CJ Lyons

Dr. Lydia Fiore's first day as an attending might be her last. She saves her first several patients, impressing various hospital workers. But one of her patients dies - and Jonah Weiss happened to be the Chief of Surgery's son. Lydia knows she did everything she could, but the death is her responsibility. Jonah, she learns, is a prominent gay rights activist in Pittsburg, the leader of a group known as Gays Organized Against Discrimination (GOAD). The Sons of Adam, a militant cult, had show more reason to want him dead. So did Isaiah Steward - Jonah's ex-lover and the medical examiner who performed his autopsy. As Lydia investigates, men start to threaten both her and those she cares about. She won't stop though, because the murderer's body count is rising.

The b-plots are as engrossing as the main ones. Amanda is an "extern" who is desperate to ignore that something is seriously wrong - no matter what attractive Dr. Stone tells her. Nurse Nora thinks her boyfriend Seth, the only person she trusts to talk about her past with, is growing distant. (Her friends think he's going to propose.) Gina, in emergency medicine, needs to prove to herself that she can be strong in a messy situation. Many other distinct characters populate the novel, including the too-realistic jerk Jim Lazarov.

Many first-time authors struggle with large casts. Lyons manages to keep control of all her characters and the many plots. The novel builds to an explosive climax and satisfying conclusion, but leaves many threads open for subsequent novels. She also manages to include varied relationships: beginning, settled, and ending. Lydia and Trey have terrific chemistry, and who doesn't want a man who can ballroom dance? (Note to younger readers: There is sexual content, tastefully done but still steamy.)

I enjoyed LIFELINES very much, and I have already passed it on to a friend. (Maybe I can get her to write a bit about the novel once she finishes . . . )

An interview with CJ Lyons is available on my website. show less

Disclaimer: Received this book from the author for the purposes of writing a review.

Chasing Shadows has everything I love in a romantic suspense novel. The action was non-stop without feeling forced and the romance between the main characters was the perfect counterpoint. The twists throughout the story keep it from becoming too formulistic. This was a brilliant start to a new series.

Chase and KC are both strong, independent characters who fit well together. Not only did Lyons create two show more fabulous main characters, but the supporting characters shine in their own ways. Lucky and Jay add depth to the story, and even the bad guys are compelling in their own way. I can’t wait to see what Lyons comes up with for the next book. show less

Whew. These books in the Angels of Mercy Medical Center series are never anywhere near easy to read. I don't mean technically, I knew all the words (even a lot of the Med speak stuff), but I mean the topics were insanely intense in this book.

Nora, the ER's charge nurse, finds a dying woman near the Med Center and it sends everyone in paroxysms of fear, worry and anger. Not to mention everyone seems to have their very own unique secrets and a whole lot of them seem to be revealed in this show more book.

It's a solidly written book, but what I find most interesting about this book and the two that preceded it is just how interconnected and serial their stories are. Most mystery/thriller writers have-- connective tissue-- between their books in the same series, heck, some authors like Beverly Connor have connections between two different serieses. But, in the same series there's almost always threads that flow through all the books. Some authors do it well, others don't, but it's been quite awhile since I read a series that was so interconnected like the Angels of Mercy series is. It's very cool, though on occasion I'll get a little confused if something comes up in the current story that I don't quite remember from the previous ones, but, Lyons seems a good enough author that even if I get lost for a moment, she pulls me back into the story. show less

The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons is an intriguing exploration of the world of a family of synesthetes, and one young woman in particular. Ella Cleary, like most of her family on her mother's side, has a form of synesthesia. This is a unique condition where two or more of the senses become cross-wired. It manifests differently for each of them. Ella picks up emotion as colour. When Alec Ravanell approaches Ella for help with a project, she encounters a person not affected by her particular gift. show more Without seeing his colours, she feels like she's trying to parse a foreign language.

Alec does need Ella's help, but not in the way she thinks. He doesn't need a graphic designer, but an interview with Ella herself regarding her parents’ deaths. But what she's been told was an accident, he's calling murder. It throws her world into turmoil. Which story is correct? And why can't she sense Alec? Adding to her inner conflict is worry over being unable to sense him, and wanting to be around him because it's what she imagines being normal is like.

I really enjoyed this read! The mystery part was exciting, but what fascinated me most was the exploration of synesthesia, and how people would function differently given their unique manifestation of it. Like, I don't think I'd mind Ella's, but Gram Helen's? Nope. I could sympathise with her need to shutter herself away with safe sounds. I'm sound sensitive, and have misophonia. For me certain sounds are instantly maddening. At its worst, all sounds trigger stress, so I often need to hide away with safe sounds myself. Can't say I'd want Joe's version either! I feel the author researched this in-depth, or she knows several synesthetes.

The writing drew me in and kept me reading. Chapters sometimes switched perspectives, but each chapter is prefaced with the name of the person it follows, so no confusion there! I loved the two main characters. I so grokked Ella being torn between family expectations for college, and following her dream. I remember going through that… I loved how awkward Ella and Alec are around one another at first. Too adorable. Not only did I enjoy reading about Ella's interactions with her world, but I wanted to know all about the mystery as well. A highly recommended read!

***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book was reviewed for the the Fantastic Flying Book Club. show less