Lost in America - Episodes 1-3 by Laura Fitzgerald

This book grabbed me from the beginning. It had a unique plot and as the story went on, I couldn't put it down and needed to know what was going to happen. I wasn't crazy about the heroine, Kendra. She just wouldn't listen to anyone, but she did it with well intentions to figure out the truth and protect her mom. Kendra has a strong need to keep her mom safe after she lost her father and her mother lost her husband on the day of 9/11.

After almost dying herself, Kendra is given a gift called Insight, where she can see things that happen in the future and try to stop it. Such as kidnappings, rapes, murder, etc. There are several people telling Kendra to trust them, but she isn't sure who to trust. And I can't blame her. By the time episode 3 ended, I was as confused as she was.

This book ends with a cliffhanger. I was under the impression the series was complete, but it is not. I checked the authors website and Amazon, but did not come across when book 4 will be out. :insert frown face: because I am dying to know what happened.

For now, I will be keeping an eye out for the book and hope that it is released soon.

Lacey's Rating

About The Book

New Adult Thriller - How far would you go to save your mother's life?

It's the near future, and the next big thing is already here. Smartphones, tablets, even TVs have been replaced by Butlers, your own digital personal assistant who knows you intimately. It's killer technology ... really, it is.

Billed as "luxury for the little guy," your Butler knows your clothing sizes, your favorite pizza toppings, the music you like, and gets you whatever you want at your command. Your Butler is always there for you. Watching. Waiting. Listening. It knows everything about you, and so does the company behind it.

That's where the danger comes in.

Meet Kendra Sinclair. She'd be the first to tell you there's nothing special about her, until she uncovers a massive conspiracy designed to kill millions of people, including those she loves most. Kendra's the only one who can stop it ... unless the bad guys stop her first, which means she needs to get Lost In America.

But how can she, when privacy is just an illusion?

AMAZON

Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald

This is a sequel to Veil of Roses, a book I read and thoroughly enjoyed last year. See review here: 
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/07/contemporary-hit-veil-of-roses-by-laura.html. Normally, sequels are disappointments. Not so, this one. I was thoroughly engrossed, on the edge of my seat, and completely devoured this novel in two days despite its 400 some pages.

Veil ended with Tami marrying her American sweetheart, Ike. Happy ending, right? Well.. maybe not. In this book, Tami and Ike are dealing with the aftermath of their quickie wedding. Ike's parents are NOT happy about it. They say she is using him. Those who read book one will understand how they got that impression because yes, Tami did come to America on a tourist visa from Iran aiming to find herself a husband, and thus, American citizenship within three months. Normally I would frown on this, but Tami was honest with all her Persian American "fiances" in book one. However, Ike's family and the American Immigration officials don't see it that way and Tami's recent past comes in to haunt her.

So.. Tami's got a MIL that wants her deported, two angry former "fiances," an Immigration Interview she's got to pass, a husband that pushes her away everytime she displeases him, a pregnant sister, a mom too afraid to leave Iran's oppressiveness, and.... drumroll please... Ike's ex girlfriend pops up too!

There's lots of drama making this kinda chicklitty... BUT it really addresses some serious issues as well. What makes one an American? How far should a woman be prepared to go, how much should she be willing to sacrifice to obtain her freedom?

Tami lets people push her around too much and gives up too easily too often in the book. I was very irritated by this and would have taken away a star but she steps up to the plate in the end and I literally cheered when she thought these words, "And really, why am I always so nice to people who are horrible to me? Where has taking the higher road ever gotten me?"

Five stars. And Ms. Fitzgerald, you should write a novel about Eva. That's one cool chick.

Favorite moment: When Ike wants to carry Tami over the threshold, she says, "Isn't the bride capable of crossing the threshold on her own two feet, at her husband's side, maybe holding his hand instead of being carried by him?"

Heck ya! I got this book through a publicist.