C.J. Barry Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Debbie SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Tess MacKenzie is trying her hardest to make it to the big time. She put her singing/songwriting on hold for years to help her parents run their business, but now it is her time to succeed. So when Cohl Travers, a sexy alien and his robot, Pitz, kidnap her, Tess is less than pleased. She can't believe that Cohl needs her voice to find some amulet on a long deserted planet to save the life of his father. Things like this just don't happen to her!
Cohl Travers is the best treasure hunter in the galaxy, but he refused to find the amulet for the Trakas, knowing that the warring brothers would use the amulet's power to destroy their people. However, when the Traka-Sou kidnap his father, they have made Cohl an offer he cannot refuse. When he finally found the perfect voice match to sing the amulet, he let nothing stand in his way to bring Tess up to his spaceship. Cohl was determined not to like the beautiful Tess, after all, she may die trying to get the amulet, and, if she lives, she will be returning to Earth, but he is irresistibly drawn to her. Too bad every other person in the vicinity feels the same way!
Tess has no idea what she is getting herself in for, but she refuses to help Cohl, until they stop for repairs on Cohl's planet and finds out that Cohl is the prince and heir to the throne. She is persuaded by the love that all of the citizens feel for Cohl and his family to try and retrieve the amulet to save this beautiful world. Still, she cannot understand why Cohl denies his birthright and wanders around space getting into all kinds of dangerous situtations. Doesn't he realize how much the people love him and he loves them? As time goes by and Tess spends more and more time with Cohl as they escape from enemies, ferret out spies and hunt down the amulet, she begins to dread the time when Cohl will return her to Earth - but how can she stay if he refuses to admit he has feelings for her?
This is a great science fiction story with plenty of romance thrown in. I loved the characters and felt that they struck a good balance between being stubborn, but not stupid and willing to compromise. There was a great relationship that developed between Tess and Cohl and there are some hot and steamy scenes between the two of them. C.J. Barry's descriptions of the worlds in outer space were great and all of the alien worlds were unique. The plot was fast paced, the book was well written, the romance was hot - this is definitely an author to keep an eye out for!
"
Debbie, Resident C.J. Barry Scholar
"
Lovespell, May 2003, 5.99, 302 pp.
ISBN: 0505525402
Songwriter and wannabe singer Tess MacKenzie is heading home having just been paid when some street punk accosts her demanding she give him her money. Refusing, she sprays her mugger with hair spray before running for her life. In her haste to escape Tess barrels into another person Cohl Travers.
Talk about jumping from the pan into the fire, Cohl abducts Tess. However, this is not your simple kidnapping as this is a real alien abduction. Cohl believes that Tess contains the voice that will save his world Speculator. Though she cannot accept that she is no longer on earth and that she has the singing talent to save a world, Tess aggress to perform, but of course there are a few preliminary steps like risking one's life to find the amulet that her song will activate. However, kidnapping is becoming away of life for her, as thugs on Speculator abduct her. For the good of his world as much as for his heart, Cohl follows in hot pursuit.
Living up to her homonymic last name, C.J. Barry provides an exhilarating science fiction romance that readers from both genres will enjoy. The story line is loaded with action, plenty of humor and romance, and makes Speculator seem like an unearthly but genuine orb. The lead couple is the ultimate star-crossed lovers and Tess is an intrepid Pauline, as peril seems to be her middle name. Though at times the tale turns cartoonish, fans will savor this delightful novel.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident C.J. Barry Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Romance
Yes
Romance plotlets:
- two lovers coping with tough mission
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
- actor
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Jungle
- Mountains
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- unfriendly aliens
- neutral aliens
- primitive aliens
- empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- descript of touching personal anatomy
- actual description of sex
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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