[Review] In Session

Title: In Session
Author: M.J. Rose
Date of Publication: September 20, 2011
Rating: 5/5

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Teaser/Blurb:

In Session, from international best seller M.J. Rose, features the return of Dr. Morgan Snow, in a brand-new story collection! 

As a therapist specializing in sexual issues, psychiatrist Dr. Morgan Snow isn't easily shocked or shaken, as readers and listeners of the popular "Butterfield Institute" novels know. There are times, however, when the need for her services leads her out of the office... and into unfamiliar worlds. 

In these stories, the therapist matches her wits - and her training - against three men of mystery: Jack Reacher, John Rain, and Cotton Malone. These characters are, of course, familiar to listeners as the creations, respectively, of New York Times best-selling authors Lee Child, Barry Eisler, and Steve Berry. All three swore that their characters would never agree to therapy - unless Rose found a way to get them there. And she did. 

In "Extenuating Circumstances" with Steve Berry's Cotton Malone, a woman seeks help for her lover, and sends Dr. Snow overseas on a most unusual house call. 

In "Decisions, Decisions", Barry Eisler's John Rain forces Dr. Snow out of her own comfort zone, and into the world of a former patient's worst nightmare.
And in "Knowing You're Alive", with Lee Child's Jack Reacher, there are revelations for both the injured Dr. Snow and her unexpected savior/patient.
Note that this book uses the actual narrators from each character's respective series (Phil Gigante/Natalie Ross: Dr. Morgan Snow; Scott Brick: Cotton Malone; Barry Eisler: John Rain; Dick Hill Jack Reacher). 

All the proceeds of the audiobook and a share of the proceeds of the ebook will be donated to David Baldacci's Wish You Well Foundation, supporting family literacy.

Review:
This crossover of protagonists from different authors is just pure awesomeness!

I'd have to admit that the main reason why I picked up this book was because of Barry Eisler's John Rain. I have three John Rain books and I just couldn't resist not reading this one.

Aside from John Rain, the other thing which made me pick up this book was the fact that it involved a sex therapist. Sex is an interesting yet delicate topic. Most people are still uncomfortable in discussing it openly, so I wanted to see how a sex therapist works.

I was not disappointed in picking up this book!

Dr. Morgan Snow is smart as she is perceptive. In Extenuating Circumstances, Dr. Morgan Snow shows that a sex therapy can be done even outside the four walls of her clinic. In fact, she almost seemed like a spy with what she did!

In Decision, Decisions (OMG! John Rain is here!!!), she crosses paths with John Rain, an assassin extraordinaire who can make his targets look like they died of natural causes. When Dr. Morgan Snow somehow assesses John Rain during a brief walk, she showed a totally different perspective of what his job meant to John Rain. And of course, the awesomesauce ending of John Rain being this stealthy good guy was epic. It totally rocked my socks off!

And finally, in Knowing You're Alive, this time, it isn't Dr. Morgan Snow who gives someone an epiphany. In the person of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Dr. Morgan Snow learns that needing someone doesn't necessarily mean that you're weak, and being independent doesn't necessarily translate to strength. This message was what really got to me because it's the exact same sentiment I groan when I read about the noble idiocy of so many heroes and heroines in the many novels that I've read! It's just... perfect!