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Reviewed By~Judy
Review Copy Provided By~Publisher
Maggie Jaimeson weaves heart-stopping action with the unique premise of biogenetic research. Reed Adler is by far the most believable character as he struggles with near-debilitating flashbacks as part of his PTSD, while still managing to use his considerable skills to stay alive as he fights to unravel the mystery surrounding Jenna, her sister, and her sister’s child.
Jenna, while exhibiting definite contrition about her part in her sister’s disappearance—and admirable tenacity in not making the same mistakes with her sister’s child—is more fragile and not quite a match for her counterpoint Reed.
The fast-moving story succeeds in keeping the reader turning pages. Several points do strain credulity, especially the quick determination of custody of ten-year-old David and the way that Reed and his ex-Marine buddies take the investigation into their own hands with little or no opposition from law enforcement in several jurisdictions.
For those who enjoy a true contemporary thriller interspersed with sizzling romance, Expendable will be a satisfying read.
Tishia
Posted October 28, 2011
Expendable is a story full of mystery, suspense, and romance. Jenna and Reed are 2 middle aged individuals brought together by a dead body and a lost child. Jenna finds out that her sister - whom she hasn't seen in 10 years - is found dead. Jenna also finds out that her sister had a child, and it's up to her to find and protect this little boy.
Reed is a former Marine who just recently retired. Not only does he find the body of Jenna's sister and Jenna's nephew David, he also rescues Jenna from the same people who murdered her sister. When Reed and Jenna work together to figure out the murder mystery, they find that there is so much more going on than they could have ever imagined.
I haven't read a book quite like this before. I mostly stick with paranormal romances, and I don't believe I've ever read a book in the mystery/suspense genre. Romance pulls me in every time though, and a nice romance takes place in this story. Reed struggles with having PTSD. He has flashbacks that interfere with his life. I like how both of these characters are flawed, but they both have wonderful qualities as well that help strengthen each other. They are a good fit and they have good chemistry.
The plot in this book is really interesting. The villain in this story is a sick and twisted individual that adds to the complexity of the plot. There's a variety of elements in this book that will attract a variety of readers. If you're a fan of action, mystery, suspense, romance, or even erotica - then this book has something you will enjoy.
The description for Expendable reminded me of a Dean Koontz novel, which is why I picked it up. I knew it probably wouldn't compare to Koontz's writing, but I wanted to give it a shot anyway. I think I was right on the money with my assumption. The story had a good premise, but the author wasn't able to pull off the far-fetched nature of the plot as well as other authors in this genre. Having said that, I didn't think this book was a swing and a miss either. When the plot failed to fully capture my attention, the subplots surrounding the characters' lives filled in. Each of them is imperfect and damaged in some way, so it's easy to become entangled in their lives and forget about the subpar mystery going on in the background.
Overall, Expendable didn't quite live up to my suspense standards. As for the actual writing, it was very fluid and readable. I never once had to reread a passage to understand what was happening, although I often thought the vocabulary was a little simplistic and a thesaurus could have been of much assistance. I wouldn't necessarily pick up Expendable if I were looking for a really gripping suspense novel; it's more like something I'd read on a plane or road trip. It's worth the time, but you won't be blown away.
Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.
An incredible, un-put-downable book! Absolutely amazing! This is my first story written by Maggie Jaimeson and I can you right now...it will NOT be my last! I loved every minute of this story. Each page turn brought new twists, new turns, new suspense and I couldn't put it down!
Reed. I absolutely loved his character. Of course, I'm a sucker for a military (or ex military!) man. There's something about them being protective that just melts me. I loved seeing him interact with David, when he found the body of the murdered woman. Now, the question is...who would do this to this woman?
David. That sweet little boy. So young and frightened, being found alone with the murdered woman. Having two boys of my own, David's character really touched my heart. I can't imagine what David was feeling but I wanted to reach out and hug him!
Jenna. I felt for her. The murdered woman was her sister. Jenna hadn't seen her in years, and they weren't on speaking terms. Now, she's being sought out by the murderers and finds out she has a nephew. Meeting Reed just sets the scenes for some romance, and together the 3 of them, along with friends and fellow Special Ops soldiers, they set out to find the whys and who's of the murder. Will they find them in time? Or will they be expendable to the murderer's minds?
I absolutely, with out a doubt, recommend this with 5 Books and two thumbs. This book was AWESOME! It's not a light hearted read, when you think about the murder, but it's fast paced, and you don't want to put it down. Each page turn brings a roller coaster of ups, downs, ins and outs, along with some sparks between Jenna and Reed. If you are looking for a well written story filled with emotion, suspense, romance, and passion filled characters....look no more! GRAB A COPY OF EXPENDABLE NOW! You will fall in love with Ms. Jaimeson's work. I know I am a fan for life now and can't wait to go back and read more of her work!
From the moment I began this book until the last word was read, it grabbed me by throat & heart and wouldn't let go! The subject is so powerful & the book is so amazingly written, that you feel as if you are within the pages. I was on a roller coaster of emotions as I met Reed, David & Jenna. Reed is the quintessential alpha male who loves & protects with a fierceness that is awe-inspiring. Even though he is suffering from severe PTSD after years of being in the military & fighting in Afghanistan. David is a child who has never been able to be one. The sheer tragedy of his existence broke my heart and filled me with such anger as I thought about his experiences being brought to life in the real world. Jenna is such a strong women never once falters or bats an eye at the hand that she has been dealt. The amount of love in her heart just waiting to be given to someone is astounding. I will not go into the premise of the book or give you any details about the story. This is a book that is best read with spoilers or pre-conceived thoughts, you won't get the full effect if even a hint is given, IMO. All I'm going to say is that this is definitely a MUST read book & author and make sure you have tissues & time available, you'll need both when you start because you won't want to put it down ;)
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Posted October 8, 2011
My thoughts:
I fell in love with this story as soon as I started reading. The characters captured my heart upon introduction. David - the small, frightened child. Reed - the strong, ex-military man who was so very damaged. Jenna - the peace-loving fighter. Jenna's and Reed's friends too as we meet them. I loved the parallels, three women and three men - all tough, amazingly single, so close to each other that they feel as if they are family and passionately protective. Throw in their quirky personalities, a dangerous situation, a truly evil bad guy (Doctor Crane is terrifying and evil to his very core, the kind of villain that you instantly despise and secretly hope doesn't get to come out of the story unscathed), and a small child in need - and you have the makings of an incredible story.
Maggie Jaimeson does not disappoint! She takes these cleverly created characters and puts them into a story filled with danger, death, desire, fear, and passion, then she throws in hope and love. She takes you on the ride of your life as Jenna and Reed struggle with the problem of saving David from a madman when neither are totally sure they can even save themselves from themselves.
This story is a roller coaster of emotions. We are taken along on a journey where the questions asked are hard and the answers can only be found within a field gray, where even more questions are asked. Questions of ethics, morality, and judgement. What risks are worth taking? What cost is too high? Who gets to decide who is expendable and why? What would be worth killing or dying for?
Beeshon
Posted October 4, 2011
This is not a book to start reading if you have a busy day ahead of you - you won't want to put it down! I was gripped from the start with the early introduction of a murdered woman, Tanya, who is found by an ex Special Ops Marine soldier, Reed Adler, with a severely traumatised young boy by her side. While Reed tries to establish the boy's relationship to this woman and break through his barrier of silence, he has his own demons to face after serving in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the dead woman's sister, Jenna, has to deal with her grief, intensified by the fact that when they last met 10 years previously, not only did they have a bitter confrontation, but it was to be the last time they saw each other. Her sister's murderers catch up with Jenna and fate unites her with the nephew she never knew existed and the man who found and looked after him. Reed, Jenna, his close Marine comrades and her nearest friends work together to find Tanya's murderers and uncover an unscrupulous, immoral and unethical operation by a deranged and delusional doctor scientist. Maggie tells a very good story: her style is easy, uncomplicated and very readable, her characters are well-conceived: the camaradie between Reed and his ex-Marine associates is warming and his PTSD is particularly poignantly portrayed; it weighs heavily against the undeniable and inevitable attraction he feels for Jenna. Maggie depicts an evil villain with conviction; there is a perfect balance of action, tension and romance in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Overview
After a bitter fight, Jenna Mosier's pregnant sister ran away. Now, ten years later, Tanya is dead—murdered. A bloody note clutched in her hand pleads for someone to rescue her baby—a child Jenna must find to make up for not saving her sister.Former Marine Reed Adler thought he left danger behind when he retired from Special Ops command. But faced with a dead body and a terrified ten-year-old boy in his backyard—and a mesmerizing woman who’s tied to both—Reed finds himself pulled into his most complex mission yet.
Ensnared in a dangerous mystery involving biogenetics research and ...