Unmasked

It seems like a lifetime that Torrie Masters has waited to captain her own ship. Being the only girl with six brothers, she has spent her whole life trying to prove herself. Finally given her chance, Torrie is ready to take on the world. As luck would have it, Torrie’s maiden voyage does not run smoothly. What suddenly looks like total ship failure is really pirates boarding her ship. Hell will freeze over before Torrie lets some thieving pirates prove her family right. In exchange for her life, Torrie gives her word not to call InterGlax on the pirates, but she never said she wouldn’t attempt to get her cargo back herself.

Qaade spends his time raiding one ship after another. The infamous reputation of the ‘Ghost Rider of the Dead Zone’ serves his purpose well. His reasons aren’t what one would think, but total secrecy must be maintained. Qaade has vowed to free as many people as he can from a life of slavery or worse, having their minds ‘scrubbed’ of all memories and free will. Qaade has formed an exhaustive network for freeing slaves and is known as an outlaw throughout the galaxy for his methods.

Qaade has never encountered a woman like Torrie, she proves to be a tenacious opponent time and time again. When an outside force threatens them both, they have no choice but to work together. Yet even as they pool their resources, more people are dying. They don’t know who or what they are up against, much less why any of it is happening. As Torrie and Qaade race against the clock, will she be able to keep her heart from being stolen?

Unmasked is a riveting read from start to finish. Unmasked is the forth book in the ‘UN’ series and can stand alone. It has a little something for everyone. There’s non-stop adventure and action, mystery, and passion. All of which makes Unmasked an awesome book. C.J. Barry is one of the best at creating a story that will captivate readers as soon as they pick up the book. It’s a toss up which is better, her plots or her characters. Torrie’s determination is completely understandable. Always having to prove herself, always having her judgment questioned has made her more determined to show her worth. Qaade’s plight is commendable. He spends his life trying to make the lives of others better. Sure, how he does so is questionable but what’s a man to do when those who are supposed to help are corrupt. As Torrie’s eyes are opened to the world around her, the pain and shame that she feels is blatant to readers. In certain parts of the galaxy slavery is legal, but that’s not what’s happening here. People are being taken against their will and sold into slavery. Most are ‘scrubbed’, having their memories taken from them and making them more submissive to their new owners. This is what drives Qaade and all who work with him. Readers can’t help but be touched by this. The plot thickens when someone dares to stand in the way of the work they are trying to do. All of this makes for fascinating reading. Ms. Barry’s story-telling alone makes her an author not to be missed. I know a lot of people see the futuristic genre and think it is not for them, but C.J. Barry is adept at creating situations and individuals that readers will care about regardless of location. I always look forward to C.J.’s next book because I know without a doubt I won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Jaymi