Mind
Game
by Iris Johansen blends fast-paced action involving “Super
Heroes” with a bit of romance along with a touch of
the supernatural. She is able to portray the characters as
real-life people that possess some manipulative power.
Johansen feels she writes her characters having these powers
“within all my books. I think they present more interesting
characters. I enjoy exploring how we all have feelings and
senses. I truly believe we all have something that is right
below psychic powers, although, some have stronger powers
than others. We titled the book Mind Game because it is about
the mind within an adventurous and romantic plot. I want the
characters to control it, understand it, and expand it.”
While sleeping Jane MacGuire has a dream where she connects
with a young woman, Lisa Ridondo, who frantically asks for
her help. She is being held captive and is being tortured.
Through a series of drawings, Jane connects the dots, determining
that Lisa is somehow related to Seth Caleb, a man who both
frightens and attracts her. After Seth confirms Lisa is his
sister, both he and Jane venture out to rescue her. Taking
the kidnappers by surprise they free Lisa who becomes Jane’s
BFF.
Meanwhile, Seth is determined to find who the kidnapper’s
leaders are and why they used Lisa to find him. The captors
are trying to leverage him into using his unique, dangerous
gifts to kill a target in a way that wouldn’t cause
suspicion. Believing Seth and Jane are lovers and knowing
there is sexual attraction between them, she becomes the next
target in a ploy to force Caleb to kill or see her killed.
Seth
takes center stage in this story on purpose. “I wanted
to develop Seth a bit more. I have always concentrated on
Jane and her adopted mother Eve. I find Seth a fascinating
character that is a force to be reckoned with. He is a work
in progress and grows with each book. He can be wicked, cynical,
smart, and sexy as hell. He probably would be the ‘bad
boy’ of Superheroes. He is a turbulent Superhero. He
wants acceptance but does not know how to achieve it. Because
of his terrible childhood, which I explore in this book, he
automatically pulls away.”
There
is also a sub-plot that involves the other featured characters
of this series, Eve Duncan, Joe Quinn, and their son Michael.
Jane is related to Eve and Joe after they adopted her and
Michael is her stepbrother. Although Jane’s family is
not the forefront of this story, surprises are in store for
the trio. Eve is also prevalent in helping Jane understand
how to connect with Lisa.
All these characters will remind readers of the X-Men Superheroes
rather than the Marvel ones. Instead of strength being at
the forefront, it is the ability to manipulate. In the case
of Jane, she can see actual events and people in her dreams.
Seth has persuasive powers along with the ability to control
a person’s blood flow. Michael has some psychic powers.
Lisa is just finding out and developing her powers that will
be determined in future books.
This
book allows readers to see what it would be like for someone
to have talents that are based on biology. The plot and characters
are enthralling and likable with explosive energy that jumps
off the pages.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Mind Game #21
Shattered
Mirror #23
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