Review: Préjà Vu by Alanna Coca

by Cara Lynn, guest reviewer

Préjà Vu is a book right up my alley in many ways.  I like romantic suspense, because it is a little less hard-edged than most mystery or detective stories that are gore filled.  At the same time I suppose you could call this a psychic romance instead of a romantic suspense novel, because there is the added element of premonition, something I am also interested in.

And a clever title too!

The book:
Ryann Phillips' dreams are filled with psychic premonitions.  It is rare for her to have a normal dream.  For the most part, she is able to live with them, but one night her premonition is of a woman who will be murdered, so she thinks.  Somehow she has to warn the victim.

It turns out the victim in her dream is none other than Victoria Joyce who has a few secrets of her own and is not a very likable character.  Victoria is in the midst of a divorce, and she is quick to assert that her ex is trying to kill her.

And there are a couple of dead bodies along the way.

Trevor Kearney is Victoria's attorney (and colleague.)  He thinks, at first, that Victoria has hired a fake psychic.  Against his better judgment, he learns more about Ryann and her ability.

And along the way there is both sexual tension and the beginning of a firm relationship with Ryann.  And they heat up the sheets.

My take:
There was a lot I liked about this book.  I liked Ryann (and her friend.)  I even liked Trevor.  I figured out where it was going, but it wasn't so clear that I didn't have my doubts.

I'm not so hot on jumping into bed with someone who is as condescending and argumentative as he is, a somewhat Harlequin take on romance.  No matter how hot the tension, and it is hot.

I don't think rescuing a man from his own tendencies is a very good bode for romance in real life.  He's going to change?  I'm going to like it, dealing constantly with an irascible male?  Nope.  Even if the author does give some motivation for his behavior.

'course, I'm supposed to suspend reality, but there's only so far I can go.

I don't like that he almost forces her in his office.  That's a turn off to me.

And I don't like the bondage sex in it -- not only was there no need, but it wasn't really believable that she wouldn't wake up while he is tying her up.

And this makes it all right? Not in my book.

I suppose, in retrospect, the only characters I really liked in this book were Ryann and her friend.

My rating:
I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars if it weren't for the above aspects to it.

I'd have to give it a 2 at best, because of that.  But if you are forewarned, you can read the story and skip those parts.  Or not.

Buy: Préjà Vu

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Harlequin Cover Spoofing

Within the Cranium posted these beauties back in 2005, but spoofing never goes out of style. More to the point I personally find them hilarious and relevant to today's technology driven society. My computer software engineer friend is going to split his gut laughing and you will too...

drivea

Today we'd see insert Zip Drive into USB Port; he plugged her good... or if it didn't fit, flip it over and try again.

Also a flash drive and USB port are significantly smaller apparatuses compared to Floppies and Disk Drives... does this make them equal or will the Zip Drive have size issues?

lostatc

Clever title - scary cover. Enough said... no wait I have something to ask:

Aren't they both Native Americans??? Why would they be anywhere near an European ship?

penetrationtesting

This one beats all... the title is priceless... who needs beta testing anyhow?

Submit your own savvy cover redo to Keira @ reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[dot]com

Originally posted 2009-01-18 23:33:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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