Operative (Ganzfield #5) by Kate Kaynak

I received an ARC of Operative from Spencer Hill Press for review on February 9th... I finished it around midnight on the 10th.  I read it all in one sitting and it was a nail biter from start to finish.  If you haven't read the Ganzfield books then you haven't been paying attention to me.  The Ganzfield series is unlike anything else out there.  Really.  Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

Maddie and the rest of the team must catch the person selling classified information to terrorists--before they become the targets.

I love this series!  Maddie's a great heroine who I truly love to read.  She's not willing to stand by and let Trevor dictate the rules of their relationship.  LOVE IT!  She's a girl after my own heart for sure.  I loved seeing the Ganzfield team working with the military on this case.  Drew was EPIC.  Drew has to be my favorite Spark.  Harrison is adorable but Drew is the Wally West of Sparks.  I really enjoyed getting to see Rachel and Sienna even though they weren't with Maddie for the majority of the books.  It's so hard to write this review without including spoilers because there is so much going on!  If you haven't started this series- do it now.  Really, it's that good.

You can find out more about Kate Kaynak and her Ganzfield series on her website.  You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.  You can click here to add the Ganzfield books to your Goodreads.  Operative by Kate Kaynak earns 5 Fairies for being made of awesome.

Teaser Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers are from Operative (Ganzfield #5) by Kate Kaynak:

It's not stalking if the stalkee is cool with it.  By the way, any idea how long this paralysis'll last?  I really want to put my arms around you right now.

#BIR2011 Interview with Kate Kaynak Author of Accused

Today as part of Best I've Read 2011, I have the extreme fortune to interview Kate Kaynak.  Kate is the author of Accused, book four of the Ganzfield Series from Spencer Hill Press and one of my personal Top Seven of '11 books.  The Ganzfield Series is an amazing series that is kinda like X-men.  It focuses on teens and a few adults who have abilities that are beyond that of most "normal" people.  There are Sparks or pyrokinetics who can put out, start and control fire.  There are Charms who can get others to do what they want them to.  The are healers who can manipulate the human body's energy to heal others.  There are RV's or Remote Viewers who can see things/people even from far away.  There are a few Minders who can read the thoughts of others.  And there is only one Telekinetic.  Ganzfield is the school where they learn how to control their powers.

Now, without further ado, here is my interview with the magnificent Kate Kaynak:

The Minder series is one of those hidden gems of the book world, when will we be seeing more of them in local bookstores and National chains? More people need to read the wonderful series that is Ganzfield!

Thanks, Megan! Spencer Hill Press signed with new distributors this year, both here and in the UK. They're working on getting our books into more retail stores. That's one reason we're doing the new cover with the release of the third edition of MINDER in 2012.

Trevor is, of course, my favorite character. How did he come to be? What led you to create him as we see him in the books- a sweet, sensitive and loyal young man with wicked cool "super powers."

I'd recently read TWILIGHT and the SOOKIE STACKHOUSE books, and both had telepathic characters who could only fall in love with someone whose thoughts they COULDN'T read. I could understand that, but then I started wondering about it. What if that wasn't an option? What kind of person COULD a telepath fall in love with? And what kind of guy would be okay in a relationship with someone who knew his every thought?

And a lot of Trevor's traits are based on those of my real-life husband; he isn't telekinetic, though (but that WOULD be wicked cool).

How did you come up with the world of Ganzfield and how do you work in the series? Do the plot lines come to you as you go or is the basic story line of the series static, has it been there from the beginning?

I'm a plotter, not a pantster, so I had about twenty pages of notes before I started writing each book. I also had a long-term plan for the entire series, and it's all coming to a head in #6, SOULMATE, the book I'm writing now (or, more accurately, will get back to writing as soon as I finish editing Jennifer Armentrout's DEITY, which is all kinds of awesome). That will be the end of Maddie and Trevor's story arc. I usually stick with the plot I've outlined, although two-thirds of the way through ADVERSARY, one of the characters did something (I'll try to keep this spoiler-free) that upset the others so much that they told me, "Uh, we can't work with him anymore. He has to go." (Yes, my imaginary friends talk to me). That character originally had a big role in the climactic scene, so I had to rewrite how it would all unfold. That comes out in the story; Maddie's original plan was how the book was supposed to go, but, if you've read ADVERSARY, you know how--and why--that changed.

As a woman who wears many hats- mother, wife, business woman- how do you find time for yourself and your writing? Where and when do you do your best writing?

I wrote my first books when my kids were napping (they're 6, 6, and 5 now; we didn't much have a family as have a litter). Since I'm now editing several series for Spencer Hill, my own writing pace has slowed down. Basically, I find that cutting out television frees up a lot of my time. Now I only watch stuff when folding laundry or cooking or something. I jot down ideas on post-its throughout the day, and then write about 1000 words each night, after the kids have gone to bed.

How do your supporting characters originate? Are they based on people you know? Like Drew, for instance, who is one of my husband's favorite characters in the series.

I LOVE Drew, too; he's based on a friend of mine. Dr. Williamson is based on a man I shared a taxi with in New York City; the original head of Ganzfield was going to be a McGonagal-esque woman, but, after talking with this man for fifteen minutes, I KNEW he was the guy in charge of Ganzfield (in fact, I'm not 100% sure he doesn't run a secret facility like Ganzfield somewhere). Maddie's mom is like my own, and Hannah is a lot like one of my college roommates. And Ganzfield itself is set in a place where my family has lived for more than 200 years--the main building, Blake House, the lake, and the church are all real.

And lastly, I have to ask, Seth's book- Solitary- will it be covering his back story or his future or both? Inquiring minds have to know. :)

In the notes I have for it now, SOLITARY would follow Seth's experience after he and Maddie go their separate ways in book 6, but his backstory (which is intense) would come out in the course of his thoughts.

Thanks so much to Kate Kaynak for agreeing to answer my questions!  I hope that you'll all run right out to your local bookstore or even to Amazon to purchase the Ganzfield books.  (The Kindle versions are all less than 7 dollars right now.)  This series is wonderful and you won't regret it.  Also, because Kate is all kinds of amazing, we have a giveaway!  This is for US entries only!  Just fill out the Rafflecopter below.  IF THE RAFFLECOPTER LOOKS WRONG, CLICK THE TITLE OF THIS POST AND IT SHOULD SHOW THE FORM CORRECTLY!  Thanks so much!

Find out more about Ganzfield on the Ganzfield website.  You can also find the series on Goodreads.

Remember that today the BIR Blog is featuring: Haven by Kristi Cook! 

Accused by Kate Kaynak

WHEW!  We're finally close enough to release day that I can talk about this book!  I met Kate Kaynak at BEA and she was awesome enough to send me home with an ARC of Accused.  I went back to the rental house that night and read it.  Seriously.  I just had to know what happened next with Maddy and Trevor.  It was an insane ride and the end had me going back to Kate the next morning to let her know how much I hated the ending and her for writing it.  (Seriously, I love Kate to bits.  She is awesome but that cliffhanger ending KILLED ME!!)


Now, before I get ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning.  Trevor and Maddy are trying to board a plane to Aruba when the Feds detain them.  That is NEVER a good way to start your vacation.  Maddy is taken in for "questioning" with Trevor but Maddy works out a way for Trevor to go for help.  Trevor, of course, doesn't want to leave her there alone but Maddy insists that they need help.  The next bit covers her "interrogation" by Hunter, a government man who is sick and twisted.  He treats Maddy abominably while she is being kept locked up.  When she is finally released, she's malnourished and has been mentally abused.  Trevor can't stand to see her so mistreated.  As Maddy is nursed back to health at Ganzfield, Ann approaches her about learning how to kill with her mind like Maddy can.  Can sweet Ann REALLY learn that nasty trick that Maddy almost wishes that she didn't know?  Will the government leave Ganzfield in peace or in pieces?  What about Rachel's baby?


I loved this book- right up until the end, of course.  I'm all about Trevor and while he wasn't in the part of the book where Maddy is held captive, he is still sweet, loving, and just... Trevor in this book.  My husband actually likes Trevor after reading this one.  So, it must be good, right?!  I also liked that we got to see more of Seth not completely acting like a jerk in this one.  Who knew Seth was so darn interesting?!  I'd LOVE to see more Seth.  (I already put in my order for MORE SETH with Kate.)  We also see more from the other kids at Ganzfield.  Ann, Zack, Rachel, Rachel's Super Baby, Drew and Harrison.... we get a lot of good scenes with all of them.  I like Drew better every time he comes up in the books.  Harrison, well, he gives Rachel some spot on baby naming advice.  Ann is not so sweet and timid now that she's with Zack.  She can be a pretty tough chick!  But by far, Seth was the most unexpected part of the book.  Now, before I slip up and accidentally get all spoilery (or more spoilery) I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Accused.  I won't tell you who says it, when or why.  Hope it leaves you chomping at the bit for Accused!

"Did Hallmark have a card for losing your virginity?  Maybe there was an untapped market there."

Accused is due out on August 15, 2011.  If you pre-order it from Spencer Hill Press, you will get a signed copy within a week of the release.  You can also learn more about Kate Kaynak and the Ganzfield books onGoodreads or her website and you can join the fan page on Facebook.

Accused earns 4 Fairies for the love of Trevor, Seth's snark and a superbaby.

Legacy (Ganzfield #3) by Kate Kaynak

Legacy is the third book in the Ganzfield series by Kate Kaynak.  Legacy picks up where Adversary left off when Maddie passed out.  In Legacy we see a lot more from the supporting characters of Ganzfield and we get to know more about Trevor.  Maddie has been left with a crippling medical issue after her run in with Isaiah, super powerful psychopath extraordinaire, but can still communicate using her Minder powers.  Trevor is, of course, at her side the entire time.  The Ganzfield community is growing as G- positives from all over the country are coming to stay until it is deemed safe to go back out into the world.  Isaiah is currently rampaging the US, killing G-positives and their families from one corner of the country to another.  But why is he attacking them and who is most at risk?  When Trevor's birth father is killed, Trevor and Maddie travel to warn what is left of Trevor's birth family that danger may be headed there way.  Maddie wonders which she should be more afraid of on the trip: running into Isaiah or meeting Trevor's grandparents. 

I loved this latest book in the Ganzfield series!  It was a great read on a really emotional level.  We got to see how the G-positives at Ganzfield try to cope with love and loss in a time of crisis.  Maddie may have a super awful medical issue, but after a chapter or two, you forget that she is speaking with her mind for the entirety of the book.  I'm a HUGE Trevor fan so I really appreciated getting to see more of his past in this book.  We learn about his birth, his childhood and where his Telekinesis probably came from.  It was great to see Maddie and Trevor make the journey to see his grandparents together and to watch Maddie stand by her man.  Trevor totally deserves her love and devotion.  Zack is back in this book and better than ever.  He pulls off an AMAZING mission with Maddie and the team AND he gets a start on his happily ever after.  Yay!  Dr. Williamson also brings his niece back to Ganzfield and encourages her to start taking the dodecamine again.  This made for some EPIC scenes with Maddie and Ann conversing both about being Minders.  I enjoyed watching Ann grow as a Minder by learning from Maddie.  Maddie has been a Minder for a shorter period of time but she has learned most of her skills on her own.  They come to her as she sees them in someone else's head or simply through trial and error.  One of the things that Maddie teacher Ann is to shield, which Maddie herself learned from rooting around in Zack's mind when he first came to Ganzfield.  Ann and Zack also begin to fall for one another and Ann wonders if maybe this time she can avoid overloading if Zack acts as her "Trevor."  This means that maybe being able to focus on Zack can keep the noise level in her mind down to a low hum.  Now if only we could find a way to make Seth happy.  Yeah, that'll happen.  It was very cool to see so many Minders together in this book.  Overall, this is a great book for teens and adults alike and I think everyone should give the Ganzfield Series a chance. 

The next book in the series, Accused, is due out on August 15, 2011.  If you pre-order it from Spencer Hill Press, you will get a signed copy within a week of the release.  You can also learn more about Kate Kaynak and the Ganzfield books on Goodreads or her website and you can join the fan page on Facebook.

Legacy earns 5 Fairies for all around epicness.

Adversary (Ganzfield #2) by Kate Kaynak

Adversary is the second book in the Ganzfield series and it follows Maddie and Trevor along with all the rest of the people of Ganzfield through a harrowing journey.  Ganzfield feels safe for the kids and adults who live there.  Maddie and Trevor have been training their Team for missions.  When Dr. Williamson sends them into the city on a mission, they are excited for the chance to be involved.  But while they are away from Ganzfield, the compound is attacked and many of their friends and classmates are killed.  Maddie and Trevor rush back to the compound to see what can be done. They find that some of the students and adults have made their way to a camp nearby that is owned by a family of Sparks.  But where are the healers Matilda and Morris?  Where is Dr. Williamson?  And who could have done such a thing?  It's up to Maddie and her friends to find the answers to all of these questions and to bring back their friends taken from Ganzfield.

I liked this book at least as much as Minder.  It had more fast paced action and suspense but it still had the intense views of relationships between the characters that made Minder so fabulous.  I love Maddie and Trevor's relationship.  It is just so open, honest and pure.  They connect on the most basic level and they each are just what the other needs.  It was also fun to watch Maddie continue to grow into her powers.  I liked that she was able to learn new things by reasoning her way through it.  I stick to my recommendation for Minder with this second book:  suitable for age 13 and older due to science, action, and teenage shenanigans but nothing too graphic/explicit.  Death does occur in spades in this book so be aware of that as well.  But I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  It is definitely a new all time favorite of mine.

Adversary earns 5 Fairies for an awesome and gripping continuation of this series.

Minder (Ganzfield #1) by Kate Kaynak

Minder is the first in the Ganzfield Series.  I have to be completely honest, I click dislike on the cover.  I know that if you read the book, it makes perfect sense but if you are looking for something to read this cover hides all of the awesomeness that is inside.  Minder takes you into a world where there are people among us with special skills that they can strengthen by taking regular injections of a drug called dodecamine.  Their skills all come from the mind and work in different ways but all involve energy manipulation on some level. 

What am I talking about?  Well, Minders can read minds and sometimes speak into someone else's mind.  RVs are remote viewers who can locate a person or thing that is outside their field of vision.  Charms have the ability to put thoughts into your head by convincing you that something is true or to do something.  Healers can manipulate the body's energy to heal almost instantly.  Pyrokinetics or Sparks, can make fire, put out fire and manipulate fire.  There are even a few telekinetic who can move things with their minds.  In the world of Ganzfield, some people accidentally give others nightmares, set their beds on fire and even witness things from another person's eyes.  But these talents need to remain hidden so that the teens and adults with these skills are not found and exploited by the government ... or worse, eradicated as a potential threat to the mundane people.

Maddie Dunn is sixteen when a run in with some boys from school goes horribly wrong and something awful happens.  She finds herself pulled into Ganzfield, a school/compound for people like her, people who are different.  Maddie is a Minder and a powerful one.  She needs to find her place at Ganzfield and maybe, even do more.  While at Ganzfield, Maddie learns that there are few rules but those that do exist are strictly enforced.  The kids there go to regular classes and practicals to hone their powers.  She also learns that the Charms use their abilities on the others to make themselves the rulers of Ganzfield.  Not cool.  So, Maddie decides to take a stand against them.  From her first day at Ganzfield, Maddie is drawn to Trevor, the only telekinetic at Ganzfield.  Why is she so drawn to him?  Can Maddie change Ganzfield for the better?

I loved this book.  I really did.  When I first heard about these books, the covers threw me off.  But I borrowed the last two books after winning a copy of the first book and I decided to read them.  They looked short so I thought it would be a quick and easy read between other books in my To Read pile.  Well, they are a quick read but it's because they are SOOOO good!  I loved Trevor most of all (I named my Kindle after him) because he is so sweet, kind, loving and brave.  Trevor is just awesome.  Maddie is a great female lead because she is pretty kick butt and she isn't afraid of speaking her mind (HA, Mind reader joke!) or asserting herself.  If you haven't read these books, You really should.  I would suggest them for teens over 13 just because they are geared for older teens and adults.  Lots of psychology and science in them and some.... teenage shenanigans but nothing too explicit.

Minder earns 5 Fairies for being an amazingly unique and special series.