This was a fun, energetic book and a great way to start a series. Ciel was a snarky heroine, but she wasn't the insta-badass just add villain that a lot of urban fantasy heroines tend to be nowadays. She has her ways, and sometimes they work and a lot of times they don't, but she figures it out.

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I liked the charactets and idea, the plot was a little weak but overall it was a fun read. ( )

In a Fix was a really fun read. What I liked about it most was Ciel's character. I thought she was completely crazy, in a good bookish way of course. I couldn't help laughing at the things that popped into her head sometimes. especially at possibly the worst times. It was refreshing to be in the head of such a fun, but quirky heroine. I really liked Ciel's and Billy's banter. Didn't like Marks, chauvinist attitude towards Ciel making her own decisions to take risks.

The 'Aura' adaptor supernatural is kinda new to me, I don't believe I've read anything where that was possible without referencing shapeshifting abilities. I think I could really get into liking me some 'Aura' adaptor action. Cool original concept by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed In A Fix, the story was funny and exciting. I really appreciated how Linda Grimes created such a quirky character in Ciel. I thought she was cleverly written, really loved her wackadoddle ideas and thoughts. I will certainly be continuing on with Ciel's story. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Able to adapt aura’s at will and literally be whomever she needs to be, but will Ciel be able to fix Mina’s problems?

Opening Sentence: “The ideal vantage point for observing a half naked man was definitely across the rim of a crystal champagne flute.”

The Review:

Ciel is pretending to be Mina, but when she follows Mina’s fiance into their vacation bungalow, and can’t find him, she begins to wonder what is going on. When she receives a cryptic call from a strange man and barely makes it out of the room before it explodes, she knows something is different about this case. Ciel is an adapter (not shapechanger), she adapts the aura of clients and then pretends to be them while fixing whatever problem they don’t actually want to deal with on their own. When Billy and Mark show up (they are also adapters) she is on the hunt to figure out what is going on.

But, before that happens she is kidnapped by modern day Vikings and then things really get crazy! Ciel’s original mission was just to see if Mina’s fiance would propose, but know that both Mina and her fiance are being targeted by Vikings things are definitely not going as planned. As Ciel tries to figure out what is going on, and Billy and Mark try to keep her safe and locked away, will she be able to escape after she is kidnapped? Will she ever get the ring for Mina?

Okay, first I am going to say what I don’t like, it really wasn’t exactly clear what Ciel was doing for Mina, or what the heck the Vikings had to do with the story. And the cliffhanger at the end of the book is clearly designed to make you read book two because you are frustrated and need to know what is going to happen. Those were my only issues. I really couldn’t figure out what the Vikings had to do with anything and why they were after Mina and her fiance. Because the adapters were on the case Mina and her fiance were actually quite safe although neither party knew that the other had hired an adapter to be them on their vacation.

That being said, what I really did like about the book was the whole adapter concept. I have read a lot of paranormal, because it was my go-to genre for a really long time, this concept was completely refreshing just when I didn’t think I could read something in that genre that wasn’t the same I read this. Loved it!!! I am not sure the book was written as well as it could have been, it was great but the lack of answers and confusion made me not quite love this book. I will say that I will be reading book 2 because I have to see how this plays out. However, that being said, if it is more of the same I will probably quit the series.

We all like books that answer our questions, I can deal with one that leaves some things hanging, but I need some satisfaction if I am going to invest more time in a series as a whole. Okay, so I complained a little more than I intended because not only was the concept great, the humor was point. At least for me, I like snark and wit and Ciel had both in spades, I was laughing at some of her lines, and some of her thoughts. I really like her as a main character, I actually found the love interests annoying, but while I am not quite feeling anyone, I am hoping book 2 will change that for me as well. So if you are looking for something new in paranormal, and willing to be mildly frustrated then read this book now!

Notable Scenes:

“My favorite aerobic activity is reading steamy romantic thrillers.”

“My job is made possible by a genetic quirk that allows me to adapt my aura into an exact copy of another person’s.”

“Growing up with three brothers and a very annoying pseudo-cousin will drive you to extremes to ensure your privacy.”

“Maybe I lack the wedding gene.”

“Especially if he found out I was outfoxed by a three-year-old.”

“I wasn’t having any more to do with either one of them until after this escapade was over.”

“Pushing the limits was one thing, but tempting fate was just plain stupid.”

FTC Advisory: Tor/Macmillan provided me with a copy of In a Fix. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

so (deliberately) funny I upped it a star (almost fell out of my chair more than once). ( )