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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Underdeveloped, April 18, 2008
This review is from: Unstable Environment (Perfect Paperback)
APOOO: 2.5
As Unstable Environment begins, we meet Sinclair Duval, a commercial airline pilot. She is at a local indoor play facility for children with her three year old niece, Nahla. The two are pretending to be mother and daughter for the patrons at Jungle Kingdom. This is a tactic they developed, so no one would ask any questions about Nahla's alcoholic, drug addict mother, Mina. Sinclair expects a regular play date with Nahla; instead, a freak accident leaves both aunt and niece in the hospital with life threatening injuries. In an attempt to save young Nahla's life, their rescuer, Rio Velasquez, decides to break all the rules of his were-cheetah coalition. Rio knows what he is doing is wrong but he is prepared to suffer the consequences. Once young Nahla is introduced to the world of were-cheetahs, things change for the toddler and her aunt forever.
Even though Unstable Environment by Marcia Colette was reviewed by me in advance reader copy form, this book was particularly hard for me to get through as a reviewer. This story had great promise, the idea behind it seemed unique and not taken by many other authors but the delivery was lacking. Unstable Environment seemed underdeveloped. When the story first started, it kept my interest. As the story went on, it started to lose momentum. This was especially evident when Rio asks Sinclair about a kiss they had shared. When I looked back in the book to try and find that scene, I could not because it was missing. There were a couple other times when scenes were missing from the book but were mentioned as if they were there.
The biggest issue I had with this book was the character Rio's voice. The way that Rio expressed his growing connection towards Nahla was creepy. From the character mentioning how juicy a baby's lips looked to mentioning how soft her skin was. I tried to read these words all kinds of different ways to not find them creepy or strange but I could not. Again, the idea behind this book seemed strong and it could have worked but more needed to go into this story. Unstable Environment would be more recommendable if a few key points would be tweaked inside the book. Read this book at your own discretion.
Reviewed by Chantay,
APOOO BookClub
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4.0 out of 5 stars
The heroine and hero have great chemistry, July 16, 2009
This review is from: Unstable Environment (Perfect Paperback)
This is my first paranormal fiction book and I was found it very entertaining. I never heard of were-cheetahs before, but reading about cheetah coalitions (I didn't know that's what they were called) was quite educational. I never thought of cheetahs as dangerous, but the way MC described them (and their transformations) was riveting. Rio is sexy, and not just because he's good-looking, but because of the way he treats the heroine. Sinclair is strong, yet vulnerable and obviously loves her niece enough to put her life on hold. I especially found the scene with Mina (Sinclair's sister) and Theradine quite humorous and eye-opening. I'll be checking out the MC's upcoming books. Maybe they can be turned into movies.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
(RAW Rating: 3.5) A different world, August 16, 2008
This review is from: Unstable Environment (Perfect Paperback)
Sinclair Duvall watches her three-year-old niece, Nahla fall from one unstable environment into another. The first is the danger that surrounds Nahla because her mother, Sinclair's sister, is a substance abuser. Sinclair acts as her niece's surrogate mother and puts her own life on hold to protect Nahla from her mother. A freak accident while on a recreational outing puts Nahla's life in jeopardy; medically there is nothing that can be done, but this story borders on the very edge of other-worldly, and there is a solution.
Rio Velasquez, who is employed by the recreational site, comes from a line of healing that is not embraced in the medical world. Feeling guilty over the loss of his fiancée, in a previous battle involving were-cheetahs, he redirected his talent. But, the outcome surrounding Nahla's life has him struggling not to turn his back on another innocent victim. While what he does will save her life, he knows it will change her, break coalition rules, and possibly start a clan war. But none of these things stop him. Nahla is introduced to a world of were-cheetahs, and her second unstable environment. Sinclair is growing in ways she never dreamed of, Nahla is trying to gain control of her gift, and Rio is trying to grasp something that may be well beyond his reach and his world.
There is a rise in stories that border on the edge of humanness, and UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT is no exception. There is a good mixture of human and other-worldly ingredients, and for the most part, Marcia Colette stirs them well. But the story would have been stronger with a tighter developed storyline. The pace is good and I cannot remember reading about were-cheetahs before, so in that regard the story has an edge. The theory captivated me and I thought, why not? If nothing else this lends thoughts to a DNA mix that produces something other than werewolves.
Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
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