Review: Recon (The Fringe #1) by Tarah Benner

5/5 Stars 296 pages
Published October 9th 2014

If you know me, or just follow my blog, you should know by now. But if you don’t, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I love post apocalypse and dystopia books. I can’t get enough of them. And this book is no exception. A unique mix of a dystopia built into an apartment complex filled with everything you could ever need, this is a world where your job is assigned to you on your graduation date, and with it comes the rest of your life. But for Harper, it’s not going the way she hoped, or even expected. And it’s a book I couldn’t get enough of.

Split between two viewpoints, the first is Eli. A brutal military person, he’s been forced into the job of training new cadets, and with it comes the trauma of sending them out not only too early, but without their full year of training due to the fact that the military that protects the complex and the area around it is dwindling. Dubbed the tunnels, the complex has anything you could ever want built into it, but because of the apocalyptic world outside, they’re forced to go out and protect the area around it by whatever means necessary. And he’s just trying not to get attached.

The second viewpoint is Harper, a twenty one year old woman who’s just gotten her graduation ceremony, and with it comes a new life. Brought into the compound from the outside world as a child, it’s all she’s ever known, but it’s about to tear everything she’s grown to love to shreds. After expecting some kind of tech job, she’s auctioned off into the military tier. And that’s just the beginning of her problems. Because there’s something much darker going on than just bidding wars on people for their careers, and it’s been in control for far too long.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

This was an amazing story filled with action, military training, romance, friendship, and a ton of hardships. The characters are very realistic despite their obvious differences from our own world, and they’re people that were easy to imagine because of it. Whatever they’re facing, be it their own thoughts, drug problems, crisis management, or really anything else they had to deal with in this book, they handle extremely well, the complete opposite of what I would do. It was an amazingly gripping story, and it was one that I couldn’t put down until it was done. I loved every second of it, and I’m so thankful that it’s part of a series, and I don’t have to say goodbye to the world so soon. I can’t wait to see what’s next. I think this book would be perfect for anyone looking for a good apocalyptic dystopia story, and honestly seeing as the worst thing that goes on in this are fights, swears, and kissing, I think anyone sixteen and up would enjoy it.

If you’d like to check out a copy for yourself, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can on their Twitter!

Thanks for reading! And remember to watch out for drifters!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

My Top 5 Books of March 2021

Hey everyone! Hope you’re having a great day so far. It’s the beginning of a new month, so you know what that means? I’m going to go over my favourite books of last month! I can’t wait to tell you all about them. And of course, my individual reviews and links for you to buy the books yourself if you’re interested will be added to them too. So lets get started!

First off we have Down World by Rebecca Phelps!

As the site of a former military base, there have always been rumors that East Township High School was the site of experiments with space and time. For years, students have whispered in the hallways of a doorway created within the school, one that can access multiple timelines and realities, a place known as the Down World.

As the new kid in school and still reeling from the unexplained death of her brother Robbie, Marina O’Connell is only interested in one thing: leaving the past behind. But a chance encounter with handsome Brady Picelli changes everything. He will lead Marina to a startling discovery. The Down World is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance.

Brady is determined to help Marina discover what really happened to her brother. However, what is taken from one world, must be repaid by another. And Marina is about to discover that even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.

You can check out my full review here, and grab a copy for yourself here!

Second is Creatures Volume 1: The City that Never Sleeps by Stephan Betbeder, & Djief

In a post-apocalyptic New York City obliterated by a Big Night that wiped out most of civilization, bands of children struggle to stay alive in the wreckage, hunting for food under billowing clouds of toxic fog and running from hungry zombies. One child is endowed with the power to keep them at bay, but will it be enough to protect the survivors from the terrifying creature that has just risen out of the Hudson River? Meanwhile, a raving old man with a house full of books says the worst is yet to come…

Here’s my full review, and here’s where you can get your own!

Third is The Famoux by Kassandra Tate

Fame can be deadly.

Out of the wreckage of environmental collapse, the country of Delicatum emerged. Its most popular celebrities are the Famoux, uniquely beautiful stars of a reality TV show called the Fishbowl. In a world still recovering from catastrophe, they provide a 24/7 distraction.

Sixteen-year-old Emilee Laurence is obsessed with the Famoux—they provide a refuge from her troubled home life and the bullies at school. When she receives an unimaginable offer to become a member herself, she takes it. Leaving behind everything she’s ever known, Emilee enters a world of high glamour and even higher stakes.

Because behind their perfect image lies an ugly truth—an anonymous stalker has been dictating the Famoux’s every move, and being popular really is a matter of life or death. 

You can see my full review here, and here’s where you can get a copy for yourself!

Fourth is Inhuman by Denis Bajram, Valerie Mangin, & Rochebrune!

A small exploratory vessel crashes onto an unknown ocean planet after its crew is seized by a sudden madness. After escaping their sinking ship, the five survivors are helped to the surface by giant squid-like creatures who guide them to what appears to be the planet’s only island. To their surprise, they are greeted on the shore by primitive humans, who prove to be welcoming despite their cannibalistic rituals. But their fixed smiles and total docility suggest that something more sinister is going on. Are the castaways doomed to join them in submitting to the will of the mysterious Great One?

Here’s my full review, and here’s where you can grab a copy!

And last but not least is The Fall Volume 1 by Jared Muralt!

Readers who found themselves gripped by the apocalyptic adventure of Robert Kirkman’s THE WALKING DEAD and who were moved by the emotion in Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD will not want to miss Jared Muralt’s THE FALL.

After just losing his wife, one father will have to face a world in freefall; shaken to its core by an economic, social, political and health crisis without precedent. Facing seemingly unreal and very unexpected dangers, he will do whatever it takes to protect his loved ones in a country on the brink of collapse. In this internationally acclaimed series, Jared Muralt not only tells the story of one family struggling to survive, but also questions the very reasons that brought mankind to this apocalypse.

You can check out my full review here, and here’s where you can get a copy for yourself!

Wow! I can’t believe that three out of five books last month were comics. I mean I can believe it, I read a lot of them, but I’m surprised! And the other two were wattpad published books, which is crazy to me! Mostly because I’ve never really noticed anything from the actual wattpad publisher that has really caught my eye before, but that changed in march! I can’t wait to see what my favourites for this month are.

Have you read any of these books? Are you thinking about getting some of them? What were your favourites last month? I want to talk! Anyways, thanks for reading.

5 Books on my Shelf to Read Next

Hey everyone! Hope you’re having a good, anxiety free day today. And if you’re not, well, then I’m here to hopefully distract you for a little bit, and talk about some paper books I want to read next off my shelf. So here they are! Yes they may have been the first five books I saw, but they’re all very different, and I think that this post will show that! I’m going to add their individual descriptions, and a link for you to find them for yourself, if you’re interested. So here we go! Here’s my book stack.

So first up is Creaking Dawn (The Denounced #3) by S.J. Sherwood!

Pod Fifteen finally navigate their way home, but have they made the biggest mistake of their lives? They are still convicted Denounced. Hunted by a System desperate to hang them. Ned and the rest of the Pod need a place to bide their time and think, finding refuge in a Doubter’s Camp. But is their safe haven really that safe, or just another deadly trap waiting to spring? With the Unification War looming and nobody willing to listen, Ned is torn between saving his Pod and the love of his life, or saving a Secular World that wants him dead.

Creaking Dawn concludes the Denounced Series. 

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

Next up is Heart Sister by Michael F. Stewart!

After Emmitt’s twin sister, Minnie, dies in an accident, his world goes sideways. He’s lost his best friend and it feels like his family is falling apart without her. But Minnie was an organ donor and Emmitt soon receives an anonymous thank you letter from one of the transplant recipients. Inspiration strikes, and he decides to try and put his sister back together, in spirit. He’s going to track down each organ recipient and film them to show his parents Minnie’s selfless act and help them move on. But when each recipient falls short of his expectations and the star of his film, the girl who received his sister’s heart, refuses to meet him, Emmitt has to turn to extreme measures to find her. What he doesn’t know is that his “heart sister” is hiding an agonizing secret, one that could push Emmitt to the breaking point.

If you’d like a copy you can get one here!

Third is Percivious Insomnia by J.J. & A.J. Cook!

An insomnia pandemic is sweeping the globe, leaving people unable to function and society on the brink of collapse…

Dr. Cooper Delaney believes he has the answer: Noctural, a new sleep-aid—one with absolutely no side-effects—which in early testing shows 100% effectiveness.

The only problem is, it doesn’t work. With no warning. No explanation.

Unable to accept the drug’s inexplicable failure and unwilling to concede to the competition, lines are crossed, ethical boundaries are pushed to the breaking point, and disturbing realizations come to light that could completely unravel civilization as we know it… and throw into question humanity’s place in the universe.

A jetset medical thriller meets sci-fi adventure with an unforgettable cast of characters, Percivious Insomnia presents an alternate history so compelling that it could possibly be true. The first book in the Percivious Trilogy from husband-wife author duo JJ Cook & AJ Cook, MD, Percivious Insomnia sets a unique and original course for fiction of the future, and paints a timely, prescient portrait of today’s globalized society… and what may exist beyond the realm of our current understanding.

Click here if you’d like to get a copy!

Second last is X-Men Epic Collection Volume 3: The Sentinels Live by Roy Thomas, Gary Freidrich, Arnold Drake, Linda Fite, Don Heck, Werner Roth, George Tuska, and Jim Steranko!

Professor X is dead! The X-Men have gone their separate ways. Searching to find a way to make its poorest-selling super heroes click, Marvel was trying anything and everything. With the title on the verge of cancellation, Roy Thomas and Neal Adams clicked, and the rest is history. Their epic evolution of the X-Men defines the team to this day. Adams’ lavish and dynamic visuals and Thomas’ challenging and contemporary stories combined in a book that throbbed with the pulse of the times. Their iconic stories collected here introduce Havok, the vampiric villain Sauron, the Mutates and X-Man-to-be Sunfire! Not to mention the Living Pharaoh, a classic Savage Land team-up with Ka-Zar, as well as the return of Magneto!

Grab a copy here!

And last but not least, Someday Comes Paradise by Gary Dean Thompson!

A desolate stretch of coastline. Dune grass scattered across miles of sand. Rusty barrels exposed in the retreating tide, and a lone dune buggy streaks along this coastal road, kicking up mud and slicing through waves of mosquitoes. Up ahead, a flashing signal light swings above a lonely intersection. This is the cross-roads to the middle of nowhere.

Sam Starr is a teenager on the run with his con-woman momma, Natalie. He has maybe done bad; she has definitely done worse. They’ve arrived on a barrier island, cast away from the world where they hope to be safe. But here, crime and corruption are thicker than the Costa Rican coffee and the sand flies. A local hero, Bannion, offers his protection and a home to mother and son; yet, all is not what it seems. The vagabond fry-cook, Gash, tries to guide the boy like a prophet in the dunes. The saving grace for young Sam comes in the elegance of a Vietnamese girl, Tu Ly – in whom he glimpses tenderness and salvation. Together, they must come of age amidst the drugs and deception. They elude the Navy bombs and free dive for starfish. They cling together in despair in a hideaway as they fall in love. But most of all, they want to find a little bit of Paradise, in this world or even beyond.

A charged, Southern saga, SOMEDAY COMES PARADISE exposes a world rarely seen, where violence mixes with country music while sharks bleed on the boat docks. Danger overshadows dreams. Nothing is black and white. It’s a desperate world inhabited by compelling characters with nothing to lose.

Set on the coast in South Texas, this graphic novel reveals a journey of troubled souls, with hell-fire-and-damnation all about. Yet for Sam, Tu Ly and Natalie, the flame of hope burns hot within their darkness and stands firm against the hurricane winds.

Here’s a link to grab a copy!

And that’s it! I’m not really sure where to start, but those are the five books I’ve picked off my shelf to read next when I’m not reading arcs! What do you think I should read first? Do any of these titles stick out to you? Would you read them? Lets chat in the comments! Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Book Birthday Review: Expiration Date by Mardine Perrins

4/5 Stars 281 pages
Published March 9th 2021 by Kat Biggie Press

A fantastic new twist on a futuristic dystopia, Expiration Date is set in a world that still looks very much like our own, but has long moved past it’s population and non-renewable resources problem, as well as the damage that we’ve caused to the planet. It’s moving in an upward direction and back on track to being a healthy world, and it has very slight tech upgrades, such as hover cars and holograms. That being said, it’s all thanks to something that changed the entire world as soon as they started showing up, expiration dates on every single human being born in the last century, telling the exact date when a person will die.

With expiration dates came mass hysteria, mostly because people didn’t know what they were at first. A blessing and a curse, knowing your exact death date can be a huge challenge. But somehow that scared people off from having an over abundance of children. No one knows where they came from or why, but it alone saved the planet from the kind of certain doom that we face in our own world, in real life. People mostly calmed down, and everything has been evolving since then. That being said, is it moral to know exactly when you and everyone around you will die? It won’t save you from genetic problems, and if you end up being sick, or having dementia, you’re still forced to live with those problems until you pass away.

This story follows two sisters, Elisa and Ashlei, and also a man named Claude, as they deep dive into why exactly there are expiration dates, and if there isn’t something disfunctional going on behind them. After  babies start being born with very short dates, I’m talking less than a week of being born, it really kicks into overdrive to really find out what’s going on. And what the three uncover is despicable, and like nothing they could have ever imagined.

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

I had a good time reading this book. I thought the plot was very original, and even though the viewpoints of the characters bounced around quite a bit, I didn’t have any problems keeping up. I really enjoyed that we got to see a dystopia in the making, because I think that’s something we rarely get to read about in books like these. If the characters didn’t uncover what was going on, what would have happened to the world? I think it would have turned into one of those dystopias where everyone lives under a dome and people are so heavily regulated that they’re not able to really live. And I thought that was very unique and interesting. The characters were realistic, I had no problems believing that they were smart individuals that could exist outside of the book, and even though it’s not my new favourite, I did enjoy reading it. If you’re into scifi in a world like ours, I think you’ll really enjoy it too.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can do so here.

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Review: The Famoux by Kassandra Tate

5/5 Stars 400 Pages Published January 19th 2021 (first published January 1st 2014) Published by Wattpad Books

Okay, this book had crazy The Hunger Games vibes for me. Not exactly sure what it was, whether it was the apocalyptic world with the dystopia running things from a far away land, the weird leaders of the Famoux group that pick and prod at everything they can and rage when things aren’t perfect, or just the overall way the story was told, but let me tell you I loved every minute of it. Is this going to be a series? I can’t get enough! I need more, like, immediately. And I think you would too, if you liked books like that.

Emilee has always been different. In a world where every new generation of kids starting at the beginning of the  year have a different eye colour to mark how old they are, she was born with her mom’s eyes, an icy blue, instead of the generational flat grey. Sure, that may not make a big difference for her world in theory, but for the bullies at school, they’ve made a life out of not only tormenting her over it, but also abusing her and occasionally even throwing her in the creek. She thinks life can’t get any worse, until one day her mom, the only person who sticks up for her, seems to have run away. And she doesn’t have anyone to comfort her anymore. Her world has crumbled, and so has the rest of her family.

After having to cancel her life plans to move away, her sister hates her. Her brother doesn’t really care about her, and her father is absolutely destroyed. He doesn’t even leave his bed for work anymore. But just when she thinks there’s nothing left to look forward to in life, a new group of Famoux are revealed, and Emilee can’t get enough. The Famoux are the top tier of celebrities, always followed around by paparazzi, never getting a minute to themselves, especially when once a month for two days, the darkening happens. That’s a phenomenon when something takes over the skies, and doesn’t let any light through at all. But that’s when the fishbowl happens, when the Famoux are put in a glass house for everyone to watch in person and on broadcast 24/7, like the most intrusive kind of reality tv show.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

But something’s happening to them, too. After finding one of them dead at the bottom of the stairs, rumour start to churn about if the show killed her off for views, if they were getting a little stagnant, and they wanted to liven up the ratings a bit. And after a fight with her family, Emilee is determined on getting some air when she finds herself not only at the fishbowl with the rest of the crowd, but also with her bullies who are planning on tying her up in a basement and leaving her there for the duration of the darkening. But the person in charge of the Famoux finds her and offers her a different kind of lifestyle. To become one of them. And of course, Emilee takes it. That’s when Emeray is born, but what’s going on behind the scenes of the group is unlike anything she could have imagined.

This book was amazing, start to finish. I couldn’t put it down once I started, but that was fine because I really didn’t want to. Despite being so famous and rich, most of the characters seemed really down to earth, even in the worst of times. They do what they have to do to survive. But what I loved learning about the most, was their apocalyptic world. I actually would have liked to get to know it a little more than we did, but It’s enough, especially if there’s more coming in the future. I will say though, that most of the actual action in the plot happened in the last 10% of the book, which isn’t ideal for me, but I still loved it. I was just a little stressed with the race against the clock kind of situation and felt like things could have been explained more than they were. That being said, I think this is one of my new favourite books! If you’re a fan of post apocalypse, dystopia, celebrity drama and The Hunger Games, I really think you’ll like this book too.

Photo by KoolShooters on Pexels.com

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here!

Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Book Blitz – Giveaway & Excerpt: In Command (Aunare Chronicles 2.5) by Aileen Erin

In Command: An Aunare Chronicles Novella
Aileen Erin
(Aunare Chronicles #2.5)
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: February 23rd 2021
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

Amihanna di Aetes is used to fighting, surviving, and relying on her strength to get through the hard times. She thought the worst was over when she accepted her engagement to Lorne ni Taure, the High King of the Aunare, and claimed her place as the future High Queen.

It should be easy to slide into her new role. How hard can it be living in luxury with your soulmate after growing up alone on the streets?

But the more she learns about the Aunare and their politics, the more she realizes that the true test of her strength is just beginning.

Amihanna di Aetes is in for the battle of her life if she wants the Aunare to accept her.

*In Command is a 65K novella that takes place between Off Balance and On Mission (Books 2 & 3 of the main Aunare Chronicles). The series can be enjoyed without reading this story, but you can’t enjoy this story without reading the series.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

EXCERPT:

“Almya. I’m not wearing—”

A throat cleared, and I didn’t even turn around. “Roan. Best friend or not, I’m going to murder you if you keep coming in here.”

“Not Roan.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Lorne.

He was leaning against the edge of the door, watching me with his aquamarine gaze that seemed to see through me. My heart picked up, and I could feel myself giving him a stupid grin, but I couldn’t stop it. “Hey.”

“Hi.” His gaze ran down my body and slowly back up, heating every inch of me. “As fashion-forward as I usually am, I think it’s probably best if you find something else for the meeting. Quickly.”

I turned back to Almya, who was still smiling—although now it looked too forced—and holding out two dresses for me to choose from.

She held one out a little farther, giving it a little shake. “This one would look lovely on you, and it’s perfect for the—”

I shook my head. “If you would just listen to me—”

“Amihanna. My love,” Lorne said softly. “I’ve been standing here for a moment, and I heard more than enough about what’s going on. The thing to remember—”

“Is that I hate dresses,” I said to Almya, hoping that she would listen. “Hate. Dresses.”

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

I turned to him, annoyed and struggling to remember that I wasn’t annoyed at him. “What?”

“The thing to remember is that you are the future queen. Not Almya.” He gave her a short, pitying glance before focusing on me again. “You decide what you do, what you say, what you wear.” He slowly walked toward me as he spoke. “So, put something on already.” He brushed a quick kiss on my lips.

Author Bio:

Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Review: Complex (Silent Beautiful Universe #1) by A.D. Enderly

4/5 Stars 700 pages
Published November 17th 2020 by Luminary Media

Not usually into books of this length, Complex really blew me away because it was able to completely hold my attention for it’s entirety of 700 pages. Five separate books in one, though not described as that, this was a rollercoaster from start to finish of an epic tale in which a dystopia was ruled by businesses. Which, if you ask me, is actually a very real option for the future, especially in places where they have more power than they should. I don’t know why this hasn’t been written about more often, because I really just find it fascinating, and I can’t get enough. But you know me, I’m obsessed with all things tech, scifi, and dystopia. What more could I ask for? This book is perfect for me.

Described as a story of two sisters Val and Kat, who are left alone after the death of their father in their dystopian world of Legacy, the area just outside of the Arc, a dystopia run by businesses. Though it seems like everything is better and safer, there are just different kinds of threats hiding behind the green grass and order. But this story is so much more than just that. The characters range from very poor, to very wealthy, all having completely different personalities and lives. And each person has their own piece to bring to the perfectly put together puzzle. After Kat is kidnapped in the middle of the night, Val blames herself for not being able to fight off the offenders, but can’t sit around feeling sorry for herself forever. She does what she has to do to get information about her missing sister, including selling her body online for a scummy man who claims he has what she needs. But what she digs herself into is far beyond anyone could have ever guessed would happen.

Photo by Kozymeii Kong on Pexels.com

There’s Trevor, a romantic interest for Val and a very helpful character in the story with his hacking skills and clever way of thinking, Riku, a high up man in the military who just wants to right the wrongs in the world, and hopefully save his friend and her child. There’s Ian, an insanely smart hacker who we don’t get to know very thoroughly but he really ends up helping out in the end, Ray, an assassin with a drug addiction who doesn’t really care about anyone other than the people he’s working for, and Manalo, a sweet old grandfather who just wants to have a purpose for his life again, after the loss of his wife. And there’s a few other characters we get to see the world through, but really all of these characters breath life into this epic and long winded novel. Without their lifelike personalities, I would have lost interest a long time ago, because even though I’m extremely interested in the world that they live in, you need good characters to keep everything moving along at a steady pace. And boy, did it.

I think this book is an amazing mix of dystopian scifi, futuristic tech with the computers inside every single person, and a very intriguing story of what could go wrong when businesses end up taking over for the government. When emergencies happen, like a virus that spreads too quickly and mutates too fast to keep up with, and especially when the computers get too strong for us to handle. When they realize that they want more than just to help, that they want to do. And I loved every moment of it. The end of the book also hints to a series, which I’m very excited to deep dive into once it’s released. With that ending, who wouldn’t be? I’m very glad I got a chance to check it out, and I think that the beautiful cover it has would be welcomed into anyone’s intensive book collection. Honestly, I’d even like a poster of it if that was a thing. It’s just so aesthetically pleasing, and says so much about the book without having to actually say anything. Overall, if you’re a fan of tech, scifi, dystopia’s, and stories of survival no matter what, than I definitely recommend checking this book out.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can do so here.

And if you’d like to keep up with the author on Twitter, you can here!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well and staying warm. And reading long amazing books.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

Cover Reveal: Guns & Smoke by A. Smith and Lauren Sevier

Guns & Smoke
A. Smith & Lauren Sevier
Publication date: July 10th 2021
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Romance, Western

In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.

Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.

Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he’d heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he’d be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he’s never met before, he isn’t sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.

Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.

Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Abbie Smith is an author of romance novels. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in theatre, where she learned the art of storytelling. A lifelong resident of southern Louisiana, she is a lover of coffee, naps, and animals. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her dogs, Klaus and Bree, and her cat, Sirius. Abbie is passionate about mental healthcare and believes that helping others with their own mental health battles is her small way of changing the world. Abbie grew up watching westerns with her grandfather, which partially inspired the setting of her upcoming coauthored debut novel, Guns & Smoke.
Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

Lauren Sevier lives a simple life in small town Walker, Louisiana with her family and two mischievous dogs. She’s a proud firefighter wife and mother to her miracle son, born through IVF after an eight-year battle with infertility. She works full-time for a non-profit hospital in Cardiology caring for the elderly and low-income families all over the state of Louisiana in satellite and outreach clinics. Writing and being in the service of helping others are her two passions in life.

She started writing song lyrics and poems on the front porch swing of her family home nestled amidst a 200-year-old pecan tree orchard that was once part of a Civil War plantation. She’s inspired the most by Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and JK Rowling. Her background in Theatre introduced her to classic British literature, playwrights, and poets from a very young age. This helped her to understand story concepts, dramatization, and character development the way Shakespeare once did, as an actor.

Now her biggest inspiration for writing is her son who, like all children, learns by example. Lauren is determined to set a specific example for him; to live simply, work hard, and to never stop chasing her dreams. Because, one day, you just might catch them.

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Cover Reveal: The Jade Talisman (The Jade Chronicles #2) by Alanna Mackenzie

The Jade Talisman
Alanna Mackenzie
(The Jade Chronicles, #2)
Publication date: March 2021
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction

A talisman. A song. A story about time itself, as it moves through each winding branch in the tree of life.

It is the year 2762 in the Empire of Khalendar, and AI Masters rule the civilized world, striving to crush all dissent. But they have not yet managed to quell the Jade Rebellion or its leader, Walter Saltanetska. The Jade Queen, once a prison ship commandeered by the AI Masters, is now a rebel stronghold. Walter and his companions have sailed all the way to Vei’arash, a lush island reputedly home to exiled dissidents and evil shamans. Their mission is to fulfill a pact with their Mage allies—to find animal spirits exiled to Vei’arash long ago by the AI Masters.

As the rebels plunge deeper into the jungle, physical laws are upended. The plants and animals of the rainforest are inextricably linked to divine beings. The most powerful of these beings entrusts Walter with an enchanted gemstone, the Jade Talisman, that warps the basic rules of time and space.

The Talisman allows Walter to gaze into a mesmerizing labyrinth of future possibilities. But the visions it offers up are troublingly dark, giving Walter insight into the deepest recesses of the human soul. While he needs to remain emotionally distant from them, he cannot. The people in these visions are not strangers, but Walter and his loved ones. This gift proves to be a crushing burden, and Walter desperately longs for an ordinary life. But there is no going back…

The gripping sequel to The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman is a tribute to the perseverance of spirituality in a world dominated by the cold logic of artificial intelligence.

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Alanna Mackenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada. She holds degrees in History, French studies, and Law from the University of British Columbia. An environmentalist at heart, she believes in using the law as a tool for social and environmental change. When she is not pursuing that passion, she can be found brainstorming the next chapter in her novels, playing Irish fiddle tunes on the violin, and hiking West Coast trails.

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Code (Isan #4) by Mary Ting Cover Reveal

Code
Mary Ting
(Isan, #4)
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: April 20th 2021
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Behind enemy lines, new soldiers will emerge, and unexpected heroes will rise.

Ava is a prisoner. And she is not the only rebel held hostage at ISAN’s secret compound. As she plans an escape, the lives of the rebel prisoners are in her hands, along with those she thought were dead.

Rhett and his team desperately search for Ava while one of the Remnant Council joins forces with another network looking for the creator of the Helix serum. And time is running out. Mr. Novak has been secretly creating an army called CODE, and what he plans for Ava will mean a permanent end to the rebels–and her.

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International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres: science fiction, fantasy, and swoon worthy stories. Her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.

Mary was born in Seoul Korea and resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two dogs—Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Becoming an author was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, she retired from teaching after twenty years.

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