∎ PDF Gratis Double Cross The Disillusionists Trilogy Book 2 Carolyn Crane 9780553592627 Books

Double Cross The Disillusionists Trilogy Book 2 Carolyn Crane 9780553592627 Books

Download As PDF : Double Cross The Disillusionists Trilogy Book 2 Carolyn Crane 9780553592627 Books

Double Cross The Disillusionists Trilogy Book 2 Carolyn Crane 9780553592627 Books

The best thing about this series is that it is really readable. I picked it up and finished in a day, this book has the kind of angst that I really love. Not all silly misunderstanding angst but actual internal emotional angst and some deliver by the plot. The mix is done so well that I couldn’t stop reading. Neurosis as superpowers is a really great premise.

The book isn’t perfect there are a few little/minor plot hole things and a few times I really hated being in the Heroine’s head but I’m supposed to feel uncomfortable in there. Juliette is a neurotic hypochondriac that tends to obsess over and fixate on things. When she does that to the extent that she drives herself into a frenzy I’m not supposed to feel okay about it, in that regard the author did a fantastic job.

The Dissolutionists now work to reform some of Otto’s prisoner’s so they can be reformed and released out into the wild. The thing is that some of them might be innocent, specifically one of them who has the ability to enter dreams. Justine is having a severe crisis of conscience on that end. Should they really try to reform the prisioners? Is that their right? She also had the another problem she touched the dreamwalker and now she is connecting Justine’s dreams with Packard.

-- “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you.”
Slowly Packard turns to me. “It’ll almost be worth it, just to see the look on Otto’s face when he finds out. You and me, conferenced into each other in dreams.”
“Why should Otto care? So she screws around in our dreams.”
“Dreams that she creates from our memories. She uses memories as her raw material.”
“So what?”
“Do you have any memories that you’d prefer not to revisit—with Ez and me along for the ride, experiencing everything from your point of view? Think of the experiences you’d most prefer to keep private. Those are the ones she’ll grab.”

Well I can think of a few and I can’t wait to see them again. There is the semi-love triangle going on with Packard/Justine and Otto. I get it Otto is what Justine wants to want but I think we all know that Packard is who Justine really wants. I know I usually hate Love Triangles too but….This one works pretty well. There are some scenes that are a little uncomfortable because I’m not a fan of Otto at all but I get why Justine and her neurotic hypochondriac mind clings to the idea of him.

-- “I can tell you this,” he says. “Otto may be the man the frightened little girl Justine fantasizes about, but he’s definitely not the man the brave, smart, grown-up woman wants—or needs.”

This is not just about the romance though. HighCaps are being targeted and killed by a team of serial killers and the city is in a panic yet again. Justine is trying to keep both Packard and Otto safe as well as find out if the Dreamwalker Ez is innocent of the crime she was accused of. She needs to hurry the dreams are getting more intense and the soon Ez will have enough pull to make Justine help her even if she doesn’t want to.

There are also all the fantastic side characters. I love Shelby and Simon they make this story so much better. Simon is the train wreck that you can’t look away from. It is like he chooses to do things he knows he can’t win or walk away from without getting hurt. He is bound and determined to push every envelope and every relationship to its max.

-- "This, of course, is pure Simon. Always taking chances. Always on the losing end. Which is why I’ve slipped out my stun gun. He realizes it seconds before I show it. He smiles, thinking about how to get to his, no doubt.
I say, “Don’t move. Just tell me where you have the descrambler.”
“I’ve taken precautions,” he says.
“You never take precautions.” We both know how this will end, but we have to go through it. “One. Two.”
He lunges. I press the button.

Shelby always a true friend will always tell Justine how it really is and I love that about her. She doesn’t hold any punches and she always tells the truth.

”… He was a momentary diversion for me, on my way to Otto, who is my ultimate perfect mate.”
“In other words, not real. Otto is fairy tale.” Shelby smirks at her own cleverness.
“Helpful hint—most girlfriends pretend to like their friend’s boyfriends, and act happy for them, or else they zip it.”
“Such a friend is useless. You and Otto, you comfort each other. That is all.”
“We fit.”
“Your fears fit.”

This story was clipping along and was a good fun 3 star read for me and then the twist at the end came and the OMG WTF just happened bumped it completely up to 4 stars easy. It was horrible, it was amazing I felt so many things about it and there was no waiting to jump into the next book. I couldn’t stop to write a review first because I NEEDED to know how this entire story was going to play out.

Warning: Have the final book ready to go because I can’t imagine that you will not want to read it directly after finishing this. So happy that this series was complete when I picked it up.


Tags : Double Cross (The Disillusionists Trilogy: Book 2) [Carolyn Crane] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL.   Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard,Carolyn Crane,Double Cross (The Disillusionists Trilogy: Book 2),Spectra,0553592629,Crime,Hypochondria,Love stories.,Man-woman relationships,Occult fiction.,Paranormal romance stories,Paranormal romance stories.,Serial murderers,FICTION Fantasy Paranormal,FICTION Fantasy Urban,FICTION Romance Paranormal General,Fiction,Fiction - Romance,Fiction-Romance,General Adult,Love stories,MASS MARKET,Occult fiction,Romance,Romance - Paranormal - General,RomanceGeneral,urban fantasy;fantasy;fiction;paranormal;fantasy books;murder;adventure;romantic;paranormal romance;genre fiction;action;supernatural;fantasy romance;romance novel;dark fantasy;supernatural romance;alpha males;romance fiction;romantic fiction;alpha bad boy;urban books;urban fiction;paranormal mystery;paranormal fantasy;dark romance;paranormal urban fantasy;urban romance;urban fantasy romance;supernatural fantasy;romantic fantasy;paranormals;romance books;romance;science fiction and fantasy;sff,urban fantasy; fantasy; fiction; paranormal; fantasy books; murder; adventure; romantic; paranormal romance; genre fiction; action; supernatural; fantasy romance; romance novel; dark fantasy; supernatural romance; alpha males; romance fiction; romantic fiction; alpha bad boy; urban books; urban fiction; paranormal mystery; paranormal fantasy; dark romance; paranormal urban fantasy; urban romance; urban fantasy romance; supernatural fantasy; romantic fantasy; paranormals; romance books; romance; science fiction and fantasy; sff

Double Cross The Disillusionists Trilogy Book 2 Carolyn Crane 9780553592627 Books Reviews

My Rating4.5 stars Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

I jumped into Double Cross immediately after finishing the first Disillusionists book, Mind Games. Note, this review contains SPOILERS from Book 1.

When we last left the gang, Packard was finally free of his restaurant prison and headed for some much deserved sunshine. Justine was looking forward to starting over and enjoying a romance with newly elected Mayor Otto Sanchez. Packard and his gang of Disillusionists are now working directly for Otto, rehabilitating Midcity's most dangerous high caps (people with high-capacity brain powers - such as telekinesis).

The second book in Ms. Crane's powerful trilogy meets and surpasses the intensity, suspense and action of the first book. Wow! First of all, the plot was extremely exciting... A group of terrorists dubbed "The Dorks" is attacking Midcity's high cap residents. This adds an element of immediate danger to our beloved Otto and Packard. In addition, the Disillusionists are working with a set of nefarious high caps, giving more tension and strain. But it's fear that Justine will turn into a sleepwalking cannibalistic zombie-slave that puts the suspense over the edge!

Right from the start I wanted to cheer for Packard, but let's face it... he's such an ass. He knows exactly how to push Justine's buttons. How to turn her on, how to give her hope, and how to crush her spirit. He doesn't want to let Justine in, but their connection is stronger than ever, even with her secretly seeing Mayor Sanchez. The bottom line Packard is ALL about freedom, and he'll use anyone in anyway to stay free. This is made perfectly clear over and over again. Yet Justine (and this reader), keeps going back to Packard.

I felt Justine could be a bit dense at times, but I still love her. I mean Otto goes missing and she thinks his text to her isn't quite right, yet she believes he's off at a conference and just needs space. It's that she constantly chooses to deliberately NOT believe what she knows in her heart to be true, and although it can be frustrating, it makes Justine endearing. Just like she continually sabotages things with Otto because in her heart she realizes they are there to comfort each other, but it's not love.

I adore new character, Ez. She's a high cap with the ability to enter into the sleeping mind of those she touches. It's unclear if she is behind the cannibal sleepwalkers, and it's an interesting twist. The fact that Justine and Packard are linked in dreams via Ez is a great plot device that enables Justine to learn more about Packard and Otto's past.

Ms. Crane has amazing talent! She makes you constantly question what you know is right and true. Like Packard's affections for Justine and whether or not Ez is controlling sleepwalkers. As the secrets from Otto and Packard's past are revealed, more secrets come out that change the game.

Without giving spoilers, I have to say that near the end there is a wonderful scene between Packard and Justine. Packard is raw - the intensity of the scenes are amazing. And then I love him all over again! But be prepared... the ending was one of those "Nooooooooo!" moments. It's not a cliffhanger, but rather something so significant that changes the entire game. And you know this can't be how it ends.

I couldn't put this book down. I was blown away by the writing, the energy, the plot and the humor. The entire cast of characters from Shelby to Simon support the story, making it rich with life. Ms. Crane is an expert at tugging me and my emotions from "one side" to the other. Events unfold at just the perfect pace. I lived this book through Justine's eyes and was able to experience each of her emotions. Just. So. Good.
I was pleased and enjoyed the first book in the series. It had fresh ideas. But I wasn't pulled into this book. My mind wanted to wander. I liked the characters. The problem was the plot. Bad guys are killing highcaps. Justine goes back and forth trying to decide if using her skill is the moral thing to do. She only used it once or twice in this book. I wanted more zinging. That was my favorite part in book 1. In this book Justine keeps a secret from someone who make a big deal out of it. Didn't do much for me.

This book does not have a finished ending. You need to read the sequel "Head Rush" to finish the story.

OTHER BOOKS
The Disillusionists series
4 stars. Mind Games
3 stars. Double Cross
2 stars. Head Rush
(not read) "Kitten-Tiger and the Monk" in the anthology "Wild & Steamy". Novella about Sophie and Monk, other disillusionist characters.

DATA
Narrative mode first person Justine. Story length 326 pages. Swearing language strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language strong. Number of sex scenes 2. Setting the near future in Midcity on Lake Michigan (similar to Chicago). Copyright 2010. Genre urban fantasy.
The best thing about this series is that it is really readable. I picked it up and finished in a day, this book has the kind of angst that I really love. Not all silly misunderstanding angst but actual internal emotional angst and some deliver by the plot. The mix is done so well that I couldn’t stop reading. Neurosis as superpowers is a really great premise.

The book isn’t perfect there are a few little/minor plot hole things and a few times I really hated being in the Heroine’s head but I’m supposed to feel uncomfortable in there. Juliette is a neurotic hypochondriac that tends to obsess over and fixate on things. When she does that to the extent that she drives herself into a frenzy I’m not supposed to feel okay about it, in that regard the author did a fantastic job.

The Dissolutionists now work to reform some of Otto’s prisoner’s so they can be reformed and released out into the wild. The thing is that some of them might be innocent, specifically one of them who has the ability to enter dreams. Justine is having a severe crisis of conscience on that end. Should they really try to reform the prisioners? Is that their right? She also had the another problem she touched the dreamwalker and now she is connecting Justine’s dreams with Packard.

-- “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you.”
Slowly Packard turns to me. “It’ll almost be worth it, just to see the look on Otto’s face when he finds out. You and me, conferenced into each other in dreams.”
“Why should Otto care? So she screws around in our dreams.”
“Dreams that she creates from our memories. She uses memories as her raw material.”
“So what?”
“Do you have any memories that you’d prefer not to revisit—with Ez and me along for the ride, experiencing everything from your point of view? Think of the experiences you’d most prefer to keep private. Those are the ones she’ll grab.”

Well I can think of a few and I can’t wait to see them again. There is the semi-love triangle going on with Packard/Justine and Otto. I get it Otto is what Justine wants to want but I think we all know that Packard is who Justine really wants. I know I usually hate Love Triangles too but….This one works pretty well. There are some scenes that are a little uncomfortable because I’m not a fan of Otto at all but I get why Justine and her neurotic hypochondriac mind clings to the idea of him.

-- “I can tell you this,” he says. “Otto may be the man the frightened little girl Justine fantasizes about, but he’s definitely not the man the brave, smart, grown-up woman wants—or needs.”

This is not just about the romance though. HighCaps are being targeted and killed by a team of serial killers and the city is in a panic yet again. Justine is trying to keep both Packard and Otto safe as well as find out if the Dreamwalker Ez is innocent of the crime she was accused of. She needs to hurry the dreams are getting more intense and the soon Ez will have enough pull to make Justine help her even if she doesn’t want to.

There are also all the fantastic side characters. I love Shelby and Simon they make this story so much better. Simon is the train wreck that you can’t look away from. It is like he chooses to do things he knows he can’t win or walk away from without getting hurt. He is bound and determined to push every envelope and every relationship to its max.

-- "This, of course, is pure Simon. Always taking chances. Always on the losing end. Which is why I’ve slipped out my stun gun. He realizes it seconds before I show it. He smiles, thinking about how to get to his, no doubt.
I say, “Don’t move. Just tell me where you have the descrambler.”
“I’ve taken precautions,” he says.
“You never take precautions.” We both know how this will end, but we have to go through it. “One. Two.”
He lunges. I press the button.

Shelby always a true friend will always tell Justine how it really is and I love that about her. She doesn’t hold any punches and she always tells the truth.

”… He was a momentary diversion for me, on my way to Otto, who is my ultimate perfect mate.”
“In other words, not real. Otto is fairy tale.” Shelby smirks at her own cleverness.
“Helpful hint—most girlfriends pretend to like their friend’s boyfriends, and act happy for them, or else they zip it.”
“Such a friend is useless. You and Otto, you comfort each other. That is all.”
“We fit.”
“Your fears fit.”

This story was clipping along and was a good fun 3 star read for me and then the twist at the end came and the OMG WTF just happened bumped it completely up to 4 stars easy. It was horrible, it was amazing I felt so many things about it and there was no waiting to jump into the next book. I couldn’t stop to write a review first because I NEEDED to know how this entire story was going to play out.

Warning Have the final book ready to go because I can’t imagine that you will not want to read it directly after finishing this. So happy that this series was complete when I picked it up.