Twin Targets - Jessica Andersen

Twin Targets is the short story included with Lord of the Wolfyn, The Royal House of Shadows Series. This short story really stuck with me over all the other short stories I have read lately, which has been quiet a few even though I’m more of a series gal. More specifically it made me want to read more from Jessica Andersen, more so then the Lord of the Wolfyn did by itself. Although I enjoyed all of the Royal House of Shadows series they played so much off each other that I felt the stand-alone short story highlighted her talent better. So much so that I called Amazon and asked for my other two Royal House of Shadows books to be exchanged for the versions that included short stories by the other authors instead of just the main story alone. Kudos to Amazon for their great customer service! I’m looking forward to getting to know the other authors better also. Although, it may be awhile because the other short stories included with the other two books are part of a series and I hate to read a series out of order. Sigh….

So on to Twin Targets. This stand-alone short story has really stuck with me. I’m currently reading another FBI type story with the characters reversed from this one, with the girl being the agent and the man being the victim. (Come back next Saturday for the review.) I enjoyed this one much, much more. Sydney is a scientist but more importantly a desperate sister trying to save her twin sister from a disease she thinks she can cure. This desperation causes her to put her trust in the wrong “business man”, with a tendency to operate in a less then legal way, in the hopes of getting her research funded. Once she is somewhat successful with her research she finds herself no longer free but a captive and her research is manipulated to potential horrific results. She manages to escape right into the arms of FBI Agent Sharpe. From there it is race to get her research away from Tiberius, her former employers/captor, while trying to keep her sister and herself alive. What is great about the adventure is that both characters are not typical. She is fully aware that her research and actions make her a villain even if that was not her initial motivation when taking the job. However, she plays her cards carefully hoping that she can still find a way to salvage her research and therefore saving her sister from her disease. Agent Sharp, the very yummy FBI “Iceman”, finds that regardless of his cold tough guy reputation he finds himself sympathetic to Sydney. She forces him to explore the full picture and not judge based on right or wrong but on why. Their biggest obstacle boils down to trusting each other, which is hard earned. The battle just makes the victory that much sweeter.

I would have loved for the story to have bean a full-length novel. But regardless it didn’t suffer for its length. I’m so glad she included this with Lord of the Wolfyn because it really told me a lot about her as an author. Where before I was judging the Lord of the Wolfyn book to how if fit in the series or the series as a whole – this allowed me to just she the author in her own right. I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be looking for more of her books now! This book is also sold individually and would be a great way to see if you like her before starting into her series The Nightkeepers. 

I give this one four chocolate dipped strawberries!

So what do you think?  We would love to hear your feedback on our review of the Royal House of Shadows series.  Please post your comments and suggestions for what you would like for us to review next!