously published under another name. and another series name. It has been extensively re-edited and much of the story has changed. But, if you feel this sounds similar to something you've read, you may have read it. Please also note that the author suggests you always read the forwards in her books before reading the book for information about things that may or may not be triggering for you.*
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2011
About the author
Rebecca Royce
193 books1,428 followersAuthor of science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 22, 2012
**4.5 stars***
This book was a really neat twist on the concept of a romance novel, because it brought in a supernatural element that made the story around the steaminess really captivating. It felt like X-Men turned into an NC-17 movie,
Addison has hidden her Condition her entire life. Born into an incredibly wealthy and powerful family, she knows her life depends on no one finding out what she is. Her father taught her how to keep it under control so that no one would find out she was one of "them", the freaks that her own grandfather has locked away to protect the public. But when the beloved nephew she promised her dying sister she'd protect is kidnapped, Addison is desperate enough to risk exposing herself in order to find him. She enters Safe Dawn, one of the institutions where people like her are held, in the hopes that infamous locator Spencer Lewis will use his powers to help her. What she didn't expect was the hard-bodied gorgeous blonde specimen that walked into the room, and right away she knows working with him is going to be a problem. Spencer, a resident of the institution for most of his life, doesn't know what to make of the beautiful and mysterious Addison Wade, but he knows he wants to find out. Part of him wants to hate her for what her family has done to his kind, but he can't help but be drawn to the surprisingly charismatic woman. Addison and Spencer set out to find out what happened to Jeremy, but when Addison's secret is revealed things take an unexpected turn. Those she thought she could trust have betrayed her, and her own abilities may be the difference between finding Jeremy and finding herself locked up with the others like her.
First off, Addison was an awesome character!! She was strong, confident, and not willing to be pushed around by her grandfather's warped morals. As the story went along and Addison spent more time with Spencer, I just loved how bad-ass she became as her powers came to light. She is more powerful than she ever believed, and I just loved seeing her unleash her abilities on their enemies!! She has this air of assuredness about her once she really grasped and harnessed the power within, and I got goosebumps in several of the scenes as I pictured her busting out a can of whoop-ass!! =)
Spencer was such a sexy beast, playing the bad boy but really just a sweet temptation for Addison. His ability to enter the dark place and find the sensations of missing people intrigued Addison, and he's strong and gorgeous to boot!! He realizes that his initial assumptions about Addison b/c of her family were unfair and not at all accurate. He's having trouble keeping his mind off of her and her alluring body, but he knows he's got a job; that's the only reason he's with Addison, right? I just loved the push-and-pull between these two that leads to them giving into their passion. Spencer is just HOT HOT HOT, and when he has Addison up against the wall, my heart didn't stop racing until theirs did!!!
The plot twists that play out in Eye Contact kept me hooked on my iPad, as did the great secondary characters. From the snarky Tara to Spencer's brother Roman who's on the opposite side of the fight, these characters each had that little something that gave so much more dimension to the way the story played out. And to see Addison go from being hated by this band of Conditioned residents to suddenly just being one of them, that was just awesome! She finally found a home with them, and I couldn't help wishing they could somehow find Jeremy without Addison losing her newfound friends.
I was happy with the way this story wrapped up, but I'm wondering what will happen to this plot in the rest of the series. It seems like an open ending, one you usually find when the sequel will be picking up right where the first book left off. But the second in this series looks to be about a different story entirely, so I'm not sure what to make of that. I really want to see more of what happens with Addison and Spencer, but I'm not sure I'll get my wish. In the meantime, this was a really fun, sexy read, and I'm glad I picked it up!
This book was a really neat twist on the concept of a romance novel, because it brought in a supernatural element that made the story around the steaminess really captivating. It felt like X-Men turned into an NC-17 movie,
Addison has hidden her Condition her entire life. Born into an incredibly wealthy and powerful family, she knows her life depends on no one finding out what she is. Her father taught her how to keep it under control so that no one would find out she was one of "them", the freaks that her own grandfather has locked away to protect the public. But when the beloved nephew she promised her dying sister she'd protect is kidnapped, Addison is desperate enough to risk exposing herself in order to find him. She enters Safe Dawn, one of the institutions where people like her are held, in the hopes that infamous locator Spencer Lewis will use his powers to help her. What she didn't expect was the hard-bodied gorgeous blonde specimen that walked into the room, and right away she knows working with him is going to be a problem. Spencer, a resident of the institution for most of his life, doesn't know what to make of the beautiful and mysterious Addison Wade, but he knows he wants to find out. Part of him wants to hate her for what her family has done to his kind, but he can't help but be drawn to the surprisingly charismatic woman. Addison and Spencer set out to find out what happened to Jeremy, but when Addison's secret is revealed things take an unexpected turn. Those she thought she could trust have betrayed her, and her own abilities may be the difference between finding Jeremy and finding herself locked up with the others like her.
First off, Addison was an awesome character!! She was strong, confident, and not willing to be pushed around by her grandfather's warped morals. As the story went along and Addison spent more time with Spencer, I just loved how bad-ass she became as her powers came to light. She is more powerful than she ever believed, and I just loved seeing her unleash her abilities on their enemies!! She has this air of assuredness about her once she really grasped and harnessed the power within, and I got goosebumps in several of the scenes as I pictured her busting out a can of whoop-ass!! =)
Spencer was such a sexy beast, playing the bad boy but really just a sweet temptation for Addison. His ability to enter the dark place and find the sensations of missing people intrigued Addison, and he's strong and gorgeous to boot!! He realizes that his initial assumptions about Addison b/c of her family were unfair and not at all accurate. He's having trouble keeping his mind off of her and her alluring body, but he knows he's got a job; that's the only reason he's with Addison, right? I just loved the push-and-pull between these two that leads to them giving into their passion. Spencer is just HOT HOT HOT, and when he has Addison up against the wall, my heart didn't stop racing until theirs did!!!
The plot twists that play out in Eye Contact kept me hooked on my iPad, as did the great secondary characters. From the snarky Tara to Spencer's brother Roman who's on the opposite side of the fight, these characters each had that little something that gave so much more dimension to the way the story played out. And to see Addison go from being hated by this band of Conditioned residents to suddenly just being one of them, that was just awesome! She finally found a home with them, and I couldn't help wishing they could somehow find Jeremy without Addison losing her newfound friends.
I was happy with the way this story wrapped up, but I'm wondering what will happen to this plot in the rest of the series. It seems like an open ending, one you usually find when the sequel will be picking up right where the first book left off. But the second in this series looks to be about a different story entirely, so I'm not sure what to make of that. I really want to see more of what happens with Addison and Spencer, but I'm not sure I'll get my wish. In the meantime, this was a really fun, sexy read, and I'm glad I picked it up!
September 21, 2019
Addison Wade has been raised among one of the wealthiest and well known families in America. The only person she loves more than life is her four year old nephew Jeffrey. As her parents and beloved sister are dead, other than her nephew her overbearing grandfather is the only immediate family. Too bad he has COMPLETELY different ideals than she. In their world are "normal" people and the Conditioned. Those that are Conditioned have varying extraordinary powers and are treated as property. Held in shelters that are more like prisons, they have no rights. Her grandfather feels they are not even human. ..what would he do if he learned her greatest secret.... That she herself is Conditioned?! When her nephew vanishes in the middle of the night and grandfather doesn't do everything in his power to locate him, Addy knows what SHE must do. She goes to Safe Dawn, the nearest place housing Conditioned. It is there she seeks someone known to help find people. Spencer is a man of legend, and many fear him. All Addy knows is she WILL get her nephew back if it kills her. Here begins her adventure, for Spencer is meant to meet her. What can they accomplish together? Who is behind taking Jeffrey? What conspiracy is behind the Conditioned? Secrets uncovered, love found, oodles of action, betrayal and all our craziness! At the center is one fierce woman willing to fight for herself, a little boy, all things right and fair, and everything and anyone she comes to care about. I can't wait for the follow up!!!
July 9, 2016
This was an excellent book! I'm not really a big fan of sci-fy or dystopian books but this one was written so well and in a way where it didn't really feel like either of those things.
This book takes place in a future where having special abilities labels you as Conditioned and forces you to be institutionalized. The Conditioned aren't given any rights and are treated like dangerous criminals not suited to mix with normal society. But when the grandchild of one of the richest and most influential men in the country is kidnapped, only one of the Conditioned can help.
Spencer Lewis has the ability to travel through "dark space" and follow someone's energy making him the only person who can find the little boy. But can he be trusted outside the walls of the institution and what will happen when he realized there's something he wants more than the life he's been living?
I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend giving it a try, even if this isn't your typical genre.
This book takes place in a future where having special abilities labels you as Conditioned and forces you to be institutionalized. The Conditioned aren't given any rights and are treated like dangerous criminals not suited to mix with normal society. But when the grandchild of one of the richest and most influential men in the country is kidnapped, only one of the Conditioned can help.
Spencer Lewis has the ability to travel through "dark space" and follow someone's energy making him the only person who can find the little boy. But can he be trusted outside the walls of the institution and what will happen when he realized there's something he wants more than the life he's been living?
I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend giving it a try, even if this isn't your typical genre.
September 3, 2019
Wow! I’m blown away by this book. Great start to a series. While I love the love story, characters, and plot; this novel is also subtly laced with echoing commentary on the sins of our past and fears for the future of our world going forward. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
March 29, 2011
In Eye Contact, Rebecca Royce takes us on a thrilling ride filled in equal parts with heart-pounding intrigue and the softness of a growing, Cinderella-style love. Here, in Royce’s rendition of Earth, those whose genetics grant them extrasensory powers are termed “Conditioned” and confined to compounds, and are only allowed outside to help those who can pay for their special abilities. Enter heiress Addison Wade, a young woman who defies her family to seek the special assistance of the Conditioned’s most powerful finder, Spencer Lewis, to help locate her kidnapped nephew. Sparks fly as the two wend their way through a complicated mystery, and as they walk the dangerous paths together, both discover that success will mean learning to look beneath the surface of all things they have ever believed. My highest recommendation.
October 1, 2019
Breath-taking
That. Was. Incredible!!!! I LOVED every moment of this book. It was very well written and kept me hanging the whole way through. I really enjoyed getting to know Addison and Spenser and I can't wait to read the next book!!!
That. Was. Incredible!!!! I LOVED every moment of this book. It was very well written and kept me hanging the whole way through. I really enjoyed getting to know Addison and Spenser and I can't wait to read the next book!!!
January 2, 2012
A really great book!!! I didn't expect it to be so good - what a great surprise!!! I cannot wait for the second!!!
November 15, 2017
Addison is the heir to Wade Corporation and is raising her four year old nephew. Her grandfather is on the council that started the institution for people with special powers. If you had a power, they put you in the institution to keep the public safe. When her nephew goes missing, she goes to SAFE DAWN, one of the places where they are kept. Her grandfather wants to keep the matter private so the stocks won’t go down.
Spencer in a dark space walker. He can find missing people by the colors they leave behind, in a dark alternate plane. The people who stay at SAFE DAWN can’t leave the premises. Spencer is allowed so he can help Addison. He doesn’t like her because of who she is but the more he is with her, he realizes she’s not like her grandfather. It’s a race against time to find her nephew and keep her own secrets safe.
I honestly didn’t think it would be a good story but boy was I wrong. It’s fast paced, action packed, and sexy. Secrets are revealed. Great characters and several surprises.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for publisher*
Spencer in a dark space walker. He can find missing people by the colors they leave behind, in a dark alternate plane. The people who stay at SAFE DAWN can’t leave the premises. Spencer is allowed so he can help Addison. He doesn’t like her because of who she is but the more he is with her, he realizes she’s not like her grandfather. It’s a race against time to find her nephew and keep her own secrets safe.
I honestly didn’t think it would be a good story but boy was I wrong. It’s fast paced, action packed, and sexy. Secrets are revealed. Great characters and several surprises.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for publisher*
October 29, 2017
"Eye Contact" received THREE stars.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in first five pages."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically buy anything s/he writes."
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in first five pages."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically buy anything s/he writes."
August 13, 2021
I finished Eye Contact and I enjoyed it. It took me a little bit to warm up to the heroine but she turned out to be a pretty kick-ass woman and I liked her. I really enjoy psychic plots and I liked the plot of this one. It ended with some things that weren't wrapped up (although the characters get a HEA) and unfortunately the next book jumps a year and is about different characters. She never wrote a 3rd book in this series so the questions never get answered which is a bummer (or so I hear). I'll probably read the 2nd book anyway because I do like the concept and liked the first book
November 9, 2016
The beginning was a bit slow.. but it picked up pretty fast and made up for that.. The storyline was interesting and kept you wondering what was next. there is suspense..begtrayal.. love.. etc.. so much going on.. so many things that kept you going and curious. I really enjoyed it and glad i got to review it
March 28, 2020
This book was just breathtaking. It literally grips you and doesn’t let you go. This story line is like non other. Rebecca has seriously outdone herself again. I absolutely can’t wait to read the next one. Bravo!
March 1, 2022
I was far more invested in the story than I was in the romance, and though I enjoyed the romance I felt the amount of words devoted to expressing how hot they thought eachother was became quite annoying.
That said, I love the plot and world.
That said, I love the plot and world.
July 22, 2026
(Hoopla audio) 3rd person omniscient writing. Clever storyline but I was unable to connect with characters and ended up returning it without finishing. DNF after 44%.
September 4, 2019
The odd ones is the politically correct term for the conditioned. Most believe that they are spawned by demons and must be kept locked away from the decent people in heavily guarded institutions. Treated as less than human, only let out if they could serve the wealthy, they have psychic abilities that left unchecked are dangerous to themselves and others but can be a godsend in the right circumstances. Addison Wade, heir to the Wade Corporation and Oliver Wade the man behind the institutions finds herself living a nightmare. Her nephew Jeremy has been kidnapped; desperate she turns to Safe Dawn for help putting herself at risk. Spencer Lewis, one of their residents is a well-known locator with a soft spot for missing children. Addison and Spencer's lives couldn't be more different and trust doesn't come easy for either. Together they make a formidable team. Threats surround them at every side, they have no future, both stand to lose everything, yet they can't fight the obvious. Spencer knows better than to hope for anything good in his life but he's never met anyone like Addison. She's a Wade. If she wants something, she gets it.
This was published originally under a different name and the author reworked, renamed, and republished it. I never read the original story but I love this one! A psychic mystery, political agendas, intrigues, and betrayals all wrapped in a love story. I was captivated. This was a thrilling adventure for the/ of the mind. At first glance, Addison appears a spoiled little rich girl. Look deeper. She has a sharp mind, determination, and has lived a life of secrets leaving her alone with the exception of her dear Jeremy. This woman is beyond strong. Spencer is prickly on the surface but he's protective and loyal. Get past his walls and this man will move the world for you. The supporting cast is vital. This story couldn't exist without the council members, the Wade staff, the residents of Safe Dawn, and Roman or #3. It's one of those stories where it's impossible to tell who exactly is the good guy and who is bad. It's rarely black or white. This book exists in shades of gray. It's a subtle reminder of the dangers of discrimination, fear, and power, and how when we allow ourselves to think for ourselves and to get to know one another, we are the same. We all want the same things out of life: safety, peace, love, belonging.
Addison and Spencer's story is complete but I know this is just the beginning. A fight is coming. But for today, I am thrilled for the couple with swirling eyes and a little boy with dimples. I want more. I want to experience their freedom, watch them really live. I want to see their powers increase. I really, really want #3 to break his chains. Roman deserves so much more. Roman deserves his own story.
This was published originally under a different name and the author reworked, renamed, and republished it. I never read the original story but I love this one! A psychic mystery, political agendas, intrigues, and betrayals all wrapped in a love story. I was captivated. This was a thrilling adventure for the/ of the mind. At first glance, Addison appears a spoiled little rich girl. Look deeper. She has a sharp mind, determination, and has lived a life of secrets leaving her alone with the exception of her dear Jeremy. This woman is beyond strong. Spencer is prickly on the surface but he's protective and loyal. Get past his walls and this man will move the world for you. The supporting cast is vital. This story couldn't exist without the council members, the Wade staff, the residents of Safe Dawn, and Roman or #3. It's one of those stories where it's impossible to tell who exactly is the good guy and who is bad. It's rarely black or white. This book exists in shades of gray. It's a subtle reminder of the dangers of discrimination, fear, and power, and how when we allow ourselves to think for ourselves and to get to know one another, we are the same. We all want the same things out of life: safety, peace, love, belonging.
Addison and Spencer's story is complete but I know this is just the beginning. A fight is coming. But for today, I am thrilled for the couple with swirling eyes and a little boy with dimples. I want more. I want to experience their freedom, watch them really live. I want to see their powers increase. I really, really want #3 to break his chains. Roman deserves so much more. Roman deserves his own story.
May 23, 2016
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow!!!!!
Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as “the condition”, would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.
The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.
Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned ‘locator.’ There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.
In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?
This is the first book in a new Series by Rebecca Royce and i have to admit that this author has never ever disappointed me!!!
Once again she has managed to take us in an amazing and thrilling ride with lots of twists and turns in her story and with some really intresting and complex characters.
The chemistry between the two is over the charts and the stories of each character that we meet is hear breaking.
Suspense and an amazing plot that will keep you gued to the pages of the book!
The general feeling reminds something of X-Men yet this is so different!
Really suprised by how good this book was and how sucked into the story i was!
I really can't wait for the next one to come!
Highly recommended!!!
Wow!!!!!
Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as “the condition”, would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.
The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.
Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned ‘locator.’ There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.
In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?
This is the first book in a new Series by Rebecca Royce and i have to admit that this author has never ever disappointed me!!!
Once again she has managed to take us in an amazing and thrilling ride with lots of twists and turns in her story and with some really intresting and complex characters.
The chemistry between the two is over the charts and the stories of each character that we meet is hear breaking.
Suspense and an amazing plot that will keep you gued to the pages of the book!
The general feeling reminds something of X-Men yet this is so different!
Really suprised by how good this book was and how sucked into the story i was!
I really can't wait for the next one to come!
Highly recommended!!!
June 5, 2016
EYE CONTACT-SUSPENSE-DANGER-MYSTERY & STEAMY ROMANCE
This story focuses on; ADDISON WADE a sexy, intelligent, blond blue-eyed beauty; SPENCER LEWIS, a traffic-stopping gorgeous, muscular build, and conditioned locator.
What you'll find in this story; a cast of remarkably impressive and engaging characters, fascinating storyline, picturesque and powerful vivid scene descriptions, phenomenal banter, camaraderie, family love, unjust prejudice, betrayal, abduction, secrets revealed, gut-wrenching moments, action packed, gripping suspense, horrific danger, life-threatening incidents, pent-up-rage, heart-pounding sensual romance, and a melt your heart unexpected conclusion leaving you wanting more.
Addison is the granddaughter of the wealthy owner of Wade Corporation, her parents now gone and her sister too. She is the guardian to her adorable nephew Jeremy who was mysteriously abducted from his bedroom. After finding no clues and not being able to go to the authorities for help per her grandfather's orders she reaches out to Safe Dawn, the Institution that holds the conditioned. The conditioned are ones who have abilities, some abilities if not controlled can cause harm unsuspecting citizens. Spencer is a well-trained locator; his special abilities can reach well beyond the natural planes of the mind. When Spencer and Addison meet there is an unspoken heated attraction between the two. Having suffered a most harrowing experience Spencer is unsure if he is working at full capacity but accepts the case due to his soft spot for missing children.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE-a well written imaginative read by a truly gifted author. Piqued my interest from the start and I relished every second, a most gratifying read. The author does not disappoint by giving readers an enthralling read that is mixed with a bit of reality and fantasy. The cast of characters are certainly praise-worthy and spring to life with the engaging dialogue, fascinating plot, humor, and action. The quest for Jeremy is heartfelt. Spencer and Addison blend well together and their romance is filled with much passion and undying devotion. If you treasure fantasy romance this is a terrific book for your library. {I was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review}. In the world of fantasy romance, the possibilities are endless and always fascinating. Without reservations. I recommend this book.
This story focuses on; ADDISON WADE a sexy, intelligent, blond blue-eyed beauty; SPENCER LEWIS, a traffic-stopping gorgeous, muscular build, and conditioned locator.
What you'll find in this story; a cast of remarkably impressive and engaging characters, fascinating storyline, picturesque and powerful vivid scene descriptions, phenomenal banter, camaraderie, family love, unjust prejudice, betrayal, abduction, secrets revealed, gut-wrenching moments, action packed, gripping suspense, horrific danger, life-threatening incidents, pent-up-rage, heart-pounding sensual romance, and a melt your heart unexpected conclusion leaving you wanting more.
Addison is the granddaughter of the wealthy owner of Wade Corporation, her parents now gone and her sister too. She is the guardian to her adorable nephew Jeremy who was mysteriously abducted from his bedroom. After finding no clues and not being able to go to the authorities for help per her grandfather's orders she reaches out to Safe Dawn, the Institution that holds the conditioned. The conditioned are ones who have abilities, some abilities if not controlled can cause harm unsuspecting citizens. Spencer is a well-trained locator; his special abilities can reach well beyond the natural planes of the mind. When Spencer and Addison meet there is an unspoken heated attraction between the two. Having suffered a most harrowing experience Spencer is unsure if he is working at full capacity but accepts the case due to his soft spot for missing children.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE-a well written imaginative read by a truly gifted author. Piqued my interest from the start and I relished every second, a most gratifying read. The author does not disappoint by giving readers an enthralling read that is mixed with a bit of reality and fantasy. The cast of characters are certainly praise-worthy and spring to life with the engaging dialogue, fascinating plot, humor, and action. The quest for Jeremy is heartfelt. Spencer and Addison blend well together and their romance is filled with much passion and undying devotion. If you treasure fantasy romance this is a terrific book for your library. {I was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review}. In the world of fantasy romance, the possibilities are endless and always fascinating. Without reservations. I recommend this book.
October 24, 2011
Eye Contact was gripping and totally addictive. I loved the chemistry between Addison and Spencer is awesome. I loved them! This book reminds me of X-men, which I also loved. My favorite part is learning about all the different "conditions" or powers that the various people have. The more unique, the better! People with powers are called the conditioned in Eye Contact and they are treated like a mixture of slaves and lepers. It's awful! But the ending really sets up the plot for the next book. And boy oh boy does book 2 look like its going to be awesome! I can't wait.
At first glance it seems like Addison is uptight and controlling but she really isn't. She is so kind and caring and determined. I really admired her drive. She never gave up. And it was really admirable how much she fought for the conditioned. It was really refreshing.
The conditioned all had such cool powers! They were really complex and some of them were super unique! Those were my favorites. I love when writers come up with talents and powers that have not been overdone.
Eye contact is pretty fast paced and jam packed with all sorts of plot twists. I enjoyed every second of the search and mystery. It was so well written and thought out! I liked that it was a complete story on its own and also sets up for a sequel really well. And speaking of the sequel- it is going to be a doozy. I can already tell!
I can't wait to see more of Spencer. ;) He is so awesome, as soon as he admitted his feelings for Addison he was extra swoon worthy. I just loved him. I want more more more of him. Great book! I can't wait for the next one.
At first glance it seems like Addison is uptight and controlling but she really isn't. She is so kind and caring and determined. I really admired her drive. She never gave up. And it was really admirable how much she fought for the conditioned. It was really refreshing.
The conditioned all had such cool powers! They were really complex and some of them were super unique! Those were my favorites. I love when writers come up with talents and powers that have not been overdone.
Eye contact is pretty fast paced and jam packed with all sorts of plot twists. I enjoyed every second of the search and mystery. It was so well written and thought out! I liked that it was a complete story on its own and also sets up for a sequel really well. And speaking of the sequel- it is going to be a doozy. I can already tell!
I can't wait to see more of Spencer. ;) He is so awesome, as soon as he admitted his feelings for Addison he was extra swoon worthy. I just loved him. I want more more more of him. Great book! I can't wait for the next one.
September 5, 2019
Illicit Senses (Illicit Minds Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Rebecca Royce
I received a complimentary advance review copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This has to be one of my favorite Rebecca Royce series starters. Much like the X-Men, the Conditioned are powered people who are persecuted by Draconian laws implemented by regular humans out of fear. The Conditioned are controlled by rules laid down by a shadowy, manipulative group called the Council, where Addison Wade's father holds all the power. Until her nephew is kidnapped. Then she is forced to hire Spencer Lewis to help her find him, against the wishes of her authoritarian father.
The characters, from Addison and Spencer (the heroes) to the villains have amazing depth with intricate pasts that formed them. But their backstories aren't the sole factor in their lives nor the sole focus of the storytelling.
Twists and turns, zigs and zags and conspiracies and grudges drive the plot without leaving the most important pieces of this story behind, the characters and their desires.
All of the above don't match the masterful writing. Ms. Royce is now and has always been a master craftswoman. She paints images with her talented words. That talented can best be seen in the way she is able to shift the storytelling duties between Addison and Spencer. At no point was I ever confused who was telling the tale. The characterizations are just that good.
This is an awesome story, well-told that I highly recommend. I can't wait for the next book.
https://www.amazon.com/Illicit-Senses...
by Rebecca Royce
I received a complimentary advance review copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This has to be one of my favorite Rebecca Royce series starters. Much like the X-Men, the Conditioned are powered people who are persecuted by Draconian laws implemented by regular humans out of fear. The Conditioned are controlled by rules laid down by a shadowy, manipulative group called the Council, where Addison Wade's father holds all the power. Until her nephew is kidnapped. Then she is forced to hire Spencer Lewis to help her find him, against the wishes of her authoritarian father.
The characters, from Addison and Spencer (the heroes) to the villains have amazing depth with intricate pasts that formed them. But their backstories aren't the sole factor in their lives nor the sole focus of the storytelling.
Twists and turns, zigs and zags and conspiracies and grudges drive the plot without leaving the most important pieces of this story behind, the characters and their desires.
All of the above don't match the masterful writing. Ms. Royce is now and has always been a master craftswoman. She paints images with her talented words. That talented can best be seen in the way she is able to shift the storytelling duties between Addison and Spencer. At no point was I ever confused who was telling the tale. The characterizations are just that good.
This is an awesome story, well-told that I highly recommend. I can't wait for the next book.
https://www.amazon.com/Illicit-Senses...
September 30, 2019
I’m always excited to read a new Rebecca Royce series, and Illicit Senses, the first book in the Illicit Minds series was most definitely exciting! This series revolves around humans with what might be referred to as super powers. It seems in these types of stories, such people are always either revered or feared. In this case, it’s definitely the latter. In this series, society has gone overboard with this fear, stripping the “conditioned” of their basic human rights (in fact, they are no longer even considered human) and imprisoning them so that they can’t endanger the “normals”… unless of course the so called normals have need of the conditioned’s powers. Then they’re happy to pay for the use of those powers by signing out the conditioned as little more than property, the same way one might sign out a library book… although the library book would probably be treated better. Amidst the backdrop of a powerful discussion of tolerance, acceptance, equal rights, and human decency is an equally powerful love story. This book will keep your on your toes, tug at your heart strings, and make you think. Although paranormal in nature, there are lessons to be learned from this story that can easily be related to our society right now. I can’t wait to read more of this series! Well done, Ms. Royce.
* I was given an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review. All of my opinions are entirely my own.
* I was given an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review. All of my opinions are entirely my own.
May 19, 2016
Eye Contact was an awesome novel. I really enjoyed this book because it was a very creative and new twist on a supernatural romance story. The characters were fantastic and written with great detail. It was a very original story that has a lot of emotional twists and turns. I highly recommend this book as well as all of Rebecca Royce's books. I can't wait to read more!
Addison Wade has hidden her "Condition" from the world and people like her grandfather all her life. She has learned to keep her abilities at bay and not let her temper get the best of her for fear of being locked up with all the other conditioned people in Safe Dawn. When her nephew is kidnapped, she is forced to turn to one of the conditioned inside Safe Dawn, though she knows no one will want to help a Wade because of her grandfather.
Spencer is a famous conditioned locator. He can mentally go into the dark zone and find the essence that a person leaves behind and track them when most people can't. When he goes through a trama of losing someone close to him, he doesn't know if he can do his job without endangering himself in the process. He doesn't know why, but he is drawn to Addison, and has a soft spot for children so he can't say no to this task. When he takes this task though, he takes on way more than he bargained for.
Addison Wade has hidden her "Condition" from the world and people like her grandfather all her life. She has learned to keep her abilities at bay and not let her temper get the best of her for fear of being locked up with all the other conditioned people in Safe Dawn. When her nephew is kidnapped, she is forced to turn to one of the conditioned inside Safe Dawn, though she knows no one will want to help a Wade because of her grandfather.
Spencer is a famous conditioned locator. He can mentally go into the dark zone and find the essence that a person leaves behind and track them when most people can't. When he goes through a trama of losing someone close to him, he doesn't know if he can do his job without endangering himself in the process. He doesn't know why, but he is drawn to Addison, and has a soft spot for children so he can't say no to this task. When he takes this task though, he takes on way more than he bargained for.
September 13, 2019
This new series deals with Rebecca Royce' version of the X-Men before they are banded together as X-Men.
In this book universe, it was discovered a few decades ago, that there are persons with extra senses or abilities. The story tells us how the government dealt and is dealing with this situation.
This book deals with some heavy serious topics. The most important issue is that there is a group of people who have some differences to the rest of the world and which the government deems to be dangerous because of it. So they decide to
lock them up. And experiment on them. And separate children from their parents. And execute them if they do something they are not supposed to.
Once upon a time there was a government who did this, but they took people because of their religion. In this story this committee who decides, lock people up because of their extra abilities which apparently shows a lack of religion...
The story got me hooked with its adrenalin, the storytelling from the POV's of both protagonists, Addison and Spencer, and the intriguing ending.
Now that I know what Conditioned are, what horrendous laws were created, what Addi and Spence already succeeded to do and what still needs to be done, I want to know now how it continues.
The good news is that the second book is ready to be read :-)
In this book universe, it was discovered a few decades ago, that there are persons with extra senses or abilities. The story tells us how the government dealt and is dealing with this situation.
This book deals with some heavy serious topics. The most important issue is that there is a group of people who have some differences to the rest of the world and which the government deems to be dangerous because of it. So they decide to
lock them up. And experiment on them. And separate children from their parents. And execute them if they do something they are not supposed to.
Once upon a time there was a government who did this, but they took people because of their religion. In this story this committee who decides, lock people up because of their extra abilities which apparently shows a lack of religion...
The story got me hooked with its adrenalin, the storytelling from the POV's of both protagonists, Addison and Spencer, and the intriguing ending.
Now that I know what Conditioned are, what horrendous laws were created, what Addi and Spence already succeeded to do and what still needs to be done, I want to know now how it continues.
The good news is that the second book is ready to be read :-)
September 30, 2019
It seems like I have another favorite series. It did take me a minute to get into. My fault and concentration level. But once i paid attention I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Addison Wade is very powerful strong woman. It's like she came out the dark a bright golden beacon who wants to save all condition people. Her nephew getting kidnapped made her a formidable opponent you didn't want to mess with.
Spenser Lewis spent his life rescuing people, mostly kids. He's good at it but still had to live life as condition. You always were prepared for your death day. He didn't realize the good he did and thought hell waited for him. That was until Addison burst into his life begging him to help find her nephew. He didn't know how his life was going to change drastically. It seemed he fell in love with Addison his first night at her house. And they together would form this power house that would probably be untouchable.
This book was filled with so many surprises. It was powerful, intense, exciting and fun to read. I found myself rooting for them all the way. These people deserve freedom and not to be treated like animals.
I can't wait to continue reading the rest of the series.
I voluntarily agreed to review this book. My review is my own honest opinion.
Spenser Lewis spent his life rescuing people, mostly kids. He's good at it but still had to live life as condition. You always were prepared for your death day. He didn't realize the good he did and thought hell waited for him. That was until Addison burst into his life begging him to help find her nephew. He didn't know how his life was going to change drastically. It seemed he fell in love with Addison his first night at her house. And they together would form this power house that would probably be untouchable.
This book was filled with so many surprises. It was powerful, intense, exciting and fun to read. I found myself rooting for them all the way. These people deserve freedom and not to be treated like animals.
I can't wait to continue reading the rest of the series.
I voluntarily agreed to review this book. My review is my own honest opinion.
June 3, 2016
Since others have provided a lot of detail about the story I will forego doing so. Overall I really liked this book, although it initially started out very slowly. The story line is intriguing and original. Character development is quite good and the interactions between characters interesting. Ms. Royce did a goo job of believable world building, but some of the details tended to slow the story down and took the focus off of the two principle characters. In this world nothing is as it seems and just about everybody has their own agendas, hard to know who could be trusted.
Ms. Royce is a very creative writer who has developed a very good concept. While I felt connected to the two priniciples, the romance between them was not as well developed as it could have been( and I would have liked). There is good sexual tension between Addy and Spenser but the sex scenes were lacking. I rated the story over all at 4 and gave the book a sexy rating of 3. I am anxious to read the next book and hope that we will spend more time with Spence and Addy. The author is someone to watch, with a lot of promise!
Ms. Royce is a very creative writer who has developed a very good concept. While I felt connected to the two priniciples, the romance between them was not as well developed as it could have been( and I would have liked). There is good sexual tension between Addy and Spenser but the sex scenes were lacking. I rated the story over all at 4 and gave the book a sexy rating of 3. I am anxious to read the next book and hope that we will spend more time with Spence and Addy. The author is someone to watch, with a lot of promise!
April 15, 2011
Addison Wade was born into a rich, influential family and one day she will take her grandfather's place in running the family company and take his seat on a committee that keeps the 'Conditioned' locked away from society. Spencer Lewis is one of the 'Conditioned' who has the ability to travel into dark spaces in his mind to locate missing people. His abilities though are less threatening than many of the people locked away with him in the institution.
When Addison's nephew goes missing, she is forced to ask for Spencer's help to locate him. But Addison has a secret of her own and while working with Spencer, she does everything she can to keep her secret hidden, even if it could help them to locate her nephew.
Eye Contact is a great paranormal romance, but it also has an X-Men feel about it, making it appeal to an even wider audience. With well developed characters, tons of action and of course, romance, Eye Contact is sure to leave you wanting more. I will be reading more from Rebecca Royce, including the next in the series, Embraced.
When Addison's nephew goes missing, she is forced to ask for Spencer's help to locate him. But Addison has a secret of her own and while working with Spencer, she does everything she can to keep her secret hidden, even if it could help them to locate her nephew.
Eye Contact is a great paranormal romance, but it also has an X-Men feel about it, making it appeal to an even wider audience. With well developed characters, tons of action and of course, romance, Eye Contact is sure to leave you wanting more. I will be reading more from Rebecca Royce, including the next in the series, Embraced.
August 30, 2011
I really enjoyed Eye Contact. Ms. Royce has created an interesting world where people who are born with special abilities are called Conditioned. It reminded me of the X-Men, except the Conditioned have been kept away from society. They aren't even thought of as human. They have no rights at all. Spencer Lewis is one of the special Conditioned who is let out occasionally to use his special ability to find lost people. Addison Wade hires him to find her kidnapped nephew.
I expected a paranormal romance, but what I got was so much more. The story is well written with intriguing characters. The mystery was well thought out and had a nice twist at the end. I loved Spencer and Addison together. I think my favorite scene was the one where Spencer gets to drive for the first time. It is such an endearing scene that made me fall in love with both of them! I look forward to reading the next books in the series. I hope she features more of the secondary characters that appeared in this one. Eye Contact is definitely worth reading!
I expected a paranormal romance, but what I got was so much more. The story is well written with intriguing characters. The mystery was well thought out and had a nice twist at the end. I loved Spencer and Addison together. I think my favorite scene was the one where Spencer gets to drive for the first time. It is such an endearing scene that made me fall in love with both of them! I look forward to reading the next books in the series. I hope she features more of the secondary characters that appeared in this one. Eye Contact is definitely worth reading!
October 28, 2011
Going into this book, all I knew was that it was a paranormal romance and not much else. So as I got into it, I was surprised how good it was! It's not the cliche paranormal with vampires and werewolves, but one where people have special powers and are hated by society. It reminded me so much of x-men, but with more romance and less fighting (which is awesome because I love x-men and romance). The thing I loved most about this book, though, was Spencer. He was viewed as "the bad boy" on the outside, but he was so sweet and really gentle on the inside. He never really was a bad boy and you could really see that by how he treated Addison. Some parts of the book were kind of predictable, but i still wanted to keep reading anyways to see what happened next because the story was so good. It was nice reading something that was so unique in it's story and characters while still maintaining a really interesting story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's a paranormal fan but in the mood for something not so cliche. You'll really enjoy this one!
September 27, 2019
Wow. What a great start to this series by Rebecca. We are taken into a world where some people have abilities. Those abilities have classified them as "conditioned". The general public have been made to fear the conditioned and therefor the conditioned are locked away in facilities. Addison Wade comes from a family that helped to start these facilities and take normal human rights away from the conditioned. That's not how she feels though. That's her grandfather. So when her nephew goes missing and time keeps slipping away she does the one thing that could reveal her own secret and change her life forever. She goes to Safe Dawn and asks the conditioned for help. This is where we meet Spencer. One of the most talented conditioned around. They must now work together and TRUST in each other to succeed. But secrets keep being revealed and life keeps getting more and more dangerous as they go.
This book definitely pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Such an interesting world and I can't wait to jump into the next book.
This book definitely pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Such an interesting world and I can't wait to jump into the next book.
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