Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Mind Games

Have you been following the Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective series with me? I've already read and reviewed books one and two, but now we have book three!

Mind Games - Christine Amsden
Mind Games (Cassie Scot #3)
Beware your heart and soul…

Evan broke Cassie’s heart two months ago, and she still doesn’t know why. She throws herself into family, friends and her new job at the sheriff’s department, but nothing helps. The only thing that finally allows her heal and move on is the love of a new man, mind mage Matthew Blair. Cassie finds him... irresistible

Matthew may also be the only one who can help keep the nonmagical residents of Eagle Rock from going crazy over the murder of a beloved pastor’s wife. It looks like a sorcerer is to blame, but while Cassie tries to figure out who, others take matters into their own hands. With tensions running so hot, a single spark might set Eagle Rock ablaze.


I still don't know how I feel about Cassie. In the previous two books I understood her frustration with life, what with her parents lying to her for her entire life and her feeling like a chess piece in Evan's game of life. I get that. But in book three she comes off as even more indecisive about everything. Just when I think she's over Evan (and I won't lie, I'm rooting for Cassie and Evan to end up together), she essentially saves him at the end of this book in a BIG way. Evan will obviously say it's because she is still in love but doesn't fully realize it and Cassie, admittedly, isn't totally sure why she saved him. Which means book four is coming and there will likely be a lot of new developments because everything is left a little shaky in Eagle Rock. 

I feel like this is less of a stand alone title as the other two were. Mostly because if you haven't read the first two, you can't get an accurate feel of the dynamic between Cassie and Evan and fully understand what the implications of all of the things that happen in this book. I did get excited when Jason made an appearance and I'm kind of let down he isn't sticking around, though I get why he wouldn't. I'm hoping he has a bigger role coming soon otherwise his brief appearances don't make much sense other than having a character for the sake of having a character. I also wasn't in love with Cassie dating Matthew. Honestly, I'm surprised she even would since he has the power to read minds and essentially manipulate them, given her wariness of super natural powers and the roll they've played in her life so far. 

I am thankful I'm left feeling less confused at the end of this one. Book 2 (Secrets and Lies) left huge questions unanswered and it was a bit frustrating to have to wait to get those answered. I also found I had to re-read parts of book one and two to completely remember reoccurring characters because so much time had lapsed between books for me. But if you start reading from book one through this one, you'll be efficiently caught up and though book three does leave us with some cliff hangers (Where is Cassie?  What's the deal with Matthew- something feels off? What is Evan going to do now??), it's enough to feel like you have some closure but enough to keep you waiting for book four.

The author is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card as promotion for the release of Mind Games, as well!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


*The giveaway begins on April 15, 2014 at midnight and ends on July 16, 2014 at midnight.

To learn more about the author and her books, visit her website (HERE) and visit her blog (HERE).

2 comments:

Christine Amsden said...

Thank you so much for your honest review and for being part of my tour!

No more waiting for Stolen Dreams ... it's out now! (Well, in ebook formats ... print and audio readers do still have a little wait.)

Unknown said...

woooooot!