Cybercrime doesn’t talk. It creeps in and destroys lives right under Gillian’s nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands her boss, Pinkie, in jail. Gillian had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered her ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves her struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the … conspiracy.
Gillian will not let her mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend…until his good fortune sends her reeling. Gillian forces herself to trust the cops, people who hurt her, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save her life?
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Dark energy is a complex and thrilling mystery. Sometimes dark, sometimes light but always riveting. This is the second book in a series but the author does a good job of getting you acquainted with the characters and their lives so it reads well as a stand alone. The story revolves around Gillian a newly promoted bar manager who is thrust back into the dark side of life when her friend and mentor Pinkie is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. We’re taken on a wild ride of FBI, cyber crimes and some good old fashioned amateur investigations. The world building is excellent. It’s a vibrant place that draws you in and you feel like your visiting your favorite neighborhood bar and grill. The characters are well written their emotions especially Gillian keep you on the edge of your seat and make it difficult to stop reading to see what will happen on the next page. A great mystery, realistic characters and a wonderful world for them to inhabit. A definite must read!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
This book was an excellent read with a relevant storyline that was well written with likable characters that kept me totally engaged throughout the entire book!
Good book, new author for me. This author writes a tangled plot with good characters. Lots of suspense in this one, Russian mobsters, digital hacking, theft, murder, and a little bit of romance. There was a book that came out before this one, and while that was evident it didn’t stop me from following along with this one. I do think if you have a chance you should read book 1, but it’s not completely necessary. Gillian is a great character. She is a new bar manager working for her friend Pinkie. Pinkie is wisked away early on for a crime he didn’t commit and Gillian dives in both helping him and running both of his bars. Her boyfriend is a rising rock star who gets a chance out in LA, so there is a little angst there as to what to do. This is quite a ride and an enjoyable story, I’d read more in this series.
When the feds come to arrest her boss, Pinkie, Gillian knows he’s innocent. With the stress of the trial looming, and with the dangers of what’s happening with Pinkie, her boyfriend Jon wants her to be cautious. But she will do what it takes to clear his name and get him out of jail.
I hadn’t read book 1, but mostly, I didn’t feel lost with the plot. When they first started talking about Kyle and the trial, or when learning who Brad was, I felt a little out of the loop, but it’s all made clear through the storyline. Gillian is a fun main character. She’s a good bar manager and friend. She will go to the ends of the earth to prove Pinkie’s innocence, even if it means she’s putting herself in danger. There are some good characters in this that I can see sharing the stage with Gillian in future books. I think Lauren and Paul would be good together. Creepy stalker guy has a story, and I would love to know what it is. Sometimes the day to day of the running of the bars got repetitive, but outside of that, this was a fun read. The plot of a bartender turned manager who solves mysteries is fun and fresh. I want more of this cast of characters and will definitely go back to read book 1.
This book was an interesting, intriguing, and exciting read!
I really enjoyed the main characters. They were realistic, likable, and relatable! I loved Gillian! She was strong, smart, dedicated, persistent, caring, compassionate, and at times a bit stubborn lol. She was a great lead female character with wit, charm, and tenacity that you just couldn’t help but root for and hope her story works out.
I enjoyed the story line and felt engaged in the story structure and plot points. The writing was steady and easily flowed.
Cybercrime is such an intriguing topic to me, so I was so excited and curious about this book and it did not disappoint! Today’s world – especially now with COVID-19 revolves around computers. We need to be able to trust them, but there are too many bad people and too many ways for them to become dangerous and vulnerable to attacks.
I really enjoyed and appreciated the author’s depth of research that was thoroughly highlighted in this book. Her expertise of cybercrime and bar management was impressive. She also kept the material educational, but not overwhelming as it was easily to grasp and follow.
This book was such a fun, quick, enjoyable read that I was able to finish in just a few sittings!
There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!
This book is Book Two in the Return to Becker Circle Book Series. It can be read as a standalone. I had not read the first book prior to reading this book, and I did not have any complications or get lost. There clearly is story line and character overlap, and I think I would have enjoyed reading book one first to have gotten to know the characters better, but it’s not required to enjoy book two!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it! I think all romantic suspense fans and adult/new adult readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
I have two modes when it comes to reading. Full speed ahead, or cold stop. So, when I say I flew through Dark Energy, please believe it was because I couldn’t put it down.
The story starts off strong, already pulling the reader into a connection with our heroine as we watch her run the opening of a brand-new bar in Dallas, Texas. Ten pages in and we are already hoping everything goes right. Of course, it doesn’t or there wouldn’t be a story.
Gillian’s determination to do right by her boss and get him out of the false charges that put him in jail is admirable. She is a loveable, relatable, sometimes funny, sometimes infuriating character; her guile, gumption, and all-around spunk kept me glued to the page.
Brae delivers a page-turner in the second installment of the series. If you’re tired of not getting to visit your favorite bar, check this book out. You’ll learn a bit about the service world, mixing drinks, and even first aid (apparently mustard is good for burns, who knew?). Dark Energy had my favorite combination of realism mixed in with the fictional story from locations in Dallas to the stress of being a manager.
This story made me want to do many things. Travel to Dallas, visit some locally owned bars, eat a ton of pizza, tip heavily, and keep a wary eye out for creepy men and Feds.
So, if you’re in the mood for something to get your blood pumping and your fingers working to turn those pages, Dark Energy is a good bet! Action-packed, tons of fun, and a loving nod to the service industry.
Tip your waitress, and read this book!
This is the first book I have read by Addison Brae. I thought the author created the strongest character very well, Gillian was her name. The bar owner that gave her a fresh start on life, Pinkie, was a guy you’d love from the first page. Young Gillian finds she must save her mentor which is the kind of plot everyone wants to read in the first place and of course everyone wants it to turn out as they choose. Sometimes it’s hard to tell how it will end. I mean this in a good way.
I saw terminology in the genre description that is new to me. It was a genre called “new adult”. This is the perfect description for this book. As an adult I enjoyed it with its suspense and mystery. However as I read, I realized that while it contained the problems of today and possibly the beginning relationships, it was a refreshingly clean read. Would really like to hear back from people what they thought and would even like an opinion from anyone that has read Brae’s first book in the series, Becker Circle.
Overall a nice read. One that has you holding your breath a little, hoping that your favorite character will win.
I loved the second installment in the Becker Circle series. Gillian continues to grow as a heroine, coming more and more into her confidence as she embarks on her new life in Dallas. Here we find out kick-butt heroine facing off Russian cybercriminals. I hope we get to see Gillian more in the future!
This is new author for me. The book has our heroine trying to save her mentor. I enjoyed every page of the storyline. The cast of characters are well developed and engaging. I am looking forward to more on this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dark Energy by Addison Brea
Return to Becker Circle
As the excitement builds for the soft opening of Pinkies Too pub with Gillian as the manager all hands are on deck, Pinkie and Gillian are excited and all is in readiness for a grand opening ONLY to have the FBI arrive to arrest Pinkie. This puts Gillian in charge of two pubs with all that goes along with managing them while the owner is away. There are employee staffing issues to deal with, supplies to order, finances to keep in line, a boyfriend heading to another state, a lawyer to find for Pinkie, and ultimately the solving of who set Pinkie up to take the fall while trying to get him out of jail. Gillian is busy juggling way too many balls and at times feels overwhelmed. Will she be able to keep the pubs afloat? Will Pinkie get out of jail? Will she and Jon be able to weather a long-distance relationship? And what about that court case that cropped up as a result Kyle’s reprehensible behavior in book one of the series?
What I liked:
* Gillian: Intelligent, savvy, good at her work, loving and kind but not a pushover.
* Jon: seems to be a good fit for Gillian though we did not get to see a lot of him.
* Pinkie: mentor and almost father figure to Gillian – did not deserve to go to jail
* The other characters in the book that added background and color to Becker Circle and this story in particular
* Jeff: I can see him in a future book of this series
* Lauren: Gillian’s best friend – showed up at the end but could have her own book in the future
* Paul: Jon’s brother is a computer guru that comes to the rescue
* The twists, turns and action-packed story
* Learning that there is something called crypto-jacking and that I never want to experience it
* The HFN ending with a hint at a future book or two in the future
What I didn’t like:
* The bad guys that set up the crypto-jacking in Pinkie’s business
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars