V. S. Holmes

This book has been on my TBR list forever! So glad I finally was able to read it. It was amazing! This is the first of four books, and is what looks to be a well laid out series. So don't expect any resolution in this first installment.

The character development in this book is on point, we get to know the main players and really get drawn into who they are as individuals before we get to why they will be important to the story, which I LOVE. No one is an insta-hero, or whatever, and there isn't any insta-love or insta-solutions.

The plot is dark yet the characters are very real about dealing with the parts they play, so very much engulfing. I about throw my phone when I go about 80% in, so serious worth reading! I can't wait to read book 2!

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (más)

Nel is an archaeologist on a site where her crew find some unusual properties. The Spanish locals are hostile to her, since they think she's upsetting the natural state of their land. Nel's best friend is murdered, and a sexy legal woman that works for the company funding Nel's site shows up to investigate.

This book was pretty good, I really liked the mystery and suspense. The book holds your attention. My only complaint was the romance was too quick. Nel is a lesbian, and she is a bit of a loner who snaps at people. I thought she was too abrasive, but hopefully she'll grow in the later books.… (más)

Archeology and science fiction are not usually mentioned in the same sentence, but after reading this first book in the ‘Nel Bently’ series, the idea of one linked to the other makes a lot of sense to me. And not just because this book is set at least a few years from 2016 - a fact that does not become evident until the final few chapters. The whole concept this story is based on and built around is fascinating, the way V.S. Holmes has written the characters and plot is brilliant, and while the central idea isn’t entirely new, the way V.S. has given it a slight twist makes it a fresh approach.

And no, I can’t be more specific because giving more details here would spoil the entire experience of discovering the truth of what is going on. The story is constructed so well, that for quite a while I thought I was reading an interesting novel about a dedicated archeologist and her finds, the political machinations she is exposed to, and the confrontations she has with militants who want her to stop digging. And that alone would have made a good action/adventure story à la Indiana Jones with a touch of political interest of modern-day traditionalists thrown in. Except – there is so much more to the story!

Nel is a great main character. She is a tough woman, an archeologist dedicated to discovering the secrets of our ancestors, and not exactly a people person. She has students working with her on the dig in Chile that it took a lot of effort to get permits for, students she is supposed to teach, she can’t get herself to talk to them beyond the bare socially required minimum. She is much more comfortable with her best friend, Mickey, an experienced archeologist in his own right. But when the local activists begin to become more insistent about protecting the site, Nel has to figure out a way to keep everyone safe. And that involves working with the people who, like she, are interested to find out more about the surprising finds they make – none of which seem to make sense.

If you like stories with lots of mystery that is only slowly revealed, if a woman determined to find “the truth” sounds like an interesting character, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful read with lots of surprises, a touch of romance, and a whole lot of promise for more details in at least one sequel, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I can’t wait for the next installment of Nel Bently’s adventures.


NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (más)