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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
This second shot in the series has a palpable tension like an impending storm. Decrypting the characters’ motives becomes as important to the story as decoding the messages between the OSS assignments and their interested parties.
The author has a finesse for creating both physical and emotional tension between the main characters as well as maintaining their storyline with secondary characters. This balance develops the reader’s investment in all the characters, but especially with Jenny and Kathryn. One with a temper paired with impulsiveness, the other with an internal struggle with the ghosts in her machine.
The intimate scenes are believable and easily visualized, slowly taking the reader along the ebb and flow of their stolen time together. The author employs a bit of trickery to make you wait for those scenes. Jenny and Kathryn have their turn and it’s worth the wait– very satisfying. Both characters are written as attractive (obviously beautiful) so there’s no body shaming which is refreshing. There’s enough underlying self-doubt that it’s a believable relationship with both internal and external angst. There are many compelling layers with this romantic connection. Gripping scenes that arouse interest and suspicion are interlaced with curiosity and longing.
The overall storyline is appropriate throughout with secret operations and spy-like intrigue teetering on the edge of espionage. The details on the1940’s guns, cars, clothing and ‘ladies room rendezvous’ all show the author has done her homework. The action scenes are well executed with the right amount of buildup, suspense and inferred deception. The kind that has Hollywood-style movie music playing in the background while reading. The tension rising and falling causes the reader to read faster then tiptoe through the next chapter in suspense.
The POV is steady, yet the perspective seems to change. Undoubtedly orchestrated by the author to create a depth of field in the storyline. In true historical style the ‘trust no one’ feel of the World War II era is underlying. Giving the reader a sense of mistrust in primary and secondary characters. No wonder the duty-versus-love is a constant struggle. Each looking for her own redemption- both just might find it in one other.
Book number two can stand alone without having read number one (In the Shadow of the Past), but why miss out? Especially with number three (In the Shadow of Truth) on the horizon! It’s not ‘what if…’ it’s ‘what’s next?!’
The author has a finesse for creating both physical and emotional tension between the main characters as well as maintaining their storyline with secondary characters. This balance develops the reader’s investment in all the characters, but especially with Jenny and Kathryn. One with a temper paired with impulsiveness, the other with an internal struggle with the ghosts in her machine.
The intimate scenes are believable and easily visualized, slowly taking the reader along the ebb and flow of their stolen time together. The author employs a bit of trickery to make you wait for those scenes. Jenny and Kathryn have their turn and it’s worth the wait– very satisfying. Both characters are written as attractive (obviously beautiful) so there’s no body shaming which is refreshing. There’s enough underlying self-doubt that it’s a believable relationship with both internal and external angst. There are many compelling layers with this romantic connection. Gripping scenes that arouse interest and suspicion are interlaced with curiosity and longing.
The overall storyline is appropriate throughout with secret operations and spy-like intrigue teetering on the edge of espionage. The details on the1940’s guns, cars, clothing and ‘ladies room rendezvous’ all show the author has done her homework. The action scenes are well executed with the right amount of buildup, suspense and inferred deception. The kind that has Hollywood-style movie music playing in the background while reading. The tension rising and falling causes the reader to read faster then tiptoe through the next chapter in suspense.
The POV is steady, yet the perspective seems to change. Undoubtedly orchestrated by the author to create a depth of field in the storyline. In true historical style the ‘trust no one’ feel of the World War II era is underlying. Giving the reader a sense of mistrust in primary and secondary characters. No wonder the duty-versus-love is a constant struggle. Each looking for her own redemption- both just might find it in one other.
Book number two can stand alone without having read number one (In the Shadow of the Past), but why miss out? Especially with number three (In the Shadow of Truth) on the horizon! It’s not ‘what if…’ it’s ‘what’s next?!’
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my favorite of the series! Loved it!
DNF @30%.
The one where Jenny attempts to "redeem" Kat by gaining an intimate (and exclusive) view of Kat's trauma.
The one where Jenny attempts to "redeem" Kat by gaining an intimate (and exclusive) view of Kat's trauma.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, it's not that I dislike Jenny but I don't like her, either. Her naive patriotism, her socialite privilege (hell! he even gets to tell her aunt of her sexuality! in the 40s!) made her, to me at least, more like a child playing to be a spy than anything else.
And I like Katherine but, really, how is it that everybody says she's doing such great work with Forrester when she knows nothing about what he is doing?
I don't know, I might listen to the next book because I like Kat and I think she's a very interesting character but I'm not really invested in the romantic aspect of the story... We'll see...
And I like Katherine but, really, how is it that everybody says she's doing such great work with Forrester when she knows nothing about what he is doing?
I don't know, I might listen to the next book because I like Kat and I think she's a very interesting character but I'm not really invested in the romantic aspect of the story... We'll see...
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this despite how repetitive the drama was at times. I really liked Kathryn and Jenny both together and as their own characters. That slow burn really paid off.
I think this is where I stop with this series, on a pleasant note, since I really do not like the direction the story takes in the next book judging from the reviews.
I think this is where I stop with this series, on a pleasant note, since I really do not like the direction the story takes in the next book judging from the reviews.
I really enjoyed this! I’m glad I waited for the audiobook to come out, as I’ve listened to the first one that way, and continued to love Abby Craden’s performance. This was just as wonderful as the first book (I think of 4 planned?) and while it was a slight shift in tone from the first one in that this is less action/spy thriller stuff and a bit more slowburn character study as the romance progresses stuff. It doesn’t ever feel like a slow read though. I’m really loving bight Jenny and Kat as characters individually and also really loving them together. Smith can frankly go get lost, though, his jealously and pettiness around Jenny is so patronizing and irritating. SHE DOESNT LOVE YOU BACK, BABE! I can’t wait to read the next one and I highly rec this series so far.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can’t wait to read series 3 and 4