I’m very excited to have Carolyn Crane author of Mind Games and Double Cross here at FVBR today giving us a little glimpse into the closets of our favorite characters from the Disillusionist series.  Take it away Carolyn!

 

Disillusionist Fashion Week!

So, what exactly would characters from Mind Games and Double Cross wear? I know everybody has been losing tons of sleep wondering, so I have made these handy ensembles, courtesy of Polyvore, a site that sucks you in and makes you fiddle around with collages of clothes. OMG.

I actually got the idea from Jillian at Random Ramblings who got the idea from Steph at My Girl Friday.

 

First up: Shelby! Shelby is part of the disillusionists, the psychological hit squad in the trilogy. She infuses people with her grimness. But she wears bright, clashing colors—clothes, as her friend Justine observes, “perpetually at war.” And let’s face it, black would be too obvious for Shelby. In this way, she is like a Venus flytrap, luring the unsuspecting victim with bright colors, only to convince them that happiness is an illusion.

 

 

Flamboyant Otto Sanchez is a little bit Zorro, a little bit Wild West. As police chief, and later mayor, he has a style of his own—in addition to those awesome force fields powers. The quote “I am the law” is actually from Judge Dredd, the comic book series, and part of the inspiration for Otto, who is judge, jury and jailer to the paranormal criminals of Midcity. Sorry Otto, those are actually girl boots. But, they seemed so right for you!

 

 

Mastermind Packard has all the coolest clothes for that casual badass urban fantasy hero look. While being trapped in that restaurant for eight years, he wore a lot of nice white shirts, but now that he’s out, it’s all flannel leather and jeans. Actually, the boots aren’t quite right for him either, a bit too Jean-Claude, but you guys, I could have easily spent ten hours putting these together and shopping for my characters. It’s insanely fun. Anyway, the quote is from book #1, Mind Games. Justine, Shelby and the rest of the psychological hit squad is totally under Packard’s control, one of the things Justine wishes she knew before she joined up. And yes, he wears bright blue underpants. Yeah baby!

 

 

Justine is a somewhat practical dresser, with a kind of tomboy-gone-girl style, as evidenced by those kickass velveteen boots which, okay, don’t exactly go with the dress, but hey, a little artistic license! Justine has developed quite the taste for pretty dresses; she couldn’t afford them when she worked at the dress shop, but as a disillusionist, she can afford anything. Too bad she’s a minion of Packard’s, doomed to go around as a fake nurse, psychologically attacking the weird criminals of Midcity. I could see her in that purple dress at one of the Mind Games cocktail parties. She doesn’t get to dress up much in Double Cross, but that will change with book #3, seeing as how there’s a wedding coming up!

Okay! There we have it! Character clothes! What do you think about these ensembles? Whose closet would you like to go shopping in? Do you have any suggestions for clothes or accessories that Otto, Packard, Justine or Shelby are missing?

 

Thanks so much for the fun post Carolyn!  I love seeing how an author would dress up their characters.  I personally think Packard could totally rock the Jean-Claude boots, and Otto is just cool enough to make the girl boots work. –FV

 

***Giveaway***

 

Carolyn would like to giveaway a copy of either Mind Games or Double Cross, your choice!  To enter, answer Carolyn’s fashion questions from her post.  Giveaway is limited to US and Canada and is open until October 14, winner announced soon after.  I must be able to contact you via email if you win.

Visit Carolyn Crane: Website

Purchase the books:

Mind Games: Amazon || Book Depository

Double Cross:  Amazon || Book Depository

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane  Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Spectra Available: September 28, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL…

Justine Jones has lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she’s lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard. He gifts her with extraordinary mental powers-dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now, serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard – and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men . . . one on a journey of redemption, and the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV) 

**Possible mild spoilers if you have not read the first book in the series**

After reading Carolyn Crane’s impressive debut Mind Games, the first book in Disillusionists Trilogy, I was eager to read Double Cross.  With all the amazing titles that the urban fantasy genre has to offer these days Ms. Crane had her work cut out for her if I was to be impressed yet again.  The bar has certainly been raised for what I expect in urban fantasy and Double Cross is up against some serious heavy hitters in the genre.  Carolyn Crane hits it out of the park with this second installment in her Disillusionists Trilogy.

Justine Jones is doing her part to rid Midcity of dangerous ‘gifted’ criminals by disillusioning them.  She continues to work with Packard and his group of disillusionists in a effort to rehabilitate and release these criminals that the Mayor of Midcity, Otto Sanchez, has incarcerated using his Highcap abilities.  Although Justine has never been a hundred percent comfortable with what she is doing, it seems like she has found a way, with the help of Packard, to manage her hypochondriac episodes and channel them into doing something positive.  However with her latest case she is not so certain it’s all black and white and she suspects there is a chance her target may actually be innocent.  To further complicate things, a small group of serial killers, called the Dorks are picking off Highcaps one by one.  Otto, Packard, Justine and the disillusionists must work together to end their reign of terror. 

Justine’s personal relationships are as confused as ever.  Justine and Otto are both hypochondriacs who fear vein star syndrome.  They are working on a relationship, but as the new Mayor of Midcity Otto has a lot on his plate and they are not yet on solid ground due to Justine’s previous betrayal.  Justine is also conflicted in her relationship with Packard.  She feels betrayed by Packard yet fights her romantic attraction to him.  Packard makes no secret about his feelings for Justine and feels it’s only a matter of time until she comes around making for an interesting triangle. 

As I read Double Cross I realized that I never felt as though I was a spectator, but instead felt as though I was in the middle of the action at all times.  Carolyn Crane’s writing style brings you in and makes you a part of her story before you even realize you are fully engaged with her characters, and wrapped up in an urban fantasy world that feels real and believable. 

One of my favorite things about this book, as well as it’s predecessor is the clever and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor.  As I said, Ms. Crane has a way of drawing the reader into the story and I found myself laughing for thinking it’s perfectly natural to refer to heinous serial killers as the Dorks. I’m almost ashamed to admit that I found the the combined hypochondria of Justine and Otto ridiculously funny.  One irrational hypochondriac is funny, but double the dose and you’ve got a scene full of win. 

Double Cross certainly lives up to it’s title. Although I’m fairly certain where my loyalties lie, there is still a tiny flicker of doubt as all parties involved are appealing in their own way, yet they are flawed and have given plenty of reason why they should not be fully trusted.  The ending absolutely blew me away and yes, I’ve picked a team…but maybe not.

I loved Mind Games but Double Crossed gave me a good hard shove into crazy, maniacal fan girl territory.  (Don’t be scared CC, I’m harmless).   Double Cross is a must read.

P.S. I’m totally pissed that I read through this book and completely forgot to mark my favorite quotes.  I wonder if forgetfulness is symptom of vein star syndrome?  I’m pretty sure it is, but I forgot. o_O  I’ll have to look that up.  My head feels tingly.  

 

Other books in the series:

• Mind Games

Other reviews on GoodReads

Author’s Website

Purchase Links: Amazon || Book Depository

Mind Games by Carolyn Crane  Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Spectra Available: March 23, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward onMidcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

FV: Amy, I’m so excited to be chatting about Mind Games by Carolyn Crane with you. I’ve heard great things about this book and I’ve had it on my TBR for quite a while. Now that I’ve finally read it, I’m kicking myself for waiting so long.  I think the only upside to having waited so long is the torturous wait for the second book in the series (Double Cross) doesn’t seem as bad.

Amy: Yes, I’m kicking my self as well for putting it off due to my usual lack of interest in Urban Fantasy.  But thanks to Carolyn Crane I have a new outlook for the UF genre!

FV: You’ve said that Urban Fantasy is not really your thing and this is the first one you’ve made it all the way through.  What were your first impressions when you first started to read?  Why was this one different for you? 

Amy: I think so much of why Mind Games clicked for me was the action started right from the first page and reminded me a lot of how romantic suspense stories start.  And, the world building happened in slow increments within the action that I was not bored trying to soak in a new world order. 

FV: I agree with you on the world building for sure. I was immersed in Carolyn Crane’s world before I even realized it.  It was such a natural introduction and I absolutely loved the uniqueness of it.

Amy: Also, a lot of UF writers have no incorporation of m/f romance or sex.  I need an inkling of smut or at least sexual tension between characters to keep me riveted to a story and Carolyn Crane delivered that which was a major plus for me!

FV: While I don’t always need romance in my urban fantasy, I do enjoy it.  I loved the romantic tension in Mind Games, I was on the edge of my seat and undecided for most of the book.  I think this story had a good balance of romance, mystery and suspense. 

FV: Most urban fantasy stories seem to be written in first person.  Mind Games was written in first person, present tense.  I’m a fan of first person POV, but I admit, I’m not used to first person, present tense and I found it distracting at first.  I think it took me about eight chapters before I quit thinking about it.  How did you feel reading first person, present tense?

Amy: First person definitely gives the story a unique vibe but it really didn’t bother me all that much. However, I would have enjoyed a look into Packard’s mind and emotions.

FV: I really didn’t mind not having insight on the thoughts of the other characters.  I think it really added to the suspense and not knowing how to feel about Packard.  I know not all people feel that way about first person POV though.

FV: Let’s talk about our heroine Justine.  She’s a thirty-something hypochondriac of epic proportions.  She fears she has vein star syndrome, a disease that killed her mother.  Although hypochondria is really nothing to laugh at, Justine’s character is quite funny.  Her internal dialog and paranoia made me laugh constantly.  I’m not proud of that, I blame Carolyn Crane.  It was just so funny darn it.  What are your thoughts on Justine? 

Amy: I think Carolyn Crane was brilliant in choosing hypochondria as the vice for Justine. I loved and laughed as well at her constant paranoia as it reminded me of some real life people I know!  I enjoyed Justine’s brassiness yet sensitive nature. She felt very real and a character that could totally be your best friend.

FV: What about our hero Packard?  What was your impression of him?   Did you fall for him right away? 

Amy: First impression was definitely a "you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours" and I ultimately believed Packard was for all parts out for himself.  But as the story progressed and you began to see the underlying tings of jealously he had toward Justine’s boyfriend and the protectiveness he formed towards her it definitely changed my over all view of him.  Ms. Crane was also great at conveying the innate vibe that Justine and Packard felt off each other whenever they were together in a room. That intense chemistry between the two added to the sexual tension and I loved it.

FV: Oh yes, the sexual tension was out of this world.  Nom, nom.  <—That’s an official book review term, true thing.  

FV: I found myself to be quite distrustful of Packard throughout most of the book.  I wanted to trust him and understand his motivations but there always seemed to be a wrench thrown into the works just when I was ready to get on board with the plan.  He seemed to be manipulative however, it was hard to fault him considering his reasons for his behavior.

Amy: I found Packard to be a bundle of emotions and as hard as he tried to adjust to his circumstances it was always his "Achilles heel" so to speak. Without giving away spoilers, it will be very interesting to see how Packard evolves in the next book (Double Cross) given his changing environment.

FV: Is it September 28th yet?  

FV: Did you have a favorite scene? 

Amy: Yes, but I can’t reveal it without spoilers lol.

FV: Me too!  Let’s just say my favorite scene involved a hot tub and a cucumber reference.    There is so much brilliance to discuss in the book it’s impossible to do it without spoilers.

Amy: I really enjoyed the whole concept of Mind Games and can’t wait to get my hands on Double Cross to see what’s in store for all of the characters!

FV: I’m totally with you there Amy.  Mind Games has a firm spot on my top ten favorite urban fantasy’s of 2010 and I can not wait to see what’s next for Justine and others.

Amy’s favorite quote: (There were too many to list but here is one of the steamy quotes:)

"He kisses up my neck, lingering tantalizingly over my ear, doing warm breathy things that feel illicit, especially once his tongue gets involved.  Then he bits down on my earlobe, hot and sharp, and a swoon moves through me, like unexpected sunshine on my stomach." 

How much and how fast can I get that? Lol

FV’s favorite quote:

“When you get around solid, upstanding men, you’re like a bird with tinfoil. It makes you incoherent on a romantic level.”

Amy and FV’s Rating: 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository

Other books in the series:

Double Cross (September 28th, 2010)

GoodReads

Author’s Website