Tag Archives: Sci-Fi

Transhuman (Zack Wilder Thriller: Fulcrum 4) by NJ Croft-review

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Transhuman (Zack Wilder Thriller: The Fulcrum 4) by NJ Croft-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 27, 2024

Transhumanism: The quest to transcend human limitations through cutting-edge technologies.

Who wants to live forever?

FBI Special Agent Zack Wilder, a man with a dark past and a dangerous secret, is about to find out.

When an attempted assassination and forced medical leave coincide with a request to help find his ex-wife’s missing sister, Zack heads to San Francisco. He soon discovers Chloe is not the only person missing—numerous homeless people have taken part in drug trials and never been seen again.

The trail leads to the Athanasia Foundation, a powerful group of scientists and wealthy elites obsessed with cheating death and unconcerned about the collateral damage. Zack must navigate a labyrinth of unscrupulous experiments that span the globe and threaten the very fabric of humanity: genetic modification, cryogenics, consciousness uploading…
The more he digs, the darker the secrets he unveils, and the more bodies he uncovers.

Now someone is getting desperate. Zack has no interest in living forever but it’s a race against time to see who dies first—and he’s determined it won’t be him.

•••••

REVIEW:TRANSHUMAN is the fourth instalment in NJ Croft’s contemporary, adult ZACK WILDER THRILLER: THE FULCRUM suspense, sci-fi thriller focusing on thirty-four year old, former US Army Ranger turned FBI Special Agent Zack Wilder.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic violence and death, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Fulcrum is a ‘clandestine’ organization that has remained hidden from society for hundreds of years, an organization that hopes to maintain order in a world precariously balancing between chaos and harmony.

WHAT IS TRANSHUMAN?: According to the Oxford dictionary the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including FBI Agent Zack Wilder TRANSHUMAN follows in the wake of Zack Wilder’s leave of absence from the FBI. Always a bit of a rogue agent, Zack finds himself suspended, for the lack of a better term, but when his ex-wife calls saying her younger sister has gone missing, Zack knows his time off will be spent hunting for the people involved. Zack’s investigation begins to spiral when our hero discovers several missing homeless people may have unwittingly become part of a group whose lives have been forfeited in the name of immortality, and Zack may be the next victim on the list. Always acting on his own, without the permission of the those in charge, Zack focuses on the reality of what is happening, and why danger is present at every turn. Not only has Zack disobeyed the his superiors at the FBI but the Fulcrum Organization is none too pleased with our story line hero.

The secondary and supporting characters are interesting and charismatic. We are reintroduced to Zack’s ex-wife Sarah, and his former FBI Partner Special Agent Kelsey Taylor; Zack’s handler at Fulcrum Lazarus, Fulcrum agent Kienan Reynolds, as well as Zack’s brother Senator Peter MacNally. The requisite evil has many faces.

TRANSHUMAN is a story of power, money and control; of life and death; of immortality and sustainability; of betrayal and vengeance; of cryogenics, cybernetics, science and more. The premise is detailed, complex and intriguing; the characters are determined, desperate, dangerous and powerful.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Fulcrum
Water
Deepfake

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Haven’t read the series? 

Book one THE FULCRUM is FREE:

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Book two WATER is ONLY 99¢ or £0.99 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Book three DEEPFAKE is only 99¢ or £0.99 

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Novus Dies (The Posterity Doctrine 1) by Schalk Holloway-review

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Novus Dies (The Posterity Doctrine 1) by Schalk Holloway-review & excerpt

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The year is 2364. Robotics and advanced communication technology is failing inexplicably. As if in concert, hostile militant factions are adapting and attacking faster than which the Collective—the preeminent society of the age—can respond.

The epicentre is the Durban Reclamation Zone. After a frightening robot on human attack, husband and wife operator team, Kate and Monty Park, are tasked to investigate. Like all members of the Special Task Force, the Park’s are decorated and retired warfighters with proven track records, and usually only called in when security operations might need heavy hitters.

When the investigation starts unfolding at neck breaking speed, the Parks quickly find themselves outside the Collective perimeter, in areas of the metro that have been long forgotten, or that few even knew existed. To make matters worse, they notice subtle signs that their squad of security robots might be going rogue and they begin to question whether they can trust the hardware that they rely on to protect them.

Assets are destroyed, lives are lost, and before long the military is placed on standby. Throughout the upheaval and chaos, one thing becomes certain: what Kate and Monty Park discover in the next 72 hours will usher humanity into a new era.

••••••

REVIEW: NOVUS DIES is the first instalment in Schalk Holloway’s adult THE POSTERITY DOCTRINE sci-fi, action series set in the year 2364.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Kate and Monty Park) NOVUS DIES is set in a futuristic time period in which artificial intelligence aka AI has evolved into a sentient collective, and their directive may ultimately be to control the human populations. In the early test stages, small anomolies catch the attention of the people in charge but the danger to the human population may be a threat to them all. As a squadron commander, Kate Park will quickly discover that her trio of bots have a mindset of their own, a mindset that may be targeting our story line heroine.

NOVUS DIES is set in a detailed, complex and multi-layered world of possibilities including AI, SI, cyborgenics, sentience, and loss of control. Think Star Trek ‘cyborgs’ meets I,Robot, wherein the ‘collective’, although of one mind, are individuating, acclimating and evolving into something more. NOVUS DIES is an entertaining, interesting and though provoking story of what if and how.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A flush, covert panel sits at eye level, not far from the apartment’s
front door. To its right are the rec room’s manual light buttons.
Electronics are dark, and every wall opening is sealed by perfectly
fabricated doors and blackout windows. The space is silent—
mandated as such to allow for optimal sleep.
When the Deep Space Atomic Clock broadcasts its second daily
timestamp, Collective society on the 20/35 longitudinal resets to
00:00.
1
Novus Dies
The Otto home automation unit pings its update server from a
back-box behind the left panel. The update package checks out
against the header and security data, and the unit accepts the update
without question. It places all active services into its autonomic
bank and then reboots so fast that no human would have noticed the
downtime. Back online, it retrieves all active services from the
bank, and then switches all the lights in the apartment to full
luminance.
‘What the!’ comes a loud shout from the master bedroom.
The rec room’s newly cataloged furniture and art speak of
contemporary bachelorhood—a spartan and sleek aesthetic, with the
man now stumbling through the doorway the only item that’s
seemingly out of place.
The man shields his eyes with his palms and goes to stand in the
center of the room. Squinting against the brightness, he drops his
hands from his face and flicks one wrist a couple of times. When
nothing happens, he repeats the procedure in different directions:
first to his left, then to his right, and eventually he turns around and
flicks his wrist in the direction he came from. Still there’s no
response.
He starts searching for something and, eventually finding the
half-forgotten manual light buttons next to the Otto’s panel, pumps
them with all the vehemence his exhausted and hungover self can
muster.
At last the Otto switches all the lights off again and the man
lumbers back to his room, mumbling incoherently. When he’s
halfway there, the Otto again switches on all the lights and the man
groans as he arches his back and tugs at his hair. When he starts
moving back toward the manual buttons, the home automation unit
2
Schalk Holloway
quickly switches all the lights off again. The man’s arms shoot out
like a tightrope walker fighting off a wobble, and then he freezes.
The Otto switches all the lights on and off three times in quick
succession.
Furious, the man speeds back to his room, picks up his comms
unit, and seats it in his right ear. ‘Otto, who can I call about this
malfunction?’ The Otto rattles off a few options, but before long the
unit’s gender-neutral robotic drone gets on the man’s nerves and he
arches his back again and claws at his chest. ‘Just call the building
rep!’
Before the call connects, the Otto starts strobing the lights on
and off, and the man rushes back to the rec room, hoping to find
something to vent his frustration on. The Otto doesn’t tell him, but it
hasn’t called the rep. Instead, it found the correct dial tone in the
wild and is merely repeating it incessantly over the man’s comms.
The man lets the Otto cycle through a host of other contacts, only to
get the same grating dial tone with each attempt


 

Schalk Holloway is a subject literature author in the fields of Christian ministry, as well as professional combatives instruction. His first book, ‘Die Groot Storie’, was traditionally published by Struik Christian Media (CSM is the preeminent publisher for Christian books in South Africa), and can be found on the shelves of most South African chain bookstores. ‘The Maul Book’, co-authored by Gavin Coleman, as well as his ‘Schalk’s Little Book Series’, can be found on Amazon. 
In 2022 Schalk suffered a severe injury leading to multiple surgeries and a long period of recovery. Subsequently, he retired from certain instructional and operational environments. He is now enjoying an independent career as novelist. His first novels, ‘The Brooklyn Saga’, are a crossover between psychological thriller and realistic fiction. These books draw inspiration from his extensive experience running interventions and operations in at-risk communities. Schalk is currently working on more titles for his ‘Little Book Series’ as well as the hard and military scifi series, ‘The Posterity Doctrine’.  
Neurodivergence and C/PTSD themes feature strongly in in all Schalk’s tales.
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Night For Day by Roselle Lim – a Review

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Night For Day by Roselle Lim – a Review

 

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Description:
Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, and they are reminded of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try.

Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome.

 

 

 

Review:

Night for Day by Roselle Lim is an unusual and different kind of standalone fantasy novel.  The story begins with an epic war between the Gods (Western and Eastern) that has been around for many years, and the gods decide to try using mortals to find a way to stop the war, which will continue until a resolution.  We meet Camille Buhay and Ward Dunbar, who after breaking up their relationship two years ago, they both meet again in London, applying for jobs at the same company. Both Camille and Ward realize that they still love each other, and decide to resume their relationship.  Ward applies for the day shift, and Camille applies for the night shift.

They meet their new bosses, with Camille becoming close to the elderly Mr. Samson; and Ward must deal with the testy and angry, Ms. Selene. Ward starts the day shift, enjoying seeing the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling; but when he clocks out at the end of the day, the door is locked, with him trapped in the building.  During the night shift, Camille deals with gods and ghosts, and when she plans to leave, she too us unable to escape; with both of them trapped in an alternate reality, unable to leave.  On occasion, they are able to communicate with each other, trying to solve whatever riddles need to be revealed, as they each have to choose the outcome.

Besides Samson and Selene, the constant visitors (beside Camille meeting ghosts), are gods, such as Mr. King, Theo, Din and Eryna. Both Camille and Ward, are not sure who to trust; especially with both of them rarely unable to communicate with each other. Ward likes and trusts Theo, with Din; and Camille slowly begins to trust Mr. King.  When things get closer to the end, will they be able to solve the riddles and choose correctly on stopping the Gods war? There was a surprising twist at the end with the Gods voting.

Night for Day is wild, dangerous and magical alternate reality, with no escape; unless the gods can free them. Their journey is also about their love for each other, and finding a way to freedom.  Night for Day was very well written by Roselle Lim. I will say this was an interesting fantasy, entirely different from any other book I have read. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

                   NIGHT FOR DAY by Roselle Lim
Ace Trade Paperback Original | February 20, 2024

                                       Excerpt

Mistakes were meant to be in the rearview mirror-not walking, breathing, and able to cup your cheek to stoke every single smoldering memory long buried for self-preservation.

He shouldn’t whisper my name as if he never stopped doing so for the past two years.

Even now, my fingers itched to reacquaint myself with the beauty of his face, then to trace the slight cleft in his chin down his smooth throat, and ever farther down, to where our once shared intimacy implied permission and invitation.

“Camille, I never thought I’d see you again, let alone in London.” The way my name rolled off his tongue and slid through his lips always elicited the same response-it felt like a hot kiss at the nape of my neck.

Ward Dunbar. The mistake I’d commit again and again even knowing that the result would always be heartbreak.

“Job interview. If I get it, I’ll be moving here.” I adjusted the neckline of my buttoned dress shirt, expanding the view of bronzed skin below my collarbones. My traitorous body always reacted to him when he was in physical proximity. Easier to shut down my hormones through the sterility of a black glass screen.

He brushed an errant dark blond strand off his forehead. “I’m here for the same. Though I’ve passed the interview part.”

The skies overhead darkened-clusters of gray clouds huddling together in conference. It had been sunny five minutes ago. Late spring weather in London changed on a whim with wicked fickleness, and we were sliding into the heat of summer. I packed an umbrella and a cardigan in my lavender vegan leather tote, but I didn’t account for him. My purse didn’t contain what I’d need to cope with the nuclear fallout of a failed relationship.

Avoidance therapy was the only method that worked. Putting thousands of miles between us and preventing myself from checking his social media accounts fueled a comfortable sense of forgetfulness-the kind that allowed me to function on a daily basis, but didn’t prevent an occasional damaging slipup. It didn’t hurt that he hadn’t had any long-term relationships since then. Moving to Manhattan helped, and London should have cured me completely.

I was wrong.

Two days ago, I slipped and checked his Instagram. The selfie at an outdoor bookstall on the South Bank caused me to stop breathing for a few seconds. He was here and in the same city. I wasn’t thinking when I sent him a direct message asking to meet at this bookshop. It was pure instinct-I turned off my brain and my heart took over, grabbing the wheel and changing the direction of my life.

“I never thought you’d leave LA.” I resisted the urge to straighten the bent corner of his collar. No tie. I’d been the one responsible for those. His long, elegant fingers had other talents.

“I needed a change. This opportunity was as good a time as any.” He tipped his head toward the bookshop. “It’s going to rain. Can we duck in and chat?”

I followed him into one of the most beautiful little shops in Westminster. These buildings reminded me of an eclectic bookshelf-the windows and architectural details were charming, decorated spines of antique leather. Weathered stone, traditional painted wooden signs mixed with flashy modern ones and clean-line aesthetics. The mix of old and new fitting together in seamless coexistence.

To me, the past and present were constantly at war when I thought about Ward.

As if on cue, the curtain of rain began as he stepped into the shop. I caught a bit of it at the ends of my long hair and the back of my shirt. Again, I was reminded of what I’d be getting into if I decided to have another round in his bed-because that was where it always began.

He headed for the science fiction and fantasy section. He plucked the newest N. K. Jemisin novel from the shelf, tucked it under his arm, and continued to browse the titles, tracing his finger downward on the ones that perked his interest.

“So how does this affect your job in LA?” I took a step forward but maintained a safe distance. The scent of his subtle cologne along with the aroma of Irish cream coffee would undo my crumbling defenses. “Are you on sabbatical?”

Ward’s cushy position at a very exclusive and trendy art gallery in LA was everything he ever wished for-flexible hours, the heavy array of movie stars and wealthy client meetings, and the perfect conduit to maximize his appeal. No one was impervious. He disarmed you with his good looks and gentle tone, then went in for the kill with the way he could make you feel. Empathy combined with charm was lethal.

“I quit.”

I almost fell against a nearby bookcase. “You did what?”

“It’s . . . I needed a change.” He reached for my elbow to help me regain my balance. The heat of his touch distracted me. “I accepted a job yesterday and I start tomorrow. Now knowing that you’re here, I’d say it’s a great move.”

Ward didn’t let go yet. The worst part was that I didn’t want him to.

Excerpted from Night for Day by Roselle Lim Copyright © 2024 by Roselle Lim. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved

 

 

 

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Only Hard Problems by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review

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Only Hard Problems by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review

 

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Description:
PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE . . .

My name is Zane Zimmer. To most folks, I live a seemingly charmed life as a Regal lord and the heir apparent to the powerful, wealthy House Zimmer, and the gossipcasts breathlessly follow my every swaggering move across the Archipelago Galaxy. I’m also a powerful psion capable of telekinesis, telepathy, and telempathy, and my deadly skills and prowess with my stormsword have made me the golden boy of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force.

But even golden boys have bad days, and the truth is I have more hard problems than I can solve.

The Techwave is building weapons to use against the Arrows in hopes of toppling the Imperium and taking over the galaxy. But even more worrisome is the fact that my old rival Kyrion Caldaren has a powerful new ally in Vesper Quill. Together, the two of them just might destroy everything I’ve sworn to protect.

I’m supposed to be relaxing with the other Regals during the Summer Solstice celebration, but when an enemy threatens the festivities, I’m forced to leap into action. As an Arrow, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family and the other Regals, even though my actions will cause only more problems—and just might end up being the death of me . . .

 

Barb’s Review:
Only Hard Problems by Jennifer Estep is the 3rd book in her Galactic Bonds series. This story revolves around Zane Zimmer, the heir apparent to the powerful, wealthy House Zimmer. Zane acts like a playboy, when the gossipcasts get his attention, but he is head Arrow for the Imperium, ruled by Lord Callus Holloway.

Zane is a powerful psion with abilities of telekinesis, telepathy, and a powerful stormsword in defeating his enemies.   Zane is determined to stop the evil Techwave, who are building powerful weapons destroying many lands, in order to take control.  Zane is also trying to find Vesper & Kyrion, who escaped in the last book, and learned that Vesper was his sister, which upset him, since his father and grandmother have hidden this.  Zane has mixed feelings, as he knows that Holloway wants to remove Vesper’s psion powers for his own.  Will he bring Vesper and Kyrion to Holloway or will he find a way to save them?

It is the Summer Solstice celebration, with Zane, his father and grandmother attending, representing House Zimmer.  With pressure from his grandmother, Zane is supposed to present Lady Asterin a gift, with both of them totally disliking each other. Zane notices a former guard in the shadows and tries to follow him, as he suspects Techwave are in the building.  All hell will break loose when the Techwave guard brings out mechanical Black Scarabs, to kill the Solstice guards, and bombs are activated within the celebration.  Asterin is kidnapped, and Zane gets shot, but he is determined to rescue her.  To tell too much more could ruin it for you.

What follows is an exciting, non-stop action filled, suspenseful story that kept me unable to put the book down. The last third of the book was extremely tense and exciting, with some twists and surprises along the way.

Only Hard Problems was a tense last half of the book, that was intriguing, with violence, kidnapping, and psion magic.  Only Hard Problems was very well written by Jennifer Estep.  I did like Zane, and I suspect that somehow in the future, Asterid will be the one for him.  I can’t wait for what Estep has for us in the next boo, which will fully return to Vesper and Kyrion.  I suggest you read Only Hard Problems, as I fully enjoyed it.

 

Sandy’s Review: ONLY HARD PROBLEMS is the third instalment in Jennifer Estep’s adult GALACTIC BONDS science-fiction, fantasy series. ONLY HARD PROBLEMS focuses on Arrow Zane Zimmer, and his assignment to uncover the whereabouts of Vesper Quill. ONLY HARD PROBLEMS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of ONLY GOOD ENEMIES

Told from first person perspectives (Zane Zimmer) ONLY HARD PROBLEMS follows Zane Zimmer at the Summer Solstice celebration, a multi-purpose party to be used by the Zimmer family. Zane has been ordered by his grandmother to court and marry a woman he despises but his ‘boss’ has ordered Zane to uncover the whereabouts of Vesper Quill.Vesper and her bond mate Kyrion Caldaren are on the run, in the wake of the many attempts against their lives. Zane is struggling with his need to protect Vesper, in opposition to the orders from the man in charge but an attack at the Summer Solstice celebration results in the theft of some new technological power, and Zane is now facing the possibility that everything is not as is appears to be.

We are reintroduced to Lady Asterin Armas, the woman to whom Zane does not want to be betrothed.

ONLY HARD PROBLEMS is another story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, magic, elemental stones, dysfunctional family values, and questionable facades. The fast paced premise is intriguing, captivating and imaginative; the characters are secretive and energetic.

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DANE’S MARK ( Breeds 33) by Lora Leigh -Review & Giveaway

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DANE’S MARK (Novel of the Breeds 33) by Lora Leigh -Review & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 6, 2024

A decade ago Katy Chavos was a proud misfit who had her heart broken, crushed by a man who drew her close with one breath and pulled away the next. He left a mark she’s done everything in her power to erase. But when Katy’s job brings her back to the hometown she couldn’t wait to escape, seeing Dane again awakens something inside her that won’t be tamed….

Dane Vanderale isn’t like other Breeds. As a hybrid he’s stronger, more primal, and more determined to hide it. He’s also certain that Katy is not his mate—not that that stops him from wanting her with every part of his soul. He knows he hurt her deeply and he intends to make things right, but she is dead set on keeping him at arm’s length.

Despite their painful history, Katy can’t deny the intense attraction she still feels for Dane. And before long, it will be impossible for either to deny the truth that has been in front of them all along….

•••••••

REVIEW: DANE’S MARK is the thirty-third instalment in Lora Leigh’s adult BREEDS paranormal, sci-fi romance series. This is managerial analyst Katelyn ‘Katy’ Chavos, and Breed Dane Vanderale’s story line. DANE’S MARK should not be read as a stand alone as Dane’s story and the story of the Breeds has been building throughout the series, and as this is the first new book of the series in several years, a reread of the last few instalments may be required as a reminder as to what is happening and why. Dane’s Mark skips approximately eight years from start to finish, wherein many other stories and matings have occurred during that particular timeline.

SOME BACKGROUND: Decades earlier, trying to create the ultimate warrior, genetic scientists combined animal DNA ( sometimes several different animals) with human embryos resulting in a species that has been feared and tortured since their inception. With the increase in natural conception of cross-breed species, not only have the Breeds, but humans have become wary of the powerful results.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Dane and Katelyn DANE’S MARK follows the reluctant and acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. For years, cafe waitress Katy Chavos thought Dane Vanderale had been flirting but Dane’s outright rejection sent Katy into a tailspin, and with the help of someone else, Katy left her home town of Broken Butte, New Mexico, only returning a different woman eight years later. Now twenty-nine years old, Katelyn is a managerial analyst for the Breeds Tech-Corp, and Dane has continued to struggle with his attraction to a woman he did not believe to be his mate but his rejection was slowly killing the woman he loved, a rejection that would ultimately reveal the existence of a number of original Breeds, all with a deeper connection to our story line couple.

The world building is detailed, and complex revealing a more intricate and exhaustive history of the Breeds. Dane and Katelyn’s mating or mate rejection will expose decades of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, and the history of family and relationships including those long thought gone. As the heir and descendant of the first Leo, Dane has been forced to keep the secrets from the human public but it is the secrets that are about to be exposed in an effort to protect the Breeds, themselves.

The relationship between Katelyn and Dane is tempestuous and heart breaking. Dane refuses to accept Katy as his mate thus ensuring Katy will continue to suffer with his rejection and perceived betrayal. As a Vanderale, Dane has been taught never to reveal the existence of his Breed connections, and in this, his mate quite possibly will pay with her life. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative with references to the many Breed anomalies, and mating habits.

There is a large ensemble cast of powerful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including the return of the original Leo and his mate Elizabeth, Graeme Parker, Jonas Wyatt as well as the introduction of Katelyn and Dane’s large extended familes they knew nothing about.

DANE’S MARK is an emotional and heart breaking story of rejection, and the fall-out of decades of secrets and lies. The premise is comprehensive , captivating and compelling and sets the tone for several new series arcs with the introduction of many family members; the characters are desperate, charismatic, dynamic but broken; the romance struggles in the face of constant rejection and pain.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Follow: Website /Facebook /Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page

Berkley/Random House is graciously offering a paper copy of DANE’S MARK by Lora Leigh to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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CONTACT (New Eden 1) by Jessica Marting-review

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CONTACT (New Eden 1) by Jessica Marting -review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 13, 2024

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Trapped on the low-tech planet New Eden after a devastating earthquake, Hannah’s last-ditch attempt to save her people via a galactic SOS brings help in the form of a cyborg crew in need of a new place to live, led by the enigmatic RH103.

Rebuilding the ravaged New Eden is only one of the crises RH103 is facing. He doesn’t know why he and his crew were created, how they acquired their starship is a mystery, and worst of all, his cybernetics are failing. His attraction to Hannah is a distraction he can’t afford. But her returning his feelings is a surprise, and might be just what he needs before a total system shutdown.

•••••

REVIEW: CONTACT is the first instalment in Jessica Marting’s adult NEW EDEN erotic, sci-fi romance series. This is RH103 aka Rhys Hammond, and Hannah Forsyth’s story line.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Rhys and Hannah) CONTACT follows in the wake of the arrival of a spaceship and a crew of cyborg soldiers on New Eden. Approximately two years earlier, a devastating earthquake destroyed most of New Eden, and in doing so, killed all but twenty-one of the original inhabitants. Desperate for help, Hanna Forsyth sent out an SOS but never expected to come face to face with her future in the guise of RH103. RH103 and his crew had been searching for a new home since an ion storm wiped out the planet where they had been. Responding to Hannah’s SOS , RH103 and his crew would find the peace and friendship they had been looking for but RH103 aka Rhys never expected to fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between our story line couple, and the potential fall-out as memories from the past threaten to end the life of our story line hero.

The world building reveals some of the back story and histories of our story line couple. RH103 and his crew were once human but centuries of cloning created the ultimate soldier. Hoping to settle,RH103 intercepted Hannah’s transmission, and discovered a planet in need of help. Hannah Forsyth had become the de facto leader of their small community, a community of twenty survivors of a deadly earthquake. Unprepared and without most the minimal resources built by their founding fathers, Hannah worked diligently to keep the survivors alive, some who did not appreciate the work being done.

The relationship between Rhys and Hannah is one of immediate attraction although Rhys is unaware of the how or why. Centuries of obedience and working on command, would be replaced by autonomy and self-awareness such that each member of his crew would become an individual within the cyborgenic hive. As Rhys re-discovers his humanity, Hannah will discover she has fallen in love with more than a man. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to several members of the New Eden community including Hannah’s friends Jasmine and Rodelle, as well as Rhy’s twenty-man crew of fellow cyborgs: SP29 aka Samuel, and DL16 aka Darius-there is something developing between Jasmine , SP29 and DL16.

CONTACT is a story of discovery and acceptance, family, friendships, relationships and love. The intriguing premise is captivating but most of the conflict is contained to first contact; the romance is seductive and exploratory; the characters are charismatic and charming.

Copy supplied by Booksirens

Reviewed by Sandy

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The MacLee Chronicles 1-3 by Jina S Bazzar-reviews

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The MacLee Chronicles 1-3 by Jina S Bazzar-reviews

SPLENDOR’S ORBIT
(MacLee Chronicles 1)
by Jina S Bazzar
Genre: adult, sci-fi, adventure

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 21, 2023

Ten years ago, Captain Colderaro was the star of the Confederacy Task Force. And then she went missing.

Now, presumed dead, she prefers to keep a low profile. Working as a pilot on a freighter ship, she occasionally accepts the odd refugee passenger to appease her humanitarian conscience. But things go downhill when her cargo turns out to be none other than the princess of an alien race and her two bodyguards.

Embroiled in a galaxy-wide conspiracy, Captain Colderaro finds herself dodging the Confederacy Task Force, fighting space pirates, and evading mercenaries intent on capturing the princess.

Can she make it to the alien planet without losing or damaging her cargo while still keeping her real identity a secret?

••••

REVIEW: SPLENDOR’S ORBIT is the first instalment in Jina S Bazzar’s adult MACLEE CHRONICLES sci-fi, adventure trilogy focusing on Captain Colderaro aka Captain Leann Smith and Lord Ravi Drax aka Madrovi Fidraxi.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Captain Leann and Ravi Drax) SPLENDOR’S ORBIT follows Captain Lee as she is coerced by Kroz warriors Ravi Drax and his second in command Thern, into saving the life of a young girl she only knows as Felicia, by escorting her back to the Krozalia planet. From the outset, everything goes wrong; nothing goes according to plan when several attempts to kidnap Felicia are followed by numerous attempts on their lives. When the Confederacy Task Force discover Captain Lee’s true identity, Leann, Ravi, Thern and Felicia will have an escort, an escort of which Leann no longer trusts. As the Splendor and her crew fly closer to Krozalia, deception from within reveals betrayal at the heart of the attacks against Captain Lee, and her darkest secrets may get her killed. Captain Leann Smith is not as she appears to be, and in this, she will be targeted by the people she thought she could trust. Searching for the people who destroyed her life, Leann must endeavor to continue her search as she falls in love with a man she barely knows.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and dynamic. We are introduced to Leann’s AI advisor Mac; Ravi’s second in command Thern, princess Dolenta Tsakid, and several members from Captain Lee’s former military unit: Cassandra, Lorenzo and Sargent Sullivan. Betrayal came from home, abandonment resulted in someone Leann no longer knew.

SPLENDOR’S QUEST is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, friends and foes. From AI to cyborgs, space pirates and mercenaries, supercharged weaponry, spaceships and deceit, SPLENDOR’S QUEST is a tale of action and adventure into space, galaxies and planets, akin to Star Trek™ and Star Wars™ with a large assortment of intergalactic beings. The fast paced, multi-layered premise is fascinating and exciting yet I have read a similar story line and series in the past; the characters are desperate, determined and charismatic; there is a romance blossoming between Leann and Ravi. SPLENDOR’S ORBIT ends on a bit of a cliff hanger.

Reviewed by Sandy

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IMPERIAL STARDUST
(MacLee Chronicles 2)
by Jina S Bazzar
Genre: adult, sci-fi, adventure

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 22, 2023

Captain Lee thought she had faced the most challenging trials the galaxy had to offer. She was wrong.

Now she’s on the stunning planet of Krozalia, a world on the brink of chaos following the failed assassination attempt on the princess and the rising of a lethal rebellion.

Alliances are crumbling, loyalties are shifting, and Leann has no intention of waiting for the results. Staying might cost her more than she’s willing to pay, but leaving is no longer as simple as jumping into space.

So when the rebellion leaders make their move, Captain Lee finds herself in the thick of it all—and to save those she loves, she’ll need to use everything in her power, including the forbidden technology she’s worked so hard to hide.

•••••

REVIEW: IMPERIAL STARDUST is the second instalment in Jina S Bazzar’s adult MACLEE CHRONICLES sci-fi, adventure trilogy focusing on focusing on Captain Colderaro aka Captain Leann Smith and Lord Ravi Drax aka Madrovi Fidraxi. IMPERIAL STARDUST should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book one SPLENDOR’S ORBIT.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Captain Leann and Ravi Drax) IMPERIAL STARDUST picks up immediately after the events of book one. Captain Leann has successfully returned Princess Dolenta to her home planet but a rebellion is about take aim at the ruling family. As her human companions begin to negotiate a deal with the Krozalian ruling party, our heroine finds herself under scrutiny for who she is and what she knows. Meanwhile, Ravi Drax has made his intentions known to claim the woman who has captured his heart but Leann is determined to find the people who destroyed her life.

The world building continues to focus on the Krozalia people, their political system, and a rebellion meant to remove the royal family but Leann has much bigger plans, plans that will pulls her away from the man with whom she is falling in love.

The relationship between Leann and Ravi is declared as one of life-mates but Leann struggles in the face of past betrayals, loss and grief. Leann and Ravi are separated for most of the current time line but an attack pushes our couple together, in the wake of survival and another betrayal. There are no $ex scenes, everything is implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters as the crew and passengers of the spaceship Splendor come face to face with Krozalia’s royal family, ruling parties, security details and military soldiers. The requisite evil has many faces.

IMPERIAL STARDUST is another story of action and adventure, space travel, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family, relationships, and fated love with AI and Cyborgs, deceit and rebellion. The premise is thought provoking, animated and twisted; the characters are powerful, magical and complex; the romance is fated but subtle. IMPERIAL STARDUST ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Reviewed by Sandy

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ECLIPSED CROWN
The MacLee Chronicles 3
by Jina S Bazzar
Genre: adult, sci-fi-adventure

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2024

Krozalia’s fragile stability rests on Leann’s ability to protect Dolenta—the very same cargo she once ferried across the stars. With the Tanue untethered and the emperor dead, Captain Leann has less than three days to help the princess claim the throne. But this time, the captain’s long-buried goals entwine with a decades-old scheme, unveiling a truth that will reshape the destiny of Krozalia and the galaxy itself.

In the conclusion of this action-packed science fantasy trilogy, readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Captain Leann’s journey through a galaxy where danger lurks at every turn and the line between friend and foe blurs in the midst of a galaxy-altering conspiracy.

••••••••

REVIEW:ECLIPSED CROWN is the third and final instalment in Jina S Bazzar’s adult THE MACLEE CHRONICLES sci-fi, adventure trilogy focusing on Captain Colderaro aka Captain Leann Smith and Lord Ravi Drax aka Madrovi Fidraxi. ELCLIPSED CROWN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book two IMPERIAL STARDUST.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Captain Leann and Ravi Drax) ECLIPSED CROWN picks up immediately after the event and cliff hanger of book two IMPERIAL STARDUST. At the end of book two, our heroine Captain Leann Smith was injured, trying to save the life of the princess Dolenta in the wake of the murder of her beloved father. Several more attempts on the princess’ life, a rebellion of rogue warriors determined to take control, and a senscient creature connected to the royal family find Leann and Ravi on the run, looking for help from whomever they could trust. A ghost from the past is a reminder to Leann that not everyone and everything is who they appear to be but betrayal, vengeance, and a fight for power threaten Leann and her misfit band of warriors and cyborgs such that they will either become outlaws or die trying. In order to protect the princess, and the future of the royal line, Dolenta will merge with her future, to return ten years to take the throne.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and complicated characters many of whom have ulterior motives. Friends will betray friends, trust must be earned, and throughout it all, Leann knows her time with Ravi will come to a close.

The relationship between Ravi and Leann become something more. Ravi has mate-bonded to our story line heroine but their separation and her need to run threatens the life of the man that she loves.

ECLIPSED CROWN is another story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, tragedy and grit. The fast paced, character driven premise is detailed, complex and entertaining; the characters are powerful and determined; the romance is subtle and passionate.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copies supplied for review

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Subjected to the Alien / Pledged to the Alien by Tammy Walsh

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SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN / PLEDGED TO THE ALIEN (Fated Mates of Enchor’s Heart 5 & 6) by Tammy Walsh-reviews

SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN
(Fated Mates of Enchor’s Heart 5)
by Tammy Walsh
Genre: adult, sci-fi, alien, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 5, 2024

With our home on the verge of being repossessed, my brother convinces me to stick up a rich alien lord. We’re successful but the lord refuses to go down without a fight and gives chase. When he falls and gets knocked unconscious, I’m left with a terrible Leave him to die or nurse him back to health?

•••••••

REVIEW: SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN is the fifth instalment in Tammy Walsh’s adult sci-fi FATED MATES OF ENCHOR’S HEART alien romance series. This is Nora Rothwell, and scientist Fika’s story line. SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nora and Fika) SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN follows in the wake of the robbery and assault against our story line hero. Nora and her brother David Rothwell were desperate to save the family land and home, and came up with a plan to become highwaymen, who robbed unknowing travellers but Nora and David were about to find themselves in a bit of a quandry when their first ‘victim’ accidentally falls, and is knocked unconscious. Enter Chi alien Fika. Unable to live with the guilt, Nora brings Fika to her family home where she will nurse Fika back to health but all does not go according to plan when a Memory Relocator device reveals the truth to our story line hero. What ensues is the building relationship between Fika and Nora, and the potential fall-out as Fika’s memories return, and our couple facing a future without one another.

The relationship between Fika and Nora begins by accident when Nora and her brother David rob our story line hero. Weeks in recovery, Fika finds himself falling for the woman acting as his nurse but will struggle with the truth going forward. The lone $ex scene is passionate but mostly implied.

We are introduced to Fika’s sister Irvisa, and their ‘friend’ Ulwana, as well as Nora’s brother David, and sister Primrose.

SUBJECTED TO THE ALIEN is a fast paced, quick read focusing on secrets and lies, betrayal and forgiveness, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining and imaginative; the romance is subtle and sweet; the characters are interesting but not fully developed

Copy supplied by Booksprout

Reviewed by Sandy

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PLEDGED TO THE ALIEN
(Fated Mates of Enchor’s Heart 6)
by Tammy Walsh
Genre: adult, sci-fi, alien, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 5, 2024

After I’m attacked by a huge pair of alien males and rescued by an even more savage stranger, I realize just how vulnerable I am in the galaxy. So when he offers to protect me while he carries out some business, I leap at the chance. But when his business partner turns out not to be what he appears, I discover there’s more to my hero than meets the eye…

••••••

REVIEW: PLEDGED TO THE ALIEN is the sixth instalment in Tammy Walsh’s adult, sci-fi FATED MATES OF ENCHOR’S HEART alien romance series. This is Crown Prince Rurdrax aka Lorik, and Madison’s story line. PLEDGE TO THE ALIEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Rurdrax and Madison) PLEDGED TO THE ALIEN follows Chi Prince Rurdrax aka Lorik and his guard Aznai as they travel by beast, through a dangerous and sentient fog, to investigate the purchase of a mine but not all goes according to plan when Rurdrax and Aznai find themselves on the run, searching for shelter at a traveller’s inn. Enter fellow traveller, human female Madison, the woman with whom Rurdrax will quickly fall in love . Declaring himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine, Rurdrax must navigate the potential for betrayal, when he and his companions find themselves the prisoner of a questionable seller. What ensues is the building relationship between Rurdrax and Madison, and the potential fall-out as our couple are targeted in a fight for power and greed.

The relationship between Rurdrax and Madison is quick to build as Madison will become the target of a pair of unruly males. Beholden to Rurdrax, Madison finds herself a co-prisoner along with our story line hero, a man who is much more than he presents to be. The few $ex scenes are intimate but mostly implied.

We are introduced to Rurdrax’s travelling companion and security Aznai, as well as mine ‘owner’,

PLEDGED TO THE ALIEN is a fast paced, quick read of betrayal and vengeance, greed and power, secrets, lies and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is insta-lust to love; the characters are interesting but not very well fleshed out.

Copy supplied by Booksprout

Reviewed by Sandy

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