Review: Another Great Installment in Series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 23, 2014
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.The fourth book in the Dreams and Reality series, Explosive Dreams by Hadena James may be the best book in this series so far (although they have all been excellent, I have to admit that I’ve read this book 5 times since I received a copy).  While continuing to develop the SCT Unit and solve cases, Ms. James reminds us about the central focus of the series; Aislinn Cain, an a-typical sociopath struggling with her issues of humanity while capturing serial killers and trying to get closer to her family.  Bringing the action much closer to home, this installment takes place in the Mid-West where Ms. James turns a popular summer escape into a serial killer’s dream.It’s not every day that a woman receives a gift from a secret admirer, but once again Aislinn “Ace” Cain, personal magnet of the criminally insane, has attracted a new “fan”. A fan who sends gifts that have to be quarantined.  As if dealing with that, and the fall out of receiving a present full of “The Plague” isn't enough, Ace and her team find themselves saddled with a case which places them all in danger and leaves Ace questioning if she has what it takes to get the job done.As Ms. James continues to develop the relationships among the members of the SCT Unit, it becomes pretty evident that this installment in her series will be different.  While the dialogue is still snappy and Ace continues to be quirky, sarcastic and loveable in her own way, things are shaping up to be a little bit darker.  The team is somewhat out of their element and being forced to work with the FBI in a more open manner while dealing with a bomber who doesn’t really fit the “serial killer” mold Ace has become used to.Ace and the team are also being forced to take more “down” time between cases, and Ace’s family has decided to make themselves at home when she’s there.  This is something new for Ace to deal with as previously she was away at school or working and she rarely saw her family.  In a way this tests Ace’s “humanity” or lack thereof, and makes her question her place in society even more.Once again bringing Malachi Blake into the story, Ms. James gives us a view of the special, strange and potentially dangerous relationship existing between these two characters.  It also makes me wonder if they’ll find themselves enemies at some point in the future.  A showdown that I have no doubt Ace would win, though the mental and emotional cost would be tremendously high.Will Ace and her team be able to solve who’s destroying everyone’s summer? Will the loss her team suffers spell the end of the SCT Unit or will they be able to recover? You’ll have to read Explosive Dreams to find out.  I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book in the series, Plagued Dreams, where it looks like Ace will finally get to check out “The Plague” up close and personal.