BOOK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Marji Laine here! Happy Spring! 

I began reading some of Christy Barritt's Lantern Beach books several years ago. Those are books that I can seriously just drink in. So when I happened upon a brand new one, released on April 17, I was beside myself with excitement! 

And CHAIN REACTION, book 1 of the Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation series, does not disappoint. The story explodes, literally, out of a quiet little town on one of the coastal island along North Carolina. The place is well-detailed and alive with vibrant characters and real-ish events and places. I feel like I should stop in at The Crazy Chefette someday and try one of her grilled cheese and peach sandwiches. The combination wells up curiosity and disgust within me, with the curiosity winning out. 

The two main characters, Raven and Jake, are surrounded, sometimes physically, with "stars" from other books like the leaders of the Blackout security team and the Lantern Beach police, including Chief Cassidy Chambers, the character who started the first Lantern Beach series. While the presence of the other well-loved characters is special, Raven and Jake and their connected past take center stage. 

Both have brokenness and insecurities hiding within them. The insecurities come out slowly and the characters have to battle against them: Raven with her issues of abandonment, and Jake with his fear of failing. Both are such natural issues to deal with that it's easy to relate to these characters. The fact that they have an unfortunate past between them only makes this chance meeting that much more delicious. 

As with many of the Lantern Beach books, the main characters make the book. That's harder to say with CHAIN REACTION, though. Raven and Jake are perfect together with just the right chemistry and concern over the past to make their interactions engaging, but the story is captivating all by itself. Each new setting, each environment and event, could be a backdrop for another explosion. Having bombs as the modus operandi amplifies the danger and heightens the tension. 

And speaking of tension, I actually have a rating scale for that. I'll be talking about that scale (a bell-curve) next month, but I'll go ahead and tell you that this story settles right into my happy place of a #3 with a medium-high (sparkling) intensity. You'll see what I mean next month (May 16).

As with most of the book groups from the Lantern Beach world, there is a bit of an over-arching mystery. The story itself stands alone well enough, but it leaves lots of questions that will be answered in a future book. And this is the very first time that I've read the first book of one of Christy Barritt's series before the last book of the series has been published. Let alone before the second book has been published! I eagerly await the next episode! 

Here's a little about CHAIN REACTION. 

When an explosion rocks Lantern Beach, authorities scramble into action. Was the WWII relic that washed ashore merely bad luck—or something far more sinister?

Dr. Raven Newton, a forensic archaeologist, is called to investigate the bomb that killed one person. With her specialized knowledge of military artifacts, she’s the perfect person for the job—until she discovers who else is on the case.

Former Navy SEAL Jake Laudner never forgot his whirlwind romance with Raven. Once assigned as her protector during a high-risk overseas mission, Jake broke his cardinal rule: Never get emotionally involved. Now working for elite security firm Blackout, Jake is stunned to find himself face-to-face with the woman who still haunts his dreams.

As the investigation intensifies, so does the tension between Raven and Jake. Raven insists their previous relationship was nothing but adrenaline and proximity. Jake knows differently—and he’s determined to prove it.

With a killer targeting Raven and time running out, she needs protection whether she wants it or not. And Jake won’t fail her twice, even if it costs him everything.

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Get your copy HERE!  

Who are your favorite authors who write in series? (I have at least 4 that I can think of off the top of my head!) Let me know your favorites and you might win your own e-copy of CHAIN REACTION!