Review: Justice by Jennifer Harlow

Justice

Author:Jennifer Harlow

Release Date: May 18, 2013

Publisher: Devil on the Left Books

Galilee Falls Trilogy Book #1

ISBN:  0989394417

ISBN13: 9780989394413

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

It’s hard being a regular police officer in Galilee Falls, a city with the highest concentration of superheroes and villains in the country. It’s even harder watching your best friend, the man you’re secretly in love with your whole life, planning to marry another woman. Detective Joanna Fallon has to contend with both. When the vilest supervillain in the city’s history, Alkaline, the former crime boss who can shoot acid from his wrists, escapes from the maximum security prison, the whole city is gripped by panic. Leading the pursuit is Captain Harry O’Hara, Joanna’s boss and secret lover, and the city’s champion superhero Justice, who caught the villain last time, much to Joanna’s chagrin. Before her father was murdered in a mugging twenty years earlier, Joanna worshiped the hero, but when he disappeared and failed to save her father, that adoration turned to contempt for all supers. After Alkaline attacks too close to home and targets Joanna as his next victim, tough-as-nail Joanna has to contend with her increasing fear while struggling to choose between her life-long crush and her new-found love.

At turns vulnerable and fierce, equally mordant and winsome, Joanna is an earnest yet emotionally damaged heroine, who despite the tough breaks of her childhood sees the good in people and vow to protect her beloved city at all costs. An ass-kicking petite firecracker with no superpowers of her own, she charges after supervillains unflinchingly, never losing her wit even when facing her toughest fight. With a coy blend of whimsy and vivid imagination, she delivers both humor and thrills in an action-packed and edgy blend of comic book cool, fantasy-noir, and bitter-sweet romance.

JUSTICE is full of action, adventure, conflict and emotion. The story was addictive, the characters are flawed and likeable and I could not put the book down.

I really enjoyed the comic world feel of the book. The action is non stop and Joanna really can kick ass when it is needed (and trust me it always seems to be needed). Joanna was an interesting character. She met her best friend Justin after he stopped her from committing suicide as a child and has been in love with him ever since. Unfortunately he does not know that and is getting ready to marry another woman. Justin is the rich boy to her poor girl. They are like water and fire but depend on each other at every turn. Then there is Joanna's secret lover/boss Harry. Even though Harry is older, they fit well together. They don't seem to expect the world from each other but they are happy with each other and grow together throughout the book.  Although things tend to be completely obvious to you, you can see why Joanna does not see what is right in front of her most of the time. I don't want to dive into much more about the story or the world because I think you will enjoy the book more without guessing what will happen beforehand.

I always get excited when I see a new book coming out in Jennifer's F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation series. I was a little skeptical when she contacted me to review JUSTICE because I am not a comic type of girl. JUSTICE was so much more than I thought it would be and I do not see myself turning down any book that Jennifer puts out in the future. I have loved everything I have read from her and I know you will too.

I gave it 5/5 stars