Saturday, August 6, 2016

Tracefinder: Contact and Tracefinder: Changes by Kaje Harper (reviews) ADULT titles

Kaje Harper is one of my favorite authors in the m/m genre and she has just released the second book in the 'Tracefinder' series

These are ADULT titles


                   








Tracefinder: Contact

Blurb:

What could an undercover cop and a drug lord’s pet psychic have in common?

Brian Kerr has spent years hiding behind a facade of mental slowness. His brother and sister got all three of them off the streets and into a cushy life, under the protection of a dangerous criminal. But to keep that safety, Brian has to use his Finding talent to track down the boss’s enemies. Although he pretends not to know what he’s really doing, each Find takes its toll, and he’s trapped in a life he hates, losing touch with his true self.

Nick Rugo’s job is to protect and serve the people of Minneapolis as an undercover cop. He isn’t closeted, but he isn’t out at work, and there’s a wild, angry side to him that he’s managed to keep hidden until now. When he’s assigned to bring Brian’s boss to justice, he intends to use anything and anyone it takes to do that.

Nick initially sees Brian as a pawn to be played in his case, but he keeps getting glimpses of a different man behind the slow, simpleminded mask. As the two men get to know each other, it becomes clear they share secrets, some of which might get them both killed.


Amazon link


My review:


4 out of 5 stars

Tracefinder: Contact by Kaje Harper is a m/m paranormal suspense tale that centers around undercover cop Nick Rugo who endeavors to channel his aggressive tendencies into a successful assignment to bring down a drug lord. His unexpected connection with an unusual and apparently handicapped Brian Kerr forces Nick to take a good look at his ethics and morals as well as exposes him to unbelievable situations, some of which may change his life in ways he never dreamed of—not even in his worse nightmares.

I am usually a very big fan of this author but this story was frustrating to me, and I had to walk away from it for a few months before rereading it and learning to accept that I just wasn’t going to connect well with most of the characters. The story is vivid and it is a tribute to the author’s usual dexterity at characterization that the players are realistic to me, but, wow, I was conflicted about most of them because there are so many shades of gray in this story. Even worse, it ended with so many dangling threads that I was really frustrated. That being said, I was still fascinated.

I love the idea of psychic phenomena, and the price being paid for the use of Brian’s powers and his frustration and coping mechanisms kept me intrigued by him. I timed it perfectly because fortuitously, I was able to read the sequel right after this and it helped assuage SOME of my frustration, even as I continued to be unwillingly drawn to these characters who make choices that are frequently unpalatable to me, no matter how much I can understand why or how they have reached this point in their lives.  So…I waffled and waffled about my rating, but ultimately I have to say I did like the story but didn’t like the ending…but that’s because I am a VERY impatient reader and I like things tied up nicely when I finish. This story doesn’t do that, but it is still well worth reading, especially since the next book is out now…although, be warned, it’s not going to tie everything up in a nice bow either, lol.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review, which has been submitted to Night Owl Reviews


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-




Tracefinder: Changes





Blurb: Brian can Find a lost child or a wanted criminal, but when his secret gets out, even Nick’s skills and connections may not be enough to keep them safe.

Brian Kerr is now free of his dangerous boss and his domineering brother. He’s eager to start using his psychic Finding talent to help people, if he can figure out how to do that safely. His dyslexia, and his tendency to act simpleminded under stress, make building his new life a daunting challenge. And while his not-quite-boyfriend, Nick, is willing to support him, in bed and out of it, Brian doesn’t want to lean on Nick. If their relationship is going anywhere, he has to be a full partner and handle his own problems.

Nick Rugo’s walking a tightrope instead of settling into the ordinary cop’s life he’d hoped for. He’s hiding too many things from too many people. He has told professional and unprofessional lies that will come back to haunt him. Now, with Brian determined to start Finding again, he’s not sure he can protect the man he cares for. If all that wasn’t enough to make him start punching walls, he also has a suspicion that Brian’s brother Damon and sister Lori may be out there, lurking, ready to complicate their lives.
Amazon link


My review:



4 out of 5 stars

Tracefinder: Changes continues the story started in “Tracefinder: Contact”, following the adventures of dyslexic psychic Brian Kerr as he struggles to integrate into a life that is totally unfamiliar to him. Nick Rugo has fought to reconcile his duties as a cop with his desire to protect and encourage the remarkable young man he’s come to know and care for. Unfortunately, external forces are being brought to bear, which will force each man to make choices that will alter their lives forever.

This m/m paranormal suspense story provides a glimpse of the slippery slope being experienced by a former undercover cop who is determined to assist Brian in his quest to find a way to survive. Brian’s gift and naivete, plus the ongoing police hunt for his brother, make it challenging for Nick to find a way to follow his heart yet remain true to the oath he has sworn as a police officer. The adept way the author depicts the triumphs and setbacks that plague this complex couple kept me engrossed in their struggle, yet wincing at the fallout that is inevitable. I am reluctantly drawn to follow their struggle and uncomfortable at the depths of immoral behavior that seem to be an inevitable outcome of dealing with the dysfunctional Kerr family.  There are ongoing threads that are still not tied off, and one should be warned that there is graphic violence, but there are also wonderfully sweet and sexy interludes to balance. I think this would be a tough story to appreciate if you haven’t read the first in the series and I am impatient to see how things will turn out, so I hope the author is quick to write a sequel!

A copy of this title was provided to me for review, which has been offered to Night Owl Reviews



No comments:

Post a Comment