The Time Stopper

By: Dima Zales

Narrated by: Laura Jennings

Length: 1 hr and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

From USA Today best-selling authors comes a novelette in the Mind Dimensions series. This short story does not require you to have read the other books in the series.

I can stop time, but I can't change anything.

I can access memories, but not far enough.

My name is Mira, and my life is about finding the Russian mobster who killed my family.

©2014 Dima Zales (P)2015 Dima Zales

Great read

When I got this book at first I didn’t really know what to expect. But as I started reading I got more and more pinned to the pages, anticipating what will happen next. Story follows Mira, a young woman, who had witnessed the murder of her parents and has been trying to revenge their death ever since. On her path she uses her unique ability to stop time and get into other people minds. Novella is very well written, plots are well composed and constant swapping between realities leaves reader unable to predict what will happen next. Definitely a good read worth of everyone’s attention.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very interesting mind-reading story

Any additional comments?

Mira is a young, beautiful woman, who watched her parents die by a bomb planted on their car.

Now she is angry. Very angry. And she has a secret that will help her have her revenge.

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This novella is a prequel to a publicly acclaimed Mind Dimensions series. As I haven't read any of the previous novels I was a bit afraid that I won't be able to understand what this series is all about. I didn't need to worry, though - this novella can be read on its own, explaining basic concepts of a mind dimension, and giving us an insight into the life of the characters that will show up later in the series.

What intrigued me most was the decision not to have numerous battles with many splits to a mind dimension. On the contrary, instead of an action-packed, fast-paced thriller, this was more like a drama - drama that happens in the head of a young girl after watching her parents die. How she copes with it, how she uses her unique ability to delay that final moment as long as she can, how she deals with the fact that she will have to kill someone to have her revenge.

Do not think there won't be some action though. We will see how the main protagonist uses her ability to fight Russian mobsters. We will also feel the frustration she has about the limits of her ability - she can stop the time, she can read someone's thoughts for a couple of minutes, but she cannot change anything in the real world.

I would recommend this book to any young reader who is interested in the concept of mind-reading, coupled with some action. Although I think it was primarily targeted at female readers, male readers will equally enjoy reading it. And if you are an adult - give it a shot. You might be surprised with what you will find.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fast paced story with a intriguing character

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's a fast read a great story. There are some creative elements that I've never seen before in a science fiction book.

What did you like best about this story?

How Mira can stop the time and work with it while everybody else is freeze.

What about Laura Jennings’s performance did you like?

She is an amazing narrator. She does a really good job giving a different personality to each character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really but it make me want it more. It was a good prequel for the series.

Any additional comments?

No.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

You'll Want to Stop Time and Make Time For This!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend The Time Stopper to a friend. The story focuses on Mira- a Russian American on a quest to find out who killed her mother and father by planting a bomb in their car. She has unique skills to help her find the murderer- she can read people's thoughts, freeze time- called splitting- where everyone and everything is frozen, allowing her to not only read thoughts, but go through Russian Mobsters poker cards to ensure a winning hand, as well as their wallets and clothing, for clues that can help protect her, as well as lead her to the person who placed a bomb in her parents car, which exploded and killed them. This is a fast, thrilling, suspenseful read, that all of my friends would love!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mira, the main character of The Time Stopper, was my favorite character. She is a dynamic, driven young woman, who knows she is attractive to men- a tool she uses to her advantage, and for her own pleasure. She has the ability to stop time, read other people's thoughts-mainly Russian mobsters who may have killed her mother and father- go through their wallets, clothing and minds- learning of their crimes, desire for her and what their next move will be. Mira is a powerful, sexy, just-turned-18 year old, who is determined to find who murdered her parents. I'm always happy to find authors writing female characters who are confident, intelligent and who embrace their sexuality.

Have you listened to any of Laura Jennings’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of Laura Jenning's performances before.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have an extreme reaction to The Time Stopper, though I did find myself cheering on Mira when she took on a dangerous Russian Mobster on her own! I also found myself holding my breath as if any noise would break her ability to freeze time when she was in dangerous situations!

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the original idea of the lead character, Mira, and possibly her father having the ability to stop time, split into another dimension where she can walk around while people and objects are momentarily frozen, and read their thoughts. Imagine what you could do with such a power!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Awesome Fantasy!!!

Any additional comments?

I love fantasy stories and this one is a great one. This short story is told in the first person by the heroine, Mira. She is a very interesting and well developed character with a no nonsense, street smart attitude. I had the audio book and the narrator's voice was perfect. I loved all the inflections and different accents she used to tell the story. The story does contain some gritty, adult language. However, the adult language just adds to the mystique of the story. The author does a wonderful job with hooking you in the beginning and holding your attention to the end of the story. My only complaint with this story is that it wasn't long enough! I wanted more! Now I want to to read the rest of this series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story ideas

This story made me want to read the next books in the series. The author has a way of getting and keeping your interest Mira the lead character was exciting and very street smart. I found the mind dimensions very new, I had not heard of this in a story before. Also I wanted to find out what really happened to her parents. At first the narrator sounded a little robotic but as the story went on she seemed to get into it more and by the end I liked the way she was telling the story. It didn't bother me, but for people that are just reading the reviews before they listen there is some adult content. I would definitely recommended this book and this author

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Wonderful Look into Mira's World!

Since I have the first two books of The Mind Dimension series already in my library (awesome reads!), I just had to add The Time Stopper. I really liked the character of Mira in the series but wanted to know more about her background, which is exactly what you get in The Time Stopper.

As I expected, the book is fast paced and full of twists and turns. Mira is young and reckless, frustrated and conflicted at times, and very determined. I loved being able to see her story through her own eyes. With the story being written in first person, it draws you right into Mira’s world and you get to experience all her emotions right along with her.

The writing is excellent, exactly what I expected from author Dima Zales, and the characters are very clearly brought to life via the great narration by Laura Jennings whose voice and inflections are pretty close to perfection.

This is a wonderful prequel to the Mind Dimensions series. I highly recommend it to every fan of the Mind Dimension series and those who want to be introduced into the creative and intriguing world Dima Zales created with these books.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mira's Story

Any additional comments?

In this short prequel to Time Readers, we get to learn more about Mira's place in the Mind Dimensions series. Similar to Thought Readers and Thought Pushers, we get a quick paced, witty and satisfying story.
Biggest feature for me was finding information through Mira's perspective. She is completely different than Darren, more so than she portrays in the other two books. She provides more depth as a character in this book. Strong willed, sure of herself, yet frustrated with her limitations. Specifically, the frustrations of her abilities (being able to stop time but not being able to do anything *with* the time).

Hoping for another Mira based book in this series. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An excellent compliment to the story.

Where does The Time Stopper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Is hard to decide where The Time Stopper is ranked in my audiobooks, but is sure in a high rank for all the intrigue, action and emotions involved in this mini-prequel. I love when the author makes an insight to the life of one of the most relevant actors in a book, it makes me feel like the world in the book is more real, more profound and deep that i thought at first.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Time Stopper?

Mira helped me to see the story in a different perspective. Her personality is sexy, reckless, strong and secure of herself. Is definitely the type of woman I was picturing from looking at the girl in the cover. She transmits that definition of Mira with the help of the narrator Laura Jennings, she does an amazing job impersonating Mira.

What does Laura Jennings bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed when she starts describing her obscure past. It starts to make sense why she is like so cold and unemotional in a way and Laura Jennings is perfect to describe the personality of Mira.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Mira helped me to see the story in a different perspective. Her personality is sexy, reckless and strong and secure of herself. Is definitely the type of woman I was picturing from looking at the girl in the cover. She transmits that definition of Mira with the help of the narrator Laura Jennings, she does an amazing job impersonating Mira. It made me react sensitive to Mira's story.

Any additional comments?

I wish it was a longer prequel.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

intense and suspenseful!

Any additional comments?

This story is told through Mira’s perspective, so we not only learn of her situation firsthand, but we are able to feel her anger and thirst to exact vengeance for her parents' death. Emotions were believable and intense and I truly felt for Mira and everything that happened to her throughout. The author did a phenomenal job bringing the scenes to life—so entirely that I caught myself cringing at times while shaking off an intense visual, or wholeheartedly delighting in one. Overall, I enjoyed the story. It's a solid prequel to the Mind Dimensions series, The Thought Readers, which will leave you craving for more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful