Category: Non ARC

A Safe Place (The Devereux Family: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

A Safe Place (The Devereux Family Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication date: February 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: The Devereux Family

A Safe Place—Book 1

The Woman He Knows—Book 2

Bending the Rules—Book 3

Where you can find A Safe Place: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Tough, tender-hearted Frankie Devereux doesn’t have time to babysit a smooth-talking football player who’s supposed to be doing community service at her after-school center for troubled teens. She’s dealing with serious stuff – gang problems, a homeless pregnant girl and scraping together enough money to keep her center open.

But when a dark secret from her past threatens Frankie and the existence of her program, Cal tries to step up and help. But with his career on the line, which will he choose? Football? Or Frankie and her vulnerable kids?–

My Review:

When I read the blurb for A Safe Place, my attention was caught. A football player was doing community service. A woman was running a center for troubled teens. That was enough for me to agree to review it. I am glad I did. A Safe Place was a fantastic read.

The plotline with Frankie, FreeZone, and the head of DCF was troubling but well written. I was troubled because I had no issue seeing what happened to Frankie in her teens happening to a girl in real life. I am not going to go off on a tangent but sometimes people in positions of power like that prey upon the very people they are supposed to protect. I cheered when Frankie took the power that man had over her and owned it. I also cheered when Frankie delivered on her promise.

Cal’s plotline wasn’t as extreme as Frankie’s, but he did have issues. He was dealing with a possible career ending injury and doing community service. His plotline didn’t go into his issues as deep as it did with Frankie, but they were there.

I didn’t like Cal. He was a self-absorbed jerk for about 90% of the book. Everything about that man irked me. The way he treated Frankie. The way he treated the kids, Ramon especially. He turned everything into about him or sex. He did get better as the book went on but still. I couldn’t bring myself to like him.

I thought that Frankie was a strong woman. She overcame some horrific things in her early teens. She turned that pain into something positive. Her determination to help the teens in her center was admirable. I also liked the strength that it took to confront the man that hurt her. Like I said above, she owned it.

As much as I didn’t like Cal, he and Frankie had some serious heat together. Their sexual chemistry was off the wall. When they finally did have sex, it was hot.

I didn’t get much of a romance vibe from Cal and Frankie. It was more of a sex thing for me. So what happened at the end of the book didn’t jive with me. Don’t get me wrong; I was happy about it. But it was something that I couldn’t even picture.

The end of A Safe Place was satisfying. I can’t get into why but I ended the book with a huge grin on my face. I can’t wait to read book 2!!

I would give A Safe Place an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread A Safe Place. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read A Safe Place?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Welcome the Little Children (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries: Book 3) by Lynda McDaniel

Welcome the Little Children: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 3) by [McDaniel, Lynda]

4 Stars

Publisher: Lynda McDaniel Books

Date of publication: November 15th, 2018

Genre: Mystery

Series: Appalachian Mountain Mysteries

A Life for A Life—Book 1 (review here)

The Roads to Damascus—Book 2 (review here)

Welcome the Little Children—Book 3

Where you can find Welcome the Little Children: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis:

Missing mother. Neglected children. Lost love. Abit and Della have their work cut out for them.

Meet Astrid, a sprite of a girl whose mother goes missing from her isolated log cabin. Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid get entangled in the investigation, searching for answers from the mountains of N.C. to the streets of D.C. Along the way, they come face-to-face with the lies and secrets plaguing their own families. Meanwhile, Abit struggles with a decision that could cost him everything he holds dear.

Welcome the Little Children is the third book in Lynda McDaniel’s internationally acclaimed Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Reviewers have compared her work to To Kill a Mockingbird and her storytelling style to that of Fannie Flagg. If you like page-turning dramas without over-the-top violence—but packed with suspense and character-driven stories—you’ll love this series.

My Review:

Welcome the Little Children is the last book in the Appalachian Mountain Mystery series. Abit has graduated from The Hicks and is doing well for himself. Della is wondering if she should pack up and move to Washington D.C. with Alex. That is when Astrid appears. An eight-year-old who seemed years older, she tugs at Della’s heartstrings. Then Della finds out that Astrid’s mother has disappeared. Using her investigative reporter skills, Della tries to find her. Along the way, Della is forced to face secrets that are haunting her own family. Will Della find Astrid’s mother? What are the secrets that Della will uncover?

Welcome the Little Children was a fantastic end to the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries. I was excited to read it. I couldn’t wait to see what Della and Abit would get themselves into. I wasn’t disappointed!!

The storyline that involved Della, Astrid, and her family was heartbreaking. I liked that Della was going to find out where Astrid’s mother was. And when she did, man did the fireworks start. I loved it. I also liked that the storyline was resolved in a way that made sense to me. It was realistic.

The storyline that involved Abit and Fiona was a heartbreaker. I cried more during that storyline than I did in the other books. I felt awful for Abit. The decision he had to make was a painful one. But he wasn’t going to be pressured into doing anything he didn’t want to do. What I liked about this storyline is that it came around full circle. I’m not going to say what but I will say that Abit and Fiona did get their happily ever after.

The characters in Welcome the Little Children were wonderfully written. From the main characters to the secondary, they all added depth to the storyline. Della’s crisis at the beginning of the book struck me. I have had similar situations before, and I have questioned myself too.

The end of Welcome the Little Children was good. The storylines were wrapped up in ways that I liked. I will say that I agreed with Della on Abit’s mother’s deathbed confession. I would have contemplated the same thing.

I would give Welcome the Little Children an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Welcome the Little Children. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Welcome the Little Children?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

The Roads to Damascus (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries: Book 2) by Lynda McDaniel

The Roads to Damascus: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 2) by [McDaniel, Lynda]

4 Stars

Publisher: Lynda McDaniel Books

Date of publication: February 5th, 2018

Genre: Mystery

Series: Appalachian Mountain Mystery

A Life for a Life—book 1 (review here)

The Roads to Damascus—book 2

Welcome the Little Children—book 3

Where you can find The Roads to Damascus: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis:


Abit is back! Four years after that fateful summer in “A Life for a Life,” Abit Bradshaw faces the biggest challenge of his life in “The Roads to Damascus,” the much-anticipated second book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries trilogy. When a family of con artists fleeces his school and casts suspicion on him, Abit, with the support of his friends Della Kincaid and Alex Covington, sets out to find them and get payback. He takes a life-changing journey from Washington, D.C., through the mountains of Virginia, and finally home again to Laurel Falls, N.C. Along the way, he draws on every bit of courage and faith he can muster as he encounters a slew of characters—from sinners to saints—who help him come to terms with his rightful place in the world.

My review:

The Roads to Damascus takes place four years after A Life for A Life. Abit (or VJ) is home after being expelled from The Hicks. A family of con artists takes his school for a large amount of money. They also set Abit up to take the fall. Abit decides that he needs to find them and their other victims. His journey leads him through Virginia and back to North Carolina. During this journey, Abit learns that not all smarts come from the brain and that there was a place in the world for people like him. It is up to him to embrace who he is.

The plotline for The Roads to Damascus was straightforward. It follows Abit as he pursues the family of con people who took his school for a lot of money. It was well written with memorable characters. I didn’t like that the book was told only from Abit’s POV. The back and forth between Della and Abit in the first book was lacking here. But, I could see why the author decided to only write from Abit’s POV. It was his journey that needed to be told. And what a journey it was!!

I loved Abit in this book. I loved watching his character grow in this book. I knew that I was in for something special when he went to Washington D.C. to with Della and started on his journey. The bumbling, childish manchild morphed into a mature man who knew his worth. I loved it. Of course, he made mistakes along the way. He learned from them and moved on. His journey, which first started being about him, ended up being about other people.

I was a little afraid for Abit at points in the book. He didn’t exactly keep it on the down-low that he was after Mama, Clarice, and Clayne. Some of the situations that he got into scared me. There were points in the book where I kept saying to myself “Abit, GO home.” Of course, I knew that he couldn’t.

I wouldn’t call The Roads to Damascus a mystery. There was next to no mystery in the book. The only mystery was when Abit was going to catch up with Mama, Clarice, and Clayne. But there was plenty of adventure and plenty of action. I would say that it was a good fit in those genres instead.

There was romance in The Roads to Damascus!! I wasn’t expecting it, and I loved it. I thought that Fiona was a perfect match for Abit. After what Clarice put him through, I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to trust anyone again.

The end of The Roads to Damascus was pretty typical. I knew that what happened was going to happen. I liked seeing Abit show up everyone who had doubted him.

I would give The Roads to Damascus an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would suggest that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread The Roads to Damascus. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Pray for the Girl?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

TEN: Part 1 by Sin Ribbon

TEN: Part 1 by [Ribbon, Sin]

5 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publisher: February 12th, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQIA

Where you can find TEN Part 1: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Is fate a shield against the agony of choice or a force that suffocates free will?

From diverse walks of life and different corners of the globe, ten strangers are being brought together. Prejudice, fallen dreams, loss, and trauma have plagued each of their lives . . . until they find each other, and for once it seems serendipity may heal their collective pain.

But what lurks behind these fated meetings is something far more sinister.

Terrible and elusive forces have endowed the ten with supernatural abilities. Far from a gift however, some are drowning in these overwhelming new powers to the point of possession.

What does fate permit us to do? Are we a product of choice or design? In this urban fantasy adventure, the ten must resist the will of destiny if they wish to carve their own paths. Armed only with camaraderie, they will discover if the strength of their choice is enough to prevent the looming, catastrophic future thrust upon them.

The battle for free will begins here.

Review here:

TEN: Part 1 is one of those books that will blow you away. I went into reading this book thinking that it would be OK. I figured that 10 main characters would overwhelm the book. Man, was I proven wrong. TEN: Part 1 was a fantastic read with a great plotline and characters that blew my socks off.

The plotline for TEN: Part 1 was interesting. Ten individuals, from all walks of life and cultures, are drawn to each other. All ten individuals have powers that are starting to awaken. These individuals soon find out that they are chosen to play a game by the Fates. A game that holds the fate of humanity in its balance. It fascinated me. I couldn’t wait to find out why these ten individuals were chosen and what their powers were.

The plotline drew me in from the beginning. The author did a fantastic job of introducing the main characters. While each chapter was short, she got right to the point. If there was a change to a different character, it was labelled. I also liked that there were zero dropped plotlines or a lag in the plotlines.

I am not going to go into each character individually. There are ten of them and my review would be long if I did that. I did like that the author was able to make each character their own person. Which I consider a huge feat because well, ten main characters. I was expected some overlapping with their personalities.

I also liked how diverse everyone was. There were White, Black, Hispanic, Indian and Chinese featured. I loved that the author had a bisexual character and transgender character. It made the book so much more interesting to read.

I did like how the author had certain people pair off. I wasn’t expecting Orion and Allister, though. That pairing took me by surprise. I also couldn’t make up my mind about Siya and Thane. There was something there. The author kept it vague enough to make me wonder.

I will say that the powers that the author had Orion, Allister, Thane, and Qiu manifest were scary. What made them even more scarier was what happened when they got “possessed“. The explanation that was given at the end of the book made sense. I couldn’t understand why they had different powers than the others. Again, the end of the book explained a lot (not everything).

The end of the book was interesting. The plotlines were not resolved. Which is what I was expecting. I mean, this is Part 1. I did like how Siya explained Orion, Allister, Thane, and Qiu’s powers. I also liked how she explained what Riya, Sebastian, Madison, and Olivia’s roles in the game would be. I am curious about how she and Isaac figure into everything. So, yes, I can’t wait to read Part 2!!

Oh and before I forget, I was thrilled that the author had a character sheet link attached to her Goodreads page. I can’t even begin to tell everyone how much I loved that. It was a huge help when looking up names and getting backgrounds. If only other authors would do the same thing, I would be in heaven!!

I would give TEN: Part 1 an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread TEN: Part 1. I would reccomend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review TEN: Part 1

Have you read TEN: Part 1?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

A Light in the Desert by Anne Montgomery

A Light in the Desert by [Montgomery, Anne]

4 Stars

Publisher: Treehouse Publishing Group

Date of publication: November 6th, 2018

Genre: General Fiction

Where you can find A Light in the Desert: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis:

A Light in the Desert traces the story of a lonely pregnant teenager, a Vietnam veteran and former Special Forces sniper who, as he descends into the throes of mental illness, latches onto the girl, and a group of Pentecostal zealots – the Children of Light – who have been waiting over thirty years in the Arizona desert for Armageddon. The Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst’s, a deadly act of sabotage. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when local and state police, FBI investigators, and a horde of reporters make camp by the twisted wreckage of the Sunset Limited. As the search for the saboteurs continues, the authorities find more questions than answers. The girl mysteriously vanishes, the assassin struggles to maintain his sanity, and a child is about to be born in the wilderness.

My Review:

Jason Ramm is a former Special Forces sniper/mercenary who is battling a mental illness called the Messiah complex and PTSD. Wanting to forget the horrors of the Vietnam War, Jason retreats to the Arizona desert. Going off of his medications, Jason slides into his mental illness. His only human contact is an Armageddon cult called the Children of Light, the owner of the general store he shops at and a disfigured, pregnant teenager. What will happen when he loses his hold on sanity?

Kelly Garcia is a pregnant teenager who suffers from Moebius syndrome. Her mother, embarrassed to have a disfigured child, hides her from the world. After Kelly’s stepfather impregnates her, Kelly is sent to live with the Children of Light. It is there that she meets Jason and her life changes in ways that she wouldn’t have even guessed.

Billy James is the son of the owner of the only gas station in town. His father had abused Billy until his mother left. The years of abuse that Billy endured at his father’s hands had warped him. He is now an amoral, sociopath who is willing to do whatever it takes to leave his message. Billy plans an event that he hopes will cause mass hysteria and death.

When I started reading A Light in the Desert, I wasn’t expecting to get as involved in the plotline as I did. From the beginning, this book sucked me in. There was no tiptoeing around Jason, Kelly, and Billy’s issues. The author plunged me right into it. Usually, I would be “No, give me a chance to get used to the book!!” But in this case, I am glad she did it.

The significant plotlines were Jason, Kelly, and Billy. Jason’s plotline was vividly written, and my heart broke reading those scenes. Kelly’s plotline broke my heart too. Put it this way; I wanted to boot her mother and stepfather through the window. Billy’s plotline was as tragic as Kelly and Jason’s. Yes, I thought Billy’s plotline was tragic.

I didn’t add the plotline of the train crash in with the major plotlines. I felt that it was overshadowed a little by everything that was going on with Kelly and Jason.

There was a significant plot twist that came at the end of the book. When it happened, I went “No way.” But, after reading the book, I can see the hints that were dropped. With everything else that was happening, I didn’t pick up on it.

I did feel bad for Jason. His PTSD issues were laid out within the first chapter. His slide into the Messiah complex was subtle. I won’t lie, I was surprised when he told Kelly what was happening to him and what the medicine was for. I was also surprised by the twist in his plotline. I didn’t see it coming, and I was blindsided. I had to take a break from reading the book to process that information.

I also felt awful for Kelly. What she went through in her short life broke my heart. I wanted to hug her and take her away from that thing that called herself her mother. I also wanted to punch her stepfather. Despite the abuse that she was put through, she was still a sweet girl.

As weird as this is going to sound, I also pitied Billy. The abuse by his father shaped Billy into what he became. I pitied him because all he knew was violence and that shaped him. I pitied him because he fell through the cracks in the system. But, because I pitied him, it didn’t mean that I liked him. He was an evil person who deserved what he got.

I enjoyed reading A Light in the Desert. It was a compelling read. The author did a fantastic job of tackling some serious issues (PTSD, mental illness, child abuse). I had never heard of the Messiah complex or Moebius syndrome before this book. While the book explained what they were, I ended up googling them for myself.

There is also a slight religious undertone when reading the book. The Children of Light are a fanatical Pentecostal sect. They were waiting for Armageddon. The characters in the Children of Light play a significant role in Kelly and Jason’s story towards the end of the book. The author was able to get their point across without being preachy, which is something that I loved.

I did have a bit of an issue deciding what genre this book fit well with. There is action, there is religion, and there is suspense. I would have to say that it fits well in all those categories.

As much as I liked the book, I wasn’t a fan of the ending. First off, there is the twist in the plot. Like I mentioned above, I didn’t see it coming, and it took me by surprise. I felt that Jason’s plotline didn’t get resolved. I did like how the author chose to end Kelly’s storyline. I thought that it was perfect for her. And Billy’s, well, as I said, he got what he deserved.

The epilogue was poignant. I did ask myself the same question that Kate asked Cooper. Why?

I would give A Light in the Desert an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread A Light in the Desert. I would reccomend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review A Light in the Desert.

Have you read A Light in the Desert?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Darwin’s Cipher by M.A. Rothman

Darwin's Cipher by [Rothman, M.A.]

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: February 18th, 2019

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Where you can find Darwin’s Cipher: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species’ evolution across thousands of generations.

Using the algorithm he’s developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity’s susceptibility to cancer.

Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed “Darwin’s Cipher,” however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm.

Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he’s alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It’s a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate’s other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn’t match anything in the FBI’s database.

Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH’s level-4 bio-containment unit.

It’s only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them.

My review:

I am not a medical thriller fan. I haven’t read a book in this genre that I liked. So when I was approached with an invite to review Darwin’s Cipher, I was hesitant. But then I read the blurb, and my interest was caught. So I accepted. I am happy I did because this book was fantastic.

The plot with Juan made me both angry and sad at the same time. I was sad because he poured his life into researching a cure for cancer. I was mad because people were using his research in the wrong ways. I was interested in seeing what went on behind the scenes in a research lab. The author was able to capture the sacrifices researches make in their quest to find a cure.

The plotline involving Nate and his investigation was interesting. It was interesting to see what he was going up against in his investigation. The scene where the evidence disappeared from the locker was huge. Like he said, how does evidence disappear from a protected federal agency?

Frank and Katie’s plotline showed a 3rd side to what was going on. It was refreshing to see everything happen from a regular person’s point of view. Every thing that Frank, and then Katie went through, horrified me. Even now, I get shivers thinking about it.

All the main characters in Darwin’s Cipher were well written. I was able to form a connection to them. They were 3d. Everytime I thought I had a character figured out, another layer would be revealed. Loved it.

Out of the three main characters, I’d have to say that I liked Katie the best. She was an ordinary woman caught up in something that bigger than her. Her actions and reactions would be close to what I would do. I also liked how her character developed throughout the book. She started as an immature girl and ended up as a mature woman.

Juan was a force of nature in this book. He was passionate about his research. The author did a fantastic job of portraying that. He sacrificed so much to get where he was. My only fault with him was that he had tunnel vision about his career. But, that passion came in handy at the end of the book.

Nate was the only character in the book that I felt I could have gotten to know better. Still, I liked him.

The secondary characters in Darwin’s Cipher added depth to the book. I will include the dog in with the secondary characters. Not saying why. Need to read the book to find out.

The bad guys gave me chills. While I understood why one of the bad guys did what he did, I couldn’t get past it. The other bad guys were evil. There were surprises about them, though. A couple of people who I thought were in on it wasn’t. And a person who I thought was on Juan’s side wasn’t.

Darwin’s Cipher does get technical. I don’t even begin to understand lab procedures. There was also technical jargon that made me go “huh.” I was able to google/use my Kindle dictionary to look that stuff up.

I wasn’t a fan of the Juan/Katie romance in the book. It did make sense at the end of the book. It fueled Juan to do what he did. But, I didn’t like it.

The end of Darwin’s Cipher was a nail biter for me. The author had everything happening so quickly that I almost couldn’t keep up reading. I had to reread pages so I could process what was happening. The way the book ended had me wondering if there was going to be another book.

I would give Darwin’s Cipher an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Darwin’s Cipher. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Darwin’s Cipher.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Darwin’s Cipher?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Journey to Territory U (Extinction of All Children: Book 3) by L.J. Epps

Journey To Territory U (Extinction Of All Children, Book 3) by [Epps, L.J.]

3.5 Stars

Publisher: L.J. Epps

Date of publication: November 9th, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Series: Extinction of All Children

Extinction of all Children—Book 1 (review here)

Journey to Territory M—Book 2 (review here)

Journey to Territory U—Book 3

Where you can find Journey to Territory U: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Emma Whisperer’s journey continues in the third and final book in the Extinction series. Emma Whisperer and her friends are given ten days by President Esther to get their petitions signed to see if the people of Territory U agree with the walls being torn down. They can freely walk through the territory and talk to people.

What is life like in Territory U? Will the people of Territory U be accepting of their message?

Emma and her friends—old and new—explore Territory U and find the rich aren’t always as happy as they seem. They come upon some strange things happening in the territory and also underneath it. Friendships will be tested. Will Emma and her friends come out of it alive?

Emma has already accomplished so much—getting President Esther to let them walk freely through Territory U. Will Emma find and save Abigail? Will she save the people of Territory L? Or, will certain truths destroy her spunky spirit and good heart? Emma’s final journey brings about new challenges and revelations. Will these new discoveries weaken her or make her stronger?

President Esther has more in store for Emma than she could ever imagine. Will Rich get his revenge against Emma? Will President Esther win in the end? See how Emma and her friends handle the misery and destruction the president puts them through.

Take a ride with Emma as she makes some horrifying discoveries and finds the strength to continue on and finish the quest she started.

My Review:

I was a little hesitant to read Journey to Territory U. I didn’t have my hopes up too high after reading Journey to Territory M. But, I was surprised. Journey to Territory U was an enjoyable read.

There are triggers in Journey to Territory U. They are the same triggers as the other books. I would recommend not reading the book if you are triggered by infanticide.

Journey to Territory U’s plotline is different than the other books. Emma got the President to let her gather signatures for a petition. The petition is to merge the classes, bring down the wall, and stop the baby killing. Emma and her friends have a ten-day free pass to gather those signatures. Then Rich will have free reign to do what he wants. Top of his list, kill Emma.

I enjoyed reading this book. The plotline flowed. I was able to reconnect with Emma. Her crusade to find Abigail and to knock down the walls was reaching a fever pitch.

I also liked seeing how different Territory U was on the surface. The deeper Emma dug, the more similar it was to M and L. The people in U were governed by the same fear that kept M and L in compliance. They had more fear because the President could strip them of their U status and send them to live in L. It must have been a terrifying place to live.

There were a few twists in the plotline. The one which involved Emma, President Esther, and Henry, I saw coming a mile away. I figured it out while reading Journey to Territory M. The one with Rich didn’t surprise me. He was an unhinged individual who blamed his problems on a girl who had nothing to do with them. But, I didn’t see the other two twists. Both took me by surprise. Both made me go “No way.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

Emma surprised me in this book. The author made up for her stagnating in Journey to Territory M. Her character growth seemed like it was on steroids. I was amazed. I still found her annoying, but I liked her for the first time in the series. She was dealt some severe blows in this book. Secrets that her parents kept came back to bite her in the butt. Plus, she had to deal with Rich.

Rich’s issues with Emma were revealed in this book. I underestimated his character. The level of hate he had for Emma was insane. I didn’t understand why the President kept him around until Rich confessed to another guard. That’s when the lightbulb went on in my head. I’ll say this: I didn’t doubt his loyalty to President Esther. He lost his mind in this book.

This book was more focused on Emma’s relationships with her friends and family. I liked that. It showed that Emma valued her friends and family. It also taught me that Emma had a good reason for doing what she did. Oh, I do want to mention that Emma beating down Nathan was one of the best scenes in the book. Jerk deserved it!!

President Esther morphed from a President with issues to a dictator in this last book. I was horrified by what she was doing. She did get what was coming to her at the end. Now, I say that, but I also felt terrible for her. What happened to her should have never happened. It made me wonder if things were different, would she have mellowed out? Or would she still be the evil person that she became?

I do want to warn: Do not get attached to any of the characters. They are all expendable. I was taken by surprised at who the author killed off. So, don’t get attached!!

As with the other books, Journey to Territory U fit in with the dystopia and young adult genres. I had no issue believing that something like this could happen in the future. It is happening in a way now (with the abortion rulings’ in several states). I would recommend keeping an open line of communication if a teenager does read this book. There are some severe issues discussed throughout the book.

There was no sex in Journey to Territory U (thank God!!). As I stated in my review of Journey to Territory M, the whole Emma/Eric/Samuel wanna be love triangle didn’t work for me. It shouldn’t have even been touched.

The end of Journey to Territory U had me in turmoil. So much happened at once that I had issues processing it. I will say that President Esther got what was coming to her. I didn’t like the 180 that one character did. That person showed their true colors in Journey to Territory M. It was hard for me to believe that they could change. The epilogue was great but not believable. Change happens but not that fast.

I would give Journey to Territory U an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Journey to Territory U. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Journey to Territory U.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Journey to Territory U?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Journey to Territory M (Extinction of All Children: Book 2) by L.J. Epps

Journey To Territory M (Extinction Of All Children, Book 2) by [Epps, L.J.]

3 Stars

Publisher: L.J. Epps

Date of publication: November 8th, 2018

Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult

Series: Extinction of All Children

Extinction of All Children—review here

Journey to Territory M

Journey to Territory U

Where you can find Journey to Territory M: Amazon | Barnes and Noble| BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Emma Whisperer’s journey continues in this sequel to the Extinction series. Emma, the last eighteen-year–old in Territory L, finally escapes Territory L and makes it into Territory M. She tries to find her niece, Abigail, and searches for the leader of Territory M to see if the walls can come down. She brings two friends with her on her journey to finish what she started back in Territory L.

Emma hides out, trying not to get caught. Who can she trust? Will they find Abigail? Is she still alive? Will they find the newbie camp? Will they find out who the leader of Territory M is? Will the leader help them bring the walls down?

Emma thought escaping from Territory L would solve all of her problems. She soon finds out that escaping to Territory M is not all she envisioned it would be. President Esther, Rich, and the leader of Territory M have more in store for Emma than she bargains for.

Take a ride with them as their adventure begins in an abandoned college where they meet up with some unruly characters. Will these people, known as the runaways, be friends or foes?

Emma and her friends—old and new—find themselves searching for places to hide out from President Esther and her henchman Rich, all the while trying to find the leader of Territory M.

Take a ride with Emma as she finds some much-needed answers.

My review:

I was excited to read Journey to Territory M. I had enjoyed reading the Extinction of All Children. I was curious to see how Emma’s journey through Territory M would be. I was interested in knowing if she would free Abigail. I was curious to see if she would meet the mystery ruler of Territory M. Yeah, well, that excitement was misplaced. I hate to say it, but I was thrilled when this book was over.

Again, there is a trigger warning. It is the same as in the Extinction of All Children. The difference is that the author went into detail about how the babies and children were killed. The guards’ discussion made me sick. I have a daughter the age of the little girl featured in that scene. I ended up putting the Kindle down, walking over and hugging her tight. I also cried. So my trigger warning is the same. Don’t read this book if you are triggered by infanticide and graphic discussion of killing babies/children.

There was one major plotline in Journey to Territory M. That plotline is Emma and her friends’ mission to get to the mansion and talk to the mystery ruler of the Territory.

I found the plotline boring once the first couple of chapters were over. I had figured out who the mysterious leader of Territory M was way before that person was revealed. I also figured out that the newbie camp was as evil as it sounded. Even Rich’s abuse of Emma got boring. By the end of the book, I wasn’t surprised it went the way it did. I wasn’t surprised by Emma’s choice. I was not surprised by anything that was revealed.

I do want to point out that Territory M is for the middle-class. These people had the same rules as the lower-class, except they were were laxer. They could have children. But, they had to show that they were worthy of keeping them by working hard. If they didn’t live up to what Territory M’s ruler thought was hard, they got their children taken away. So, it wasn’t much better than Territory L.

Emma had zero character growth in Journey to Territory M. Her character acted like a child. There were points in the book where I wanted to shake her and say “Act like the revolutionary that you want to be.” She annoyed me too. Those eyerolls were more suitable for a 12-year-old than an 18-year-old. Plus, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. I wanted to duct tape her mouth shut at one point. I do admire that she never forgot that she was searching for her niece. I also liked that she wanted those walls down and that she wasn’t afraid to tell President Esther where to stick it.

The secondary characters surpassed Emma in character growth, which is impressive because it is usually the main character who changes with the book. Not in this case. Emma was stuck in her rut while her companions grew. While I did like it, I thought that it showcased how immature Emma was.

I did figure out who the mysterious leader of Territory M was. I figured it out early in the book, and I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. I didn’t like or trust this person. The whole newbie camp only underscored my dislike of that person. Actions speak louder than words, and this person’s actions spoke volumes.

Journey to Territory M did fit in with the dystopia genre. The author did a great job of portraying what the middle-class of this country was put through. They had it more comfortable than the lower-class but more stringent than the upper-class. I couldn’t imagine living like that!! Journey to Territory M was also an excellent fit for the young adult genre.

I was a little put off that there was even a hint of a love triangle. I didn’t feel that it had a place in the book. I had a “meh” reaction whenever Emma and Samuel/Eric had romantic interactions. I will say that I was happy that the author didn’t give and made her have sex with either of them.

The end of Journey to Territory M made me go “WTH am I reading?” I couldn’t believe that the President was allowing Rich to call all the shots. With Rich’s blatant hatred of Emma, it shouldn’t have been around. Also, what happened at the very end of the book. I couldn’t believe the author did what she did to some of the characters. Again, another “WTH am I reading reaction.” I want to know how everything will be resolved. I also want to understand why the President is so soft on Emma. I have a feeling I know. As much as Journey to Territory M left a bad taste in my mouth, I am going to read Journey to Territory U and finish the series.

I am going to give Journey to Territory M an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (there are a couple of kissing scenes). There is violence (including a graphic scene where guards talk about killing babies and a 6 year old). There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Journey to Territory M. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Journey to Territory M.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Journey to Territory M?

What are your thoughts?

Dystopias? Like to read them? Yes or No.

Let me know!!

Extinction Of All Children (Extinction Of All Children: Book 1) by L.J. Epps

Extinction Of All Children (Book 1) by [Epps, L.J.]

4 Stars

Publisher: L.J. Epps

Date of publication: June 3rd 2016

Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult

Series: Extinction Of All Children

Extinction Of All Children—Book 1

Journey to Territory M—Book 2

Journey to Territory U—Book 3

Where you can find Extinction Of All Children: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

A young adult, fantasy novel about a teenager who is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory. There will never be another child; every baby born after her has been taken away. Everyone wonders why she survived.

Emma Whisperer was born in 2080, in the small futuristic world of Craigluy. President Esther, in charge for the last twenty-two years, has divided their world into three territories, separated by classes—the rich, the working class, and the poor—because she believes the poor should not mingle with the others. And, the poor are no longer allowed to have children, since they do not have the means to take care of them.

Any babies born, accidentally or willfully, are killed. Emma is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory; every baby born after her has died. Somehow, she survived this fate.

During the president’s Monday night speech, she announces a party will be held to honor the last child in the territory, Emma Whisperer. Emma must read a speech, expressing how happy she is to be the last eighteen-year-old.

Emma doesn’t like the rules; she doesn’t believe in them. So, she feels she must rebel against them. Her family doesn’t agree with her rebellion, since they are hiding a big secret. If this secret gets out, it will be disastrous, and deadly, for her family.

During Emma’s journey, she meets—and becomes friends with—Eric. He is one of the guards for the president. She also befriends Samuel, another guard for the president, who is summoned to watch over her. As Emma meets new people, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Yet, she finds herself falling for a guy, something which has never happened before.

After doing what she feels is right, Emma finds herself in imminent danger. In the end, she must make one gut-wrenching decision, a decision that may be disastrous for them all.

My Review:

Again, another review where I have to post a trigger warning. In this world, the babies born to the people in Territory L are killed. It is not mentioned in what manner they were killed. The author left enough unsaid for my imagination to go overboard. So, it is safe to say that if you are triggered by infanticide, then do not read the book or the review.

When I saw this series turn up in NetGalley’s Read Now email, I was immediately intrigued. A world where society was divided up by classes? A world where the lower class was not allowed to have children? A heroine who was upset at the restrictions that were in place. Who was willing to do whatever it takes to make sure those sanctions were lifted? Yeah, you could say that my interest was caught.

Emma Whisperer was the last child born in Territory L. All babies born after her were killed. Why she was spared that fate, she didn’t know. She knew that President Esther was wrong in not letting the people in Territory L keep their children. So, the night of the party celebrating her 18th birthday, Emma took a stand. That stand ended up landing her in jail. But, it is in prison where she makes her most dangerous decisions and discoveries. Is standing for what she believes in the right thing? What will be the consequences for her actions? What did she discover?

Like I mentioned above, the plotline caught my interest. How could it not have been? I was a massive fan of the Mockingjay and Divergent series. I figured that the Extinction of All Children would be the same. In a way it was. But it was also different. Emma wanted to change things, and she didn’t let anyone stop her. She made her case in the Extinction of All Children at the beginning of the book. She kept making it every time she got a chance.

I did like Emma. She stood up for what she thought was right. She did try me nuts, though. Even though she was 18, she acted like she was so much younger at points in the book. Her eyes rolled so much in this book; it wasn’t funny.

Let’s talk about President Esther. She made my skin crawl. I couldn’t understand how one bitter woman could decide that a class of people didn’t deserve to have their children. I got why she felt that way. Growing up poor will leave scars. But to punish people for what her mother went through. That screamed deeper issues. How deep, though, wasn’t revealed until the end of the book.

The Extinction of All Children fit in well with the dystopia genre. The author did a fantastic job of building up a world where a country was divided into classes and walls.

This book also fits in well in the Young Adult genre. If the characters had been older, the book wouldn’t have worked. It needed young people. It required that energy that Emma had and projected.

The end of the Extinction of All Children left me with more questions than answers.. I wondered why certain people had grudges. I wondered who the head of Territory M was. It was well written, but nothing was ended. The storylines were not completed. Which is fine because that is a lead in to book 2.

I would give Extinction of All Children an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (there is a threat of rape). There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Extinction of All Children. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Extinction of All Children.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Bloodline Destinies by Iuliana Foos

Bloodline Destinies by [Foos, Iuliana]

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: February 13th, 2019

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find Bloodline Destinies: Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

In the year 2516 humans share Earth with elusive vampires and GeMs—a new species of blood-drinkers who appeared after the Flood. 

Months before his five-hundredth birthday, Theodor De Croix, Prince of The Old Coven, crosses paths with Vivienne. Torn between proving himself worthy of his bloodline and centuries-old beliefs about true love, he saves her life but rejects the idea that she might be sent to him by fate itself. 

Vivienne is a human scientist turned GeM in an accident. Body and mind forever altered, she struggles every day to adapt to her new life. Attracted to the man who saved her, but fearing his kind, she finds herself in more danger than ever. 

Caught up in a whirlwind of dreams and evil plots, both must confront their own demons in order to save each other, testing the powers of fate and love.

My Review:

I am going to start this review off with a warning. There are triggers in this book. Vivienne was tortured and abused in this book. What she went through before and afterward was a significant part of the plotline. So, if you are triggered by abuse, do not read this book.

Vivienne is GeM who has endured the worst kind of abuse. Escaping from her captor, she crosses paths with Theodor De Croix. Theo saves her from certain death. Vivienne is torn between her desire for Theo and her fear of what he is. Can she overcome her fear and her past? Can she allow herself to love Theo?

Bloodline Destinies has three significant plotlines. Vivienne and her recovery from abuse are one. Theo and his dance with Malvina was the second one. Malvina and her quest to avenge Ivan is the third one. I loved them all.

There were a couple of twists in Bloodline Destinies that I saw coming. They both involved Malvina. Even though I guessed at what was going to happen, they still surprised me.

I will say that I liked that the book took place almost 500 years in the future. I loved the whole backstory about the alien ship and the destruction it caused on Earth. Also, the entire storyline on how the GeMs were created was fascinating.

The sub-storyline that detailed Vivienne’s abuse and the aftermath from it broke my heart. Her strength poured off the pages.

I liked Vivienne. She had immense strength. I loved how she adjusted to being a GeM. Even though she was made into one the previous year, she was never allowed to learn how to be one (if that makes sense). I thought her fear of Theo was a little much. I could understand why she was scared of him. She had a prey response to him. But he showed her, over and over again, that he wouldn’t harm a hair on her head. That was the only complaint I had about her.

I did like Theo, even if he had a quick temper and came across as a jerk for 90% of the book. Don’t get me wrong; he wasn’t all bad. He came across as a grump. But, he did love Vivienne and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she was safe.

Malvina was slimy. From her first scene, I knew she wasn’t good news. And man, she was bad. I understood why she wanted to avenge Ivan’s death. That was her dad. She did get what she deserved at the end of the book. She should have been killed off sooner (sorry for the spoiler!!)

As always, the secondary characters added an extra depth to the story. I liked how the author brought in Ana and Andree from book one but kept them in the background. I also loved seeing Thora. I was surprised by Serge and his actions. I didn’t think he would do what he did.

I thought that Bloodline Destinies was an excellent fit for the romance genre. I liked how the author took Vivienne and Theo’s romance slow. I liked that there were setbacks. I also liked that there was a love triangle going on between Victor, Vivienne, and Theo.

As for the sex in this book, it’s there, but the author doesn’t go into detail. It wasn’t until a key scene at the end that I realized that Theo and Vivienne had even had sex. I was confused by it for a minute then the lightbulb went on.

I thought that Bloodline Destinies was a great fit in the paranormal genre. I loved that the author had a new vampire subspecies. The GeMs were fascinating. I do wish that more detail was given about the GeMs. Like why they were so hated.

The end of Bloodline Destinies was what I thought it would be. It was predictable. The storylines were all wrapped up in a way that I liked. I am interested in reading Thora’s story.

I would give Bloodline Destinies an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Bloodlines Origins. I would also recommend to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Bloodline Origins.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**