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Countdown (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Michelle Maddox (Author)
Key Phrases: psi abilities, reward level, The Countdown, Rogan Ellis, Ellis Enterprises (more...)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Years after a plague decimated the earth’s population and everyone who could go to Offworld did, Kira and Rogan meet in a reality game called Countdown. Kira, a petty thief who has been on her own since she witnessed the slaying of her entire family in a home invasion, and Rogan, a former billionaire imprisoned for rape and mass murder, have been plucked from their lives, had implants surgically inserted in their brains, and become stars of a Survivor-like competition watched by the wealthy through implants in their own brains. The implants keep cameras and microphones tuned to them as well as being set to explode if they ever find themselves more than 90 feet apart. As part of the game, they are required to kill or be killed. Told in the first person by kick-ass heroine Kira, Maddox’s suspenseful tale offers some of the same attraction as Running Man (1999) and Suzanne Collins’ forthcoming Hunger Games (2008), with nonstop action and interesting protagonists who face untenable choices. --Diana Tixier Herald

Review
"An intense thrill ride with mind-blowing twists and turns at every corner. Michelle Maddox weaves danger, excitement, and heat that will leave you breathless." -- Cheyenne McCray, USA Today best-selling author

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Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 293 pages
Publisher: Love Spell (July 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0505527553
ISBN-13: 978-0505527554
Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #375,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
psi abilities, reward level

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Countdown, Rogan Ellis, Ellis Enterprises, Level Five, Level Three, Paragon Avenue, Kira Jordan, Level Six, Bernard Jones, Level Four, White Coat, Gareth Ellis

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	56% buy the item featured on this page: Countdown (SHOMI) 4.5 out of 5 stars (13) $6.99
	19% buy Hidden (Shomi Action Romance) 4.8 out of 5 stars (12) $6.99
	15% buy Driven (SHOMI) 4.5 out of 5 stars (22) $6.99
	5% buy Scarlet (Dead World, Book 2) 3.6 out of 5 stars (5) $6.99

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brava., September 5, 2008

By	Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Forty percent of human life was wiped out by the Great Plague. Kira Jordan was born three years afterward. Those born with psi-abilities were sent to Offworld and taught. (Yes, that is the name of the planet.) Those without abilities or only testing as low-level were left on Earth with the others who cannot afford to leave the planet. If Kira touches someone's skin and "flexes her mind" in a certain direction, she can get a decent "read" on the person. She can see into their soul to tell whether they are honest or not. Seven years ago, as a teen, Kira's family had been murdered. She was the only survivor. Because of this Kira has a fear of the dark. So when Kira wakes up in a pitch-black room handcuffed to a wall, she is terrified. She has sixty seconds to escape or die.

Rogan Ellis is also handcuffed in the room. Rogan and Kira must work as a team if they have any chance of surviving what is happening to them. Rogan explains to Kira that they had been recruited to play in a secret game. Rich and bored people "subscribers" around the globe have had special implants placed in their heads so they may watch couples try to live through six levels of a game called The Countdown. Rogan and Kira have implants in their heads as well. If they get more than ninety feet from each other, their heads will explode. Each level is a different task. Each level has a time limit. Each level must be won or they die. If they try to get help or tell others what is happening, they and the people they spoke with will die.

Kira has never counted on anyone besides herself. She does not totally trust anyone, not even her friends. Rogan would be especially hard to trust. The man has spent the last few years in prison, convicted of nine counts of murder. Even though Kira's "flex" says he is innocent of the crimes, it also tells her that he is hiding something.

**** The story is written in the First Person. Readers follow Kira the entire time. The author did a good job of slowly informing me, as the reader, about Kira's background and later about Rogan's. I found some parts very predictable and others had unexpected twists. The story has a light flavor of the science fiction movie "The Running Man". But do not worry, the resemblance is minor. I only mention it because if you have seen the old movie, chances are it will keep popping into your head. Best of all, in my opinion, is that this is a stand alone book. So many books today are part of a series or a trilogy. It is so nice to pick up a book and not worry that I would find myself lost due to not having read the previous novels. Author Michelle Maddox has a new fan in me. BRAVA! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting science fiction thriller , August 3, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

The Great Plague destroyed over forty percent of the human population. Besides the death toll, the consequential economic disaster wiped out more people as poverty became the norm. Finally, the pandemic changed life in other ways as some individuals born after the global calamity contained psi skills. Those who tested with strong levels were quickly taken from the dying planet to Offworld where they learned to use their gifts.

Kira Jordan was born after the plague with strong psi ability; she was transferred to Offworld and taught to use her skills. Kira can read people's thoughts and see their souls if she touches them while flexing her mind. Seven years ago, someone murdered the then teen's entire family; so when she awakens handcuffed in the dark she panics as she fears the darkness. Also locked up in the room is Rogan Ellis, who calmly explains they have been abducted to participate in The Countdown, a game of survival established to entertain wealthy subscribers who enjoy watching others die. If the pair separate by ninety feet, implants in their brains will explode. There are six levels of teaming or dying; Kira knows by flexing that her partner is a convicted serial killer who spent time in jail for crimes he did not commit, but he hides something from her that makes the already wary psychic distrust him.

This is an exciting science fiction thriller with obvious connections to the Richard Bachman novel and Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man in terms of the decadent affluent spectators cheering for death in a deadly game show. Michelle Maddox refreshes the concept through her key cast members as they are radically different from those in the movie. Kira is a terrific lead character whose thoughts especially fears enable the reader to understand her distrust of her game partner; whereas Rogan pretends to trust, but readers know better. Fans will wonder whether the team of Kira and Rogan will make it through the six levels and then what awaits them for we too do not trust the game master either.

Harriet Klausner

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars - This deadly game is a great mix of futuristic romance with a touch of paranormal., September 13, 2008

By	melindeeloo (sb,ca) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I loved the hook to Countdown. Two strangers are dropped into the middle of a deadly game - they must work as partners in order to make it to the next level, each level is timed, the Countdown begins now, and only the winners survive. Kira, a thief, has used her latent psychic talent to survive on the streets after her family was brutally murdered and she'll need the edge that talent gives her to survive the game, where emotions are manipulated to up the viewer ratings. She is partnered with Rogan, a dangerous and deadly convict, the facts tell Kira one thing about Rogan and her instincts another, how can she trust a murderer?

Countdown is one of the newest additions to the multi-author Shomi collection. All are standalone action packed futuristic romances, some with touches of the paranormal or time travel. I truly enjoyed this one. I loved the narrator Kira, even though her smarts were of the street variety she's the one that gives the pair a chance, and she has a good 'voice' for a 1st person heroine. Rogan is a perfectly decent romantic lead with a bad boy edge and hidden vulnerability. The action is pretty much non-stop and entertaining while the game is in progress, and the story only takes a minor hit in the wrap up - it's hard to tie up a romance like this one in a way that's as unique as the rest of the story.

Still, I definitely recommend this one from author Maddox (who also writes vamps as Michelle Rowen) and I will be on the look out for more Futuristics from her and more of the Shomi's too.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars 59 seconds remain to read this review...
Only 40% of earth's population remains after a mysterious plague of unknown origins wiped everything out. Read more

Published 2 months ago by V. Kasten

5.0 out of 5 stars Genuinely Thrilling
COUNTDOWN is that very rare kind of book: a thriller that is genuinely thrilling. This is action-packed, non-stop adventure, combining the physiological, psychological and... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Tez Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars a keeper
I love a story that you read quickly because the plot is so good but at the same time you are sad to see it end. 'Countdown' is like this. Read more

Published 4 months ago by L. B. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this in one day!
I find it hard to get excited over a book but I have to gush about this one. The story of it has been told here so I'll just get to why I loved this book. Read more

Published 6 months ago by B. Carter

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting action romance
Countdown is non-stop action and it's a really great read. As the story begins we meet Kira Jordan, a young woman who's lived as a pickpocket for many years following the brutal... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Helen Hancox

4.0 out of 5 stars Good new Title
I discovered this book while doing a search on homeless. You got to love the stuff you discover while websurfing on Amazon and I absolutely loved this story. Read more

Published 7 months ago by L. Kukla

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced and suspenseful romantic futuristic thriller
Kira Jordan had been born three years after a great plague that had wiped out forty percent of Earth's population. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Leslie Tramposch

3.0 out of 5 stars Not that great
This was an Ok book, easy to put down, the plot and characters were nothing to get excited about.

Published 9 months ago by Cin Dee

5.0 out of 5 stars it's the final countdown
this book is very good this book has two people trying to get out of this game that has six levels. the must survive and stay together and make it out of the game alive.

Published 11 months ago by E. Linda Stanford

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-Paced and Fabulous
I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me from the opening, and it kept me glued to the pages. Fast-paced, and completely fabulous.

Published 11 months ago by Jackie Kessler

› See all 13 customer reviews...

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