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Brown and de Luca #1
Sleep with the Lights On
Rachel de Luca has found incredible success writing self-help books. But her own blindness and the fact that her troubled brother has gone missing have convinced her that positive thinking is nothing but bull.
Her cynicism wavers when a cornea transplant restores her sight. The new eyes seem to give her new life, until they prove too good to be true and she starts seeing terrifying visions of brutal murders - crimes she soon learns are all too real.
Detective Mason Brown's own brother recently died, leaving behind a horrific secret. In atonement, Mason donated his brother's organs, though he's kept the fact quiet. Now he wants to help Rachel find her brother, but when he discovers the shocking connection between her visions and his own brother, he suddenly has to do everything in his power to save her from a predator who is somehow still hunting from beyond the grave.
Her cynicism wavers when a cornea transplant restores her sight. The new eyes seem to give her new life, until they prove too good to be true and she starts seeing terrifying visions of brutal murders - crimes she soon learns are all too real.
Detective Mason Brown's own brother recently died, leaving behind a horrific secret. In atonement, Mason donated his brother's organs, though he's kept the fact quiet. Now he wants to help Rachel find her brother, but when he discovers the shocking connection between her visions and his own brother, he suddenly has to do everything in his power to save her from a predator who is somehow still hunting from beyond the grave.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 24, 2013
About the author
Maggie Shayne
272 books2,541 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
August 27, 2013
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*eARC Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Maggie Shayne's Sleep With the Lights On was a darkly seductive psychological thriller with a heroine you cannot help but love, a hero that immediate grows on you and who you both feel for and root for, a story that sucks you in immediately and allows you to be utterly immersed in the unfolding arc of the tale, a unique villain that inspires roiling in the gut, and an ending with a surprise worthy of the best murder mysteries.
O.K, now that I enticed you with that lovely run-on sentence, let me try to break it down. :)
Rachel DeLuca is, by far, one of the best heroines I've encountered! She's so very 'real'; one of those no holds barred ladies who says what's on her mind no matter what. A beautiful,intelligent, independent, strong, and sassy alpha-female who isn't afraid to just 'be'. And if that wasn't enough, Maggie, as Rachel in her POV, will have you laughing out loud in the first handful of pages.
Mason is a stubborn cop, a loyal family man, and a slightly damaged soul. The things Maggie puts him through in only the first 1/4 of the book are enough to break anyone, but he rebounds with grace and ends up being one of those subtle alpha males who you just want to give a big hug to.
The brilliant and unique premise - latent evil being transferred to multiple hosts via the receipt of an organ donation - is one that begs for attention! You can't help but be sucked in by it and set your mind racing with the 'what ifs' and 'what's nexts'. It's an epidemically spread case of evil, but through a means of infection that is utterly benign, thus making it even more disturbing. And the fact that one organ donor can affect up to 50 people makes this book, and ultimate series, one that has limitless potential.
I adored this book. I have been a Maggie Shayne fan for longer than I can remember, but this new side of Maggie is absolutely ingenious and made me have even more respect for her astounding talent and ability to capture the hearts and minds of her readers. I cannot wait for more DeLuca and Brown!
*eARC Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Maggie Shayne's Sleep With the Lights On was a darkly seductive psychological thriller with a heroine you cannot help but love, a hero that immediate grows on you and who you both feel for and root for, a story that sucks you in immediately and allows you to be utterly immersed in the unfolding arc of the tale, a unique villain that inspires roiling in the gut, and an ending with a surprise worthy of the best murder mysteries.
O.K, now that I enticed you with that lovely run-on sentence, let me try to break it down. :)
Rachel DeLuca is, by far, one of the best heroines I've encountered! She's so very 'real'; one of those no holds barred ladies who says what's on her mind no matter what. A beautiful,intelligent, independent, strong, and sassy alpha-female who isn't afraid to just 'be'. And if that wasn't enough, Maggie, as Rachel in her POV, will have you laughing out loud in the first handful of pages.
Mason is a stubborn cop, a loyal family man, and a slightly damaged soul. The things Maggie puts him through in only the first 1/4 of the book are enough to break anyone, but he rebounds with grace and ends up being one of those subtle alpha males who you just want to give a big hug to.
The brilliant and unique premise - latent evil being transferred to multiple hosts via the receipt of an organ donation - is one that begs for attention! You can't help but be sucked in by it and set your mind racing with the 'what ifs' and 'what's nexts'. It's an epidemically spread case of evil, but through a means of infection that is utterly benign, thus making it even more disturbing. And the fact that one organ donor can affect up to 50 people makes this book, and ultimate series, one that has limitless potential.
I adored this book. I have been a Maggie Shayne fan for longer than I can remember, but this new side of Maggie is absolutely ingenious and made me have even more respect for her astounding talent and ability to capture the hearts and minds of her readers. I cannot wait for more DeLuca and Brown!
July 4, 2018
3.5.
I enjoyed it. Finished it a few days ago. Busy few days since so no time to review.
I enjoyed it. Finished it a few days ago. Busy few days since so no time to review.
January 16, 2014
The set up
Rachel Mason went blind when she was 12-years old. A chance encounter with Detective Mason Brown led to her receiving his dead brother's corneas. What first seems like an incredible gift turns into a nightmare when Rachel begins having disturbing visions. Mason is keeping a terrible secret about his brother and has a tough choice to make as he realizes there's a connection between the organ donation and Rachel's visions.
What works about this story
Connections between recipients of organ transplants and their donors have been written about before but this one has a slightly different twist to make it a standout. On top of that, Rachel's snarky humor and clever banter made this story a fun, though macabre read. Shifts between her first-person narrative and others' points of view were transitioned pretty smoothly and I liked having the multiple perspectives. It wasn't terribly mysterious but it was suspenseful and a little bizarre. Oh, and Rachel has a dog named Myrtle that steals just about every scene she's in.
The romance
Rachel and Mason's relationship seemed to just evolve without much depth. While I liked both, I never felt a strong bond between the two and it was the one weakness of the story. If you approach this story as a paranormal mystery with romantic elements, I think it will better meet your expectations. Their romance was just never a significant aspect of the book as they seemed more like partners.
The bottom line
I really enjoyed this book in spite of the tepid romance. The paranormal aspects are creepy in a really good way and Rachel's sense of humor adds to the quirky tempo. I'm glad this is a series because I want more of her and this weird phenomena.
Rachel Mason went blind when she was 12-years old. A chance encounter with Detective Mason Brown led to her receiving his dead brother's corneas. What first seems like an incredible gift turns into a nightmare when Rachel begins having disturbing visions. Mason is keeping a terrible secret about his brother and has a tough choice to make as he realizes there's a connection between the organ donation and Rachel's visions.
What works about this story
Connections between recipients of organ transplants and their donors have been written about before but this one has a slightly different twist to make it a standout. On top of that, Rachel's snarky humor and clever banter made this story a fun, though macabre read. Shifts between her first-person narrative and others' points of view were transitioned pretty smoothly and I liked having the multiple perspectives. It wasn't terribly mysterious but it was suspenseful and a little bizarre. Oh, and Rachel has a dog named Myrtle that steals just about every scene she's in.
The romance
Rachel and Mason's relationship seemed to just evolve without much depth. While I liked both, I never felt a strong bond between the two and it was the one weakness of the story. If you approach this story as a paranormal mystery with romantic elements, I think it will better meet your expectations. Their romance was just never a significant aspect of the book as they seemed more like partners.
The bottom line
I really enjoyed this book in spite of the tepid romance. The paranormal aspects are creepy in a really good way and Rachel's sense of humor adds to the quirky tempo. I'm glad this is a series because I want more of her and this weird phenomena.
September 25, 2013
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
WOW!!! What a great book!
I loved, loved Rachel! She's such a great character. I loved her at the beginning, when she was blind, and I loved her after when she got her sight back!
She's incredible! Her joie de vivre is fantastic! One could think that she's bitter because she's so sarcastic, but I didn't felt it that way. I felt that her sarcasm was an expression of her will to live her life fully and completly.
She made me laugh with her inner musings and they were so to the point! Her capability to read persons was also great! Her interaction with her sister, with her assistant, with her friend and with Mason was fantastic! I was awed by her strenght and her spirit!
Mason was a great guy too. I completly understood his actions, even if they were not very ethical. But he was acting with good and very selfless intentions, so it was impossible for me to blame him. His love for his family was shing through and it was lovely to read.
The story was unusual and unusually written too. The flow was impeccable and every sentence was great!
There's almost no sex scenes but the sensual heat was there and it was delicious and sometimes funny too!
I would have loved if the reasons were more deeply investigated and explained. I would have liked to know more about the theory behind them. But still what we find out are explanations enough to make the story credible taking into consideration that this is fiction! ... at least I hope it is! *wink*
I enjoyed very much the dog: Myrtle! I loved the relationship Rachel has with her. Just perfect and wonderful!
The whole book is a jewel and each page is a joy to read!
WOW!!! What a great book!
I loved, loved Rachel! She's such a great character. I loved her at the beginning, when she was blind, and I loved her after when she got her sight back!
She's incredible! Her joie de vivre is fantastic! One could think that she's bitter because she's so sarcastic, but I didn't felt it that way. I felt that her sarcasm was an expression of her will to live her life fully and completly.
She made me laugh with her inner musings and they were so to the point! Her capability to read persons was also great! Her interaction with her sister, with her assistant, with her friend and with Mason was fantastic! I was awed by her strenght and her spirit!
Mason was a great guy too. I completly understood his actions, even if they were not very ethical. But he was acting with good and very selfless intentions, so it was impossible for me to blame him. His love for his family was shing through and it was lovely to read.
The story was unusual and unusually written too. The flow was impeccable and every sentence was great!
There's almost no sex scenes but the sensual heat was there and it was delicious and sometimes funny too!
I would have loved if the reasons were more deeply investigated and explained. I would have liked to know more about the theory behind them. But still what we find out are explanations enough to make the story credible taking into consideration that this is fiction! ... at least I hope it is! *wink*
I enjoyed very much the dog: Myrtle! I loved the relationship Rachel has with her. Just perfect and wonderful!
The whole book is a jewel and each page is a joy to read!
February 24, 2015
*ARC received from Author in exchange for an honest review
I have been a longtime fan of Maggie Shayne and I have had the pleasure of having a social online friendship with her as well, and I thought I knew what to expect from her as an author but that was all blow out of the water when I got my hands on Sleep with the Light On!!!!
I promise there will be no spoilers in this review BUT I cannot promise it won’t be a little lengthy, there is just no way for me to keep it short when this book deserves all the words and dedication I can pour into this review. I have this overwhelming need to share with the people reading this how I felt on while on the roller coaster this book took me on especially after the most emotional year of my life, it’s probably going to be my most personal review ever.
I don’t usually read thriller/mystery genre based books; I am more drawn to Paranormal which is where my love for Maggie started. Let’s be honest and Ill allow myself a fan girl moment here, I’d read anything Maggie wrote, be it a fictional series or a line of cook books, I love her writing style and I feel a connection to any words she lets escape that magical mind of hers.
The last week I have been a walking zombie, depressed, unfeeling, a shell of what I usually am. Thinking nothing could break me free and have me feel anything but depression until I checked my mail and saw that I had a package from Maggie. I opened it to see her new and upcoming 1st book in her series almost a month before release. I immediately thought to myself “if anyone’s magic can bring me out of this and help me to feel anything its Maggie’s Magic.”
So I settled in my usually routine of starting a new book and INSTANTLY felt a spark as I read the prologue. The next thing I knew I was 50 pages in and jumping up running to tell my husband all that had happened in the book in just 50 short pages. I was jumping up and down and excited!! I was excited; I felt something for the first time in a week!! That’s it I was not moving from my bed till I had it finished, I need this roller coaster of emotion that goes along with reading a book so well written that you can’t help but feel like you watching it on a big screen. My heart was racing at some points, I was talking to myself, making guesses about what was going to happen next, I WAS ENTHRALLED AND LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!
Maggie never forgets the little things when she is writing a book, things you don’t realize a book or a story needed to make it complete. Somehow all the little things make it a real story. A story that connects you to the book and the writer. My favorite part is the moment when the title makes sense.
Rachel De Luca is by no means a fragile woman even if she is blind. You know from the second she is introduced that she is a force to be reckoned with. Mason Brown is like most men, stubborn. But is one hell of a cop with a very level head. But what do you think happens to a level headed man when he is faced with something that would rock the most solid man to his core? What do you do when you are faced with something bordering on supernatural? How do you accept something that cannot be explained? These are the things that both Rachel and Mason have to face as they get rocketed through this suspenseful story filled with twists and turns.
I have to mention Myrtle, this little (ok not so little) character is one of those things I’m talking about when I say, you don’t realize a story needs something like this until you read it and realize this book would not be complete without it. Myrtle is a bulldog and I’ll bet everything that Maggie got the inspiration from her very own furrbaby and knowing that makes her come alive even more.
As fast paced as this book is, I found myself getting frustrated while in the middle ONLY BECAUSE as a reader you know what’s going on and your just waiting for the characters to catch up and the story goes on. I’ll compare it to this so that people get what I’m trying to say about the frustration. When you are watching a scary movie and you know the bad guy is waiting in the kitchen for the girl to walk in there and the girl knows there is someone in the house and you start screaming at the TV saying “Why are you walking through the house?!?!!? Run outside!! OH MY, don’t go in the kitchen HE IS IN THERE!!!” but the whole time you’re thinking well if she doesn't go in there than it wouldn't be a good movie right? That’s what I mean when I say frustrating. It’s that intense of a read!!
Maggie has a way of wrapping up a book, even in a series, in a nice little bow that has you thinking all is well…until you remember there is a sequel on its way and then all of a sudden you realize THERE’S MORE!!!!
I am first and foremost grateful for this book and for Maggie’s magic that brought me out of my funk, but I am overwhelmed by her unending talent. I give Sleep with the Lights On, 5 out of 5, and recommend it to…well EVERYONE!!! I am waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2!! I can’t wait to be able to ask Maggie a few questions about this one, like why does Myrtle need baby wipes?? LOL
Thank you for taking the time to read my review I still feel like I didn’t give this book to justice it deserves with my words but I really do hope that it has encouraged you to go get your copy ASAP, it’s a must read!! As Always, Happy Reading Everyone!!
I have been a longtime fan of Maggie Shayne and I have had the pleasure of having a social online friendship with her as well, and I thought I knew what to expect from her as an author but that was all blow out of the water when I got my hands on Sleep with the Light On!!!!
I promise there will be no spoilers in this review BUT I cannot promise it won’t be a little lengthy, there is just no way for me to keep it short when this book deserves all the words and dedication I can pour into this review. I have this overwhelming need to share with the people reading this how I felt on while on the roller coaster this book took me on especially after the most emotional year of my life, it’s probably going to be my most personal review ever.
I don’t usually read thriller/mystery genre based books; I am more drawn to Paranormal which is where my love for Maggie started. Let’s be honest and Ill allow myself a fan girl moment here, I’d read anything Maggie wrote, be it a fictional series or a line of cook books, I love her writing style and I feel a connection to any words she lets escape that magical mind of hers.
The last week I have been a walking zombie, depressed, unfeeling, a shell of what I usually am. Thinking nothing could break me free and have me feel anything but depression until I checked my mail and saw that I had a package from Maggie. I opened it to see her new and upcoming 1st book in her series almost a month before release. I immediately thought to myself “if anyone’s magic can bring me out of this and help me to feel anything its Maggie’s Magic.”
So I settled in my usually routine of starting a new book and INSTANTLY felt a spark as I read the prologue. The next thing I knew I was 50 pages in and jumping up running to tell my husband all that had happened in the book in just 50 short pages. I was jumping up and down and excited!! I was excited; I felt something for the first time in a week!! That’s it I was not moving from my bed till I had it finished, I need this roller coaster of emotion that goes along with reading a book so well written that you can’t help but feel like you watching it on a big screen. My heart was racing at some points, I was talking to myself, making guesses about what was going to happen next, I WAS ENTHRALLED AND LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!
Maggie never forgets the little things when she is writing a book, things you don’t realize a book or a story needed to make it complete. Somehow all the little things make it a real story. A story that connects you to the book and the writer. My favorite part is the moment when the title makes sense.
Rachel De Luca is by no means a fragile woman even if she is blind. You know from the second she is introduced that she is a force to be reckoned with. Mason Brown is like most men, stubborn. But is one hell of a cop with a very level head. But what do you think happens to a level headed man when he is faced with something that would rock the most solid man to his core? What do you do when you are faced with something bordering on supernatural? How do you accept something that cannot be explained? These are the things that both Rachel and Mason have to face as they get rocketed through this suspenseful story filled with twists and turns.
I have to mention Myrtle, this little (ok not so little) character is one of those things I’m talking about when I say, you don’t realize a story needs something like this until you read it and realize this book would not be complete without it. Myrtle is a bulldog and I’ll bet everything that Maggie got the inspiration from her very own furrbaby and knowing that makes her come alive even more.
As fast paced as this book is, I found myself getting frustrated while in the middle ONLY BECAUSE as a reader you know what’s going on and your just waiting for the characters to catch up and the story goes on. I’ll compare it to this so that people get what I’m trying to say about the frustration. When you are watching a scary movie and you know the bad guy is waiting in the kitchen for the girl to walk in there and the girl knows there is someone in the house and you start screaming at the TV saying “Why are you walking through the house?!?!!? Run outside!! OH MY, don’t go in the kitchen HE IS IN THERE!!!” but the whole time you’re thinking well if she doesn't go in there than it wouldn't be a good movie right? That’s what I mean when I say frustrating. It’s that intense of a read!!
Maggie has a way of wrapping up a book, even in a series, in a nice little bow that has you thinking all is well…until you remember there is a sequel on its way and then all of a sudden you realize THERE’S MORE!!!!
I am first and foremost grateful for this book and for Maggie’s magic that brought me out of my funk, but I am overwhelmed by her unending talent. I give Sleep with the Lights On, 5 out of 5, and recommend it to…well EVERYONE!!! I am waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2!! I can’t wait to be able to ask Maggie a few questions about this one, like why does Myrtle need baby wipes?? LOL
Thank you for taking the time to read my review I still feel like I didn’t give this book to justice it deserves with my words but I really do hope that it has encouraged you to go get your copy ASAP, it’s a must read!! As Always, Happy Reading Everyone!!
July 24, 2014
Okay, look. I am clearly working from a certain bias, because I work in eye surgery. But if you also work in eyes? Don't read this.
I'm 25% of the way in, and I just can't any more. I managed to swallow the "unwrapping the layers of gauze from the eyes" bit (after a DSEK you get plastic patches taped on over gauze pads, there's no movie-drama moment there). I ignored that she was sitting up in bed the next morning, waiting for said gauze to be removed (...no. With DSEK, there's an air bubble injected to physically push the Descemet's layer against your own corneal tissue, and you have to lay flat as possible for a few DAYS to keep the air bubble pushing in the right place).
But chapter 5, I'm done. It starts with "I'd been seeing twenty-twenty for a solid six weeks." Like, pretty much right after the surgery. And she has a car, because she drives now. After being blind since age 12. No. No, no, no. Corneal transplants are not magic. You don't get one and soon get to 20/20. You don't just get a driver's license right away (if you ever do) after being blind since you were a preteen.
(And finally, it is so rare for an organ/tissue recipient to meet the donor family, because of all the HIPAA hurdles. But here it's presented like it's no big deal at all.)
I'm 25% of the way in, and I just can't any more. I managed to swallow the "unwrapping the layers of gauze from the eyes" bit (after a DSEK you get plastic patches taped on over gauze pads, there's no movie-drama moment there). I ignored that she was sitting up in bed the next morning, waiting for said gauze to be removed (...no. With DSEK, there's an air bubble injected to physically push the Descemet's layer against your own corneal tissue, and you have to lay flat as possible for a few DAYS to keep the air bubble pushing in the right place).
But chapter 5, I'm done. It starts with "I'd been seeing twenty-twenty for a solid six weeks." Like, pretty much right after the surgery. And she has a car, because she drives now. After being blind since age 12. No. No, no, no. Corneal transplants are not magic. You don't get one and soon get to 20/20. You don't just get a driver's license right away (if you ever do) after being blind since you were a preteen.
(And finally, it is so rare for an organ/tissue recipient to meet the donor family, because of all the HIPAA hurdles. But here it's presented like it's no big deal at all.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2019
I love Maggie Shayne's books and this one is no exception. Her romantic suspense books usually have a paranormal element as well. This story involves a heroine with transplanted corneas who may have received more than she thought. Rachel de Luca and Mason Brown are really good together but boy do they have some baggage to deal with! This is the first book in the series. Can't wait to read the next. Highly recommended!
August 25, 2024
This story was unlike any other story I've read and it was a good bet. In this book we meet Rachel who after receiving a cornea transplant from a serial killer (not a spoiler) begins to have nightmares of brutal crimes. Everything gets worse when she starts having visions of the recent victims of a serial killer. Rachel then turns to Inspector Mason, brother of the donor serial killer. But this one also hides secrets that put not only them but other people at risk.
I'm not sure if I consider this a psychological thriller or a paranormal thriller... but I definitely recommend this read.
The author's first book I read and I became a fan of these two, mainly because of Rachel's sass and her sarcastic sense of humor.
Although I was disillusioned by the romance it wasn't much explored and for lack of 🌶️🔥 there was a lot of chemistry between Rachel and Mason and their relationship was undoubtedly set to be explored throughout the series.
I liked the built-in suspense, the mystery, and the question that was addressed, namely whether people who receive transplants can or cannot receive characteristics from donors.
It is obvious that a book of this genre had unrealistic scenes, but nothing disturbed the story, because this is fiction.
I recommend.
August 12, 2013
I was able to read an ARC e-book of Sleep With the Lights On. At first I wasn't sure if I would like the mixed POV's- heroine Rachel is first person, Mason/the rest of the novel is third person but because the book was not a romance, it worked for me and I was surprised that I liked the mix. I was happy to discover that the upcoming December book by Ms. Shayne also will feature these characters because both characters are deeply flawed and I'm curious to see if things I felt weren't wrapped up will be addressed. This book was well written and fast paced and I couldn't put it down. Although a bit predictable in some regards that was okay with me. I'm also a sucker for books with dogs in them. I have a bulldog, and Myrtle is spot on! Ms. Shayne has developed a book with characters I want to continue reading about. There are a few creepy parts- Ms. Shayne has cinematic style that may have some of you sleeping with the lights on long after you turn the last page.
May 29, 2016
4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 stars, because I thought that )
March 29, 2014
I won a copy of "Wake To Darkness" by Maggie Shayne through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest, and decided to purchase the first installment in the series, "Sleep With The Lights On". This is my review of "Sleep With The Lights On". This is a psychological thriller, romantic suspense that will have you gripped turning the pages late into the night.
Deep in the Adirondack Mountains in the predawn, a killer had rowed his boat across the lake, to dump a body. Eric had never been right...but to do this? He was a cold-blooded serial killer! And to make matters worse, Eric's brother, Mason was a Homicide detective.
When his brother suicides in Mason's apartment, leaving a note of confession and a stack of licenses of his victims, Mason makes a fast decision to cover up the truth and his unsolved cases, by removing the evidence. Mason decides to donate his brother's organs, and maybe make up for the bad that he did.
Rachel de Luca was a big celeb on TV, a blind author with a cane,that had written self-help books. Her path crosses with Mason when she shows up at the police station, to follow up on her missing brother. She has no problem speaking up for herself! But when she left, Mason ran over her at the police station. So after twenty years of blindness, Rachel becomes the recipient of the corneal transplant...but this will be just the start of all her problems.
Then at home the nightmares came,blood and gore and visions of the killings. Time to sleep with the lights on. Rachel felt like she was with the killer, inside his body, looking through his eyes, and feeling his emotions, as the killer committed these terrible acts. It makes Rachel wonder just what sort of person her donor had been...how much does the cop know?
Mason is certain that the serial killer, "The Wraith" is dead. But when there is another victim, and Rachel seems to know things about the crime...Rachel becomes the focal point for solving the mystery.
The POV shifts between Rachel's first person and a third person focusing on Mason and the killer.
If you enjoy reading serial killer psychological suspense, with an element of paranormal romance, this novel will appeal to you. Definitely check it out. For someone that has had cornea transplant surgery, I have a greater respect for this novel.I now plan to read the second instalment, "Wake To Darkness".
Deep in the Adirondack Mountains in the predawn, a killer had rowed his boat across the lake, to dump a body. Eric had never been right...but to do this? He was a cold-blooded serial killer! And to make matters worse, Eric's brother, Mason was a Homicide detective.
When his brother suicides in Mason's apartment, leaving a note of confession and a stack of licenses of his victims, Mason makes a fast decision to cover up the truth and his unsolved cases, by removing the evidence. Mason decides to donate his brother's organs, and maybe make up for the bad that he did.
Rachel de Luca was a big celeb on TV, a blind author with a cane,that had written self-help books. Her path crosses with Mason when she shows up at the police station, to follow up on her missing brother. She has no problem speaking up for herself! But when she left, Mason ran over her at the police station. So after twenty years of blindness, Rachel becomes the recipient of the corneal transplant...but this will be just the start of all her problems.
Then at home the nightmares came,blood and gore and visions of the killings. Time to sleep with the lights on. Rachel felt like she was with the killer, inside his body, looking through his eyes, and feeling his emotions, as the killer committed these terrible acts. It makes Rachel wonder just what sort of person her donor had been...how much does the cop know?
Mason is certain that the serial killer, "The Wraith" is dead. But when there is another victim, and Rachel seems to know things about the crime...Rachel becomes the focal point for solving the mystery.
The POV shifts between Rachel's first person and a third person focusing on Mason and the killer.
If you enjoy reading serial killer psychological suspense, with an element of paranormal romance, this novel will appeal to you. Definitely check it out. For someone that has had cornea transplant surgery, I have a greater respect for this novel.I now plan to read the second instalment, "Wake To Darkness".
February 13, 2018
Wow! Just Wow! Real review to follow.
This was a heart stopping, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat book and I am very glad to have found and read it!
It consists of a mix of genres –horror, speculative fiction, suspense and lastly –romance. However, romance takes a full back seat to the other aspects of this novel.
What would you do if the cornea transplant you thought would never work suddenly did? But with these cornea’s comes a little ‘gift’ shall we say. This gift is not a happy shiny gift; oh my no it is not. It is a full on horror story for our protagonist Rachel. Rachel is an acerbic, witty, somewhat @itchy protagonist that just somehow writes what some call “airy-fairy” self-help books. Rachel does NOT practice what she preaches. One day while still blind, she is hit by a police detective Mason who is running to find out what is wrong with hi brother. Let us just say that Mason’s brother dies and Mason helps his family to donate organ IF the cornea’s can go to the person he hit with his car.
This is where the fun of this book really begins! Can you suspend your disbelief enough to imagine that the DNA from a donated organ can somehow manifest itself in the recipients’ body; somehow change that recipient into what kind of person the donor was? Because if you can then this is going to be one thrilling ride for you, like it was for me.
The story was engaging to the point that I just had to buy a copy of this book and send it to my sister. The characters a full and well written. While you ARE asked to suspend disbelief quite often; the author’s style and voice makes it easy for you to do so without sacrificing any of the pleasure of the novel. The plot is well written, fast paced with no huge info dumps or filler and the mystery aspect really keeps you guessing.
I hate to sound trite or clichéd but if I could, I would have given this book more stars than just 5 of them!
This was a heart stopping, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat book and I am very glad to have found and read it!
It consists of a mix of genres –horror, speculative fiction, suspense and lastly –romance. However, romance takes a full back seat to the other aspects of this novel.
What would you do if the cornea transplant you thought would never work suddenly did? But with these cornea’s comes a little ‘gift’ shall we say. This gift is not a happy shiny gift; oh my no it is not. It is a full on horror story for our protagonist Rachel. Rachel is an acerbic, witty, somewhat @itchy protagonist that just somehow writes what some call “airy-fairy” self-help books. Rachel does NOT practice what she preaches. One day while still blind, she is hit by a police detective Mason who is running to find out what is wrong with hi brother. Let us just say that Mason’s brother dies and Mason helps his family to donate organ IF the cornea’s can go to the person he hit with his car.
This is where the fun of this book really begins! Can you suspend your disbelief enough to imagine that the DNA from a donated organ can somehow manifest itself in the recipients’ body; somehow change that recipient into what kind of person the donor was? Because if you can then this is going to be one thrilling ride for you, like it was for me.
The story was engaging to the point that I just had to buy a copy of this book and send it to my sister. The characters a full and well written. While you ARE asked to suspend disbelief quite often; the author’s style and voice makes it easy for you to do so without sacrificing any of the pleasure of the novel. The plot is well written, fast paced with no huge info dumps or filler and the mystery aspect really keeps you guessing.
I hate to sound trite or clichéd but if I could, I would have given this book more stars than just 5 of them!
September 16, 2013
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book and I have to tell you that if you love mysteries &/or thrillers, you REALLY need to get this book as soon as it comes out!
I have read and loved Maggie Shayne's books for years. Hers are the types of books that you re and re-read because they are so fascinating and just purely enjoyable.
Sleep With the Lights on is a book about a serial killer, organ donation and the possibilities therein. Having been an RN for 37 years it was even more terrifying for me because I, strangely, have no problems wrapping my mind around the premise of this book.
Trust me when I tell you that you will want to sleep with the lights on for quite a while after you read this book!
Buy it. It's MOST DEFINITELY worth the money!
It comes out September 24th!
Cindy R.
I have read and loved Maggie Shayne's books for years. Hers are the types of books that you re and re-read because they are so fascinating and just purely enjoyable.
Sleep With the Lights on is a book about a serial killer, organ donation and the possibilities therein. Having been an RN for 37 years it was even more terrifying for me because I, strangely, have no problems wrapping my mind around the premise of this book.
Trust me when I tell you that you will want to sleep with the lights on for quite a while after you read this book!
Buy it. It's MOST DEFINITELY worth the money!
It comes out September 24th!
Cindy R.
December 10, 2014
4/5; 4 stars; A-
This was a great beginning to a good romantic suspense story. This first book doesn't really have much in the way of romance but its building up in the background. The suspense element was strong though.
I enjoyed the kids and the dog as secondary characters, they really made it work for me.
If you like Laura Griffin or Leslie Parrish you will probably like this one.
This was a great beginning to a good romantic suspense story. This first book doesn't really have much in the way of romance but its building up in the background. The suspense element was strong though.
I enjoyed the kids and the dog as secondary characters, they really made it work for me.
If you like Laura Griffin or Leslie Parrish you will probably like this one.
November 18, 2013
Awesome suspense/romance (heavier on the suspense). Loved it!
July 5, 2018
Rachel has been blind since she was a teenager, and now she’s receiving a cornea transplant that finally “takes”. She has no idea what she’s in for. She received the corneas of a serial killer and is now having terrifying visions. And the killing continues…
I really liked this one. It kept me wanting to read. I did guess at the mystery very shortly before it was revealed, but I still really enjoyed the story to get there. Apparently, it is a series, and I do plan to continue.
I really liked this one. It kept me wanting to read. I did guess at the mystery very shortly before it was revealed, but I still really enjoyed the story to get there. Apparently, it is a series, and I do plan to continue.
November 1, 2014
This romantic suspense title was heavier on the suspense than the romance. Rachel de Luca lost her sight when she was twelve and now makes her living as an author of self-help books with a positive message. Rachel is really a positive person herself. She is sharp-tongued and rather cranky. When she gets a chance to have a cornea transplant to restore her sight, she is first hesitant. Previous operations had not been successful. This one works remarkably well. At least it does until she starts have dreams and visions of murder and starts to believe that she is seeing through the eyes of a serial killer.
Mason Brown is a police detective. His brother has recently committed suicide and left notes and evidence that he was the serial killer who caused the disappearance of thirteen young men - among them Rachel's brother. Mason decides to cover up his brother's confession to protect his brother's wife who is expecting a baby and his two young sons. Mason decides to donate his brother's organs in some attempt to make up for his brother's crimes and to ease his own conscience. Rachel is one of the recipients.
Rachel and Mason meet when she goes to the police station to put pressure on them to keep investigating her brother's disappearance. Still blind, she steps out into traffic and Mason hits her with his car.
I had some trouble with this story because of the large number of coincidences. I mean, cop's brother is serial killer; heroine's brother is one of his victims; heroine gets tissue from killer and starts having visions. Mason is put in charge of the investigation to track down the serial killer. Mason knows who the killer was but things change when the killings start again. He doesn't believe that she is seeing things when she first tells him but gradually becomes convinced.
My favorite character in the book is Rachel's newly-adopted, blind, elderly bulldog. I loved it each time Myrtle appeared in the story. I loved how much of a softy Rachel became around Myrtle. I could just see her with her car goggles and yellow scarf around her neck sitting in the passenger seat while Rachel drove her classic yellow Thunderbird.
While I could believe that they were attracted to each other, I had more difficulty believing that they could overcome the obstacles to any sort of relationship. Neither one of them seemed ready to begin a new relationship. Since this is the first book in a series, I am eager to see how their relationship plays out.
Mason Brown is a police detective. His brother has recently committed suicide and left notes and evidence that he was the serial killer who caused the disappearance of thirteen young men - among them Rachel's brother. Mason decides to cover up his brother's confession to protect his brother's wife who is expecting a baby and his two young sons. Mason decides to donate his brother's organs in some attempt to make up for his brother's crimes and to ease his own conscience. Rachel is one of the recipients.
Rachel and Mason meet when she goes to the police station to put pressure on them to keep investigating her brother's disappearance. Still blind, she steps out into traffic and Mason hits her with his car.
I had some trouble with this story because of the large number of coincidences. I mean, cop's brother is serial killer; heroine's brother is one of his victims; heroine gets tissue from killer and starts having visions. Mason is put in charge of the investigation to track down the serial killer. Mason knows who the killer was but things change when the killings start again. He doesn't believe that she is seeing things when she first tells him but gradually becomes convinced.
My favorite character in the book is Rachel's newly-adopted, blind, elderly bulldog. I loved it each time Myrtle appeared in the story. I loved how much of a softy Rachel became around Myrtle. I could just see her with her car goggles and yellow scarf around her neck sitting in the passenger seat while Rachel drove her classic yellow Thunderbird.
While I could believe that they were attracted to each other, I had more difficulty believing that they could overcome the obstacles to any sort of relationship. Neither one of them seemed ready to begin a new relationship. Since this is the first book in a series, I am eager to see how their relationship plays out.
August 17, 2013
WHOA! What a fresh, original, awesomely badass novel! I was completely sucked into the story from the first page and found myself chuckling at the snarky attitude of the heroine and then swooning at the gruff, yummy police officer. I mean, its not every day you get mowed down by a cop then have to team up with him later. Right?
The settings were so real and I found myself, more than once, thinking "its like she knows my inner me!" The pacing was perfect and I had the most difficult time putting it down (and only did because I was between flights or the pesky flight attendant asked me to turn off my ereader for landing. Pfft! Let's risk it... something amazing was happening on my screen, hello??). I devoured this book and cannot wait for the next one!
The thought that a transplant patient can get memories, habits, thoughts, feelings, or even visions from their donor is both scary and incredible! I just cannot gush enough about how much I love this idea. VERY well done, Maggie!
The settings were so real and I found myself, more than once, thinking "its like she knows my inner me!" The pacing was perfect and I had the most difficult time putting it down (and only did because I was between flights or the pesky flight attendant asked me to turn off my ereader for landing. Pfft! Let's risk it... something amazing was happening on my screen, hello??). I devoured this book and cannot wait for the next one!
The thought that a transplant patient can get memories, habits, thoughts, feelings, or even visions from their donor is both scary and incredible! I just cannot gush enough about how much I love this idea. VERY well done, Maggie!
January 16, 2019
Rachel De Luca is an obnoxious, judgmental, brash female, who throughout the whole book sees my man Mason purely as a sexual object and being very nasty about it. There, I said it.
March 22, 2020
Rachel Mason went blind when she was 12-years old. A chance encounter with Detective Mason Brown led to her receiving his dead brother's corneas. What first seems like an incredible gift turns into a nightmare when Rachel begins having disturbing visions. Mason is keeping a terrible secret about his brother and has a tough choice to make as he realizes there's a connection between the organ donation and Rachel's visions. Rachel's snarky humor and clever banter made this story a fun, though macabre read. Shifts between her first-person narrative and others' points of view were transitioned pretty smoothly. Rachel has a dog named Myrtle. Rachel and Mason's relationship seemed to just evolve without much depth. I like some aspects of the story. I did like that Rachel was able to see again but interestingly she ends up with a blind dog. That really got to my heart. I liked how she helped Myrtle learn her home. I think this made the story good.
November 29, 2019
I enjoyed this one a lot. It is mostly romantic suspense but the romance is not the primary storyline. It also has a touch of paranormal and it is absolutely my favorite type of paranormal story!
Also Jonetta recommended the series to me. She knows all the good books and I always want to read them. Seriously, I should just check her Goodreads every day to see what she is reading and go ahead and get reading it.
Also Jonetta recommended the series to me. She knows all the good books and I always want to read them. Seriously, I should just check her Goodreads every day to see what she is reading and go ahead and get reading it.
October 18, 2013
I haven't been reading thrillers/mysteries on a regular basis for years now. It seems like they are all the same after awhile and nothing fresh is left to be surprised by. This book didn't necessarily have the freshest premise ever, but it just might have helped rejuvenate my interest in thrillers! Shayne's whole backbone to the book is the idea that evil can live on once its host is dead, through a process like organ donation. The story is about Rachel de Luca who has been blind since she was a pre-teen and has made a fortune selling self-help books with a philosophy she thinks is complete crap. Detective Mason Brown has a chance encounter with Rachel, shortly after which he witnesses his own brother's suicide. Turns out Mason's brother had been hiding a secret from his family - he was a serial killer and the guilt was no longer bearable. Mason covers it up and donates his brother's organs to make up for it. Rachel receives corneal tissue belonging to him and starts to have visions of murders and a strange connection to a killer. Searching for her own brother who has disappeared, can Rachel and Mason come together to find out the truth behind how the murders are continuing - when the killer is already dead? And will they both make it out alive?
Rachel is a sassy, sarcastic and mostly downright rude ball-buster. She doesn't take anyone's crap, does what she wants and has no filter for what she says to people. Mason was just an average cop, with a slightly screwed up family history until he was forced to keep his brother's twisted secrets. They clash almost immediately and spend the entire book circling around one another, each unsure of the other's motives until almost the end of the novel. I liked the usage of an old idea (seeing visions of murder through eyes donated by a killer), with the twist that the evil was hosted in the body and transplanted along with the organs. It needed to find a receptive host to survive. It didn't completely discount the fact that the people it took over were evil in there own ways. But it did give way to the notion that there are different types and degrees of evil. I loved Rachel as a character, especially a heroine. She made me laugh a lot and still feel sorry for her when her past was given to the readers, including the loss of her sight. My favorite thing was when she adopted an old, blind bulldog named Myrtle. It just about broke my heart, because Rachel did it so Myrtle could live and not be put down at the pound. But soon enough she was buying driving goggles and matching scarves for Myrtle and taking her everywhere.
The way the murder plot wrapped up wasn't all that unpredictable, but I still appreciated the resolution. And the way Shayne developed the organ-killer/host idea and the amount of organs donated as a setup for further novels was pretty ingenious. Overall I really enjoyed this novel, and the characters took it up a notch from the thriller with paranormal leanings that could easily fit in with the rest of the pack. They made it distinguishable and unique and I'd recommend it for that alone.
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published September 24th, 2013.*
Rachel is a sassy, sarcastic and mostly downright rude ball-buster. She doesn't take anyone's crap, does what she wants and has no filter for what she says to people. Mason was just an average cop, with a slightly screwed up family history until he was forced to keep his brother's twisted secrets. They clash almost immediately and spend the entire book circling around one another, each unsure of the other's motives until almost the end of the novel. I liked the usage of an old idea (seeing visions of murder through eyes donated by a killer), with the twist that the evil was hosted in the body and transplanted along with the organs. It needed to find a receptive host to survive. It didn't completely discount the fact that the people it took over were evil in there own ways. But it did give way to the notion that there are different types and degrees of evil. I loved Rachel as a character, especially a heroine. She made me laugh a lot and still feel sorry for her when her past was given to the readers, including the loss of her sight. My favorite thing was when she adopted an old, blind bulldog named Myrtle. It just about broke my heart, because Rachel did it so Myrtle could live and not be put down at the pound. But soon enough she was buying driving goggles and matching scarves for Myrtle and taking her everywhere.
The way the murder plot wrapped up wasn't all that unpredictable, but I still appreciated the resolution. And the way Shayne developed the organ-killer/host idea and the amount of organs donated as a setup for further novels was pretty ingenious. Overall I really enjoyed this novel, and the characters took it up a notch from the thriller with paranormal leanings that could easily fit in with the rest of the pack. They made it distinguishable and unique and I'd recommend it for that alone.
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published September 24th, 2013.*
September 24, 2013
If you love mysteries or are just a Maggie Shayne fan I would recommend this book. Once again Maggie delivers. The idea of organs and parts remembering is believable and makes the story all the more intense. The heroine is a tough as nails blind lady that gets her sight back with unwanted results and the getting the hero to believe her is interesting to follow and she shows a soft side with her dog. The book just flows and you won't want to put it down. I can't wait for the next one Wake to Darkness to come out.
August 13, 2016
Sleep with the Lights On was a book I had been looking forward to, because it had a premise that reminded me of the 2002 Hong Kong movie,
The Eye
. It's probably safe to say that while the premise is somewhat similar, the story itself is completely different. In the movie, our main female character gets a cornea graft from a woman who had psychic powers and could see when tragedy was about to happen. In this book, however, it seems that Rachel's visions and nightmares stem from the evil, psychotic mind of a serial killer after receiving his cornea tissue.
At first, my feelings about this book had been slightly wary throughout the first couple chapters. I recall there being a very distinct 'WTF' moment roiling through my thoughts. There was eye popping involved, there was blinking involved, there were even moments wherein I actually said out loud, "Da fuck is going on here?" Some stuff was creepy, other stuff was just... strange.
But then the story just sort of jump-started, and everything was smooth sailing from there.
Sleep with the Lights On was highly enjoyable, lots of fun, immensely creepy, and I could not put it down because I was THAT hooked! And while I had found the two main characters, Mason Brown and Rachel de Luca hard to like at first impression, it doesn't take long for them--probably about two chapters--to become the awesome characters I ended up loving. Especially Rachel!
I'll admit, Rachel's snarky sarcasm was a little rough and difficult to take at first, but then you get more of an in-depth look at this woman, and you see all the layers and layers of Rachel de Luca, and you realize how much you really DO like her because of all those layers and because of all that snark. Her sarcasm was fun and the directions in which her mind wanders brought me endless amusement. But what I found extremely endearing about her had been her moments right after the surgery wherein she just seems to bask in her newly acquired sight and just seems to enjoy herself. I absolutely loved her reaction to everything she sees for the first time, or her excitement about seeing certain things for the first time since she went blind at the age of twelve.
It was one of the things that really made Rachel such a complex, interesting character. Because while she projects a false persona to the public, claiming to be hiding a cynical and bitchy reputation underneath, even further into the layers of Rachel de Luca is so much more to discover. She falls in love with a blind bull dog despite not wanting a dog in the first place. She shows how much she truly loves and cares for the people around even though she continuously acts bitchy around them.
A lot of her actions are quite sweet and cute, to be honest. Then add that dry sarcasm and her straight-forward personality that doesn't take any bullshit and we've got a great main character with a lot of story potential to look forward to.
Detective Mason Brown took a little bit more time to like, if only because I'm so used to reading formulaic romantic suspense where our heroes are always so straight-laced, and righteous, and broody. I had a bad feeling the moment Mason chooses to cover up his brother's heinous crimes. I had difficulty connecting with something like that. But then something that Rachel says towards the climax of the book changed my feelings about Mason Brown. And I realized that I actually loved that our main detective hero isn't a hundred percent Mr. Justice-Seeking Captain America Built On Perfection. I actually really, really appreciate his weakness being so front and center, and his person being flawed enough not to be the ideal perfect hero.
I love that he continues to let his one big mistake (and I honestly believe it was a big one), to eat at him. I'm not sadistic or anything. I'd love even more if he can resolve his problems. But it just feels more realistic that he doesn't absolve his guilt even though it still feels like he made a reasonable choice.
And in this way, I ended up loving both of our main characters because they come off so real and so human. In the same sense, the rest of the characters in the book give off that same vibe as well--realistic, human, and so much potential for storytelling with the rest of the series ongoing.
After that little revelation, it took me less than a second to decide that I really, really love this book. And most importantly, I love Rachel's snark. It adds character and personality to typically straight-laced romance novel heroines. I love how much gray area there is in the events of this book. I love all the side characters: Rachel's sister, Sandra and her family; Rachel's assistant, Amy; Mason's partner, Rosie...
I also liked that the romance was a little on the sidelines. I mean, sure there was instant attraction and lust and the good stuff. And sure, I sometimes like my instant gratification of our couple falling in love within the span of one book and having their Happily Ever After™. But there are more books to go in the rest of this series following these same characters. I think I'm going to be content with the slow development of this couple's romance, so I'm more or less satisfied with the fact that Rachel and Mason don't bond immediately, and no words of love are thrown around willy-nilly.
And finally... I really, really loved Myrtle, the little blind bulldog. Books with animals in them, when written well, always add points to my overall experience. And Myrtle was wonderfully adorable and all sorts of hearts and stars and bunny rabbit, rainbows, and sunshine lovely!
There were things I DID NOT LIKE, of course.
Anyone who follows my reviews know I do not really care for first person POV narration. In some cases, it's not so bad and I love it. And to be honest, if Sleep with the Lights On had been written entirely in Rachel's first person narrative, I would have been quite happy--Rachel's voice is excellently amusing and strewn with very natural side comments and wandering tangents and, best of all, THE SNARK. But the book itself is actually written in an alternating first person with Rachel, to a third person for everyone else, mainly following Mason.
I just don't think I'll ever understand the point of alternating first person to third person. Why not just write the entire book in third person? You'd still be able to incorporate Rachel's sarcastic streak, even if not as in-depth. And I can kind of see that this alternating format gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to being able to see Mason's side of the story as well as Rachel's every conscious thought.
Still, it's a little jarring, because confusion happens. In fact, there was a very, glaringly obvious part in the book where Rachel is narrating in her POV, then the narration switches to third person for about two or three sentences, then switches right back to Rachel's first person POV. I had to reread that section to be sure it wasn't just me.
The other thing I didn't really like about this book was the whole concept of an evil serial killer's donated organs creating killers out of the recipients via cellular consciousness. But I suppose this is a controversy that has been going on for a long time already, in which recipients of donated organs might end up with some of the traits from said organ donor. It's an interesting subject to explore, but that just kind of comes back to the whole debate about nature versus nurture and if there truly is an evil gene embedded in certain people's DNA make-up... and that just opens up a whole can of worms for many people to argue about.
I look forward to seeing said controversy in the rest of series if we're going in that direction, because this subject has not been fully explored in this particular book by itself. Would have been nice, but I think Sleep with the Lights On was more concerned about resolving the whole serial killer issue first and foremost, I suppose.
So in a way, the entire "cellular consciousness" thing wasn't really all that disagreeable to me, to be honest. Probably just the way the serial killer angle of it all was handled seemed a little questionable.
But otherwise this book was darn near wonderfully perfect. I suppose I'll just have to get used to the alternating POV if I want to continue reading the rest of the series... which I fully intend to do.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Reading Assignment Challenge
• COYER Summer Vacation 2016 -- Bingo Board One | Square Y3 -- Thriller
• Can You Read a Series in a Month? Challenge
At first, my feelings about this book had been slightly wary throughout the first couple chapters. I recall there being a very distinct 'WTF' moment roiling through my thoughts. There was eye popping involved, there was blinking involved, there were even moments wherein I actually said out loud, "Da fuck is going on here?" Some stuff was creepy, other stuff was just... strange.
But then the story just sort of jump-started, and everything was smooth sailing from there.
Sleep with the Lights On was highly enjoyable, lots of fun, immensely creepy, and I could not put it down because I was THAT hooked! And while I had found the two main characters, Mason Brown and Rachel de Luca hard to like at first impression, it doesn't take long for them--probably about two chapters--to become the awesome characters I ended up loving. Especially Rachel!
I'll admit, Rachel's snarky sarcasm was a little rough and difficult to take at first, but then you get more of an in-depth look at this woman, and you see all the layers and layers of Rachel de Luca, and you realize how much you really DO like her because of all those layers and because of all that snark. Her sarcasm was fun and the directions in which her mind wanders brought me endless amusement. But what I found extremely endearing about her had been her moments right after the surgery wherein she just seems to bask in her newly acquired sight and just seems to enjoy herself. I absolutely loved her reaction to everything she sees for the first time, or her excitement about seeing certain things for the first time since she went blind at the age of twelve.
It was one of the things that really made Rachel such a complex, interesting character. Because while she projects a false persona to the public, claiming to be hiding a cynical and bitchy reputation underneath, even further into the layers of Rachel de Luca is so much more to discover. She falls in love with a blind bull dog despite not wanting a dog in the first place. She shows how much she truly loves and cares for the people around even though she continuously acts bitchy around them.
A lot of her actions are quite sweet and cute, to be honest. Then add that dry sarcasm and her straight-forward personality that doesn't take any bullshit and we've got a great main character with a lot of story potential to look forward to.
Detective Mason Brown took a little bit more time to like, if only because I'm so used to reading formulaic romantic suspense where our heroes are always so straight-laced, and righteous, and broody. I had a bad feeling the moment Mason chooses to cover up his brother's heinous crimes. I had difficulty connecting with something like that. But then something that Rachel says towards the climax of the book changed my feelings about Mason Brown. And I realized that I actually loved that our main detective hero isn't a hundred percent Mr. Justice-Seeking Captain America Built On Perfection. I actually really, really appreciate his weakness being so front and center, and his person being flawed enough not to be the ideal perfect hero.
I love that he continues to let his one big mistake (and I honestly believe it was a big one), to eat at him. I'm not sadistic or anything. I'd love even more if he can resolve his problems. But it just feels more realistic that he doesn't absolve his guilt even though it still feels like he made a reasonable choice.
And in this way, I ended up loving both of our main characters because they come off so real and so human. In the same sense, the rest of the characters in the book give off that same vibe as well--realistic, human, and so much potential for storytelling with the rest of the series ongoing.
After that little revelation, it took me less than a second to decide that I really, really love this book. And most importantly, I love Rachel's snark. It adds character and personality to typically straight-laced romance novel heroines. I love how much gray area there is in the events of this book. I love all the side characters: Rachel's sister, Sandra and her family; Rachel's assistant, Amy; Mason's partner, Rosie...
I also liked that the romance was a little on the sidelines. I mean, sure there was instant attraction and lust and the good stuff. And sure, I sometimes like my instant gratification of our couple falling in love within the span of one book and having their Happily Ever After™. But there are more books to go in the rest of this series following these same characters. I think I'm going to be content with the slow development of this couple's romance, so I'm more or less satisfied with the fact that Rachel and Mason don't bond immediately, and no words of love are thrown around willy-nilly.
And finally... I really, really loved Myrtle, the little blind bulldog. Books with animals in them, when written well, always add points to my overall experience. And Myrtle was wonderfully adorable and all sorts of hearts and stars and bunny rabbit, rainbows, and sunshine lovely!
There were things I DID NOT LIKE, of course.
Anyone who follows my reviews know I do not really care for first person POV narration. In some cases, it's not so bad and I love it. And to be honest, if Sleep with the Lights On had been written entirely in Rachel's first person narrative, I would have been quite happy--Rachel's voice is excellently amusing and strewn with very natural side comments and wandering tangents and, best of all, THE SNARK. But the book itself is actually written in an alternating first person with Rachel, to a third person for everyone else, mainly following Mason.
I just don't think I'll ever understand the point of alternating first person to third person. Why not just write the entire book in third person? You'd still be able to incorporate Rachel's sarcastic streak, even if not as in-depth. And I can kind of see that this alternating format gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to being able to see Mason's side of the story as well as Rachel's every conscious thought.
Still, it's a little jarring, because confusion happens. In fact, there was a very, glaringly obvious part in the book where Rachel is narrating in her POV, then the narration switches to third person for about two or three sentences, then switches right back to Rachel's first person POV. I had to reread that section to be sure it wasn't just me.
The other thing I didn't really like about this book was the whole concept of an evil serial killer's donated organs creating killers out of the recipients via cellular consciousness. But I suppose this is a controversy that has been going on for a long time already, in which recipients of donated organs might end up with some of the traits from said organ donor. It's an interesting subject to explore, but that just kind of comes back to the whole debate about nature versus nurture and if there truly is an evil gene embedded in certain people's DNA make-up... and that just opens up a whole can of worms for many people to argue about.
I look forward to seeing said controversy in the rest of series if we're going in that direction, because this subject has not been fully explored in this particular book by itself. Would have been nice, but I think Sleep with the Lights On was more concerned about resolving the whole serial killer issue first and foremost, I suppose.
So in a way, the entire "cellular consciousness" thing wasn't really all that disagreeable to me, to be honest. Probably just the way the serial killer angle of it all was handled seemed a little questionable.
But otherwise this book was darn near wonderfully perfect. I suppose I'll just have to get used to the alternating POV if I want to continue reading the rest of the series... which I fully intend to do.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Reading Assignment Challenge
• COYER Summer Vacation 2016 -- Bingo Board One | Square Y3 -- Thriller
• Can You Read a Series in a Month? Challenge
January 27, 2014
Great Psychological Thriller with Paranormal Elements
Homicide detective Mason Brown broke the very law he's worked his entire adult life to uphold. In his defense, he had a very good reason. There was no way he could let his mother, his sister-in-law, or his two nephews find out that the man they knew as a beloved son, husband, and father, the man Mason himself knew as a big brother, was, in fact, a cold-blooded serial killer.
When his brother suicides in Mason's apartment, leaving a self-pitying note of confession and a horrific mess to deal with, Mason does the best he can. He hides the evidence, and given the chance to make some sort of amends, donates his brother's organs. He hopes that saving some lives will balance out, just a little, what his brother took from so many.
After twenty years of blindness, the corneal transplant that restores Rachel De Luca's sight is like a miracle. Like something the famous self-help guru spouts in one of her own books, not that she's ever believed her own drivel, as wildly successful as it may be. As it turns out, Rachel's miracle is not without a few...glitches.
The nightmares of blood and gore and visions of murder start on her first night home from the hospital. Seeing and feeling the actions of a vicious killer is as confusing as it is terrifying, and as another victim falls, it makes Rachel wonder just what sort of person her donor had been. And how much the cop responsible for her transplant really knows.
Mason is absolutely certain that the serial killer dubbed The Wraith is dead. But when another victim is taken, and the woman who got his brother's corneas shows up, knowing things she shouldn't know about the crime, he doesn't know what to think. He just knows Rachel De Luca holds the key to figuring it out. If she doesn't end up being targeted by a dead killer first.
~*~
I'm so anal about series reading order that it's virtually unheard of for me to go back to read an earlier book in a series after I've read a latter one, but I literally couldn't help myself with this series debut by Shayne. I so enjoyed the characters in this series' second book, Wake to Darkness, I wanted to read Mason and Rachel's introduction, even though the second book tipped me off to several points in the first. And I was pleasantly surprised at how much of this book was still a mystery even after reading that one.
With a point of view that shifts between Rachel's first person perspective and a third person omniscient when focusing on Mason and glimpses of the killer, this series works for me in both style and substance. The concept isn't a new one. Heroine gets a corneal transplant and starts seeing death and mayhem because of the donor. Books and movies have tread that ground before. It was Rachel who set this book apart.
She was awesome. Sarcastic, often bitchy, and not exactly the most patient person on the planet, she's not your typical helpless, blind-then-newly sighted heroine. And she's no one's damsel in distress. Plus, she's a self-proclaimed fraud who writes writes wildly popular self-help books full of touchy-feely crap and disdains the very people who buy into them. I loved her.
As tough and independent as she was, she was a total softie with Myrtle (love Myrt!). She took no prisoners when faced with some pretty horrific images and definite woo-woo stuff, but took such gentle care of the old, blind dog. She was stubbornly self-sufficient and intelligent, but she also had a heart that lent warmth to her character. It didn't hurt she had such a biting and sarcastic sense of humor, either. That's one of my favorite things in a character.
I liked Mason, too. Maybe not quite as much as I did Rachel, but beyond being a gorgeous bit of man candy, I felt bad for the guy. He did the best he could for his family when it came to the fact his brother had been killing people for years. And the chemistry between him and Rachel pleased my romance-loving heart even though it never really becoming a focus in the narrative.
The plot of the book appealed to me, too. I'm a big fan of serial killer psychological suspense, an even bigger fan of paranormal romance, so the blending of the two in the story worked really well for me.
I do wish there had been a bit more explanation or backstory to better explain Eric's psychosis both before and after he died. I like having reasons for things, so there were elements that could have had a bit more definition in that regard. Too, the book went a little off the rails for me during the climax. Due to the nature of the tale, it skirts plausibility from the start, which I'm perfectly fine with, but there was a scene in the climax that went so far beyond plausible that it pretty effectively crushed my willing suspension of disbelief at a crucial moment.
Sound travels on a lake, man, that's all I'm saying.
All-in-all, though, there was a nice blend of character-driven psychological thriller and paranormal mystery with a thread of romance and it kept me entertained throughout.
I already know what comes next in the series, and highly recommend it if you liked this one. I think I prefer the external conflict in this one a little better than in that one, but for me, the storyline isn't the most appealing element of either read. The characters are. I love Rachel so much, and like Mason too, that I'll be following along with their antics for as long as I can. Heck, I must love them, I went back and read a series out of order for them. That's a huge deal for me.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Homicide detective Mason Brown broke the very law he's worked his entire adult life to uphold. In his defense, he had a very good reason. There was no way he could let his mother, his sister-in-law, or his two nephews find out that the man they knew as a beloved son, husband, and father, the man Mason himself knew as a big brother, was, in fact, a cold-blooded serial killer.
When his brother suicides in Mason's apartment, leaving a self-pitying note of confession and a horrific mess to deal with, Mason does the best he can. He hides the evidence, and given the chance to make some sort of amends, donates his brother's organs. He hopes that saving some lives will balance out, just a little, what his brother took from so many.
After twenty years of blindness, the corneal transplant that restores Rachel De Luca's sight is like a miracle. Like something the famous self-help guru spouts in one of her own books, not that she's ever believed her own drivel, as wildly successful as it may be. As it turns out, Rachel's miracle is not without a few...glitches.
The nightmares of blood and gore and visions of murder start on her first night home from the hospital. Seeing and feeling the actions of a vicious killer is as confusing as it is terrifying, and as another victim falls, it makes Rachel wonder just what sort of person her donor had been. And how much the cop responsible for her transplant really knows.
Mason is absolutely certain that the serial killer dubbed The Wraith is dead. But when another victim is taken, and the woman who got his brother's corneas shows up, knowing things she shouldn't know about the crime, he doesn't know what to think. He just knows Rachel De Luca holds the key to figuring it out. If she doesn't end up being targeted by a dead killer first.
~*~
I'm so anal about series reading order that it's virtually unheard of for me to go back to read an earlier book in a series after I've read a latter one, but I literally couldn't help myself with this series debut by Shayne. I so enjoyed the characters in this series' second book, Wake to Darkness, I wanted to read Mason and Rachel's introduction, even though the second book tipped me off to several points in the first. And I was pleasantly surprised at how much of this book was still a mystery even after reading that one.
With a point of view that shifts between Rachel's first person perspective and a third person omniscient when focusing on Mason and glimpses of the killer, this series works for me in both style and substance. The concept isn't a new one. Heroine gets a corneal transplant and starts seeing death and mayhem because of the donor. Books and movies have tread that ground before. It was Rachel who set this book apart.
She was awesome. Sarcastic, often bitchy, and not exactly the most patient person on the planet, she's not your typical helpless, blind-then-newly sighted heroine. And she's no one's damsel in distress. Plus, she's a self-proclaimed fraud who writes writes wildly popular self-help books full of touchy-feely crap and disdains the very people who buy into them. I loved her.
As tough and independent as she was, she was a total softie with Myrtle (love Myrt!). She took no prisoners when faced with some pretty horrific images and definite woo-woo stuff, but took such gentle care of the old, blind dog. She was stubbornly self-sufficient and intelligent, but she also had a heart that lent warmth to her character. It didn't hurt she had such a biting and sarcastic sense of humor, either. That's one of my favorite things in a character.
I liked Mason, too. Maybe not quite as much as I did Rachel, but beyond being a gorgeous bit of man candy, I felt bad for the guy. He did the best he could for his family when it came to the fact his brother had been killing people for years. And the chemistry between him and Rachel pleased my romance-loving heart even though it never really becoming a focus in the narrative.
The plot of the book appealed to me, too. I'm a big fan of serial killer psychological suspense, an even bigger fan of paranormal romance, so the blending of the two in the story worked really well for me.
I do wish there had been a bit more explanation or backstory to better explain Eric's psychosis both before and after he died. I like having reasons for things, so there were elements that could have had a bit more definition in that regard. Too, the book went a little off the rails for me during the climax. Due to the nature of the tale, it skirts plausibility from the start, which I'm perfectly fine with, but there was a scene in the climax that went so far beyond plausible that it pretty effectively crushed my willing suspension of disbelief at a crucial moment.
Sound travels on a lake, man, that's all I'm saying.
All-in-all, though, there was a nice blend of character-driven psychological thriller and paranormal mystery with a thread of romance and it kept me entertained throughout.
I already know what comes next in the series, and highly recommend it if you liked this one. I think I prefer the external conflict in this one a little better than in that one, but for me, the storyline isn't the most appealing element of either read. The characters are. I love Rachel so much, and like Mason too, that I'll be following along with their antics for as long as I can. Heck, I must love them, I went back and read a series out of order for them. That's a huge deal for me.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
May 22, 2022
Sometimes I wonder where authors get their ideas. This one, an organ recipient getting not only the DNA of another person but bits of their personality and quirks as well, was bizarre, creepy, and utterly fascinating. I couldn't put the book down, wondering what was going to happen next. de Luca is blind and has been for twenty years. Mason Brown's brother kills himself rather than risk putting his own son on his serial killer list. Mason convinces his brother's family to donate his organs. de Luca gets his corneas at Mason's request, and then the fun starts. I thoroughly enjoyed all these characters and their interactions. The serial killings, not so much. I am now looking forward to the next in this series to see if Ms. Shayne can keep up the suspense and where she goes from here.
April 15, 2022
My type of crime story.
October 13, 2013
Sleep with the lights on - and the door open!
I really have only one complaint about this book so I'll just get that out of the way before I start: Fade-to-black sex scenes... Not cool, Shayne. Not cool. I had to sit with my eyes squeezed shut and use my imagination for a bit. Way to make me work for it. Sheesh...
But since that's the only thing I didn't like, I guess I can forgive you. The rewards were a gripping and cleverly written mystery, a slow-forming but deliciously complex romance, some fantastic, high-octane creepy scenes, a touch of paranormal, a smart-arsed protagonist (seriously, I have a total Girl Crush on Rachel), all finished up to a satisfying conclusion, though with some breadcrumbs left to lead us on to the next book.
Rachel de Luca has been blind since age 12. That hasn't stopped her writing a plethora of self-help books, however, all aimed at better living, thinking positive, being upbeat and perky... HA! Rachel was hilarious. She has this sugary-sweet public persona that she flips on whenever she's, well, in public, but in reality, around her close friends, she's the snarkiest, most acerbic, totally un-PC but completely fabulous character ever. She really made this book something special for me. With murders, emotional traumas and grief going on all around her, her tenacity and strength showed in the fact that she never lost that spunk. And the book was better for it. All good books need light and shade; Rachel was the light in SLEEP WITH THE LIGHTS ON.
Detective Mason Brown is brought into Rachel's orbit when he accidentally runs her over outside the police station, where she'd just reported her bother missing. Oops! Shortly after, his own brother dies and he decides to donate his organs. Who better to receive his corneas than the blind but utterly gorgeous and intriguing Rachel whom he'd just so rudely mowed down earlier that day. There's just one problem: It's not until after his brother's death that he discovers his brother was the very serial killer his police unit has been hunting these last several months, and he may have just given Rachel the eyes of her own brother's murderer. Unless they can find him.
This is just the beginning for our duo. The "touch of paranormal" I mentioned comes in the form of strange dreams and visions Rachel experiences after the surgery. Well, I say it's "paranormal," but the book actually made it sound like there might be some science behind it, or at least, some documented cases of transplant recipients reporting differences in things they like to eat, watch, read, etc. I confess, I haven't bothered to research further on it, but it was fascinating to see Shayne take it that step further in her writing.
As the story progresses, the visions escalate and, bizarrely, the murders haven't stopped. It really becomes quite the tangled web, all told, but Shayne untangles it expertly. I loved Detective Mason's conflict and turmoil. He really is a good guy just trying to do the right thing in crappy circumstances. I did get kind of annoyed with him at times when it *almost* seemed like he was accusing Rachel of knowing too much, when he of all people should know that's not the case. The cheeky bugger. I really liked him, though, and look forward to more of him in book two. Including in the bedroom!
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really have only one complaint about this book so I'll just get that out of the way before I start: Fade-to-black sex scenes... Not cool, Shayne. Not cool. I had to sit with my eyes squeezed shut and use my imagination for a bit. Way to make me work for it. Sheesh...
But since that's the only thing I didn't like, I guess I can forgive you. The rewards were a gripping and cleverly written mystery, a slow-forming but deliciously complex romance, some fantastic, high-octane creepy scenes, a touch of paranormal, a smart-arsed protagonist (seriously, I have a total Girl Crush on Rachel), all finished up to a satisfying conclusion, though with some breadcrumbs left to lead us on to the next book.
Rachel de Luca has been blind since age 12. That hasn't stopped her writing a plethora of self-help books, however, all aimed at better living, thinking positive, being upbeat and perky... HA! Rachel was hilarious. She has this sugary-sweet public persona that she flips on whenever she's, well, in public, but in reality, around her close friends, she's the snarkiest, most acerbic, totally un-PC but completely fabulous character ever. She really made this book something special for me. With murders, emotional traumas and grief going on all around her, her tenacity and strength showed in the fact that she never lost that spunk. And the book was better for it. All good books need light and shade; Rachel was the light in SLEEP WITH THE LIGHTS ON.
Detective Mason Brown is brought into Rachel's orbit when he accidentally runs her over outside the police station, where she'd just reported her bother missing. Oops! Shortly after, his own brother dies and he decides to donate his organs. Who better to receive his corneas than the blind but utterly gorgeous and intriguing Rachel whom he'd just so rudely mowed down earlier that day. There's just one problem: It's not until after his brother's death that he discovers his brother was the very serial killer his police unit has been hunting these last several months, and he may have just given Rachel the eyes of her own brother's murderer. Unless they can find him.
This is just the beginning for our duo. The "touch of paranormal" I mentioned comes in the form of strange dreams and visions Rachel experiences after the surgery. Well, I say it's "paranormal," but the book actually made it sound like there might be some science behind it, or at least, some documented cases of transplant recipients reporting differences in things they like to eat, watch, read, etc. I confess, I haven't bothered to research further on it, but it was fascinating to see Shayne take it that step further in her writing.
As the story progresses, the visions escalate and, bizarrely, the murders haven't stopped. It really becomes quite the tangled web, all told, but Shayne untangles it expertly. I loved Detective Mason's conflict and turmoil. He really is a good guy just trying to do the right thing in crappy circumstances. I did get kind of annoyed with him at times when it *almost* seemed like he was accusing Rachel of knowing too much, when he of all people should know that's not the case. The cheeky bugger. I really liked him, though, and look forward to more of him in book two. Including in the bedroom!
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2013
I received Sleep with the Lights On in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 1/2 Stars... this one was amazing....
This was a book that I knew had me pulled in from the time I started reading the Prologue. I really couldn’t put this one down… for a lot of reasons.
One of the things that kept me reading were the characters themselves. Rachel was such a vivid, ‘in your face’ kind of character. Blind or not, she couldn’t be ignored. I loved her from the beginning. She was strong, smart and took nothing from anyone. She was also extremely loyal and fiercely protective of those she loved. I loved Mason too. He was put in an impossible situation and he dealt with it the only way he knew how. He could have crumbled, but he didn’t. He stayed strong because he had too and regardless of how wrong the decision was that he inevitably made, it was for all the right reasons. It was easy to admire him for that.
The supporting characters were just as important to this story as Mason and Rachel. This was definitely a character driven story and they drove it well. Even the characters that seemed to be minor played important roles. No face time was wasted in this one – even when that time was spent with Rachel’s pet dog Myrtle. There was also plenty of humor, romance and witty dialogue. It all added to the drama and intrigue and at least kept this reader on her toes. At one point I was a little disappointed because I thought the outcome was going to be obvious… I should have known better.
Maggie Shayne took twists and turns to the extreme. Nothing was sugar coated, especially the imagery used to describe the violence. The premise was unique and nothing was even close to what it seemed. I loved every minute of it. For the record, I could have read this one at night, but I’m kind of glad that I read it during the day. (Let’s just say the book is aptly titled.) I’m also really glad that this is going to be a series. It doesn’t end in a cliff hanger but it’s obvious at the close of the Epilogue that things are far from over between Mason and Rachel. I can’t wait to see what is in store for them next.
4 1/2 Stars... this one was amazing....
This was a book that I knew had me pulled in from the time I started reading the Prologue. I really couldn’t put this one down… for a lot of reasons.
One of the things that kept me reading were the characters themselves. Rachel was such a vivid, ‘in your face’ kind of character. Blind or not, she couldn’t be ignored. I loved her from the beginning. She was strong, smart and took nothing from anyone. She was also extremely loyal and fiercely protective of those she loved. I loved Mason too. He was put in an impossible situation and he dealt with it the only way he knew how. He could have crumbled, but he didn’t. He stayed strong because he had too and regardless of how wrong the decision was that he inevitably made, it was for all the right reasons. It was easy to admire him for that.
The supporting characters were just as important to this story as Mason and Rachel. This was definitely a character driven story and they drove it well. Even the characters that seemed to be minor played important roles. No face time was wasted in this one – even when that time was spent with Rachel’s pet dog Myrtle. There was also plenty of humor, romance and witty dialogue. It all added to the drama and intrigue and at least kept this reader on her toes. At one point I was a little disappointed because I thought the outcome was going to be obvious… I should have known better.
Maggie Shayne took twists and turns to the extreme. Nothing was sugar coated, especially the imagery used to describe the violence. The premise was unique and nothing was even close to what it seemed. I loved every minute of it. For the record, I could have read this one at night, but I’m kind of glad that I read it during the day. (Let’s just say the book is aptly titled.) I’m also really glad that this is going to be a series. It doesn’t end in a cliff hanger but it’s obvious at the close of the Epilogue that things are far from over between Mason and Rachel. I can’t wait to see what is in store for them next.
April 25, 2014
4 STARS
Rachel de Luca is a famous self-help author who does not believe in what she preaches. She is sarcastic but in public she must keep up her image of positiveness. Rachel lost her sight at a young age and has honed her other senses. It is these senses that has Rachel looking into her brother, Tommy's disappearance. Tommy may be homeless and an addict but she does not think his disappearance is voluntary.
Detective Mason Brown was having a good until he ran his car into the blind author and then gets an alarming text from his brother. He races home when he gets a bad feeling only to watch his brother blow his brains out. Things only get worse when he reads his brother's Eric's note detailing his life as a serial killer of young men.
In a quick second decision Mason covers his brother's murder and talks his family into donating his organs. Mason makes sure that his corneas go to Rachel. Rachel has her doubts but goes in for the surgery. Within hours she is having homicidal dreams and an uneasy feeling. There has been the theory that a organ receipient gains some of his donor's likes and dislikes.
Once Rachel lets Mason know what she has been dreaming Mason realizes that he may not be able to keep his bother's killing a secret. And, worse the killing has continued since his brother's death. Rachel will continue to dig until she finds out what happened to her brother especially now that she has her sight back. Will Mason trust her to find the killer?
This novel is...creepy and good. The idea of organ donors passing on their traits and/or memories was really interesting and the creepiness of the book. Rachel's sarcasm and wit makes her an interesting and likeable character. Having a character like Mason who decides to obstruct justice makes you question everything. Shayne is unpredictable and this makes reading this novel an adventure.
Rachel de Luca is a famous self-help author who does not believe in what she preaches. She is sarcastic but in public she must keep up her image of positiveness. Rachel lost her sight at a young age and has honed her other senses. It is these senses that has Rachel looking into her brother, Tommy's disappearance. Tommy may be homeless and an addict but she does not think his disappearance is voluntary.
Detective Mason Brown was having a good until he ran his car into the blind author and then gets an alarming text from his brother. He races home when he gets a bad feeling only to watch his brother blow his brains out. Things only get worse when he reads his brother's Eric's note detailing his life as a serial killer of young men.
In a quick second decision Mason covers his brother's murder and talks his family into donating his organs. Mason makes sure that his corneas go to Rachel. Rachel has her doubts but goes in for the surgery. Within hours she is having homicidal dreams and an uneasy feeling. There has been the theory that a organ receipient gains some of his donor's likes and dislikes.
Once Rachel lets Mason know what she has been dreaming Mason realizes that he may not be able to keep his bother's killing a secret. And, worse the killing has continued since his brother's death. Rachel will continue to dig until she finds out what happened to her brother especially now that she has her sight back. Will Mason trust her to find the killer?
This novel is...creepy and good. The idea of organ donors passing on their traits and/or memories was really interesting and the creepiness of the book. Rachel's sarcasm and wit makes her an interesting and likeable character. Having a character like Mason who decides to obstruct justice makes you question everything. Shayne is unpredictable and this makes reading this novel an adventure.
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