Mind Over Monsters (F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Oct 11, 2011 Sharon rated it really liked it

This review along with my others can be found: http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2011/...

This is the first book in Harlow’s new series: F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigations. It stands for Federal Response to Extra-sensory And Kindred Supernaturals, and I give kudos to Harlow for thinking this acronym up! The FBI has set up this special team to help keep supernatural creatures a secret from the rest of the world. When a supernatural being starts causing problems with humans, F.R.E.A.K.S. steps in to c This review along with my others can be found: http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2011/...

This is the first book in Harlow’s new series: F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigations. It stands for Federal Response to Extra-sensory And Kindred Supernaturals, and I give kudos to Harlow for thinking this acronym up! The FBI has set up this special team to help keep supernatural creatures a secret from the rest of the world. When a supernatural being starts causing problems with humans, F.R.E.A.K.S. steps in to clean up the mess.
This is a great series opener. It was funny, clever, fast moving and it has zombies! There is also a little bit of romance (not with a zombie though). I really enjoy first person POV books, and the snarky fourth grade teacher Beatrice is a great character through which to experience the events of the novel. Bea has grown up trying to hide her telekinetic powers so she could fit in, but things haven’t gone so well for her. She is approached by a man who offers to help her control her powers and give her a place on the F.R.E.A.K.S. team. Much hilarity ensues as she comes to meet her new team members and learns just how powerful she is.
On the F.R.E.A.K.S. team there is a mysterious and tortured smexy werewolf, Will, with whom Bea has an instant connection. Romance isn’t the focus of this book, but it is a fun part and I look forward to watching the slow simmer of their relationship grow over the course of this series. And what supernatural book wouldn’t be complete without the arrogant, flirty vampire who tries to hide the fact that he has a heart of gold? (Um....all of them, because vampires are EVIL. -Kalpar) Oliver is wonderfully sexy and spends most the book needling Will and Bea. The team also consists of a pyrokinetic, a teenaged teleporter, a psychometric (who gets visions from objects), and a blind medium who talks to ghosts.
Bea’s first case involves a necromancer who is raising zombies to commit murder. The whodunnit isn’t much of a mystery, but there is tons of action and zombie killing. However, I do think some of the zombie fight scenes were little too long and drawn out. There is also some soul-searching done by Bea as she wonders if she is one of the monsters. Overall this book has a nice mix of mystery, romance, action and character development. I will be following this series and pulling for some smexy for Bea and Will in the next book!
4 machete swinging Sheep! ...more

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Feb 02, 2013 D.G. rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance

**3.5 stars**

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Dec 15, 2011 Cat rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

Really enjoyed this one. Loved the quirky characters. Felt it was too short though, a bit more development would have been enjoyable. Still was left wanting to read the next in the series so maybe that was the idea. Maybe I just read it too fast but I was disappointed it read as quickly as it did. Looking forward to the next

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Mar 31, 2012 Rachel-RN rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2013

Ha ha! I really liked this one. I especially enjoyed the humor. "I'm like a homicidal ballerina..." That's a great line, right?! Great cast of characters, great start to a new series. ...more

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