Review: sense of awe kept me reading late into wee hours
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2013
I thought this was an enjoyable science fiction read with an interesting premise.  Brooke Jones has been chomping at the bit to get her chance to go into space. Always, it seems others are selected as she is passed over, but finally, her opportunity arrives, and off to Mars she goes.  It is while she is exploring the surface of the planet that something decidedly strange happens, and she almost dies.  After that, the crew returns to Earth. Brooke surprises everyone because she suffers none of the debilitating physical symptoms that plague her fellow crewmates.  Brooke causes a political stir, and suddenly she is on the run from several different groups who want her for their own various nefarious agendas.I thought Brooke was a likable, if somewhat immature, character.  She contends with the escalating effects of her condition with occasional humor and unmitigated gutsiness.  I felt her relationship with her boyfriend often felt stiff and somewhat awkward.  I had a hard time connecting with the pair as a committed couple.  Both are top-notch astronauts, so maybe it was their rivalry in their professional lives that cooled my ardor for them as a couple.  While not particularly keen on the mild romantic elements of this book, I loved the uniqueness of the story and the high-caliber action scenes.  The adventure and the sense of awe kept me reading late into wee hours.  I was sad when the story ended, but I thought the resolution was appropriate.  I hope there is another book in the works so we can continue to follow Brooke's escapades.This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.Reviewed by Laurie-J