**My TBR List Review ~ December ~ Redemption ~ C.J. Barry**

My To-Be Read List is a new meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. Michelle has been doing this for awhile and recently decided to extend the fun for us all. I thought it was a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

Redemption
Soul #1
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Reya Sinclair is a Redeemer of Souls. Her mission is to give Earth's most depraved sinners a shot at redemption just before they are slated to die. Her own redemption is on the line as she fulfills her duties, leaving a trail of dead bodies in her wake. It's all going perfection well until on detective takes notice, possibly bringing her salvation to a halt.

Thane Driscoll is a good cop who's seen too many bad guys get away, including the man who murdered his father. He exacts his own style of justice, even if it costs him his humanity. A string of mysterious deaths leads him to a woman who's not quite human and might hold the key to finding his father's killer.

When death and shadows descend, New York City becomes a battleground for the forces of light and dark. As the body count rises and sparks fly between them, Reya and Thane race to uncover a terrible truth. Can one man hell-bent on revenge and one woman determined to save her eternal soul be enough to keep the planet from spiraling into darkness?

Redemption hooked me from the start with the introduction of Reya, our heroine, and an intense and grisly depiction of her job. Barry was able to maintain that intensity and pace, for the most part, throughout the story.

Reya Sinclair is a Redeemer of Souls and as such, her job is to offer redemption to souls about to depart from this world. Her reason for taking this job necessitates her dealing with souls who are most in need of redemption...the ones who have done despicable things. Her job is Reya's way of seeking her own redemption. 

Reya's job put her on Thane Driscoll's radar as he is one of the detectives lucky enough to be given the task of investigating freak, accidental deaths. Thane is a cop who sees things in shades of gray and doesn't always follow protocol. He seeks justice - has an intense desire to make things right - even if it requires him to step on the wrong side of the law.

Once Reya and Thane meet, they each begin to realize there's something special about Thane. But they have to figure out exactly what that means and why they've been brought together at this point in time.

Redemption has a strong reincarnation theme, as well as themes of right and wrong, darkness versus light, the power of choice and free will, and love. With the exception of the story dragging just a bit with the "will he or won't he" element, Barry wove it all together into a very unique and compelling story. The way she created her world of different dimensions, darkness and light needing equilibrium, and how that balance was maintained was fascinating.

I quite enjoyed my introduction to Barry's writing and will certainly read her again. By the way, I didn't realize Redemption is actually the first in a series. It wraps up nicely but it's a series I will continue.