Review of Breaking Bad by Jodi Redford

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Series: Midnight Justice
Buying Links: Samhain    Amazon

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

No super deed goes unpunished…

A Midnight Justice story.

It’s been twenty-five years since the last Light Guardian was wiped out. Or so it’s believed. Ruby Winston is about to blow the lid off that theory, even though it’ll bring every Shadow Czar minion down on her ass.

She’s always known she was different from the rest of the evil-dictators-in-training Winstons. Uncovering the secret half of her gene pool proves it. Now she’s out to bring down her late father’s mind-control soda empire—and break the Shadow Czars’ hold on Earth.

Problem is, becoming a superhero overnight isn’t as easy as it looks.

Teague Younger has his own secrets to keep: his heritage, and his fierce determination to exact revenge on his friend and mentor’s murderer. So far he’s kept his cover—until he’s forced to use his Light Guardian powers to save Ruby from a sticky situation.

Thrust together and on the run, Teague and Ruby form a wary alliance as they desperately fight their circuit-blowing attraction. With an army of Shadow Queen minions hot on their tails, they might have a hard time surviving the night, much less ignoring their hearts.

Product Warnings
This book contains mind-controlling beverages, evil dictators and minions, excessive use of spandex, and enough electrifying sex to melt an ice train.  

Teaser: 

"Don't start up on the superhero bullshit again. I already told you I'm not interested ingoing down that path."

"That isn't what I was getting at."

"Really? Could have fooled me, princess."

Scarlet crept across her cheekbones. "Must you always devolve into being a dick?"

Because she was right, he felt the necessity to needle her. "Name-calling, babe? That's not very nice. What will the other do-gooder superheroes think?"

"Go to hell, Teague. Furthermore, you are a dick. No, scratch that. You're the king of dicks. You could rule your own dickdom."

He arched his brows. "Do I get to wear a dick crown?"

Reviewed By: Bea 

Bea's Thoughts: 

"Breaking Bad" has many of Jodi's usual characteristics: laugh out loud humor, detailed sex scenes, snarky characters, and at least one main character who is reluctant to fall in love. Unlike other books of hers that I've read and/or reviewed, this one is a sci fi. Unfortunately, that part felt weak to me. The world building was spotty and left me confused at times. I did love her idea of using soda as a device for mind control, brilliant! I'd have liked to have seen more scenes of humans under the control of the soda and also how did the Shadow, the aliens in control of Earth, distribute it, how did they ensure that all humans had access to it and drank it. But, the concept itself was excellent and more than a little scary.


Teague and Ruby and both fairly likable. They each are on a missions, missions that initially clash but they come to an arrangement and work together to take down the Shadow Queen. Teague, despite his mission, is not an idealist and thinks the whole idea of super heroes is absurd. Ruby is much more idealistic and at times reminded me of a teenager in her search for her identity and her rebellion against her family. 

I enjoyed the story, it's a pleasant read, full of humor and some hot sex scenes, but it wasn't one of Jodi's best. I never really warmed up to Teague or Ruby and the world building, usually something that Jodi does well, was weak.

I received a kindle copy from the author for review.