Red

What an incredible and magical world Jordan Summers has created with this series. Sad to see this all end in this final book of the trilogy. Wonderful conclusion and tie of up characters and story. Fans of Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, and Jes Battis should definitely dive into this.

In a futuristic world Gina/Red is part of a crime tactical team. When she believes and no one else does, that a murder has taken place, she heads to the isolated town of Nuria. As soon as she arrives she knows something isn't right about the town, the sexy sheriff, and even herself.
Not what I was expecting but not in a bad way. Even though I bought the book in the romance section, I thought that being published by TOR it would be more fantasy than romance, it wasn't which for me is good.
I have decided that when (sorry for the spoiler) the guy and the girl in a series end up together in the first book that that is enough for me, no further books required. 103/1000

Since there are some great reviews (see Lokki's) already, I'll keep this short and sweet. I loved, loved this book. I will be back tracking to Red and then on with the third in this series Crimson. Enjoyed the storyline and characters. Well written and very entertaining.

Highly recommended!!!

Red is a Science Fiction, Action Adventure, Paranormal Romance. It's got a little of everything.

Author Jordan Summers introduces us to Gina Santiago, A.K.A. Red, a highly trained member of the International Police Tactical Team (IPTT) with a quick chapter where she wakes up in bed wearing her mud covered combat boots, tatter, blood splattered T-Shirt and mysterious scratches and cuts covering her flesh. And this is Chapter Two after we spend Chapter One in the mind of a psychopathic killer as he hunts and kills a young woman. This is a reader catching start.

The story takes place in a post apocalyptic world, where there is no United States, instead there are Republics fenced in against no man's land where Unknowns and the fable Others reign. The citizens of the Republics are all micro-chipped to identify the republic they belong to and the Unknowns are hunted down by the IPTT as hostiles. The Others are unconfirmed former genetically altered soldiers that most believe do not exist.

Red is considered an outsider by the other members of her team. In fact her whole life she has felt as if she were an outsider. Raised by her Grandfather, who is also her boss, she has heightened senses that her Team leader, Bannon, dismisses. In fact Bannon thinks she is just plain nuts and gives her a hard time and degrades her at every turn. Finding the mutilated body of a young woman, who Red believes was murdered - a theory that her Tactical Team members do not prescribe to - Red sets out on her own to find the killer and get justice for this woman and her family.

This takes her to a small bordertown called Nuria where she meets a handsome, former soldier, Morgan Hunter, now the town sheriff. There is an instant attraction and sexual tension between the two characters but thankfully they don't jump into bed from the start. Author Jordan Summers arcs the romance between Red and Morgan throughout the story with conflict and deception. Morgan even takes in a little voyeurism of Red while she is having a private moment . *ahem*

It is clear that Morgan wants Red to be his mate. Morgan is the town alpha but he knows that he must wait for Red to decided to want him. He knows her even if she doesn't know herself. Red is confused by her attraction to him and her feelings that seem to come from someplace inside her that she has never touched upon before.

When they do get together - graphic fireworks! *wheeee*

There are ensuing chapters, from the killer's point of view as he hunts and kills and then gets fixated on Red, that keep the story from becoming just another paranormal romance.

Morgan wanting to protect Red but needing to protect his town, works behind her back to try and discover the killer's identity before she does. Red's confusion and mistrust sends her running from Morgan, just as her need to find this killer pulls her back. Summers cleverly intertwines the children' s Little Red Riding Hood fable into the storyline in a way that adds flavor to the plot.

Secondary characters that add to the story are a corrupt politician who has his own dangerous, hidden agenda that could adversely affect Nuria and its citizens. And the mysterious Raphael Vega who adds an interesting twist to the story. He is sure to be in the follow up books of this series. And we can't forget Rita, the navcom, mobile A.I. unit, Red wears on her wrist. Rita adds humorous dialogue that embarrasses Red more than once.

I figured out who the serial killer was before it was revealed and most readers will but the ride to get there is a entertaining trip. This book offers great characters, a great story and a really fun read.

"RED" is the first book in the Dead World Trilogy. Book Two, "SCARLET" is scheduled for release June 1, 2009. Book Three, "CRIMSON" is scheduled for release on November 1, 2009.