DO OR DIE

Author: Marly Mathews ISBN: 1601544278 9/2008 PARANORMAL/FUTURISTIC Publisher: GRAND CENTRAL

The world has changed. Ten years ago, Earth nearly crumbled beneath the might of an intergalactic War. The Enemy fought with destructive psychokinetic powers. Only a band of extraordinary humans stood in their path. They were known as the Gemini Order. Now, Shylah McKay and her kind are being persecuted for the very talents that saved Earth from ruination. But Shylah’s a mover and a shaker, and with her lover, Grayson, by her side, she’ll go to the ends of the Earth and beyond, to fight for her people.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Marly Mathews sets her paranormal romance, DO OR DIE, in 26th century North America after ten years of war between Earth and a planetary empire called Rhianna, where Shylah McKay served as a member of a special corps of gifted people with extraordinary abilities. She heroically pushed back the enemy at great cost to her mind and body during the war, but was rescued by Grayson Smith, who despite the fact that he's a ghost, is the love of her life. Now that Earth seems to be free of the Rhiannons and the war torn planet is struggling to move forward, Shylah is fighting for the civil rights of gifted people like herself. It seems that her efforts may have to go on the back burner, as gifted people have started going missing and according to Senator Jack Parker, Shylah's former lover and her dead brother Kieran's best friend, the enemy may be prepping for a new attack. Will Shylah and Grayson be able to weather the storm of a new war, especially if she discovers his deepest secret? And is she really getting messages from her brother? Or are they a trick of either her mind or the enemy?

Mathews creates a great Bogey and Bacall romance for Shylah and Grayson, who despite their seeming ability to do anything and get anywhere at the drop of a hat—she hates how cramped up she gets in her hover car during the 10 minutes it takes to get from a friend's pub in Ireland to her family's mansion in Vermont—they are deathly afraid that the other person will realize how unworthy they are of their love and break off their relationship. They are both so dedicated to the other, but so insecure at the same time. The one thing that makes for an interesting adventure is that several of the characters are not who they are supposed to be. There are impersonators, of both specific people as well as people just trying to hide their identities. And in order to accomplish several things, Grayson needs to inhabit other people's bodies. At one point, I felt like I'd get whiplash looking from character to character, trying to untangle who everybody really was. Many of the secondary characters and their situations are even funnier than those of Grayson (who sounds very British to me) and Shylah, who kicks ass first and asks questions later if she feels like it.

DO OR DIE is a terrific mélange of mystery, intrigue, romance, and betrayal all set in the future which enables people to be anything the author can contrive. Readers who enjoy a little chocolate with their peanut butter—Sci-Fi with romance—will find this couple endearing and cheer them on throughout their exploits.

Susan Barton