Customer Reviews

Out of Time

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

 

 

Do you like Indiana Jones-type adventures? This is the real thing, with a bit of hot, steamy romance in the hot, steamy and dangerous jungle. Throw in some psychic connections to the past, received though museum antiquities expert Jillian Talbot.

A crystal lens was found, one that leads to an ancient archive of knowledge. Tomb raider Jackson dies as he hands the lens off to Simon Bonner, telling him he has to take on the task of finding the treasure, as Bonner's ex-wife Celina has been kidnapped, and the treasure has to be exchanged for her life. The only one who can use the lens is the "seer," -one Jillian Talbot. Bonnner gets to her in time to save her from being kidnapped, and takes her on to a safe house where they figure out the ancient writing on the sides of the lens is ancient Olmec. And they go to Mexico. They seek the help of Mancuso, an Olmec expert, and Jillian's friend Paulie, a computer geek, tags along to keep her safe. Along the way Jillian fights her growing attraction to Bonner, because she despises his profession of tomb robbing, despite the fact that she knows that museums often buy from such plunderers.

Lots of people are after them: the Mexican police; Kesel, the murderous villain who was the most recent owner of the lens; and Celina, Simon Bonner's nasty and duplicitous ex-wife. Jillian does succumb to Simon's attractions, but she is not sure if she can give up the treasure archive when it might benefit all of mankind. Will she choose love? Will Simon betray or save her? What is the archive, and who left it?

Armchair Interviews says: A great beach read, exciting and romantic, a thrill a minute!

Perhaps if I had read the first book in this series, it would have helped me to warm up to the characters in this one. There was some excitement to the story, but it flowed in jerks and starts. Also, things became a bit jumbled and my interest tended to wander. Would have helped if the "bad guys" were not so obvious early on and some surprises could have been saved for the end.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I debated between 3 stars and 4 stars, but I went with 4 because I was chuckling or laughing several times during the first third of the book. The last 2/3 of the book was less surprising and more like a typical romantic suspense. It was good but not great. There was a lot of intrigue, with different groups of people wanting the ancient treasure. Different bad guys were able to follow Simon throughout his trek. One did it through the GPS on his cell phone; another had a GPS on his rental jeep. Later he changes cars, so I wasn't sure how the different groups were tracking him. I guess it wasn't that important to know how he was being followed so easily. I enjoyed the collection of characters. This is the second book in the series, which is about Jillian who gets psychic impressions through sight. The first book "Sight Unseen" is about Jillian's sister Raven who gets psychic impressions through touch. Raven sounds like a stronger and more interesting character (an ex-thief). Jillian was more of the good girl from the beginning.

STORY BRIEF:
This is an Indiana Jones type story. Simon is a tomb raider who wants to quit. A fellow tomb raider Jackson asks Simon for help. Jackson's wife has been kidnapped. The ransom is an ancient treasure they want Jackson to find and bring to them. Jackson gives the information to Simon shortly before Jackson dies. Simon needs Jillian's psychic help to be able to find the treasure. He goes to her to obtain her help. How he meets her and gets her to help him is fun to read.

DATA:
Story length: 316 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Length of sex scenes: 0.7 to 2.8 pages. Total number of sex scene pages: 6. Setting: current day New York City, Boston and various locations in Mexico. Copyright: 2008. Genre: paranormal romantic suspense.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date, the author has written two romantic suspense books under the name Samantha Graves. Both books are published with different titles in the UK. My reviews are:
2.5 stars. Sight Unseen (UK title: A License To Steal). Copyrt 2007. Review Date: 11-15-09.
4 stars. Out of Time (UK title: The Legend of the Crystal Lens). Copyrt 2008. Review Date: 11-22-08.

The author has also written several futuristic romance stories under the name CJ Barry.

Jillian Talbot is a museum curator. She also has a special gift. She can see an artifact's past, learning about how it was created and the people that are connected to the object. She loves her job, but keeps her talent a secret. Or so she thinks.

Simon Bonner is a tomb raider, although he wants to retire from the business. When his ex-wife's fatally wounded current husband shows up on his doorstep, he leads Simon back into the game. Simon's ex has been kidnapped, and only Jillian can help him find the treasure the kidnappers are seeking to exchange for Celina.

Jillian believes people are generally good. But as she and Simon make their way to Mexico to hunt for the treasure she finds out some people are only out for money. She also discovers a growing attraction to Simon, even though he represents the less than legal side of archeology.

Can Jillian and Simon find the treasure in time to save Celina? And can their overcome their differences to fulfill the love they feel for each other?

Out of Time is a fast-paced, thrill of a journey. The action starts in the first chapter and doesn't let up until the last. Simon and Jillian face great peril and adventure as they search for the Archives of Man. Jillian's gift leads them through Mexico, and Ms. Graves vivid descriptions make the expedition come to life.

This novel has a great deal of everything: action, adventure and romance. I hated to see it end, and eagerly await Ms. Graves' next offering and I Joyfully Recommend this book for all lovers of romantic suspense; it will keep you on the edge of your seat, and wondering why you can't turn the pages faster.

Although not listed as part of a series, Jillian is the sister of Raven Callahan, featured in Ms. Graves' book Sight Unseen.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Out of Time by Samantha Graves
Mass paperback release date: August 1st, 2008
Rating 4 ½ stars

Out of Time by Samantha Graves is another fantastic paranormal romance with action, mystery and very likeable, gutsy characters. I stumbled upon her first book Sight Unseen and was not disappointed to read her sequal. While the first book focuses on the elusive and adventurous Raven, the second centers on `quiet' and orderly sister Jillian.

Jillian has been surrounded by a colorful family and seeks stability and comfort in her job as a museum curator. But Jillian has a secret, she can `see' into the past and someone knows about her talent. She is kidnapped and drawn into the unsavory world or dishonest tomb robbers.

Simon Bonner is tired of living on the edge and wants to retire from his disreputable past. But his plans are suddenly changed when his ex-wife is taken hostage by relic hunters and he is given an ultimatum. Find the lost treasure or else. Simon must enlist Jillian's help searching for the lost treasure but he is distracted by their unexpected attraction to each other.

This is a wonderful story. It reminded me of a fun Indiana Jones flick with a surprisingly spunky heroine, an admirable hero, an endearing sidekick and the (required) despicable villains. What made this book particularly engrossing was the main characters' journey of self-discovery. Although faced with adversity, they both found unexpected strength and honor within themselves.

Reviewed by Steph at Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I read her first book Sight Unseen and couldn't put it down fast paced story great characters and now with her much anticipated second novel Out of Time she again doesn't disappoint Jillian and Simon are well written lead characters who start to fall for each other while on the run I read the book in one day.

Bravo Samantha Graves can't wait to read your next novel.

This book was toooo good. I just loved some of the characters. They were too funny. I look forward to her next book.

Whether her psychic gift is a blessing or a curse might at times be debatable for Jillian Talbot, but when having it lands her in the middle of trouble and places her life in jeopardy, her inclination is to the latter. It appears that she is one of the few who can use a crystal lens to view the secrets of the past and gain treasures with it. There are criminal elements who will kill for it without hesitation. Another who wants it also desires to get out of the crime business. Simon Bonner at first appeared to be her rescuer, but as it turns out, he needs Jillian just as much as the less savory faction and his line of work represents all Jillian wants to avoid and hates. He's a looter, and she believes treasures should be preserved, not profited from. He's the lesser evil and the only one who can keep her safe as they engage in a high speed race across the country in search of treasure. It's time to face the past in more than one respect.

*** Edge of your seat suspense rockets you forward from page one. The fast pace still allows for character development , thankfully, though even more interesting than the main heroine was her sister, Raven. Perhaps we'll see her in the future? Intriguing issues are raised that will give the reader pause long after the last page is turned. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.