Review: Good mystery.  Kept my interest.  But weak spots in the plot, the paranormal rules, and unanswered questions at the end.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2012
40 SOULS TO KEEP by Libby Drew.STORY BRIEF:In 2005 Jase awoke with amnesia and the tattoo 40 on his arm.  Instinctively he knows his purpose is to heal people.  He has visions of one person and finds that person with a sort-of-built-in-GPS-system - the way metal is drawn to a magnet.  He heals that person and then wanders until he has visions of the next person to heal.Most of the story is 2012.  Jase is still wandering.  He has healed many people.  He is now drawn to 7-year-old Macy Pearl.  Her parents have been murdered.  Lucas is with Child Protective Services.  Lucas arrives at the murder scene to take care of Macy.  Lucas is suspicious when Jase arrives with an interest in Macy.  Soon after, someone kidnaps Macy.  Jase and Lucas search for her.OPINION:This is primarily mystery suspense.  Bad guys do bad things and want Macy for an unknown reason.  A few times I was annoyed with the lack of logical curiosity.  Jase or Lucas should have asked questions or done something when they had a chance, but they didn't.  For example the doctor said Macy mentioned a man, but the guys didn't ask the doctor more about that.  It wasn't realistic.  It was an artificial way to prolong the mystery.I did not like using the flashback method.  The story jumps from 2005 to 2012 with two flashbacks to 2007 and 2010.  I would have preferred the story done chronologically.  It would not have hurt the mystery.  It was jarring when it first jumped to 2012.What I liked best was the overall idea, plot, and events.Regarding gay male romance:Yes the guys have sex, but it was not hot.  It reminded me of doing the laundry or eating dinner.  They were talking or doing something, then they pleasured each other, then they continued doing something.  There was no anticipation or emotional intensity.  I liked their relationship and getting to know each other, just don't expect hot guy sex.The narrator Charles Carr was fine.DATA:Narrative mode: 3rd person.  Unabridged audiobook length: 9 hrs and 46 mins.  Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but not often used.  Sexual language mild.  Number of sex scenes: about 5.  Setting: 2005 to 2012 mostly Naples, Florida, with a few other places.  Book copyright: 2012.  Genre: paranormal mystery suspense with gay male romance.CAUTION SEMI-SPOILERS:I did not like the twist at the end.  It felt like a trick on the reader.  It had to do with visions telling Jase who to heal.  The author's paranormal rules were inconsistent.  I was also disappointed with unanswered questions about Macy, why Lucas was immune to something, the overall source and purpose behind this, why create bad guys, and why and when mentors appear.