Review and Interview - Eye Contact by Rebecca Royce

Today we have an interview with author Rebecca Royce who is promoting her book Eye Contact.   Welcome Rebecca!

Publisher: Decadent Publishing (March 2011)

Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as “the condition”, would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist. 

The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.

 

Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned ‘locator.’ There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy. 

In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born? 

My Thoughts:


I really enjoyed Eye Contact.  Ms. Royce has created an interesting world where people who are born with special abilities are called Conditioned.  It reminded me of the X-Men, except the Conditioned have been kept away from society.  They aren't even thought of as human.  They have no rights at all.  Spencer Lewis is one of the special Conditioned who is let out occasionally to use his special ability to find lost people. Addison Wade hires him to find her kidnapped nephew.


I expected a paranormal romance, but what I got was so much more. The story is well written with intriguing characters. The mystery was well thought out and had a nice twist at the end.  I loved Spencer and Addison together.  I think my favorite scene was the one where Spencer gets to drive for the first time. It is such an endearing scene that made me fall in love with both of them!   I look forward to reading the next books in the series.  I hope she features more of the secondary characters that appeared in this one.  Eye Contact is definitely worth reading!



Rebecca was kind enough to answer some questions for us:

Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Rebecca: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first book when I was in fourth grade.  But, it was about finally finding the courage to follow my dreams that allowed it to actually happen.  That happened when I was pregnant with my second son. Let’s blame the pregnancy hormones.

Kari: Where did you come up with the idea for your book?

Rebecca: I have no idea where my ideas come from. I know this is a frustrating answer but I can’t pinpoint those things. Its like they go ‘boom’ and they’re suddenly there.

Kari: What is your favorite part of the book?

Rebecca: There is a moment where Spencer sees Addison with her defenses down as she’s standing on the street.  I loved writing that scene. 

Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Rebecca: I am writing the next Westervelt Wolf book right now!

Kari: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Rebecca: A Siamese cat.  I was raised with them. I love them. I’d love to be one. Well, one of the ones that lived in my house. LOL

About the author:

 

As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework.  I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.

I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend.  We live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months. 

I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing.  I've been told I'm a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books. 

In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

I'd love to hear from you!