Polly Iyer

As part of my promotion of reasonably priced Kindle reads, here's my review of
"Murder déjà vu" by Polly Iyer
Published 2011
$2.99 Kindle/Indie author

Catherine Coulter, Sandra Brown, move over! Polly Iyer has a winner in this romantic suspense novel.
In Reece Daughtry, Dana Minette finds a man who is as passionate about creating the beautiful fireplaces featured in national magazines as he is about saving wounded and abused animals. But Reece isn't only an artist and builder, he's also a man show more who's spent fifteen years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Now he takes work as it pleases him, and living secluded on a piece of land up in the Carolina mountains seems to please him.
Dana Minette lived twenty-some years in her own prison, married to an abusive, manipulative husband who is now the district attorney in a jurisdiction that encompasses three small counties. But when Dana comes calling to see if she can convince Reece to build her one of his rock-wall masterpieces, it is no surprise that these two lonely people should find an instant attraction to each other. The surprise comes when Reece is charged with a copy-cat murder much like the one he was accused of so long ago.
Now it would be natural that the romance will be tested, as it should be, since their relationship is so new. But here is where a clever author will do her job—and this author doesn't disappoint as she weaves in the history of two people who have been forged by fire into new and stronger individuals, the kind of people who are now of a much tougher metal.
The pacing for the suspense picks up as roadblocks are tossed in their way and Reece struggles against an unjust system. It is the allies that helped me root for Reece, like Frank, Reece's old prison buddy, now dying of lung cancer, and Jeraldine, his motherly lawyer (who reminds me of a black Kathy Bates of the TV show Harry's Law) and her very smart investigator, Clarence Wright, and the local sheriff (who has no love for Dana's ex-husband) who works to vindicate Reece.
I couldn't stop reading until the last page. And when I finished, I felt a deep satisfaction… which only served to convince this reader that this is romantic suspense at its finest, and in my opinion, the best of its kind so far in 2012. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

RP Dahlke show less

When Abby lost her sight to a horrible incident, she made herself into someone who could help others in similar circumstances. A shrink to those who have a disabilty and must learn to deal with it. And in to her office walks Luke McAlister, a cop who lost his hearing in a drug bust explosion. With issues hisself, he soon finds he doesn't want Abby as a shrink, but as a romantic interest. But ethically, Abby must refrain. Until she begins to be stalked by someone and the relationship with show more Luke has no choice but to become intimate. The two learn of their disabilities in very different ways and how to cope with them together. Along with solving a bizarre case of pharmeceutical malpractice, the two find each other and help each other through their pasts. show less

Mind Games is about Diana Racine’s relationship with her gift as a psychic, with her parents, the media and her fans. I loved all the complex relationships and Polly Iyer’s excellent ability in writing voices and behaviors that made each character very distinctive. That’s definitely a fine art. The two most important relationships that Diana has to contend with are the budding romance between her and Detective Lucier and the dangerous man with an equally powerful psychic ability who is show more hell bent on proving, in the most destructive ways, that he is superior. I read this 390 page novel quickly and felt very satisfied with the end. I was rooting for Diana the whole way.

Those of you who follow me know I don’t review on my blog often. Truthfully, I’m very picky about what I love to read. Every now and then, I find an author that has the perfect amount of conversation, description, action, and narration. I have found that in Polly Iyer and plan to devour her collection of books.

The other thing I have realized is that I need some suspense in the novels that I read so the story compels me to want to know what happens next. Overdone narration, description, and back story just put me to sleep, literally.

When I read, I want to be taken on a journey to somewhere I would never actually experience myself and Ms. Iyer brought me into the heart of New Orleans, showed me the world of psychic entertainment and crime investigation. I also enjoy watching characters change and evolve through circumstances and Ms. Iyer didn’t disappoint. I’m excited to read the next in the series and find out what’s next for Diana.

I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Ms. Iyer on Facebook, after I started her novel, and she is a real gem of a lady. She was very open to talking to me about the craft of writing and effective marketing. I always enjoy connecting with my readers and other authors and it was great to find another author, a great one, so receptive to sharing her expertise.

A big five stars for Mind Games (A Diana Racine Psychic Suspense) by Polly Iyer. Pick up the book, I promise, you won’t be disappointed. show less

Diana Racine, a famous psychic who has made a fortune taking her show on the entertainment circuit, is at a benefactor's Mardi Gras party in New Orleans when a tall man in a Cyrano mask comes up and offers his hand. Suddenly, her true psychic ability brings her horrifying images of a young woman being murdered from the man's touch. The masked figure is a serial killer with equal psychic abilities laying down a challenge to our heroine. As the police become involved and Diana finds a budding show more romantic connection with NOPD Lieutenant Ernie Luciers, the killer raises the game and the hunter becomes the hunted. Author Polly Iyer has crafted a very well-edited suspense thriller, as the advantage shifts continuously in the game between protagonist and antagonist. Some plot elements are stretched a bit out of bounds, but it still maintained interest to the taut conclusion. show less