Customer Reviews

Flash Point (MIRA)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wasn't sure about this book when I bought it. But now I am glad I did. I read it in one sitting, that tells you I enjoyed it. It is not a spine tingling adventure, however it was entertaining.

Kelly Santos is an orphan, she returns to New Orleans when her mentor, Sister Grace dies. She also has the SIGHT, and it is very strong in her. It has kept her separated from most other people. She is a photographer. Always keeping the lens between her and the world.

She sits in a restaurant and when she picks up a paper, she sees a murder, not knowing if it has already taken place, or if it is in the future, she contacts the police.

This brings her into contact with Jack Callaghan, a detective, in the NOPD. Jack remembers her from school, he also remembers that she is the one who told him to follow his heart into law enforcement. When the body is found he is assigned to the case.

From here on it is a fast-paced adventure, romance, with a little paranormal activity thrown in.

I liked it. It was fun to read. The story flowed easily and didn't get bogged down. It is not a 5 star read, but easily a 4 star read. A wonderful way to pass a rainy afternoon.

I hardily recommend this book.

The only weakness I found in this story was a small section about halfway through the book where the killer's identity became obvious. Had that paragraph been written a bit more subtly, and a few more red herrings thrown in, I would've been completely surprised and given the book 5 stars.

This was my first book by this author, and I've already ordered the rest of her stuff. I hope it's as good as this one.

I liked this book very much. The main characters were interesting and so was the plot. The whodunnit was not incredibly difficult to figure out but it was a fun ride. Included were 2 romances that the author introduced and developed fantastically. I truly enjoyed the subplots and feelings the characters expressed, and I highly recommend this book!

A chance picking up of a newspaper transforms New York photographer Kelly Santos life when she returns to New Orleans after Sister Grace dies. The nun had been the only loving influence in her life while she grew up in St. Anne's orphanage. Indeed, Sister Grace had given Kelly her first camera, thereby changing how she sees the world. The distance of the camera from its subject reflects Kelly's own struggles to live in a world where her psychic abilities have always ostracized her.

Touching the newspaper brings about a viewing of the chain events that lead to murder. Kelly reports her knowledge to the local police who scoff at her information; that is, until a victim surfaces that meets her exact description. The police suspect Kelly of committing the murder except for Jack Callaghan, who has previous experience with Kelly's gifts. Further, when Kelly touches Sister Grace's rosary, she realized the nun had been murdered as well. Little does she suspect that she herself may have been the link between the murders and that she is in terrible danger.

Fans of author Metsy Hingle will recognize her remarkable gift for creating gripping tales of romance against a richly realized New Orleans background. Once again Hingle demonstrates her marvelous talent in FLASH POINT as the city aptly frames Kelly's psychic gift. The pace of the plot moves quickly, despite its circular path revisits the crimes through Kelly's skills. Kelly and Jack develop a tender romance even as danger throws them ever closer together. Furthermore, combining the elements of a police procedural with the paranormal results in a gripping tale readers will find impossible to put down. FLASH POINT comes very highly recommended.

Metsy Hingle has penned another well told story set in one of my personal favorite cities New Orleans. This story had it all suspense, interesting characters, and chemistry between not only the main characters but secondary characters as well.

What does the death of a Doctor that has had his medical license suspended, the death of a nun and one photographer have in common? A murder of course. Kelly Santos grew up without a family or a past that she can remember. She left New Orleans as soon as she graduated from high school and never planned on returning. This is until she get the call that Sister Grace has died and that she was left some of the old nuns treasured possessions. While in New Orleans she stops at a cafe and picks up an old paper. Kelly can see, and feel things and knows right away that the former owner of the newspaper has been murdered. She reports it to the local police and then waits for the fall out.

Jack Callaghan comes from a very wealthy New Orleans family but he loves his job as a police detective on the NOPD force. He pulls the case of the murdered doctor and is told that there was a witness that "saw" the crime and is given Kelly's hotel room number. Jack and his partner head over to the hotel and he is shocked that he remembers Kelly and hopes that she remembers him. Kelly touched him when she was younger and he has not forgotten her quite soft-spoken ways nor her haunted eyes. Kelly remembers Jack alright and knows that she can never be a part of his world. Jack has plans to change that but first he must keep Kelly safe from someone that means her harm and that someone turns out to be related to her. But how is that possible she grew up in an orphanage!

The chemistry between these two very different people was great and the suspense will keep you glued to the pages. You are truly in for a great read if you pick up this title.

Now living in New York, photographer Kelly Santos vowed to never return to her hometown of New Orleans where she was raised at St. Anne's Orphanage. Her ability to see the past and future ostracized her with the other children so it was not a happy time for her at the orphanage except for Sister Grace who gave the lass her first camera and plenty of solace. The only reason that would drag Kelly to the Big Easy is Grace's death.

At a New Orleans' café, Kelly touches a discarded newspaper and "sees" a woman murder a man. She informs the police who scoff at her until her vision turns out true. The police wonder if Kelly committed the crime. That is everyone except detective Jack Callaghan who knows first hand Kelly tells the truth because years ago she told him things that no one knew but he knew. Kelly receives Grace's rosary, but when she touches the beads she realizes the kind Sister was murdered. As she and Jack fall in love, his partner "Vicious" Jerevicious believes he compromised the case but Jack only knows he needs to keep his beloved safe from someone who wants her dead.

Police procedural romance readers with a touch of the paranormal will enjoy FLASH POINT. The story line is action-packed though the visions duplicating scenes slow down the plot but also add depth to the comprehension of the scope of Kelly's skills. Kelly is a fine protagonist and Jack is the right person for her as she knows from one kiss. Though the villain seems out of left field, fans will enjoy this solid paranormal romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner

From the back cover:

Is a picture worth a thousand words...when it exposes a deadly truth?

New York photographer Kelly Santos hides behind her camera and her talent, where no one can know about her tragic past...or the visions that haunt her.

Now the past is reaching out to her, calling her back to her native New Orleans, to the hidden danger that waits. From the moment Kelly returns she is plagued by visions of murder. But no one believes her--until a man turns up dead, and Kelly becomes the prime suspect. Seeking the help of homicide detective Jack Callaghan, she sets out to prove her innocence.

But Kelly's quest for answers is leading them both on a treacherous path to the heart of a sinster secret--and to a killer who is prepared to finish a grim and deadly task begun many years ago. Soon past, present and future will collide in an explosive, shattering flash point.

And my review:

I bought this book because I'd really enjoyed another of this author's books, BEHIND THE MASK. I thought that it had a really good balance of suspense and romance, so I was expecting a satisfying read from FLASH POINT.

But while the mystery / suspense part of this book was well executed, I felt that the romance kind of got pushed to the side. It never really felt like an important part of the book. For one thing, the reader has to wait quite a while before even getting introduced to the hero. Every time a male character came into play, I'd flip to the back of the book and be frustrated that it still wasn't the hero. The hero finally gets introduced, but then the reader has to wait even longer before the hero and heroine interact. When their first meeting does take place, it's brief, and we have another long wait before they're even in the same room again.

There were a ton of characters to keep straight. It wasn't very confusing, but it did get frustrating. There were just so many plotlines going on at the same time, and I kept wondering why the author was neglecting the romance to develop so many stories at once. Some of them felt rather superfluous to the main story. I found myself double-checking the genre marked on the spine. Sure enough, it says "Romance", but the actual story doesn't seem to truly reflect that. I think that this book would have been more aptly labled as suspense or mystery, rather than romance, as there isn't much romance in it.

So if you're looking for an interesting mystery with a touch of the paranormal (the heroine's psychic flashes were well handled, believable and interesting), then you'll enjoy FLASH POINT. But if you like your romantic suspense to have more romance in it than just a sprinkle, I would recommend you try BEHIND THE MASK by the same author, or something by Tina Wainscott.