Insight

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: As I read the book--it really had me in suspense--I kept trying to figure out how Samantha and Rachelle were linked together. I also loved the part where her family was very protective of her. But when she took off and flew to New York by herself--being blind-trying to find out what happened to Rachael--I was just knocked off my feet. The twists and turns of the novel really had me going. It is definitely a page turner and a must read for a book club--I am suggesting that my book club read this novel. I commend you on doing such a wonderful job with the novel and I really think a movie should be made out of it. I give your book a thumbs up and will also recommend it to my friends.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: As I read the book--it really had me in suspense--I kept trying to figure out how Samantha and Rachelle were linked together. I also loved the part where her family was very protective of her. But when she took off and flew to New York by herself--being blind-trying to find out what happened to Rachael--I was just knocked off my feet. The twists and turns of the novel really had me going. It is definitely a page turner and a must read for a book club--I am suggesting that my book club read this novel. I commend you on doing such a wonderful job with the novel and I really think a movie should be made out of it. I give your book a thumbs up and will also recommend it to my friends.

Rating:
Summary: Feeling the insight
Review: I must say I enjoyed this book immensely. The characters were obtainable and the flow of it was great. I initially was pointed in the direction of a movie called "Blink" where a woman sees a murder but was blind but I was totally offline with that scenario. I was pleasantly wrong with my intial thoughts. I strongly reccommend this book. Once you pick it up you will not put it down. Congratulations to Valerie Mcgee for a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Love Is Not Blind
Review: Insight by Valerie C. J. McGee is a novel shrouded with mystery from the very first page. Samantha Robertson is a blind woman living in California who seemingly has a telepathic connection to an Assistant District Attorney in New York City. When Rachel Maxwell is thrown ten stories from her apartment building, it is Samantha who witnessed the killing through her visions and it is Samantha who longs to go to New York to prove that Rachel did not commit suicide.

As a result of a childhood car accident that claimed the life of her mother, Samantha has learned to live and love as a blind woman. She lives with her father, a retired police officer and her brother Timothy, also a cop. These two men are very protective of her, however one believes in her visions and the other pacifies her. Because of this protectiveness, she heads to New York, unbeknownst to her family, to search for the truth behind Rachel's death. What she finds is an ally in Brian Reynolds, a cop and old family friend. When everyone attempts to talk Samantha into returning to New York, she is steadfast in her belief and refuses to leave. What begins is a series of events to prove who Rachel's killer is. Although blind, does Samantha truly have insight?

McGee has inserted secondary characters that assist in making this novel come full circle. She uses imagery like a master, her characters are fully developed and the plot is intriguing to the end. The only element that prevented this novel from being rated five stars was the editing. There are some seemingly unrealistic scenes, however McGee works this plot to the fullest.

I met McGee and found her to be a very appreciative and sensitive woman, which piqued my interest in reading her work. Through her writing, these qualities are realized in a work that mystery fans will enjoy because of the different spin. McGee states that this is her first of thirty-six novels and I look forward to the others.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Insight by Valerie CJ McGee
Review: Insight is a thrill-a-minute, ride by the seat of your pants story, and one I couldn't put down until I'd read the last page and knew the final conclusion! The portrayal of Samantha, a blind woman and her psychic connection with Rachael whom she has never met was at times terrifying, and others heartwarming.

I especially loved the way the connection was brought out through the use of dreams, and how the they each were able to experience the other's life in this fashion. It was believable in a way that helped the reader understand that such things might be possible in real life.

All the characters in this novel were real and down-to-earth, and all had a voice, even Dex Samantha's seeing eye dog. I really liked this as many authors are not able to juggle multiple characters and personalities with the kind of finesse that Ms. McGee does. In addition to being believable, another characteristic of Ms. McGee's characters are that they are very human, as the reader you are able to see both the good and the bad in all the characters even the ones we might see as being really "bad."

I would classify this novel as a Romantic Suspense with a dash of mystery thrown in. All in all it was an extremely enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes unusal stories that have a paranormal twist. Ms. McGee made me believe this story was possible in real life!!

Rating:
Summary: Being blind doesn't mean you can't see
Review: Insight is a wonderfully written novel that will leave you spellbound from the very first sentence until the last page. I was immediately drawn into Samantha's life. Samantha is a woman who was blinded in a terrible accident, which claimed the life of her mother. Though blind, she maintains a psychic and visual connection with Rachel, who lives on the other coast and whom Samantha has never met. Samantha "sees" the tragedy, which befalls Rachel and thus starts out on a quest to catch a killer.
Logic would dictate that a blind woman couldn't be an eyewitness to a crime as heinous as this, but once you start reading, you soon realize there is truth in the statement "more than meets the eye." Samantha's journey to New York from California, where she leaves the over protectiveness of her father and brother, opens an entirely new world for her. She's never been to New York but she's intimately familiar with her surroundings. She moves into Rachel's apartment with the blessings of the kind elderly neighbor/owner who confirms that Rachel had visions of Samantha as well. Because of Samantha's brother Tim and his childhood friend Brian, who is a New York detective assigned to work Rachel's case, Samantha thrusts herself into solving the case. Meanwhile, Tim is worried about his sister and he and his father hop a plane to New York. Brian is falling in love with Samantha and will do anything he can to protect her and she's oblivious to all of this concern, wanting desperately to figure out her own psychic connection to Rachel.
Insight has a little of every genre in this fast paced read. Murder, mystery, intrigue, romance, and drama all intertwined around strong family bonds. Most impressive is the way Ms. McGee kept the story flowing and the sleuth in me, solved the mystery and second-guessed myself at every page turn. Once I started, I couldn't put the book down and this is what truly makes a book wonderful to read. I understand that Ms. McGee has many more books coming out. I hope she receives the acclaim she deserves and that her future works have the same quality of excitement Insight has delivered.


Rating:
Summary: Captivating, Suspenseful, Intriguiing, page turner...
Review: Ms Mcgee has done an absolutely fabulous job writing "Insight." This novel will keep your attention from page 1 to the very end. Never a dull moment. I categorize this as a mystery/romance/suspense. Samantha and Rachael have a inside track to one anothers lives, but through the eyes of others they are considered delusional and you could say that from the outlook they should have been in a padded room. How wrong others can be, when you don't understand what the other is seeing. Samantha realizes that she is not crazy and what she knows is real and she ventures away from her protective family to find some answers. Samantha runs into a lot of circumstances that she had not perceived,but displays her strength and determination and you have to be proud of her for being so strong. When she reunites with childhood friend Brian, they both realize that they are not little kids anymore and time has brought on some wonderful changes. All the characters have a purpose and you realize that you can literally visualize each character. Around each turn of the page there is a shocking realization, that while you are reading you did not expect. Oh you will NOT figure out the plot until Ms. Mcgee reveals it to you. I am not going to elaborate on the characters or the story line, because I want you to thoroughly enjoy this story as I did, and once you read it you will understand that if I tell you too much of the storyline, I will give away the best. This book is like a movie, you want to enjoy it for yourself and not have someone spoil it by telling you all the key facts and the ending. If you haven't read it yet, you are missing out, so stop reading these reviews and go BUY the book NOW!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well told story. It is not Predictable. I give Ms. McGee 4 stars on this writing.

Reviewed by: Jackie McKinney of Avid Readers and Reviewers of Jacksonville (Reviews also writing under (jaibeem) on amazon.com

Rating:
Summary: Insight by Valerie CJ McGee
Review: Ms Mcgee has done an absolutely fabulous job writing "Insight." This novel will keep your attention from page 1 to the very end. Never a dull moment. I categorize this as a mystery/romance/suspense. Samantha and Rachael have a inside track to one anothers lives, but through the eyes of others they are considered delusional and you could say that from the outlook they should have been in a padded room. How wrong others can be, when you don't understand what the other is seeing. Samantha realizes that she is not crazy and what she knows is real and she ventures away from her protective family to find some answers. Samantha runs into a lot of circumstances that she had not perceived,but displays her strength and determination and you have to be proud of her for being so strong. When she reunites with childhood friend Brian, they both realize that they are not little kids anymore and time has brought on some wonderful changes. All the characters have a purpose and you realize that you can literally visualize each character. Around each turn of the page there is a shocking realization, that while you are reading you did not expect. Oh you will NOT figure out the plot until Ms. Mcgee reveals it to you. I am not going to elaborate on the characters or the story line, because I want you to thoroughly enjoy this story as I did, and once you read it you will understand that if I tell you too much of the storyline, I will give away the best. This book is like a movie, you want to enjoy it for yourself and not have someone spoil it by telling you all the key facts and the ending. If you haven't read it yet, you are missing out, so stop reading these reviews and go BUY the book NOW!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well told story. It is not Predictable. I give Ms. McGee 4 stars on this writing.

Reviewed by: Jackie McKinney of Avid Readers and Reviewers of Jacksonville (Reviews also writing under (jaibeem) on amazon.com

Rating:
Summary: Some dreams can feel so real
Review: Samantha Robertson has always been plagued by dreams that transported her into the life and body of Rachel Maxwell. Believing that Rachel was just a part of Samantha's imagination, family members chose to ignore Samantha's insistence that she was somehow bearing witness to the life events of a real person. After surviving a horrific car accident that left her blind, Samantha's only window to the outside world was through Rachel eyes. Suddenly, Samantha's dreams become all too real when she experiences a possible homicide through the eyes of her dream-state alter ego. With no one to believe that her dreams are somehow real, Samantha sets out on her own to find the truth behind them and the identity of the woman whose life she visits night after night.

Samantha learns, however, that answers can be deadly to come by and some secrets may cause those around her to go to extreme measures to keep them hidden, including a member of her own family.With the help of handsome childhood friend, now policeman, Brian Reynolds. Samantha must learn the nature behind her life-long connection to Rachel, for her own safety may depend on the answers.

INSIGHTS by Valerie C.J. McGee is a fast paced tale that offers a multitude of action, suspense and romance. Insights is a novel that hooks you from the first page and keeps reeling you in every page thereafter. I found myself so engrossed in trying to figure out the mysterious connection between the main characters that I couldn't wait to witness the climatic resolution. INSIGHTS is one story you won't want to put down.

Reviewed by L. Raven James
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers