Customer Reviews

Unraveled

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The question, naturally, with such a strong first book: Can they do it again? And I am delighted, in the case of C.J. Barry, the answer is a resounding, YES!!

Her second book Unraveled is just as solid Sci-Fi, just as sizzling, sexy romance, with another set of heartwarming characters. So Barry boldly makes the statement she is here to stay. CJ Barry zipped into the romance field earlier this year, a brilliant meteor shower across the SCI-FI Romance genre, with her first book Unearthed, joining Robin D. Owens as the wonderful new voices in this category. Unearthed was perfection on many levels. The characters were sharply drawn so they leaped off the pages. Her writing was very polished - way beyond a first time author - knowing the small techniques that bring a story together and keep the pace moving briskly. The sexy romance sizzled, but it is in her characters' repartee she sparkles brightest. Unearthed was one of the best books Sci-Fi or Romance - I read this year. Barry is able to visualise her outer space worlds, so she pulls the reader along on the grand adventure.

Rayce Coburn we met briefly in Unearthed, a sexy hunk that was another space Indiana Jones. But he is tired of the struggle, adventure and danger, and wants to build something solid. His dream is a new spaceport, nothing like it in the area, and he has gone to the limit to see the vision a reality. But he needs a lot of credits to bring it to completion on time. And that is where Tru Van Dye comes in. She is a Majj scientist, and she is on a quest to find a lost fortune in alien relics, but to do this she must have Rayce's help. While he welcomes her credits at a point when he really needs them, that it should come from one of the Majj sours his soul. Rayce hates the Majj, blames them for the needless death of his sister, Miranda. And since Rayce hates them, blames the insular planet for all the woes brought on poor people of the universe, and specifically, the loss of his sister, he vents these emotions on the immediate target: Tru. The Majj sell their inventions and medical breakthroughs to the highest bidders, no matter if innocent people die. Only the desperate need for credits drives Rayce to make a bargain with the female devil.

However, Rayce finds the beautiful Tru a contradiction. She has a near crippling lack of her own worth as a person and displays a very tender compassion that is polar opposites of the Majj. Convinced she is frigid, by her only attempt at physical closeness, she is walking on needles around the sexy Rayce with his blue-green eyes. He rattles her in ways she never new a man could reach a woman. So she uses a virtual program built around Rayce - a preparation in teaching her how to approach him and win his aid in the quest. Not willing to put herself at risk in the real world, Tru uses the safe secure holo-program to try and find her own sense-of-self sexually. Only, Rayce catches her using the virtual set up, and scared the holo-Rayce might hurt her somehow, he enters the program. Tru never knew the Rayce she found so gentle and caring in the holo-program was the REAL Rayce not her projected image. As they race around the universe, even paying a visit to earth, trying to find the X marks the spot, they both learn about each other, who they are and who they should be.

Barry delivers, once again, a book that is thoughtful, moving, with winning characters, humour and those little special touches that guarantee you will be hearing a lot more for her in the near future....thankfully! Eagerly awaiting her third book due in March 2004!

The sequel to UNEARTHED, Ms Barry just gets better and better!
Tru is an intellect that was born and raised in the Majj community that strictly focuses on advancing the galaxy in technologies, medicines and being learned about whatever the genesis's in residence put their minds' to. The only problem is that in order to stay within the Majj, Tru has to complete a charter before she turns thirty. Since the age of ten she has worked on only her father's projects never on her own. With his death she discovers an artifact that she believes is her charter. One of her hang ups is she needs a guide to help her and who better than Rayce Coburne, a man who excels at acquiring objects - the very name of a man her father had in his records. Rayce didn't want to accept the job Tru proposed for multiple reasons. The woman was a Majj, she has no interest in him as a human or even a man, and oh yeah she's a Majj. However, he desperately needs the credits for the space station he is remodeling or it won't open in time. So what is supposed to be a quick three day trip to a planet and back to his half renovated station turns into just the beginning when Tru inadvertently blackmails him into helping her finish her charter. But unlike the Majj society he's heard of, she offers to split the finding 50/50 - after documenting his share of course! So now the pair travels though hyperspace in a two-person ship with only each other to fight with. Forced to depend on each other a tentative relationship is formed that blooms into something that could be so much more. ...Except both know that True will return to the Majj society and how can Rayce compete with her greatest desire?

I really loved UNRAVELED. Tru is so clever and yet so innocent of the universe around her as she's never left the society. Even though she was emotionally repressed as a woman, I think her reactions were very realistic. Rayce is used to working alone, and not having problems with women. So Tru is an enigma for him. Most of what she does shocks him right to the "bitter" end. While I had an idea of what Tru might do, the reactions it caused where amazing! Rayce and Tru both have so many misconceptions about the Majj that when they discover they were wrong about events that have happened in each of their own individual lives, it is amazing the effects on both of them. But as they say, the truth can only set you free and Rayce is definitely carrying a burden only Tru can free him of! (Cryptic I know, but can't give too much away now can we?) I loved reading about Elvis, Rayce's dog from Earth, a present from a friend. I have to say I love reading about animals but mostly the hero or heroine will have cats as a constant companion and having a dog was a nice change. It brought a whole different set of visuals to mind while reading that were fun and humorous. Way to go Ms Barry, awesome story and I highly recommend having your senses UNRAVELED with Tru and Rayce!

Tru Van Dye grew up on an insular colony of Majj scientists. To prove themselves worthy, each member must succeed in a project, invention, or some type of major scientific break through before age thirty. Tru is now twenty-nine. She has less than a year to earn her Charter or she would be disassociated from her home planet. Tru decides to locate the legendary lost Curzon Collection. She has only a small plate to help her. But the plate is a key. She needs to locate three unknown pyramids, built centuries ago, on three unknown planets. The plate must be set on top of each pyramid in order to complete the plate's map. Then she must use the plate to locate and retrieve the Collection. However, the Majj are not allowed to leave their planet. Their own administrators keep them grounded. With the help of her mentor and only real friend, Noa, Tru gets off world and goes to hire the man best suited for the retrieval job.

Rayce Coburne is building a deluxe spaceport, due for its grand opening in less than three months. Due to lack of funds, things are not going well. Then Tru shows up and offers him all the funds he would ever need, for a simple mission. Rayce would have refused instantly if his partner, Gil, had not forced him to be realistic. Rayce hates all Majj, for very personal reasons. He agrees to Tru's mission, but only if Tru agrees to also include a kiss each day.

***** A stellar romance with action that Indian Jones would envy. Author C.J. Barry is quickly becoming famous in the sci-fi/romance genre and for good reason. Few in today's market can match Barry's intense action and suspense while keeping the romance alive as well. C.J. Barry is an outstanding author. Do not believe me? Simply read this novel. You will. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Twenty-nine years old Tru Van Dye, works and lives at the Koameron Institute. Tru's mother died when she was only six years old and had known only the unloving control of your father, who died a year ago. Tru is now a cold, and some say, frigid woman. The Majj, who are like the elders of this highly intelligent based group, run the institute. The Majj control all the workers, who must by the age of thirty, have obtained a Charter. A Charter being, types of discoveries---fines of highly cultural or medical importance, will only be worthy. In reality, only a selected few with enough money will ever receive the benefit of these Charters. If you fail to achieve your Charter, you are stripped of all titles, and forced to leave the institute in disgrace. It is a cold and unloving environment, with analytical thinking the only objective. Tru's only real friend, Noa Leeberfinger, is her cohort and confidante in this story. Together Tru and Noa mastermind a plan to achieve her Charter. It all revolves around a metal plate, no bigger than her hand. Tru found it after her father death. It is Tru's theory that this strange plate holds the clues to the lost art and treasures of Curzon forgotten culture. With the help of Rayce Coburne, she hopes to find and prove her theory...

Rayce Coburne is a specialist at getting or retrieving whatever you desire. If you can afford it, he can get it. He has a perfect record and doesn't mind telling you so. Rayce, also has a reputation as a ladies man. His dark rouge good looks and his blue-green eyes, could stop traffic at midday in Time Square! He has to keep that hard muscled body ready for anything, if you know what I mean <wink>. Rayce would never do business with or for a Majj, but he needs the credits to finish his dream...A luxurious space station. When he meets Tru, Rayce dislikes her cool demeanor at once. You see, Rayce lost a loved one because of the greedy Majj. His dislike is apparent to Tru, which is just find with her. The more distance between them, the better. Rayce and Tru will have to overcome their differences and band together to survive in, at times, dangerous and unexpected, planetary adventure. Along the way, Rayce can no longer stop his sexual urges toward Tru. Tru, needs to know what it is like to be desired by a real man. Together, they melt the frigid wall of ice Tru has built up, and the fog of anger Rayce has been in, to find a desire so strong, it might ignite their whole universe...

This is the second in C. J. Barry's series, the first being Unearthed, with is sold-out at this time. Unraveled is sure to follow in the footsteps of Unearthed, faster than you can say planetary travel! I would buy more than one, because you will wear out your first copy *G*. Unraveled is another jewel in C. J. Barry's crown, with this sexually charged futuristic hit, that is...UNRAVELED...

Why has it taken so long to put my two favorite topics together.
C J Barry has joined the new wave of writers like, Catherine Spangler, Jayne Castle, Robin Owens, and Susan Grant in creating the kind of reading experience that I have been waiting for.

Unraveled has everything I look for in a good SF/Romance. Tru is a very strong woman, but very innocent when it comes to men.

Rayce on the other hand, is very experienced. The romance is very good.

However, the story is better, a search for treasure amoung the stars. With a great deal of excitement and adventure along the way. The story is fast paced, and very well thought out.

I loved it. I am so pleased we are getting these types of good books now.

JUST A NOTE: GOOD SF/ROMANCES ARE WONDERFUL. TWO OLDER BOOKS, HARD TO FIND, BUT WORTH THE TROUBLE ARE:

Shield's Lady by Amanda Glass aka Jayne Castle (1989)

Half-Light by Denise Vitola (1992)

Five roses! Enter the exciting world created by Ms. Barry, as Tru and Rayce travel from galaxy to galaxy in search of a lost treasure. You'll enjoy how these two loveble space travelers get in and out of trouble, not to mention in and out of each other's hair, until they find what they are searching for, and discover a treasure greater than they imagined. The story is not only creative and humorous but its hotter than a "Rostron" mud bog! And, you'll find yourself wishing we did have VirtuWav machines! If you like Joanna Lindsey's futuristic novels, you'll be delighted in this one. Ms. Barry has landed a winner!

"Unraveled" is a pleasant romance novel set in a space-faring future. T is a young lady who has been raised in isolation at a scientific community. Eager to complete a research project, T leaves the research center and hires R, a ship's pilot, to engage in a fast paced whirlwind tour of planets to prove her theory. T is naive and white collar; R worldly and blue collar. R despises scientists in general and T in particular, but finds her irresistable and enchanting.

The personalities and attraction were well portrayed. The action was fun and fast paced. This novel was more Romance than SciFi, though there were certainly elements of both. There is an author's message that its okay for individuals to make a modest profit, but horridly immoral for companies to make a profit. This is annoying but only overplayed in the Epilog, which I recommend you skip.

This wasn't "keep forever & re-read" material, but it was entertaining and fun. Perfect for a lazy afternoon.

C.J. Barry's first novel, Unearthed, was so much fun I wondered if she would be able to maintain or slip into the dreaded sophomore slump. She did not, Unraveled is a winner through and through. Tru Van Dye has spent most of her life working her father's projects at the Majj Institute (a think tank that gifts the galaxies with life saving and/or improving inventions, or so she thinks) that she has little time to build her own, and time is running out. Tru has to come up with a discovery that she believes will earn her a Charter (the right to continue to live at the Institute) or face being forced out. She has a key, but needs help in finding the lock. That help is Rayce Coburne, a former treasure acquisitioner trying to build his own space port, but time and money are running out. Tru offers him plenty of money, but can Rayce over come his hatred of the Majj to help her? Again Barry mixes the best elements of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars (Quest, Paranormal Artifacts, Good vs Evil on the galactic scale with plenty of fascinating worlds to visit) with humor and a first rate romance. Great stuff, highest recommendation.

Going through her father's possessions following his death, Tru Van Dye finds an odd artifact. She researches the out of place item and concludes that she may have found the key to a treasure of ancient relics. More important to her, though she has always lived in a contained community, she feels strongly that she must complete her dad's work. This is her opportunity plus Tru has to secure her own Charter soon or she'll be asked to leave the scientific colony of Majj. A realistic, she knows she needs to hire someone who does this sort of thing for a living.

Rayce Coburne is no longer interested in treasure hunting. He is now devoting his time towards spaceport renovation but worries over a lack of capital to open on time. When Tru offers him a treasure-hunting expedition, Rayce reluctantly accepts though he prefers to reject this cold Majj scientist. Even worse, he is attracted to one of those icebergs so he decides on a ploy to get Tru to detest him. He will kiss her once everyday, but instead of sending her packing in warp speed he starts a supernova that lights up both their hearts.

Book two in C. J. Barry's outer space thriller is a delightful placing of Romancing the Stone but on a strange world (not that the Amazon Rain Forest is different than Atlanta). The story line is loaded with action and plenty of sizzling romance as the protagonists deny their feelings for one another. The key to this fine tale is that this non-earth orb seems like a genuine place obviously visited by chronicler C.J. Barry, a writer who is destined to be a superstar.

Harriet Klausner

The overall rating for the series is 4 butterflies. I had a great time reading these books, I had fun, I got a healthy dose of smutty galore, and I was very, very glad I got a chance to read them.
If I were to say what genre they'd go in, since people are always big on tags and stuff like that, I'd think these are romance with a sci-fi-ish twist, and not the other way around. There is a lot going on in each book, and there's a whole universe weaved for them, but I feel the main element is the romance. So I'd disagree with some reviews I read up on Goodreads, that slightly bash them for not being solidly sci-fi. I don't think they were meant to be; and I don't think I would have liked them more if they would have been, honestly. Buuut then again I'm not a sci-fi buff, I just like the occasional sci-fi because the book was very well written and the writer is very talented, not because of that genre. Anyways...

Unraveled (UN-Forgettable #2):
This one came close to being my favorite of the series. I liked both Rayce and Tru, a lot, and their chemistry was awesome. I also loved the emotional tension between them, and the healing that their connection brought them both.

The first part of the book seemed more fun then the second one, for some reason. Here I felt a slightly more interesting level of world-building then in the first, the whole Majj thing, and their intolerance for anything less then `perfect' seemed more sci-fi (to me) then the more space-fairytale flavor the first book had. The fact that I liked both the characters of course influenced me, and this would be a full 4 butterflies rating.