Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Review - Countdown



Title: Countdown
Author: Michelle Maddox
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Futuristic
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Free from the RT Book Lovers Convention

Kira wakes up in a cell to find herself handcuffed to a wall. She can't remember how she got there. She isn't alone. A man is also handcuffed to the wall opposite her. Kira soon finds out quick enough that she and Rogan have become unwilling participants in a game called the Countdown. They have to pass six levels by facing certain tasks. The alternative is death.

Countdown had me on the edge of my seat. From the very beginning, the reader is dumped into the middle of the action and it never lets up until the very end. Countdown in unlike any other book I have read. I really enjoyed the unusual premise, where the two lead characters have to perform feats and their very lives depend upon it. The game has six levels which get progressively harder to pass, both morally and physically. If a contestant looses the penalty is death. Kira and Rogan immediately have to learn to trust each other. Even though this book takes place over the course of a few days, the seriousness and intensity allows the two characters to bond more closely in a short period of time and have it be believable.

Countdown is just an exciting heart pounding thrill ride. It really leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. I felt the emotional component was balanced really nicely with the action. The romance never felt forced despite the short time frame in which it developed. I can't say enough about this book. It was an exciting, fun read.

Here is what others had to say:

Babbling Book Reviews
Book Binge
Scooper Speaks
Janicu's Book Blog
All About Romance
The Good, The Bad, The Unread
Shameless Aymless's Thoughts on Books and Life

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon

7 comments:

Leslie said...

Sold! You've made this sound amazing. Love the different premise. Thanks for the great review Jill!

Tracy said...

I've really liked the Shomi books that I've read so far and this one was no different. So glad you enjoyed it! I really liked Twist by Colby Hodge a lot as well.

~ames~ said...

Yay! I'm glad you liked this one! Wasn't it just completely different? I remember reading and being like, how is this going to be a romance? LOL It totally works though!

Christina said...

Glad you liked it! ;-)

Kristie (J) said...

Wasn't this one great?!?!? I loved it too! I noticed you had in your pile of books and what you would think about it.

Jill D. said...

Leslie - I promise, you won't be disappointed. It's a great read!

Tracy - Oooooh, Colby Hodge, huh. I met her at RT and really liked her. I will definitely look for her Shomi book. Thanks for the heads up!

Ames - Yeah, it definitely had me on the edge of my seat, and I wondered to myself how it was all going to work out. It did in the end, however.

Kristi - It was just a fluke that I picked it up. It was the last night at the Prom dance sponsored by dorchester. I picked it up because the line on the back said "Kiera wakes up hand cuffed to a wall." I was sold. :)

nath said...

This was a great book :D Glad you enjoyed it, Jill :D I can totally see this being adapted into a movie or something :P