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.
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In the fashion that orange is the new pink, is Edward Cullen to be touted as the ideal man for future generations in the same manner Mr. Darcy has been glorified? I’m not saying that Edward Cullen is a Darcy Double or Darcy Reincarnated or even a Darcy Sequel. Edward Cullen is as far from Darcy as a literary romantic hero can be – he’s the undead after all.
. Of course when Angel loses his soul in 
and hovers over Buffy while she sleeps it’s seen as creepy and more than slightly unnerving. Naturally, there is a dramatic difference between being watched over by a protective presence than a sinister one. I’m quite sure Buffy would not have minded Angel watching her; it was Angelus that was the demonic and unwanted presence. Edward does not behave like Angelus and of course Bella wants him around. She thrives off his very presence and noticeably misses his absence awake or asleep. It also helps that as the reader we are enlightened to Edward’s true motivations and can be sure of him. Edward is seen as a guardian angel… and who would tell a guardian angel to go away? That would indeed be madness.
Speaking of madness, this brings me to the next point; to be desired as Bella or Elizabeth is every woman’s secret fantasy. Darcy loved Elizabeth ardently; Edward loved Bella fiercely. It is a heady thing to be wanted so much that to be parted from you is sheer agony of spirit and body. Darcy would do anything for Elizabeth, including reunite her sister with the man she loved or patch up one seriously incriminating scandal; Edward would kill for Bella… he would even leave her if he thought it best… and he did. Both. Edward even tolerated the presence of his competition, Jacob, because to do otherwise caused Bella great distress.
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