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She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
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Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: Pages That Move Publication Date: November 14, 2019 Pages: 206 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Buy on Amazon Cedar Fish Campground was supposed to be a peaceful refuge, not grounds for murder. Thea Pagoni is desperate to flee her stress-filled city life for the quiet of the woods after a painful divorce. When her grandmother passes away and leaves her the family campground, it seems like the perfect opportunity to find peace. But not everything is crickets and campfires. The handyman she was promised is less than handy, the campground has fallen into severe disrepair, and with a dwindling reservation list, there’s no money to make improvements. Things are looking grim, and then a dead hiker makes everything worse. Can Thea find the killer before Cedar Fish Campground is forced to close forever and she loses everything… again? Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is the first novella in Zoey Chase’s Cedar Fish Campground cozy mystery series. For lovers of the outdoors and clean mysteries with a side of romance. I received this eBook from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.Now, normally I don't read cozy mysteries. I picked this out because I needed it for a prompt in a reading challenge I've been doing. I think I've read maybe 3 or 4 cozy mysteries in my life, but this one was pretty decent! It's a fairly quick and simple read that will check off cozy mystery boxes: murder, mystery, humour and of course, romance! I enjoy Thea's character story, it was believable for sure but I absolutely loved Hennie, she was that lovable strong, independent woman. I definitely recommend this for any reader who isn't familiar with cozy mysteries and yet, even for those who are very familiar with cozy mysteries. Zoey Chase received her MFA in creative writing from Carlow University. She lives in the Pittsburgh area with her husband, three daughters, three cats, and vast book collection. Can usually be found doing something bookish. Socials: Website GoodReads
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Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publication Date: February 1, 2018 Pages: 262 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon When chaos strikes my hometown, I am one of the few to escape the clutches of a dark mage who seeks control through the use of forbidden crystals. Everything has changed, the king is dead, war is on the horizon, and something is happening to me that I cannot explain. I used to just be Taliah, a young woman living an average life, but fate has a different plan for me, or so I have been told. The problem is everyone seems to believe I can stop this evil, everyone except me. I received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review.Ah, I had so much trouble with this book. I really wanted to like this book as the premise and synopsis had so much promise. But it came up pretty short for me. The lack of editing makes this very distracting and it pulls you away from the story. The consistency was off with the switching to the past and present constantly. There were plot holes and the story needed just a little more time to flesh out, honestly. Because I was so focused on the lack of editing, I couldn't enjoy the story like I wanted to. But, reading is subjective. What I might not like, another does. J.D.Evergreen is an Australian author who lives on the Mornington Peninsula. She spent her childhood writing small short stories and inventing worlds that were all her own. When she became an adult, she put her efforts into more adultly things such as acquiring a bachelor in primary education, and a post-graduate certificate of ancient history. Eventually, she became bored with life as an everyday adult and returned to her writing where she could live in her own worlds and share them with others. She now spends countless hours crafting worlds that inspire the imagination and bring joy to the people who join the journey of the characters and enter unknown worlds. Connect with J.D.Genre: Weird Fiction, Sci-Fi, Horror Publication Date: December 4, 2017 Pages: 158 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon You can buy anything on the Internet these days. Books, electronics, and Chinese takeout are just a few clicks away. If you’re after something more illicit, all you need is a special browser and some bitcoin to spend. Every drug you might want is readily available on the darknet markets. You can also hire a hitman, get a fake ID made, or have an illegal bug delivered to your door. Ben Samsa is a small-time weed dealer and amateur entomologist. He can’t resist buying a mysterious bug he finds on one of the black market sites where he gets his inventory. The splurge leaves him with only enough bitcoin to purchase lower quality marijuana than he normally sells. Unfortunately, Ben doesn’t realize one of his customers has been flipping his product to a murderous, one-eyed Nazi. He’s soon sucked into a hellish nightmare of dread, drugs and death. Meanwhile, the bug is growing. Nothing will ever be the same when Ben learns the true, hideous name of the insect. I received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review.This is possibly one of the oddest yet most unique books that I have ever read! This is such a mixture of creepy, crawly horror science fiction thrilling ride! Ben is in his early 20's and is a little bit lazy. He's a small time drug-dealer who is making just enough bank to pay his rent and semi-adult as normal as possible. He's an avid bug collector and is drawn into the allure of easy money with bitcoin. This story easily turns into a creepy mash up of Creepshow, Twilight Zone and Goosebumps. Although I ended up absolutely loving this book, I wasn't too sure about this at first but the writing is so well done and the world building is completely on point, it just sucked me in. I do believe I ended up reading this in two days. I just needed to know how it would end up. Ben's friend though, that dude is an imbecile. Sadly, I've dated someone that dumb so they actually exist. This turns into the biggest train wreck for Ben with the "friend" and Neo-Nazi's to boot! Recommendation: I definitely, 100%, recommend this. It's weird, it's creepy, but it's so damn good! George Billions is a writer whose work litters the Internet under various pseudonyms. He's written everything from fake product reviews to unqualified fitness advice, steamy romance novels to straight-up keyword spam. Once he had a gig banging out thousands of short biographies of adult entertainers. These days he's trying to put out the kind of stuff he enjoys reading and writing. Connect with George BillionsGenre: Science Fiction, Steampunk, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: October 30, 2016 Pages: 217 Add to GoodReads Buy on Amazon, Kobo, B&N Set in London during the latter part of the 19th century. An experiment goes wrong at The Oxford Academy of Science, giving certain people extraordinary powers which turns them into 'Espers'. An institute is set up to teach Espers how to control these power, and stop corrupt Espers from abusing theirs. Nathan and James, two agents from the Institute team up with Freya, a young Esper whose brother (gifted with the strange ability to manipulate emotions) is abducted by a ruthless Baron. The group has to fight against a dark threat to protect the fragile peace of Victorian London... And the rest of the world. I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.Honestly, I really struggled with this book at first. I think that's because it was very close to the idea of X-Men. I do like the idea of the Institute being a safe place though. I think most superheroes need a safe place. However! I absolute adored the Victorian Steampunk theme. It actually fit the superheroes against super villains perfectly. Despite the plot being a little iffy for me, it did have well fleshed out characters with Nathan being a large part of the show and a good amount of sassy-ness from him. He did make me giggle from time to time. Egan Brass (aka Ryan Attard) is the author of the Esper Files, the Legacy series, and the Pandora Chronicles. Hailing from a faraway island, it wasn’t long until Ryan began creating his own imaginary friends and writing down their adventures. As Egan Brass, he writes the Esper Files — a tale of super-powered individuals set in a steampunk universe. He also dons a cape and a mask, and spends his free time learning Victorian insults in order to both confuse and enthrall his foes. He’s also one to write his bios in the third person. Connect with Egan (Ryan)Genre: Fantasy Publisher: One Million Words Publication Date: September 27, 2018 Pages: 314 Add to GoodReads Buy on Amazon, Kobo, B&N Even good girls have secrets. When straight-laced Allison sleeps, the rebellious goddess Syn wakes. Having a fling in the dreamscape may seem like harmless fun, but when a sadistic predator learns her true identity, the fantasy begins to bleed into real life. If Sin Dwells Deep — a parallel novel to If Souls Can Sleep — exposes the hidden world of dream drifters and explores the war between gifted government agents and those who would use their abilities to corrupt life, death, and that which lies beyond. I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.Although I had never read "If Souls Can Sleep" I didn't feel like I had missed much from the previous novel. This can definitely be read as a standalone or follow up novel. I am a huge fan of Norse mythology. Being someone who reads runes, this was totally up my alley. I also enjoyed the lucid dreaming concept although how they existed on little sleep is totally beyond me. The Wolf reminded me a lot of the the sociopath/psychopath in the movie The Cell, which is one of my favourite movies. But also, no thanks, this book can keep the Wolf all to themselves. I struggled to like Allison/Syn, though. I did like the idea of the dream Allison being someone totally different than reality Allison, but honestly, Syn was just a little too brash at times for me. And Allison was just boring. She offered little to no personality for me. I wanted to like this story more. I just struggled in some parts as the story dragged a lot. The alternating POV's was distracting at time. Although it did help develop the Wolf's personality, it often just caused the story to lag to nearly stopping. Recommendation: Although I did struggle with this, it's still deserving of its four stars. There are many redeeming qualities in the story line that make up for the little nit-picking that I did do. I would, however, recommend reading the first novel, especially if you are unfamiliar with David Michael Williams writing. David Michael Williams has suffered from a storytelling addiction for as long as he can remember. With a background in journalism, public relations, and marketing, he also flaunts his love affair with the written word as an author of speculative fiction. His most recent books include the sword-and-sorcery trilogy The Renegade Chronicles and The Soul Sleep Cycle, a genre-bending series that explores life, death, and the dreamscape. He lives in Wisconsin with the best wife on this or any other planet and their two amazing children. Connect with David Michael WilliamsGenre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Publisher: Cosmic Entanglement Media Publication Date: October 15, 2018 Pages: 328 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon Like a worn-out watch, human existence had wound to a stop. When the end came, there were no wars, no zombies, no demons—just a former professor turned stay-at-home dad, and his little girl. Ryan Sharpe woke from forced cryogenic sleep with only his two-year-old daughter and a world- shattering mystery for company. The great city he once called home, St Louis, is a rusty wasteland, ruined by time, overflowing with wild animals, unspeakable danger, and countless questions. For a man who struggled with identity after leaving his job so his estranged wife could follow her life’s work, becoming the primary role model for their child while he floundered with life, the challenges aren’t only outside. In this alien place, ill-equipped as he is, Ryan must adapt or die for his child’s sake, but is survival enough? Ryan must return to where it all began, to his wife’s workplace at Universal Biological Laboratories. Why did everyone suddenly die? Are they the only ones left? 4.75 Stars I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.This was such a ride for me. At first, I wasn't sure about the story despite my love for post-apocalyptic survival stories. It didn't seem that the father in the story was going to ever figure out how to survive in this new, animal run kingdom. He was pretty hopeless at some parts. There was one part of the story that changed it all for me: the lion. Heart strings tugged and full out, unabashed bawling on my couch. In that moment, this book single-handedly became one of THOSE books. It would take me days to recover! Even now, the heart breaks thinking about that part. Be well, my tender, sensitive heart! Recommendation: Don't give up! Give this a chance, because it might become one of those books for you too! A native to the Magic City, J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin has always lived with one foot in a world of steel and concrete, another in that of imagination and futurism. He is the product of a micro-biologist father and engineer grandfather, both obsessed with history, who have always challenged him to think harder. J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin has lived many lives from electronic music producer and DJ during the early 2000s to an entrepreneur in promotional products, and is now an administrator for one of the world’s largest real estate brands. He is married with a book addicted wife and has a mad genius daughter, the latter of which might one-day rule the world. Aside from the madness of the day to day, he dreams of returning to his second home in the Pacific Northwest, where he can continue to write his own brand of sci-fi and fantasy which teeters upon the edge of hard science and speculation. Connect with J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin Genre: Thriller, Short Story, Anthology Publication Date: January 2018 Pages: 33 Format: Mobi Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon A short collection of horror, mystery, and crime stories. I received this ebook from the Author in exchange for an honest review.Unfortunately, I was pretty torn about this book. While the stories are definitely decently written, I had a hard time distinguishing them as short stories because they seemed to skip and end too quickly. However, the first story was very heart breaking, so maybe I was hung up on that (book hangover situation), but even going back to it as a refresher, I still just did not connect with the story. Regardless, it's still written well and while it isn't my cuppa tea, doesn't mean it won't be a cuppa tea for others. Tommye is a writer, currently studying for his MA in Creative Writing. His primary passion is in fantasy and science fiction novels and is inspired by writers such as Robert Jordan, J.R.R. Tolkien and Trudi Canavan. Connect with TommyeGenre: Horror, Thriller, Novella Publisher: Black Hill Press Publication Date: November 11, 2015 Pages: 120 Format: Mobi Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon SynopsisAn isolated religious cult has reportedly been consuming meat while the rest of the planet has been forced to live a life without it. Presuming this sect has resorted to cannibalism, two agents from an organization known simply as The Agency are dispatched to investigate. Will they find evidence of humans eating one another? Or is something even stranger taking place? “In the tradition of Serling and Bradbury, A Stalled Ox is a gruesome, yet beautiful story that wraps a complex morality tale in an engaging and fast-paced horror story with a touch of espionage. Crafting a world where no one is truly innocent, Moses invites the reader to follow Agent Howard Harrington as he discovers what true evil is.” Rating4.75 Stars ReviewI received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review. Don't let the synopsis of this story fool you, it's vague for a reason. Behind the vagueness is a really awesome story, but shh, I didn't tell you that! This is a dystopian world where meat is non-existent. However, a cult claims to be consuming meat. Howard, a detective and his partner Linda are sent to investigate the cult and its Leader, who calls himself "God", ironically. Howard has proven, in the past, not to have had the best track record. He's very reactive to what is around him, which isn't a bad thing per say. But he lets his emotions get out control. However Linda is definitely more level-headed, which evens out Howard's unpredictability. But even she falls for the excitement of the Cult and its claims, so Howard remains the most clear-headed throughout. The other main character would be the cult leader, the aforementioned "God." Like most cult leaders, he is charismatic enough to pull a congregation of followers into the hundreds. But he's also crazy, cruel and very violent which makes him unpredictable. Eventually we learn the secrets of the church and it's mystery as to how it's obtaining meat. This story, no pun intended, is raw, visceral and yet it is very intriguing. Once it picks up, though. It was a bit of a slow start for me. But it takes you on one helluva Dystopian Carnival of Horrors ride. About the AuthorDean Moses was born in England in February of 1991. At the age of nineteen he moved to New York City, where he hoped to fulfill two of his longtime dreams: marry the love of his life and become an author. For the past five years he has written for newspapers, including the New York Amsterdam News and the Spring Creek Sun, as well as transcribed for the New York Times’ Lens Blog. He is the author of A Stalled Ox from 1888's Black Hill Press. Dean currently resides in Queens, New York with his wife and three cats. Connect with DeanGenre: Fantasy Publisher: KDP Publishing Date: June 4, 2018 Pages: 465 Format: Paperback Add to Goodreads Buy: Amazon SynopsisThe natural world was dead. Archaic gods and legends withered away, forgotten by mankind in their lust for industrial advancement. The Time Fathers of Panagea kept their divisions’ times in check, but they couldn’t keep the land from crumbling beneath their feet. Nicholai Addihein rules the Southeastern division’s world of coal, steam, and iron. An impulsive decision soon bucks him from his status as a respected leader when he stops his division’s time to save his love, Lilac, from an untimely death. He finds committing the ultimate taboo comes with the ultimate punishment: the Time Fathers want him killed, and the already fragile earth deteriorates even faster, leaving millions dead. Falling from grace lands Nicholai in the company of Captain Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew of outcasts. While safe from the Time Fathers at sea, Nicholai is at the mercy of the captain and his crew. But when a discovery unveils the existence of the last Earth Mother, Umbriel, and the foundation of lies in which the Time Fathers are built, an uprising begins. Through bloodshed and revolution, there is no good or bad: only doing what one thinks is right. The Tree That Grew Through Iron showcases the intricate balance of mankind’s relationship with his environment, and himself. RatingReviewI received this Book from the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review.This has been one of my most favourite reads, ever. To say I devoured the book would be an understatement. I had to convince myself to slow down and live life outside of the book but it didn't stop me from thinking about it! I think that hardest part of reading this novel was knowing that the path that we, as a general population, and our political leaders are on the same path that those of the dead world of Panagea's world. A world dominated by men who make the rules and hold the reigns tightly, despite the obvious balance of the world being out and the citizens are dying. Nicholai He broke all the rules to save the love of his life. Stopping the Southeastern division's time in order to find a way to save her. He clearly grew up not knowing really how to survive the outside world. But his knowledge of how division's work and the behaviour of the leaders came quite in handy for him. He was quite lucky to find Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew. A group absolutely willing to do what it takes to overthrow the leaders. What they find is the hope to restore Panagea to its former glory. This was a phenomenal epic fantasy full of monsters, myths, spells and the battle to restore a dying world. This, for sure, has become a favourite that I will recommend over and over! About the AuthorMcKenzie Austin has always enjoyed her relationship with the creative arts. Like any whirlwind romance, she finds the ebbs and flows of the artistic process as challenging as they are rewarding. A tattoo artist by trade, McK is intimately familiar with the art world. Writing has always been the most ambitious undertaking, however, as her inherent demand for quality often keeps her from publishing her works. She resides with her family in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and hopes to publish a follow up to The Tree That Grew Through Iron in the future. Contact McKenzieGenre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Publisher: SeaMonkey Ink Publication Date: August 14, 2012 Pages: 208 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads Buy on: Amazon, Kobo Synopsis Did the Amarna line really end with King Tut's Death? Ancient Egypt. 1324 BC. The last living male descendant of the Amarna line, Pharaoh Tutankhamun, has died suddenly under mysterious circumstances. His wife, Queen Ankhesenamen, is left without a male heir. The ambitious vipers Ay and Horemheb are nipping at her heels in their bid to seize power. Queen Ankhe has but one hope to maintain her hold on the throne - an alliance with the Hittites. With Ay and Horemheb watching her every move, there is only one person she can trust to save her and her line - a girl, a slave - Ida. Review I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Oh how I love historical fiction! Ida I wasn't so sure about Ida at first. I knew she was meant to be a slave but she was pretty dang bossy for a slave. She was rough and harsh. She seemed very unwilling to be a slave girl born with nobility in her blood. Eventually though, life tamed her a bit. She became head slave and a beloved friend of the Queen Ankhesenamun and childhood friend of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and eventually his forbidden and secret love. Quite an admirable feat for this woman to bear and live with. The moment that Ida chose to be Tut's wife of his heart, her life was set for an entirely new path. All the supporting characters played their parts well for Ida's story to flourish. I enjoyed the happiness that Pharaoh Tutankhamun before his unfortunate death at such a young age, the secret that Ida carried to as much safety as she could muster, and the eventual just desserts for the scheming Queen Ankhe. This is a short, sweet historical fiction with a lovely touch of romance with one of Ancient Egypt's most famous Pharaoh's. About the Author Grea Alexander is a female writer of African American, Native American and French descent who does not write her profiles in the 3rd person. Born and raised in Houston, TX, I have successfully wormed my way across many a border and have, in effect, managed to infect all that I survey with my particular brand of grea-ness. My books are very character-driven with a focus on flawed, dynamic, culturally-diverse characters and strong, smart female protagonists. Connect with Grea
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia Publisher: CreateSpace Publication Date: March 25, 2016 Pages: 298 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads Buy on: Amazon, Kobo, B&N Synopsis Catastrophe befell Earth seventy-five years ago after an alien virus was introduced, accelerating evolution in wild and unpredictable ways. Humanity has become an endangered species, but an ancient prophecy, a Warrior of the People, and his prophetic vision of an unknown youth may be the keys to healing both the human race and the planet. After being wounded in battle, Otaktay- a warrior of the People- receives a prophetic vision which opens the door to the rediscovery of a lost and forgotten prophecy as old as the first people of North America. With the guidance of the Ma'iingan, he and his band of brothers- the Swooping Hawks- are sent on a desperate race against time to find and rescue the young man foretold by the Prophecy of the Seven Fires. In the New World, survival of the fittest is the rule as the struggle against savage, bloodthirsty predators and shifting paradigms creates an exciting and action-packed adventure where old magic and ancient prophecy shape the future. Review I received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This was definitely a unique read for me. It mixed the apocalypse, an advanced dystopian world in which people are surviving the best they can with what they have and the skills they've learned. It's also managed to sew Native American beliefs into the story quite seamlessly. The author has done a great job at building his world, creating unique characters, adding in new and old lore and adding in the horrors of a lawless world with monsters at your back, and monsters in humans. That all being said, the story does possess some pretty tough topics. Although we've all gathered that in a dystopian world with no laws, people show the worst of the worst. With no one to have them face their crimes, they get away with it. Especially if someone is desperate enough to turn blind eyes. Either way, this was written well and I did enjoy it, as dystopian sci-fi is a favourite of mine. I recommend it for any other dystopian sci-fi fans. About the Author Born in the heart of West Virginia, Royce dreamed of becoming a writer throughout his younger years and was always an avid reader. Starting out with an old, and often temperamental typewriter, he wrote poems and stories that helped to develop his young imagination. A kind-hearted teacher in Junior High School took his first "manuscript" home for the summer and painstakingly read through pages and pages of violent, poorly written L. Sprague de Camp-esque combat scenes. She returned it the following school year with the classic red marks, suggestions, and encouragement that fueled his desire to write. (I still edit with a red pen, just to experience the nostalgia of that first "manuscript") A word processor, a gift from his grandparents, became the source of many tall tales which unfortunately never left the realm of the 3.5 inch floppy disks. Those tales, and the disks they were stored upon, faded into the digital oblivion of lost ideas. He later joined the Navy, serving on the USS Belknap (CG-26), the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) and at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, in Portsmouth, Virginia. After a brief career in sales, he went back to school at Marshall University, and is now a Registered Nurse in Charleston, WV at one of the largest hospital systems in the region. He attended and graduated from Saint Mary's School of Nursing and Marshall University. Royce lives near Charleston, WV with his wife Carolyn, and their menagerie of fur babies. Connect with Royce
Genre: Novella, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Publication Date: October 25, 2016 Pages: 136 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads Synopsis I should've let him drown. That's what any normal Mer would have done. Of course, if I was like the rest, I wouldn't have been lurking around that party yacht, trying to catch a glimpse of the humans. My people will kill me if they find out--literally--but I can't help going back every time he shows up. And he's offering me everything I've ever wanted: A chance to see land. Those stormy blue eyes don't hurt, either. Now I have to decide. Is it worth risking everything I've ever known, everything I've ever believed, to follow my heart? How can I say yes? But how can I possibly say no? Includes Legend of the Mer, the creation short story that started it all. Readers of clean young adult fiction will enjoy this modern sweet romance with all the charm of The Little Mermaid. Where to Buy My Rating Review I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was a decent retelling of the Little Mermaid (Disney, not the Brother's Grimm). Skye, too, couldn't let Vince drown. Rescuing him thrust her into his world and him into her world. Sometimes it takes living in one another's "shoes" to really understand what each other's life is about. Skye is bright, intelligent and compassionate. When she should have done as she had been taught, she found her humanity and saved the boy. Trading places taught Skye the lessons she needed to go on in life. Vince is a rich, spoiled party boy slowly dying. Although he clearly had friends, he was very lonely and I feel like Skye was one of his first true friends. However the romantic interest between Skye and Vince was really quite bland. I know this was a clean romance, but there was no spark there. It was a little too innocent for my liking, I feel. But for those who enjoy a clean romantic fantasy read, this is a decent enough one. About the Author Angel Leya focuses on creating clean young adult fiction with a touch of magic and romance. It also happens to be what she enjoys reading, and she blogs regularly about her latest reads. With a tendency towards writing different shades of fantasy and light sci-fi, her stories are intended to transport readers into worlds of possibility and wonder. When not writing, you can find her daydreaming about her stories and searching for her own adventures. Feel free to drop her a line any time. She hopes you enjoy her fiction as much as she enjoys writing it! Connect with Angel
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance Publisher: DysCovered Publishing Publication Date: August 25, 2015 Pages: 192 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Synopsis Two teens discover the government is staging terrorist attacks to exploit and control the public in Tracy Lawson’s eerily believable YA debut novel. In an alternate reality version of 2034, terrorist attacks on American soil continue after the events of 9/11. The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense, created in 2019 to oversee domestic security, rises to unprecedented heights of power by exploiting the people’s overriding fear of terrorism. When Tommy Bailey and Careen Catecher meet during one of the bogus terrorist attacks, they discover the OCSD’s darkest secret: an antidote distributed by the government to “protect” people from the effects of imaginary toxins in the air is really being used to lull them into a state of submission. Tommy and Careen face a difficult choice: stay quiet about what they know—or risk their safety and anonymity to join an underground rebel group that’s determined to break the OCSD’s grip on the nation. Counteract explores the nature of power and the consequences and difficulties created when government attempts to control minute details of citizens’ daily existence. "Tracy Lawson's novel asks an even more disturbing question--what if the real culprit was someone or something we trusted? I thought The Hunger Games might be the Millennial generation's version of George Orwell's 1984. Now, I think Counteract and the Resistance Series are more primed to take that spot."--SR Staley, author of St. Nic, Inc., and the Tortuga Bay series. Where to Buy My Rating 4.75 Stars Review I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. 9/11 was possibly one of the scariest times in the Western world. I don't think we ever would have thought things would end up the way it had. But could you imagine a world where the fear of terrorists completely changed how the United States of America functions, right down to continuously creating fear of terrorists? Oh, wait, parts of that is already happening. This is eerily familiar, almost creepy how familiar this is to what is currently happening all over the world. The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense was created to keep civilians safe from the on-going threat of terrorism. But it functions in a way that what you eat, drink, listen to, watch and so on is determined by the OCSD. Keeping the people ignorant and the people's fear high. Careen As a lead character, she is admirable. Careen is smart, enough to know that the antidote wasn't really right as it makes her feel silly and loses hours. She's independent enough to try to fight it. Questioning the motives of the OCSD is brave, especially as people who speak out are often detained. Tommy He was tough to read about, having to grieve the loss of his family and be contained to his house with a broken leg. The antidote became more of an escape for him from his reality, even though Careen's presence makes him question what really happened to his parents, what the antidote does and what the OCSD is up to. So with the chaos of the end of the book, it will be interesting to see if Careen and Tommy have what it takes to bring down the OCSD. If you enjoy dystopian, young adult, new adult genres, this might be a very good read for you. About the Author Once upon a time, Tracy Lawson was a little girl with a big imagination who was obsessed with telling stories. Her interests in dance, theatre, and other forms of make-believe led to a twenty-year career in the performing arts, where “work” meant she got to do things like tap dance and choreograph musicals. A mid-life career change has yielded six books–a four-volume series of thrillers for young adults, and two nonfiction history books based on the lives of her pioneer ancestors. Tracy, who is married with one grown daughter and two spoiled cats, splits her time between Dallas, Texas and Columbus, Ohio. Connect with Tracy
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: November 27, 2017 Pages: 208 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads About the Book
Evil comes in all shapes and sizes. It's up to three kids, brought together by extraordinary circumstances, to save their school from a monster hiding in plain sight...before it finds them.
When Theo Aldrige loses his family in a gruesome murder, he sinks into a bottomless pit of depression. After a failed suicide attempt, he meets Sally and Reuben - classmates of his who are also in dire straits. Sally is dying of a rare disease that steals her sleep, and Reuben is struggling to relate to the people around him while hiding the darkness of his home life. One day, the three unintentionally discover that they've acquired powers that seem to fix their worst flaws. Where did these abilities come from? And how do they control their newfound powers without being exposed? While trying to make sense of these changes, the new friends come across a disturbing secret in their very own high school. A force of destruction that only Theo, Sally, and Reuben can stop. Where to Buy
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I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was thoroughly impressed by this story. The novel was written well. Although the concept of the story was not new, the author handled that well and managed to put a new spin on the idea. It was awesome. I also enjoyed the unique characters and how each managed to connect with each other, the blossoming friendships and the realization how much they needed each other.
Sally She seemed like the invisible girl. Quiet, kept to herself. Having spent a better part of her life trying to avoid the spotlight while suffering from an inability to sleep. She also tried to avoid the spotlight due to bullying. But I enjoyed watching her blossom, start to trust Theo and Reuben. It's like her new magical skill woke up the real Sally. Reuben He is a loner and a troublemaker. Which is interesting because troublemakers like to draw attention to themselves, and rarely are loners because of it. He had this larger than life personality. But oh man, once you find out what his home life was like, it was no wonder he struggled so much. Theo Oh man, Theo. He was the most broken. A former jock with all the glory. Losing his family wrenched all of that out of his hands. He battled so much depression and even contemplated suicide while living with his foster family. My heart broke for him. Jane Although Jane isn't a part of the group with Reuben, Theo and Sally, she's also going through her own changes. She's even more of a ghost than Sally, which means very few people would notice any changes about her. Not-Jane then comes along and livens things up for her. It will be interesting to see how these two fair with the other three in the future. So I definitely recommend giving this a chance. Hopefully it garners the same interest that I had in it. About the Author
McKenzie Rae is the author of the book Dysfunctional: Origins. She attended the University of Minnesota where she received a Bachelor of Science in technical writing, however, she's been writing fiction and telling stories since she was a kid. Currently, she works as a software system tester and uses her spare time to continue writing fiction. Origins is her first published novel, with many more novels waiting in the wings. McKenzie lives in a Twin Cities suburb in Minnesota surrounded by family, friends, and her cat.
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Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Publication Date: March 15, 2018 Pages: 252 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads About the Book
Alyssa D’Yaragen is just an elf trying to make ends meet. Thankfully, working as a freelance thief – a runner by the street name Lysistrata -- pays more than she would make in a month selling cell phones to retropunks at her antique shop. Though she’s low-tech, she has an advantage over her fellow larcenists. She has magic.
Logan Turner, a techie and fellow runner, offers to bring her in on a high paying run stealing data from megacorporation Americorp. She accepts, partially for the payout, mostly for the challenge. Things get complicated, though, when her ex-boyfriend Tristan McCullough shows up with apologies – and, infuriatingly, the perfect recon opportunity for the Americorp job. Adding more fuel to the bad-decision fire is the mysterious Seraphina Dubhan, and Alyssa finds herself falling hard for the enigmatic elf. But when Alyssa suddenly becomes the target of mystical attacks, things stop being about the money and become all about survival. With others caught in the crossfire, she needs to find and stop the attacker before the Americorp job is ruined and she – or one of her friends – pays the ultimate price. Where to Buy
My Rating
4.75
Review
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wonderful blend of fantasy, myth and future. I love anything Fae, even though Alyssa is actually an elf. Close enough.
The elves have made themselves known to the human world and live side by side with them. Some favour the human world and have embraced the tech. I loved that Alyssa lived double lives. First life was owning a store front selling relics of the past and her second job is as a cat burglar. With her elf abilities, she was on a fast track to becoming one of the best. At least until she is put up against Logan who teaches her a few things. When Logan was introduced, I was worried this was going to become one of those stereotypical new adult novel insta-love but the fact that Alyssa had no interest in Logan beyond working with him, that completely derailed all of that. There was romance and I enjoyed that Alyssa toyed with the idea of either giving her ex another try or go for this sensual lady, Seraphina. She ended up picking Seraphina and the romance was quite evident without it taking over the whole story. I appreciate when authors do not turn their female leads into gooey pots of melted marshmallows when there is love involved. It's just too bad that Seraphina duped Alyssa. This is a fun story full of twists, turns, elves and fantastical assassins. I definitely recommend this to any urban fantasy readers. About the Author
Sarah Madsen is an author of many things, including novels, short stories, and RPG supplements. Slytherin. Consumer of gin cocktails and overpriced lattes. Enjoys dying her hair a different color every week and spending way too much time playing video games. Her debut novel, WEAVER’S FOLLY, a cyberpunky urban fantasy, is forthcoming from Curiosity Quills Press in Spring 2018.
When she’s not at Starbucks, you can find her on Twitter (@UnfetteredMuse), Facebook (facebook.com/SarahMadsenAuthor) or Wordpress (unfetteredmuse.wordpress.com). |
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