Member Reviews
I enjoyed this book, it was entertaining and had a great main character in Nora. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series as this book felt more like an introduction to a set of characters. The adventure was interesting but there was a lot left unexplained and definitely needs another book to continue the Nora story.
It's been a while since I've discovered a new Urban Fantasy series. The Nora Jacobs series seems to have everything I love about UF: a mystery plot, a heroine who can take care of herself, and a wide variety of supernaturals. May calls them Underworlders - vampires, werewolves, trolls, fae, and a few whose natures haven't been revealed yet. It even has a supernatural law enforcement agency, the Federal Underworld Agency, and I love those. It's old school and I really enjoyed it.
But here's the thing that bugged me: there are just so many triggers! I'm not particularly sensitive to references to rape and abuse but if you are, this is not the book for you. Nora grew up in the foster system and was abused and assaulted frequently throughout her childhood. She references those experiences several times and even has a few flashbacks. They serve a purpose in the story, but I still think it could have been toned down. She's also kidnapped and violated in the present.
Nora also has what she calls a curse, but comes to believe is some Underworld in her family tree. Men have always been attracted to her, sometimes to the point of obsession and abuse. The whole thing feels too much like victim blaming, even though she's the one doing it. Everyone else seems to go along with it when she explains. I know that victims often blame themselves and I hope that Nora works through it over the course of the series, but at this point it makes me a little bit uncomfortable.
Despite all that, I basically felt like Don't Rush Me was a fun book. I liked Nora, her psychic skills, and the supporting characters. I love the found family theme, which enforces that "old school UF" feel I was talking about. I'm curious to see where the series goes so I'll be on the lookout for book two.
3.5 stars