Nothing ruins a romantic evening like a brawl with lowlifes—especially when one of them later turns up dead and my date, Detective Isabella Cherabino, is the #1 suspect. My history with the Atlanta PD on both sides of the law makes me an unreliable witness, so while Cherabino is suspended, I’m paying my bills by taking an FBI gig.
I’ve been hired to play telepathic bodyguard for Tommy, the ten-year-old son of a superior court judge in Savannah presiding over the murder trial of a mob-connected mogul. After an attempt on the kid’s life, the Feds believe he’s been targeted by the businessman’s “associates.”
Turns out, Tommy’s a nascent telepath, so I’m trying to help him get a handle on his Ability. But it doesn’t take a mind reader to see that there’s something going on with this kid’s parents that’s stressing him out more than a death threat.
Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. Her short fiction has been published in several markets including Every day Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine.
She is an avid cook and foodie, a trivia buff, and a science geek, and loves to talk about neuroscience, the Food Network, and writing craft—but not necessarily all at the same time! For all the latest news and free short stories, join Alex’s email list.
Nothing ruins a romantic evening like a brawl with lowlifes—especially when one of them later turns up dead and my date, Detective Isabella Cherabino, is the #1 suspect. My history with the Atlanta PD on both sides of the law makes me an unreliable witness, so while Cherabino is suspended, I’m paying my bills by taking an FBI gig.
I’ve been hired to play telepathic bodyguard for Tommy, the ten-year-old son of a superior court judge in Savannah presiding over the murder trial of a mob-connected mogul. After an attempt on the kid’s life, the Feds believe he’s been targeted by the businessman’s “associates.”
Turns out, Tommy’s a nascent telepath, so I’m trying to help him get a handle on his Ability. But it doesn’t take a mind reader to see that there’s something going on with this kid’s parents that’s stressing him out more than a death threat…
My Thoughts :
The Mindspace Investigations have been amazing reads and this fourth installment is just as brilliant, if not better, than the previous three books. Alex Hughes has founded a great concept and continues to work her magic on it making this a must read series for me. Alone the idea of being a telepath isn't a new one but if you start at the beginning of this series and find out all about the Techwars and the Guild you will not only be hooked but also in awe of such a great idea.
I remember not being sure if I would like this series. After all it is Sci-fi and I don't really like anything of that genre book wise. Film and TV wise, sure, but reading about it isn't my thing at all. However the science fiction in this series is subtle and not in your face. It is interesting and mixed up together with some other very unusual stuff and actually the science fiction angle is mentioned just in passing every now and again.
This fourth book deals with the aftermath of what Cherabino and Adam took part in and did during book three. It was nice how we left them but things get strange and twist around within a few pages of this book starting and the whole time I feel sorry for the strain it will put on them both and worry about the fallout. Despite that mess there is more work for Adam and it takes him away from his usual haunts and puts him in some situations that will test him and his sobriety. It was a wonderful plot and it kept me engaged all the way through the book but I won't give anything away because there are some nice twists and turns in there.
You can't go wrong with the Mindspace Investigations. Even if it doesn't sound like your cup of tea, it is worth giving it a chance because this unique series is in a world of its own and will surprise you. It certainly surprised me and the continuing story continues to surprise and keep me reading. I can't wait to see what happens next, there are some big changes coming and it will make for great reading I am sure!
Vacant is another success in the Mindscape Investigations series and it remains on my must read list. I can only hope that this series continues for a good few years and that the author delights us, sometime in the future, with something else as equally amazing as this series.
Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.
When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.
Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.…
My Thoughts :
The Mindscape Investigations has been one of my favourite series to read in the last couple of years. This third book had been on my wishlist for a while and decided to treat myself to it as soon as I could. I am not usually into futuristic elements but the world and character building in this series has been fantastic the plot always exciting. Altogether the Mindscape Investigations is a well thought out concept and I love the style and originality of it all.
This third installment was not my favourite so far but it did have some interesting twists and surprises inside the cover. Fans of the series will be happy with at least one development while on the other hand any reader will be worried about Adam's life as he gets pulled into an investigation which leaves his life hanging in the balance. His constant addiction battle is once again put to the test in this new addition and I really wondered if this book would see Adam going into a downward spiral that would be hard to climb back out of.
Adam has developed into a strong character who is open but still manages to keeps you guessing. When I think I know what is going on in his head he more often than not throws a curve ball and leaves me wondering if I even know him. This makes the series even more interesting but this time around it did leave me slightly confused. Adam's involvement in various cases kept blurring together and I found it hard to keep track of who was who and what was what. It properly didn't help that I was reading one or two chapters here and there with no time to give this one the time and attention it deserved.
All in all I am happy with this latest installment and I can't wait to see what happens next. The sci-fi angle is very subtle but the rest is very in your face and exciting. A great concept and a thrilling plot everytime, this one stays on my must read list and I am sure it will be on my pre-order list too.
When the cops call me in the middle of the night, I know it's bad. One of their own is dead, strangled in her car by a professional killer, and it's up to me, telepath consultant extraordinaire, to pull the rabbit out of my hat and solve the case. Only this time I'm not so sure I can.
Homicide Detective Isabella Cherabino is breathing down my neck. The dead cop's partner is too. And now, the worst--there was a five-year-old kid in the car, a kid no one can find.
My Thoughts :
Writing short stories can't be easy. Fitting so much into a small amount of words must be harder than writing a full length novel. However some authors manage it very well and Alex Hughes is one of them. Rabbit Trick was not only well written, interesting and addictive it also managed to pack a punch. For anyone who hasn't already tried this series it is definitely a place to start and get a taste of the goodness this author has come up with.
The Mindscape Investigations is one of my favourite series to read in the last couple of years. The third book has just released and I can't wait to get hold of a copy. This novella reminded me just how original and wonderful this world is. The futuristic element isn't my usual cup of tea but the mystery and character building more than make up for that. This is a well thought out concept and I can't wait to see what happens next.
This short story also had two 'chapters' added to the end from what I can only assume are new works coming from the author. The first one piqued my interest but the second one didn't really grab me as much. I will definitely be on the look out for them though as this author has already proved she can write an amazing story.
I am a huge fan of the Mindscape Investigations and have read all the books so far. So of course when author Alex Hughes contacted me and asked if I would like to be a part of her Blog Tour for Marked, I couldn't say no!
I haven't gotten a copy of Marked yet but I will be getting one real soon and I can't wait to read it. I loved Clean, Sharp and the novellas (review for Rabbit Trick coming tomorrow!) and I am sure that the third Mindscape Investigation is going to be just as good if not better than the first two.
Enjoy the guest blog and make sure you check out the books. I was pleasantly surprised by them and love the characters, original concept and the great mysteries.
K: It’s Ms. Chenoa, thank you. And when the Guild Council asks me to meet with someone, I give them whatever attention they need. What can I do for you?
A: Ms. Chenoa, I’m doing a detailed psychological study of certain individuals for a (mumble mumble) project. I’d like to ask you some detailed questions that may get a little personal, and I’d like you to answer them truthfully.
A: I understand. Let’s start with the first question. How would your best friend describe you?
K: I can see what you mean about the personal questions. Well, I would say my best friend would describe me as intelligent, poised, competent, and well able to handle my political position within the Guild. She would also probably also mention my family, which is significant in position in the Guild on both my mother’s and father’s side. I have voting rights through both lines.
A: That doesn’t seem like a very personal description.
K: It’s the best description available to the public. What else would you like to know?
A: What would you say are your two greatest weaknesses?
K: My sense of priorities is constantly changing due to my official and family position within the Guild. Sometimes the changing priorities offends people. Sometimes people don’t understand the decisions I make. But they are always the best decisions I can make at the time with the information that I have. I don’t see anyone else doing better.
A: Your second weakness?
K: I have a relatively short range for a teleporter. So I have to push longer and train harder to get the same courier distance. It’s just as well that I’ve been moved to a desk position. There are others better suited to that kind of work, and with my family I’m in a good position to navigate the political situation with the normals. I’m more used to politics than many others would be.
A: You realize you didn’t give me any actual weaknesses that I couldn’t have found out from official Guild statistics.
K: Did you have another question?
A: Sure. How do you alleviate stress? All people in high-powered jobs such as yours have stress.
K: Thank you. I enjoy a bubble bath and a glass of wine at the end of the day. I also enjoy skiing with my mother’s family in the Swiss Alps. My husband and I try to make it out at least twice a year to see them. It’s good to get away from the office and experience the snow and the family.
A: I see. Two more questions. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict?
K: You have to give a solid, precise, clear answer when a question is given. If people ask why, it’s important to give them as much of your reasoning as is practical to share. If they continue to ask, keep giving them the same precise, clear answer as your original. Eventually they will learn to accept it or go over your head.
A: That’s not conflict.
K: Isn’t it? I’ve had good success with the tactic.
A: (sighs) You’re really not going to open up to me are you? Fine, one more question. Tell me a time when you had to go above and beyond to get a job done.
K: Well, the most recent publically-available instance was…
A: You don’t have to stick with the public. Really.
K: With respect, I can see you writing things down. I’ll stick to the public, thanks. Do you want me to answer or not?
A: Go ahead.
K: Adam Ward called me out of the blue. I successfully liasoned with him and the police department he was working for. Unfortunately, the killer that he and his department were tracking was a Guild member. This made it politically difficult for everyone because of the Koshna Accord rules. But, since everyone was willing to talk and no one wanted a man killing people willy-nilly, I managed to work out an agreement between both sides. As far as the above and beyond piece goes, they had difficulty apprehending Bradley so I agreed to teleport Adam to the location where he was hiding. Since this was a Guild facility, I then had to obtain Council permission for the police to arrive and apprehend. It was many days’ work at considerable personal cost, but Bradley was ultimately punished as he deserved. We were all pleased.
A: Thank you.
K: Are we done? I have a great deal of work to do, as I’m sure you understand.
A: (sighs) Yes, I’m done.
The Author
Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. She is a graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop, and a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers.
Her short fiction has been published in several markets including EveryDay Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine. She is an avid cook and foodie, a trivia buff, and a science geek, and loves to talk about neuroscience, the Food Network, and writing craft—but not necessarily all at the same time!
Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.
When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.
Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.
Every month here on Amberkatze's Book Blog there is a Monthly Giveaway!
If you want to win a copy of one of my favourite reads from the previous month then you have to check in and enter!?
The April Monthly Giveaway is now over and closed. It is time to see which book won the vote and who has won a copy of the winning book!
What is the Monthly Giveaway?
You have the chance to vote for which book you want to win from my five favourite reads from last month!
I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.
Here are the results for this months giveaway!
Wuthering Frights by H.P. Mallory came in last with only 8.11% of the vote. I hope this bad result is due to one of two factors. 1) You have all read this series already or/and 2) The other books on offer were just too good to pass up on.
Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting came in at fourth place. 13.5% of the vote wanted this book to win but the top three books just didn't give this one a chance.
Sharp by Alex Hughes holds the third place with 18.92% of the votes. I really wanted this one to win but it seems you guys wanted the other books more. I just hope that you will all go and check out this series anyway. It rocks!
Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn comes in at second place and I wasn't expecting that. It seems there are still a lot of Kitty fans out there who don't run out and buy the new releases. 27.03% of the vote shows you guys really wanted Kitty to win!
Death, Doom & Detention by Darynda Jones is the winner this month with 32.34% of the votes. I can't say I am surprised by this result because Darynda always seems to win my Monthly Giveaway when she is on the poll.
The Results
The widget below should now be showing the name of the Monthly Giveaway winner. That person will win a copy of the winning book Death, Doom & Detention by Darynda Jones. Just make sure you contact me with your details to claim your prize! If you prefer a Kindle copy of the book please include those details when claiming your book.
Didn't win this time? Keep a look out for the next Monthly Giveaway coming in June. You will all get to vote from a selection of my reads from May.
Make sure you check out the books from the Monthly Giveaway. They are always my five favourite reads so they are definitely worth getting a hold of!
There are five books to choose from and the winning book is then the prize! The winner gets a copy of the book that wins the vote!
Want to find out more? Go over and see which books are on offer, vote for the one you would like to see win and then make sure you are entered via the widget!
Remember! The books on offer are my favourite reads from last month! So they are really really good and usually new releases!
You have a few more days left to enter so don't waste any time and go check it out before it is too late!
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Have you entered the Sherry Soule Contest? The author has a fun quiz for you all to take part in and then you can enter the giveaway! This one is open for another couple of weeks so you have time to get some friends involved too! Then if they win you can borrow their copy of the prize!
Being a telepath, I should have seen the hell I was getting myself into...
I used to be one of the most powerful telepaths in the guild. That was before my drug addiction and before they kicked me out. But I'm not a bad guy. Now I help the Atlanta PD solve murders. And even though there are only a few people I call friends, I'd do most anything to keep their trust.
So when a judge asks me to help investigate a missing college kid, I'm down for it. No questions asked. No problem. But in this dark world, things are never easy and a favor is never just a favor. Turns out, politicians don't like being murder suspects. And it's bad to anger someone with more power than you. I thought I had nothing to lose... I was wrong.
My Thoughts :
The other day I had time to do some reading but I didn't want to start a book and get sidetracked by work all week and not get back to it. So I decided to pick out a novella to read to fill the gap. I have found the Mindspace Investigations to be amazing so far and couldn't wait to try this short story and hopefully find out some more about one of the new series I have put on my must read list.
As novellas go this wasn't a bad one. It was a good story with a solid plot but as with most short stories it just wasn't long enough. Things weren't rushed but I felt the unique concept this series offers just wasn't shown in this minor mystery. The Mindscape Investigations didn't come across to be as special and dangerous as I have come to know them while the characters didn't really have a chance to shine.
Payoff fits in between the first and second books in the series and can be read without reading the other two books. Actually if you want to try the series this might be a good way to take a look before committing to the full length novels. Although I have to warn you! The full length novels are way better!
A series that is on my must read list and my pre-order list. A set of characters I am finding to be likable and mysterious. A concept that is just too different and special to describe. Make sure you visit the Mindscape Investigations sometime soon!
May is upon us and I am ashamed to say that didn't read many books last month. However I did read enough to come up with five good choices to offer you guys for the Monthly Giveaway!!
So who wants to win a copy of one of my favourite reads in April? Keep reading and find out more!
Every month here on Amberkatze's Book Blog there is a Monthly Giveaway
What is the Monthly Giveaway?
You have the chance to vote for which book you want to win from my five favourite reads from last month!
I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.
Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review :
Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. When the giveaway is over the winner gets book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!
Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The poll will stay open for votes until Monday 20th of May 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.
Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)
HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF, EVEN FOR TELEPATHS.…
As a Level Eight telepath, I am the best police interrogator in the department. But I’m not a cop—I never will be—and my only friend on the force, Homicide Detective Isabella Cherabino, is avoiding me because of a telepathic link I created by accident.
And I might not even be an interrogator for much longer. Our boss says unless I pull out a miracle, I’ll be gone before Christmas. I need this job, damn it. It’s the only thing keeping me sane.
Parts for illegal Tech—the same parts used to bring the world to its knees in the Tech Wars sixty years ago—are being hijacked all over the city. Plus Cherbino's longtime nemesis, a cop killer, has resurfaced with a vengeance. If I can stay alive long enough, I just might be able to prove my worth, once and for all...
My Thoughts :
Last year I read the debut in the Mindspace Investigations, CLEAN. I knew within a few chapters that this was a series I was going to enjoy I only hoped that the sequel, when it released, would live up to the standards the first book had set. So when I got the chance to read Sharp I couldn't wait. A little problem with the book actually getting on to my Kindle made me a little late to the party but I am done and am still very impressed by this author and the concept.
Just like in CLEAN you could feel the futurustic elements of the story but they were not over the top. After the Tech wars and various other problems, the world is bascially computer free. It is a nice idea and adds some very interesting aspects to the story and world it is set in. The things we often take for granted are no longer available and telepaths are more helpful than machines. It is a serious and somehow realistic impression of what really could happen and that makes it not only creepy but very compelling.
It didn't take me long to get into the story or get used to the settings and rules. Everything is so new and unique it is really hard to forget it. This helped a lot because otherwise I would have need some major orientation time. As it was I found things to be very familiar and enjoyed being swept up by the story. The plot was well thought out and very exciting. Some twists and turns as well as shocking moments and a wider view of Adam's previous life and history.
This is actually a thrilling mystery which involves telepathy, addiction, a lack of computers and some other extremely enthralling elements. I already liked the characters when I met them in book one and the releationships between Adam and the others seemed much deeper and well established this time around. I am very drawn to the series already and can't wait to see what happens next. After the involvment of the Guild and FBI I can't even imagine what will come next. Cherabino's reactions to Adam and her own family problem was a nice side plot and one I want to read more about. The cliffhanger ending nailed it for me though and I am going to be pre-ordering book three and reading it as soon as it is released.
There are not many original books out there any more. There is always something that makes you think 'this reminds me of....' However Alex Hughes has really broke the mold and shaped something different. There are slight hints of the usual detective/mystery plots but in a whole it doesn't remind me of anything and just makes me happy to have stumbled upon it.
A well worth read and something to try even if you don't, like me, usually enjoy the futuristic sci-fi type books. This one is very subtle but somehow supernatural with its telepathic angles. Urban Fantasy at its best and with a lot of good content that will have you coming back for more. Just make sure you start with the first book CLEAN. This is a series that must be read in order.
My latest author guest was Alex Hughes. She was here on the blog telling us a bit about her Mindscape Investigations series and the newest installment, SHARP.
I am currently reading SHARP and I am enjoying it just as much as the first book in the series, CLEAN. Expect a review soon! I can't wait to curl back up with it!
Anyway, Alex and her publishers were giving away 5 copies of SHARP to 5 lucky winners and now it is time to see who won! So check to see if your name is on the Rafflecopter widget below! Keep reading if you want to claim a prize!
Didn't win? Keep checking back for more contests and make sure you check out the Mindscape Investigations! You won't regret it!
Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! I
f you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!
If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;)
Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.
Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail!
Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.
Nothing ruins a romantic evening like a brawl with lowlifes—especially when one of them later turns up dead and my date, Detective Isabella Cherabino, is the #1 suspect. My history with the Atlanta PD on both sides of the law makes me an unreliable witness, so while Cherabino is suspended, I’m paying my bills by taking an FBI gig.
Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. Her short fiction has been published in several markets including Every day Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine. 
A: You don’t have to stick with the public. Really. 
Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. She is a graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop, and a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers. 
Wuthering Frights by H.P. Mallory came in last with only 8.11% of the vote. I hope this bad result is due to one of two factors. 1) You have all read this series already or/and 2) The other books on offer were just too good to pass up on.
