Category: Non ARC

The Parachutists by R.L. Minnich

Publisher:

Date of publication: August 27th, 2022

Genre: Military Thrillers, Crime Thrillers, Suspense

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis:

Decades after events during the Gulf War that left two men for dead, William Paradise and John Brazer are in the U.S. planning revenge against the man that ordered the hit on them.

These men risk everything they have in order to bring down their former General.

Sometimes the “Good Guy” doesn’t always win.

First Line:

“Help me!” screamed the man as he was about to be dropped out of the fast-moving C-130 Sniper J over the Atlantic Ocean.

The Parachutists by R.L. Minnich

Things You Need to Know Before You Read the Book:

There are some content/trigger warnings in The Parachutist. They are:

Moderate to graphic violence

Gun violence

Death of a parent (s) and wife (William was declared killed in a helicopter accident/ William’s wife died from a brain tumor)

Assault

Murder/Attempted Murder (The General attempts to murder William and Tom-Tom during the Gulf War. William and his team murder a bunch of people. Sammy the Snake murders even more people. One of The General’s operatives tries to murder Dana).

Sexism (Dana goes up against the sexist head agent in charge of the robbery case. She also experiences sexism numerous times during the book.)

Ableism (Towards the end of the book, Sammy employs a person with autism. William and Sammy make several jokes while the person is standing there.)

If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

William and Tom-Tom have been waiting for years to get their revenge on the corrupt general who left them for dead when their helicopter crashed. Essentially, ghosts, because they were declared legally dead, they can infiltrate and collect information that will help them with their plan. They planned to rob the Federal Reserve in New York City and other banks and pin the blame on the general. Can they do it? Can they rob the Federal Reserve and pin everything on the general? Or is there another player in this game? And will this unknown factor turn everything on its head?

Main Characters

Corporal John “Tom-Tom” Brazer: I didn’t know what to think of Tom-Tom. He was quiet and got things done. But he also gave off super shady vibes. I felt that there were things he wasn’t telling William, and there were also things that he was holding back.

Major William Paradise: William suffered the most out of everyone in this book. The helicopter crash seriously injured him and gave him amnesia. He remembers going to the embassy with John and being shot out of the sky. He also barely remembers his wife and daughter. He is executing the plan to rob the Federal Reserve and a highly skilled crew he gathered. I went back and forth on liking William. I also went back and forth with pitting him.

Lance Corporal Sammy “the Snake” Madino: I didn’t like him immediately. There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. But, I was astonished when it was revealed what he was doing.

Dana Anderson: She is a young FBI agent dying to sink her teeth into a case. When the opportunity arises, she jumps on it. I felt terrible for her because she was blindsided by her mother’s confession as soon as she was on the case. That threw her off her game and caused her to spiral. I wondered how she would be connected to Tom-Tom, William, and Sammy. Also, she is someone who doesn’t take any crap from anybody. I liked it.

My review

The Parachutists is an enthralling thriller that I couldn’t put down. It was also a twisty-turny book that had me guessing what would happen next.

I enjoyed reading this book. Even though there are several storylines, I kept sight of who I was with, what they were doing, and what the fallout would be. Usually, I wouldn’t say I like books with numerous storylines, so it surprised me.

The Parachutists was a very twisty book. I didn’t know what would happen from one chapter to the next. I didn’t even know who would be alive from chapter to chapter (the author had zero reservations about killing off characters). Again, this is not something I usually enjoy, but in this case, I did.

I also enjoyed how the author ended this book. He was able to close every single storyline in a single chapter. I enjoyed seeing certain people getting their just desserts. I also enjoyed seeing other people getting what was owed to them.

Many thanks to R.L. Minnich for allowing me to read and review The Parachutists. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Other books by R.L. Minnich:

Dream Rising (Dream Runners: Book 5) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Racing Into Romance Press

Date of publication: March 3rd, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1 (review here)

Dream Runner—Book 2 (review here)

Dream Watcher—Book 3 (review here)

Dream Giver—Book 4 (review here)

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

The battle for The Capitol has begun.

Logan and Reina have revealed the truth of what The Circle has been doing for a century. Citizens now realize that their beautiful utopia was built upon their stolen dreams. With The Circle unmasked, everyone now has a choice of whether to rise up against them for their tyrannical crimes, or stand aside.


Despite being seemingly defeated, The Circle has one more card to play: their martyr, and Logan’s best friend, Jonas Basker.


As the face of propaganda against Anyone, the late Jonas still has some pull amongst the people. That is why Logan and Reina must prove Anyone’s innocence by showing citizens how subverted The Circle really is. Luckily, their new friend has a secret worth going to the grave for.


With the government’s covert archives being targeted for destruction, time is running out to save what little remains of the good still left in Logan’s world.


Can The Circle truly be stopped?

First Line:

“Citizens of The Capitol, you have been lied to.”

Dream Rising by Ann Hunter

Things you need to know about the book before you read the review:

Dream Rising is the 5th book in the Dream Runners series. You cannot read this as a stand-alone book. You must read books 1-4 to understand what is happening and better grasp the different relationships. If you do not read those books first, you will get confused.

Dream Rising is appropriate for anyone over 16.

There are some trigger/content warnings in Dream Rising. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Violence, some of it graphic.

Grief (Logan is mourning the deaths of his best friend, father, and biological mother).

Mentions of Reina’s near rape and assault by two of the Duners.

Forced captivity (Logan holds Naressa, and The Circle holds Baelfyre).

Mind control (through the chips) makes the chipped people become zombie-like creatures.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

At a significant personal cost, Logan and Reina have revealed the truth about what The Circle has been doing to The Capitol’s citizens. But The Capitol, not admitting defeat, is running propaganda featuring Logan’s deceased best friend, Jonas Basker. Having gone to ground, Logan is holding Naressa, his adoptive mother, captive. Naressa tells Logan that The Archives, where all the records have been stored since the city was founded, are scheduled to be destroyed. She also implies that Jonas’s grandfather, Baelfyre Basker, has something to do with the chips being corrupted, and he needs to be killed. So, Logan, Reina, and Sparky must stop the Archive from being destroyed and figure out the deal with Baelfyre Basker. But what they find out might change their minds about everything.

Main Characters

Logan Kent: Logan is a mess in Dream Rising. He has witnessed his father and biological mother being killed before him and Reina being threatened with death by Naressa. Logan is still grieving the death of his best friend, Jonas. He is in hiding from The Capitol’s armed forces and has Naressa with him, who is playing mind games. Logan also has the mystery of the chips and why they malfunction to solve. I did worry about his sanity during this book because, with everything that was revealed and happened, I thought he would crack. I believe Logan would have if it weren’t for Sparky and Reina. He handled what was revealed towards the end of the book pretty well (I know I wouldn’t have), and I liked how he adapted.

Reina: Oh boy, was she spicy throughout the book. Her anger was palpable at the beginning. I understood her anger. I would have been angry if I had a time bomb in my head. But, towards the middle of the book, her anger turned to an unwavering resolve to end the chip problem. I wouldn’t say I liked her and Baelfyre’s plan, but there wasn’t any other way.

Naressa Kent: Saying that she was evil is an understatement. She messed with Logan’s head until the end of Dream Rising. She knew what she asked Logan to do when she sent him after Baelfyre.

Baelfyre/Jonas Basker: Baelfyre and Jonas (they share the same body) was a very unexpected twist to Dream Rising’s storyline. There were glimpses and mentions of Baelfyre throughout the previous books, but I thought that was it. I liked how the author explained how Jonas came to share Baelfyre’s body (it was heartbreaking). I also liked how Reina and Baelfyre devised a plan to free the chipped. It was a risk but worth it.

Sparky: Sparky the Duner was a significant part of this book. Sparky proved to be a great friend to Logan. He also was pretty clever (which surprised me).

Mandy Potkins: I was thrilled when Mandy was brought back in this book. Mandy had been keeping Baelfyre/Jonas safe from The Circle. But she has a secret. I can guess what it is, but until I read Dream Legacy, I can’t say for sure.

My review:

Dream Rising was a great read. The author focused my attention on Logan and Reina’s storyline while introducing characters and embellishing storylines.

Early in the series, I decided that The Capitol would not be the dystopian society I would like to live in. But after this book, it is even more confident for me. I would never let anyone put a freaking chip in my head (so I guess I would be an Anyone). I was slightly freaked out by the chipped people becoming zombies and what The Circle made them do. Reina and Baelfyre devised a solution. It might not be ideal (there were considerable risks with what they were going to do), but it made sense.

Dream Rising ends with a cliffhanger, as with the other books in the series. I wasn’t thrilled by this, considering what was revealed. But at the same time, it did its job and made me want to pick up Dream Legacy.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Rising. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Rising, then you will enjoy these:

Other books by Ann Hunter

Dream Giver (Dream Runners: Book 4) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: April 1st, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1 (review here)

Dream Runner—Book 2 (review here)

Dream Watcher—Book 3 (review here)

Dream Giver—Book 4

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Members of Anyone have gone missing.

The Circle is still determined to take down the rebel faction, Anyone, by any means necessary. After infiltrating The Capitol, Logan and Reina are shocked to find their comrades are being kidnapped, then returned– chipped, forcing them to come to heel beneath The Circle’s thumb.


The only way to level the playing field is to destroy the devices controlling the people. Logan and Reina must set out to find the small, hidden tech, and disable the chips that are turning friends into foes. The only problem? There’s a mole in the ranks of their allies revealing the duo’s next move before they can act.


Can Logan and Reina uncover the traitor before The Circle forces Anyone to destroy itself?

Fans of The Matrix, Inception, and The Giver have been dreaming of this series for a long time coming.

First Line:

I am Logan ve Elehna. I’ve killed two men.

Dream Giver by Ann Hunter

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler free as I can get):

Dream Giver starts immediately after the shocking and heartbreaking events of Dream Watcher. Kendall Kent, Logan’s father, has chipped Reina and is trying to force Logan into leaving Anyone, the rebel faction. But Logan refuses and gets away with Reina. Soon after, Logan and his team take over the building where Logan used to work. They discover that The Circle has nefarious use for the chipped and are horrified to see it in action. They also find a traitor in their midst—someone reporting back to The Circle and telling them Anyone’s plans. Logan, Reina, and their allies must not only find out who the traitor is, but they need to destroy the devices that control the chips. Can they destroy the chips before The Circle forces Anyone to destroy themselves? And who is the traitor?

Main Characters

Logan Kent: Logan is the son of Kendall and Naressa Kent, two high-ranking officials in The Circle. He is also the biological son of Elehna, the head of a rebel group called Anyone. Logan has discovered the truth about his birth in the previous books. In Dream Giver, he works with Elehna and Anyone to free The Capitol from The Circle. Logan has matured throughout the books but still does act impulsively. He is a natural ambassador and has brought Anyone and the Duners together to fight for The Capitol (even though the Duners might not be entirely on his side).

Reina: Reina is a medicine thief whom Logan met in Dream Shatter. She is a member of Anyone and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her people free and unchipped. Reina showed Logan that Anyone isn’t the monstrous rebel faction that The Circle has been portraying. In Dream Giver, Reina has finally recovered from her numerous injuries and being chipped. Reina is with Logan when the chipped Anyones are turned into zombies. She is turned but, with the help of an old friend, is brought out of kill mode.

Kendall Kent: Kendall doesn’t become a significant part of the plotline until this book. He is portrayed as a weak man who defers to his wife, Naressa. But, in Dream Giver, Kendall shows his true character. He is willing to do anything for his son to keep him safe.

Elehna: Elehna is the head of Anyone’s council on Base Nain. She is also Logan’s biological mother. Elena is helping Logan with trying to take over The Capitol. But she also might have an alternative reason for assisting Logan. Elehna is a voice of reason when Logan is upset. She has a very calm demeanor. Also, I should note that she is chipped. She got chipped in place of Logan, and Naressa has been able to keep tabs on her that way.

My review

Dream Giver is book 4 in the Dream Runners series. You cannot read this book as a standalone. You need to read books 1-3 to understand what is happening in Dream Giver.

Dream Giver is a well-written story that does follow some predictable storylines. I was okay with that and looked forward to the predictability. There were enough unpredictable storylines that kept me on my toes while reading.

The storyline with Logan, his father, what was happening to the chipped rebels, and Reina was harrowing. I didn’t know where this storyline would take me or who would be affected. I understood Logan’s anger and why he acted the way he did at the beginning of the book. But I also liked that Elehna made Logan look at what Kendall did from another angle: as a parent terrified for his child. I was horrified at what The Circle had the chipped rebels do and what Reina almost did to Logan. It made the ending so much more horrifying.

The continuing storyline with Logan and Reina’s budding romance was sweet and a little funny to read in parts. I liked seeing Logan’s feelings towards Reina grow. Of course, the author kept Reina’s feelings under wrap until the very end of the book. All I have to say is what a way to find out!!!

The end of Dream Giver broke my heart. I did not expect the events to unfold the way they did. I also didn’t expect Naressa to make the appearance that she did and didn’t expect her to try what she did. She did get what was coming for her. But, saying that, I think she will be a considerable part of the next book (just a feeling). I hope Logan can get his revenge because if he doesn’t, I might have to drop into the book and do it myself.

I would recommend Dream Giver to anyone over 16. There is violence but no language or sexual situations. There are a couple of scenes where Reina remembers her attempted rape by the Duners. There are also a couple of scenes where the author describes Reina’s chip being overridden and her being forced to hurt Logan.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Give. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Giver, then you will enjoy these:

Other books by Ann Hunter:

Dream Watcher (Dream Runners: Book 3) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: March 1st, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1 (review here)

Dream Runner—Book 2 (review here)

Dream Watcher—Book 3

Dream Giver—Book 4

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Logan Kent knows too much.

He knows his idyllic life in The Capitol is a lie. He knows a secret society is pulling the strings of their puppet government. And worst of all, he knows they built their utopia upon the stolen dreams of its citizens.

When the rebel faction, Anyone, rises up against The Capitol, Logan escapes The Circle and runs away with Reina, the rebel medicine thief who helped him see behind The Capitol’s lies. But having reached Anyone’s last free base in the country, Logan realizes what he knows is a weapon.

Anyone will use what Logan knows to bring The Circle to its knees. And his biological mother is at the heart of Anyone’s council.

Having a choice is what Anyone has been fighting for. Why they’ve wanted to free others. Free agency is worth dying for; but to Logan, going back across the arid Expanse and Heartlands feels like a suicide mission.

What choice does he have other than to betray his friends and the freedom of every citizen back home?

Fans of The Matrix, Inception, and The Giver have been dreaming of this series for a long time coming.

First Line:

Naressa is my mother.

Dream Watcher by Anne Hunter

Logan Kent has finally reached Base Nain with Reina. But Reina, gravely injured after an attack by The Capitol’s Army, is taken to the hospital to recover. With his knowledge of what The Circle is doing to its citizens, Logan realizes that what he knows could free The Capitol from The Circle. Given a choice of remaining with the Anyone faction and risking a massacre of its people or going home and using his knowledge to help Anyone expose The Circle, Logan chooses to go home. But going home will have risks, and Logan knows what they are. Can Logan accomplish what Anyone wants him to do? Or will everything he risked be for nothing?

I am deeply involved in this series, you all. I figured my enjoyment of it would wear off after book three, but it hasn’t. The author has done a great job hooking me and keeping me hooked on this series.

As with the last review, Dream Runner has some trigger warnings. They are assault, body horror, and torture. Logan witnesses the king of the Duners brutally assault his right-hand man for Reina’s attempted rape. The king has injuries replaced with cybergenetic parts (his eye changes color with his mood). The Duner who tried to rape Reina is chained to the wreckage of his bike and is refused water. Logan tries to give him some, and another Duner stops him, explaining that he knowingly broke the rules and will suffer the consequences. The Duner king also assaults Logan to make it look like he was tortured while he was gone.

Dream Watcher is the 3rd book in the Dream Runners series. You need to read the first two books to understand what is happening in this one. In other words, you cannot read this book as a standalone. You will be confused (even with the author’s brief rundown at the beginning).

Dream Watcher’s storyline centers around Logan, Anyone, and what This book has a twisty plotline that kept me glued to my Kindle. I did not know what each chapter would hold.

The storyline with Logan, Anyone, and what he knows is twisty. I get why Logan ultimately did what he did: he didn’t want any more people to die because of him. But I wish that I didn’t get the sense that his biological mother was subtly pushing him towards going home. Something about her didn’t sit right with me. Also, I wouldn’t say I liked how Logan was treated when he returned to The Capitol.

I felt so bad for Logan throughout this book. He had one bombshell after another dropped on him. Finding out that Naressa wasn’t his mother. Finding out that Elehnya is his mother and that she got chipped to keep him safe. Finding out that he isn’t chipped. Finding out that Elehnya did something to him so she could speak in his mind. Discovering that Elehyna is the head of Anyone’s council. Realizing that he was in love with Reina. Going home. It was a whirlwind, and even I got dizzy reading it. I thought to myself that the kid needed a break. He needed something good to happen to him. Even when he got back home, he was traumatized.

Reina wasn’t featured much in this book. She was dealing with severe blaster injuries, a dislocated arm, and trauma from nearly being raped. So, the author gave her some time to recoup. She does pop up toward the end of the book, but not how I wanted her to.

The end of Dream Watcher was jaw-dropping. I did not expect what happened to happen. My mouth dropped open, and a “No way” was said. I had to reread what was written because of what happened. Of course, it ended on a cliffhanger, but it was a good cliffhanger this time.

I would recommend Dream Watcher to anyone over 16. There is violence and language. There is no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Watcher. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Watcher, check these out:

Other books by Ann Hunter:

Dream Runner (Dream Runners: Book 2) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: February 1st, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1 (review here)

Dream Runner—Book 2

Dream Watcher—Book 3

Dream Giver—Book 4

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Logan Kent is abandoning everything he knows.

Logan’s parents have failed to recruit him into the folds of The Circle– a secret society puppeteering the government and forming a utopia by stealing the dreams of its citizens.
Unrest has broken out between The Capitol and the rebel faction, Anyone. Now Logan is running away with Reina, a medicine thief from Anyone, to escape the oppression of The Circle and find refuge with those still clinging to their free will.
Danger awaits between the quiet outlying Heartlands and an arid expanse where few dare cross. Will they reach the last major rebel outpost in the country before The Circle starts hunting them down?

Fans of The Matrix, Inception, and The Giver have been dreaming of this series for a long time coming.

First Line:

I didn’t want to let go…but I did.

Dream Runner by Ann Hunter

Logan wants nothing to do with his parents or The Circle. With Reina, the medicine thief from Anyone, they decide to run away from The Capitol and the oppression that The Circle creates. They are running towards Base Nain, which some think is a myth. But the voice in his head and Reina’s belief says otherwise. To get to Base Nain, Logan and Reina must travel across an arid expanse filled with danger, human and otherwise. Will Logan and Reina find Base Nain? Or will they be hunted down by The Circle?

If you haven’t read Dream Shatter, I suggest leaving this review, picking up Dream Shatter, reading it, and coming back here. Why? There will be some spoilers, and I don’t want to ruin Dream Shatter for anyone. Don’t worry; this review will be here when you get back.

Now that I said that, back to the review.

Dream Runner is book 2 in the Dream Runners series. This book is not stand-alone. You need to read book one before you pick this one up. Essential details and events will be discussed in Dream Runner that will confuse you if you don’t read Dream Shatter first.

I rarely do this, but I will put up a trigger warning here (it is also a spoiler, so skip it if you don’t want to read it). The warning is attempted rape and violence. A senior officer of the Duners almost rapes Reina before Logan can get to her. There is also a lot of violence in this book. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading this book.

The main storyline for Dream Runner centers around Reina, Logan, and their quest to find Base Nain. It is a fast-moving storyline that has zero lag. It was also well written, with characters I am starting to care about and others I wonder about.

The storyline with Reina, Logan, and their quest to find Base Nain was fascinating. The author added layers to a world I am already fascinated with because of what happened in The Capitol. Reina and Logan never got time to grieve (Reina for her brother and people, Logan for his best friend). Instead, they struck out and evaded capture several times during the book, each more harrowing than the other. I did get a sick feeling in my stomach when the Duners (think Mad Max but more tech-savvy) caught Logan and Reina. I got even more disgusted when I realized what the group leader had planned for her. By the time they arrived at Base Nain, they were battered, emotionally and physically.

I adored Logan in this book. He went from being somewhat useless in book 1 (he was!!) to becoming Reina’s hero in Dream Runner. When Reina was injured, Logan became her backbone. When the Duners captured them, Logan fought with everything he had. He ended up saving Reina from being raped. When The Capitol found them in the dust storm, Logan was the one to lead her through the dust storm and carry her into Base Nain.

I wanted to hug Reina. She had witnessed her brother being killed by The Capitol, her underground village (with the people in it) being destroyed by acid, her arm dislocated when Logan rescued her from the sand, and a Duner nearly raped her. It was a wonder that she wasn’t screaming when they entered Base Nain. It showed how strong she was and how determined she was to get to the base.

The romance angle was adorable and wasn’t mentioned until Logan and Reina arrived at George’s farm. Then, I saw more and more of Logan falling in love with Reina. Of course, I couldn’t see if Reina had feelings for him back until almost the end of the book.

The end of Dream Runner ended on another cliffhanger. She dropped the doozy of all twists right before the author finished the book. I was not expecting what was revealed, and neither was Logan. I had to read those last words twice before they sunk in. It made me very excited to read book 3.

I would recommend Dream Runner to anyone over 16. There is language and violence. There are no sexual situations. There are trigger warnings (the attempted rape is off-page).

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Runner. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Runner, then you will enjoy these:

Other books by Ann Hunter

Dream Shatter (Dream Runners: Book 1) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: January 4th, 2022

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy

Series: Dream Runners

Dream Shatter—Book 1

Dream Runner—Book 2

Dream Watcher—Book 3

Dream Giver—Book 4

Dream Rising—Book 5

Dream Legacy—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Circle is robbing the dreams of its citizens.

In Logan Kent’s world, disease, hunger, and war have all been resolved by the dreams of its citizens thanks to nanobots developed and implanted into everyone as newborns. At least, that’s how it seems…

Now The Circle wants Logan to join their fold and continue the utopia they’ve created. He has no reason to distrust his parents—high ranking members in The Circle—until he meets Reina, a girl from the exiled faction “Anyone,” who refuse to give up their free will.

Logan begins to question everything he knows and loves. Can the girl be trusted—especially when she’s a medicine thief skulking around Capitol City—or is it really true that peace can only be maintained beneath The Circle’s rule?

Fans of The Matrix, Inception, and The Giver have been dreaming of this series for a long time coming.

First Line:

Wake up, Logan. Wake up. Now.

Dream Shatter by Ann Hunter

Logan Kent lives in a perfect utopian society. There is no hunger, disease, or war thanks to nanobots implanted in everyone as newborns. But, at seventeen, Logan is tried and accepted into a secret part of the government called The Circle. Because both of his parents are high-ranking Circle members, Logan has no reason to distrust his parents or The Circle until he meets Reina. Reina is a medicine thief in an exiled faction called Anyone. Anyone was exiled because they refused to give up their free will and get nanobots. The more he gets to know Reina, the more Logan questions everything he has ever been told. Can he trust Reina? Or does Logan put his trust in The Circle?

I had been in the mood for an excellent dystopian young adult book for a while. So, when the author emailed me and asked if I could review this series, I said yes. I had enjoyed her North Oak series and was excited to read this one. I am glad that I did because this book was a good read.

Dream Shatter is the first book in the Dream Runners series. What I usually put in this paragraph (read the previous books, and you can/cannot read as a stand-alone book) won’t work here. You can pick this book up and enjoy reading it without wondering if you are missing anything.

The storyline of Dream Shatter centers around Logan, Reina, The Capitol, The Circle, and Anyone. Dream Shatter is a fast-paced book that I genuinely enjoyed reading. There was some slight lag in the middle (when Logan started to full out rebel and Anyone started mobilizing), but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

The storyline with Logan, The Capitol, and The Circle was hard to read at times. Of course, since I am the reader, I knew that The Circle was terrible news and they did awful things to people who didn’t follow their rules (i.e., get the nanobots). I felt horrible for Logan because he had zero clue about this until he was thrust into it against his will. I did like that the author gave us a good look into what Logan’s dad did (taking nightmares from people). But at the same time, I got a sinister vibe from it, and I have a feeling that what his dad was doing would return later in the series.

The storyline with Logan, Reina, and Anyone was just as interesting as the storyline mentioned above. I liked how the author laid out Reina’s backstory and Anyone’s backstory. I thought it was horrible how The Circle portrayed Anyone (they were described as terrorists in propaganda shown to Logan’s high school class). I also liked how the author laid the foundation for Logan and Reina’s romance.

I liked Logan. He had a good head on his shoulders. I was curious about the voice in his head. It was much more than an internal thought. He acts like a teenager throughout the book (he is only seventeen), and like teens, he does stupid/reckless things without thinking about what will happen after. I was as bored with his job as he was, but at the same time, I did find it fascinating. He did fixate on Reina rather quickly, which led to a couple of amusing scenes between them.

I also liked Reina. She was a spitfire wrapped in independence. I don’t know why she kept interacting with Logan after the first time, but I am glad that she did. Reina was also passionate about Anyone. I can’t get more into her character because of what happens in the last half of the book. It would be a massive spoiler if I talked about her family, friends, and what The Circle does.

The end of Dream Shatter was a cliffhanger. I’m not too fond of cliffhangers (and yes, I am saying it like a bratty kid). But it did its job and made me want to read book 2.

I would recommend Dream Shatter to anyone over 16. There are no sex, sexual situations, or language. There is violence.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dream Shatter. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Dream Shatter, then you will enjoy these:

Other books by Ann Hunter

A Dragon’s Dyne (The Talisman Series: Book 6) by Brett Salter

Publisher: Createspace

Date of publication: July 19th, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

Series: The Talisman Series

The Search for Synergy—Book 1 (review here)

Riders of Fire and Ice—Book 2 (review here)

Windy City Ruins—Book 3 (review here)

The Battle for Verdana—Book 4 (review here)

Desperate Tides, Desperate Measures—Book 5 (review here)

A Dragon’s Dyne—Book 6

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Things have gone from weird to blatantly absurd in Rome and Julian’s quest to preserve the boundary between the Earth realm and The Void. With Darkbrand numbers growing at a terrifying rate, the escape of Beliarahm, the fiercest Nocturn yet, and the struggle to make ANY headway with the Elementals and all their tomfoolery, The Alliance has hit a veritable wall. Even with the promise of the light Talisman to oppose the forces of darkness, there’s just no telling how or where to find it. All the other Talismans are collected, but that doesn’t necessarily give our heroes any comfort, because to this point, these magical items seem to have served more as crosshairs than protection. Maybe they need something more than the Talismans. But what could that be?

First Line:

The heroes stood in a circle with no idea what to do next. The sun rapidly moves toward its decline into the horizon, but the group had accomplished little in the way of unearthing the next step to take.

A Dragon’s Dyne by Brett Salter

Rome, Julian, and their allies have gathered all of the Talismans and their Elemental counterparts together to preserve the boundary between Earth and The Void. But, they are stonewalled when they are told there is one more Talisman out there. This Talisman, with a Light Elemental, has the power to turn the upcoming battle in their favor. But the Alliance doesn’t know where it is and is given a few cryptic clues to follow. With more Darkbrands escaping The Void and The Tyrant King getting closer and closer to breaking through the barrier, there is no time to waste. Can Rome, Julian, and the rest of the Alliance find the Light Talisman? Will they be able to defend Earth from The Tyrant King?

When the author reached out and asked if I wanted to read/review A Dragon’s Dyne, I immediately said yes. I have been reading this series from book one and was waiting for book six to come out. I had become invested in this series and wanted to know what would happen. I wasn’t expecting this to be the last book in the series.

A Dragon’s Dyne is the 6th book in The Talisman Series. You cannot read this book as a standalone. You must read the first five books to understand character backstories/past battles/and character relationships. You will be confused if you do not read the first five books. And trust me, reading those books before you read this one is worth it.

The main storyline of A Dragon’s Dyne centers on Rome, Julian, their friends/allies, the search for the Light Talisman, and the battle to save Earth. It is a well-written storyline that kept my attention from the beginning. It is also a fast-moving storyline. There is some lag towards the middle of the book (when Rome and friends are searching for the Talisman). That lag I anticipated, and it didn’t take away my enjoyment of this book.

A couple of times, I was surprised by A Dragon’s Dyne. One is a huge spoiler, and the other, well, I should have seen it coming. All I can say about the spoiler is that my soul broke during that chapter. I was not prepared for that. But I also wasn’t prepared for what happened in the next chapter. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions within a couple of pages. While I didn’t see it coming, the other surprise didn’t surprise me. It made sense (there were hints).

This book is written for middle-grade kids. The main characters are in middle school and act like it (mainly Julian). I could put any of my kids in this book, and they would behave very similarly to how Rome and Julian acted. There are no adult situations (well, Rome and his girlfriend kiss a couple of times) or language.

I loved the lore and the fantasy angle of A Dragon’s Dyne. I could have just read about the different dragons, how they fit in, or just disappeared with the human race, their customs, and magic. Those added touches added depth to this storyline and increased my enjoyment of this book.

I was sad to read that this was the last book in the series. But two things did stand out to me, which made me think the author would have spinoffs. One was Rome’s vision, and the other was what happened at the very end of the book. I hope the author decides to write more books in this universe.

The end of A Dragon’s Dyne was interesting. The author wrapped up all the storylines with the expectation of one. With what was written (see above), I hope that means more books in this universe.

I would recommend A Dragon’s Dyne to anyone over 12. There is violence. But there is no language or sexual situations.

Many thanks to Brett Salter for allowing me to read and review A Dragon’s Dyne. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Dragon’s Dyne, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Brett Salter:

Ride for Glory (North Oak: Book 8) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: November 2, 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Equestrian

Series: North Oak

Born to Run—Book 1 (review here)

Yearling—Book 2 (review here)

Morning Glory—Book 3 (review here)

To Bottle Lightening—Book 4 (review here)

Far Turn—Book 5 (review here)

Dark Horse—Book 6 (review here)

Against the Odds—Book 7 (review here)

Ride for Glory—Book 8

Hard Boot—Book 9

Inquiry—Book 10

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Can Alex handle the pressure of stardom?

When Alex scores berths into The Breeders Cup aboard Dreamer’s Song and Venus Nights, she discovers she may have to choose between them. But how can she choose between the filly she brought into the world, and the headstrong colt who is teaching her so much about the sport she loves?

Her kid sister, Gina, isn’t making the choice any easier. The rambunctious 10-year-old is nothing but a distraction, and a danger to the horses themselves. She’s always underfoot and asking too many questions. It’s all Alex can do to keep her wits about her.

Worse yet, Alex is on shaky ground with her feelings for Dejado and Carol. She can’t dare risk being anything less than perfect while the tabloids are blowing up over her skyrocketing career. Every move must be measured. No word can be mistaken.

The world is watching, and the clock is ticking…

First Line:

Sixteen year old Alexandra Showman frowned at the clay grit in her teeth.

Ride for Glory by Anne Hunter

Alex is ecstatic when she scores berths into The Breeder’s Cup on Dreamer’s Song and Venus Nights. But, that happiness is tempered when she finds out that she must choose between her heart horse (Venus Nights) or the horse that could take her places (Dreamer’s Song). On the homefront, Alex isn’t doing too great. She is trying to figure out what to do about Gina, her ten-year-old sister, and feels that Gina is overtaking her life. Also, adding to everything is that Alex is trying to figure out her feelings for Carol and Dejado. Can Alex hold everything together until The Breeder’s Cup? Or will she become tabloid fodder?

Ride for Glory is the 8th book in the North Oak series. While this could be read as a standalone book, I recommend reading the series so that way; you will understand Alex’s backstory better and her relationship with different people in the book.

Ride for Glory is a fast-paced book. The pacing of this book does suit the storyline. Seeing that everything happens over a couple of months (or a month, not sure), it made sense for the book to be fast-paced. There was very little lag in the book, which was enjoyable too.

The main storyline for Ride for Glory is centered around Alex, racing, and Alex’s personal life. The storyline was well-written and emotional (yes, emotional). I liked that even when I thought I figured out certain parts of the storyline; the author was able to surprise me by doing the opposite of what I thought.

The storyline with Gina and Alex was well written. As a mother of 3 and a sister to 8 (9 including me), I can safely say that Gina was written as a typical, obnoxious 10-year-old. Alex’s reaction to her made me laugh. She looked at her like she was another species; if you have ever had a ten-year-old, you know they are. But, I disagreed with how Alex treated Gina throughout the book. But, Alex did turn a corner with their relationship around the middle of the book.

The storyline regarding The Breeder’s Cup, the other jockeys, the horses, and Alex’s choices was interesting. I thought Alex was slightly immature regarding the horses, and I couldn’t believe what she said to North. He, of course, put her right in his place, but still. She had zero rights to go and demand what she did. As for how she handled the other jockeys, I did like her maturation in that sense, and the bully did get what he deserved.

The love triangle involving Carol, Alex, and Dejago had me confused but hopeful. At a point, I thought Alex had lost them both, and you know what? I thought it served her right. She was playing a game with Dejago, and he didn’t deserve that. She also spoke about Carol’s boyfriend (Alex’s cousin), and Carol got pissed and, again, served her right. Now, why was I confused? I thought Alex had made a choice by her actions towards the end of the book and was surprised when it went in the opposite direction. Talk about having my head spin.

The end of Ride for Glory was, well, glorious. I enjoyed reading about that final race. I got hyped for her and what her future plans involved. I was also stunned by what seemed to be her choice for romance. That alone made me super excited to read book 9.

I recommend Ride for Glory to anyone over 16. There is mild language, mild violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Ride for Glory. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Ride for Glory, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Ann Hunter

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two (The Celine Bower Story Series: Book 2)by Carly Brown

Publisher: Mosaic Press

Date of publication: August 31, 2022

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Superhero Science Fiction, Crime Thriller

Series: The Celine Bower Story

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle One—review here

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two

Purchase Links: Amazon (paperback only) | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mosaic Press published The Celine Bower Chronicle One in 2020 which established Carly Brown as an original voice in this genre. She was awarded the Winner Readers’ Choice Niagara Falls Review , 2020, The reviews were unanimous in their overwhelming critical praise. The highly anticipated Chronicle 2 is schedule to be published in 2022.

“I couldn’t put this book down! It kept me on the edge of my seat…Can’t wait for Part 2.” —Kara Foster

“I devoured this book! If you love a badass female protagonist overcoming all odds, this book is for you! From start to finish, this book keeps you riveted on Celine, her palatable need to over come her trauma, and on what will happen next. Can’t wait to see more from this author.” —Nicolle McKinnon

First Line:

The wake was shorter than he anticipated, and darker. There were even fewer people there than he thought as he walked in the assigned room.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two by Carly Brown

Celine left her hometown thinking that the police knew that she was the vigilante that maimed the four men who were her rapists. Telling no one where she is going, Celine arrives in the South Pacific and starts healing. Meanwhile, back home, a serial killer targets young college and high school students. With the body count rising, the police detectives (who know what Celine did) have no choice but to reach out and ask for help. But the question is, will Celine accept their request? And if she does, can she track down and take out the serial killer?

I was excited when the author contacted me and asked if I wanted to read/review The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle 2. With the way the first book ended, I had a few questions about everything. Plus, I wanted to see if Celine could heal from her rape. I also was curious about where she went. So, I said yes, and I am glad that I did. This book answered all my questions and tied up a couple of storylines from book 1.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two was a fast-paced book. It took me a little under a day to read. The book’s pacing fits the storyline, and there was little to no lag.

The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two had two main and multiple secondary storylines. Each of the storylines was well-written and well-fleshed out. The author did swap between the serial killer and Celine’s storyline often. But I didn’t have an issue telling them apart. I also liked the sense of completion with a couple of secondary storylines. I won’t say what storylines, but I did cheer for two of them. Talk about getting what they deserve.

The storyline following Celine and her healing was well written. She needed that time to come to terms with what happened to her. But there was a change in her character that I didn’t like. She had an edge and so much rage, which was understandable. The author also did something interesting with Celine’s storyline; she chose to highlight the sex trade in the South Pacific. Along with Celine, I was angry about those young girls sold to brothels, and I was sickened that men would go there for that reason.

The storyline following the serial killer was interesting and a little sad. I will not say much about this storyline except that his mother’s death drove him over the edge.

The end of Celine Bower was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up the serial killer storyline. It was believable. I also liked how Celine seemed to be getting her life back on track. That scene in the coffee shop made me wonder what would happen in the future. I am still determining if there will be a book 3, but I hope the author does write one!!

I recommend The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and a nongraphic sexual situation.

Many thanks to Carly Brown for allowing me to read and review The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of The Celine Bower Story: Chronicle Two, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Carly Brown:

Against the Odds (North Oak: Book 7) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: July 24th, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Equestrian

Series: North Oak

Born to Run—book 1 (review here)

Yearling—book 2 (review here)

Morning Glory—book 3 (review here)

To Bottle Lightening—book 4 (review here)

Far Turn—book 5 (review here)

Dark Horse—book 6 (review here)

Against the Odds—book 7

Ride for Glory—book 8

Hard Boot—book 9

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Alex’s racing career starts with Venus Nights, the filly she helped birth into the world, and a head case mare named Florescent Cheerio who Brooke has claimed.

When things go missing around the North Oak barns, Alex is sure she is being stalked. What’s more is Venus Galaxies has foaled twins, fighting for their lives to survive. Can they beat the odds?

First Line:

Sixteen-year-old Alexandra Anderson zipped her racing silks, tucking the tails into her bright white breeches.

Against the Odds by Ann Hunter

Alex is finally getting her life back in order and is ready to start racing. She is racing again and excitedly waiting for Venus Galaxy to foal. But, when Alex notices that her belongings are going missing, Alex immediately thinks she is being stalked. Then she has an accident while warming up a horse known for being unpredictable and is benched while her arm heals. During that time, Alex is confronted by the past she left behind and her soul horse giving birth to twins. Will Alex be able to face her past? Will the twin foals and Venus Galaxy survive?

When I started to get ready to read this book, I did some brush-up reading about horse racing, horse farms, and jockeys. What I read fascinated me. Women make up 27.2% of jockeys in horse racing (stated in this article), making it a male-dominated sport. So, to have a teenage girl (OK, woman) trying to break into this world was fascinating. What I read aligned with what the author portrayed (the sexist remarks made to Alex at the beginning of the book). That, along with a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming (even though the author warned me), made this book fantastic.

Against the Odds is the 7th book in the North Oak series. While this could be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend reading books 1-6 first. That way, you better understand Alex, her background, and the backstories of the other people in the book.

Against the Odds is a fast-paced book mostly set on a horse farm in Hamlin, Kentucky. I feel that the book’s pacing was perfect for it. It matched Alex’s energy and her whip-fast responses to people and situations. I had no issue following the storyline. There was no backtracking or me going, “Huh, what?” at any point in this book.

The main storyline of Against the Odds is focused on Alex, her continuing recovery from rape, her racing ambitions, her relationships (romantic and otherwise), and her love of horses. Against the Odds was a well-written storyline that kept me glued to the book. There was also a massive twist in the storyline that I didn’t see coming.

I liked Alex, but was she stubborn, like her being mad at her foster mother about something I can’t mention because of spoilers. That went on for more than half the book!! I worried about her health, mainly when she started skipping meals and throwing herself up. I worried about how it would affect her racing (which it did) and how the people in her life would help her. I also worried for her mental well-being and wondered (out loud, which earned a look from my SO). But the author addressed my worries and some in the book. I also loved her interactions with the horses. Her respect and love for these animals shone through the book.

I was thrilled when the author let Brooke have her chapters. It was nice to see Alex through someone else’s eyes. It was also nice to see the races/training of the racehorses through someone else other than Alex. I did laugh when she rescued Fluorescent Cheerio (the name alone made me giggle), but I didn’t laugh when I realized precisely what horse Flo was and how she was treated.

Alex’s relationships were still as messy as in the previous six books. She still had feelings for both Dejado and Carol. But, what was interesting, was that the author threw Brooke into the mix. Brooke had feelings for Dejado, which he didn’t return. While I want a resolution to the jumble, I like figuring out who will end up with whom.

The horses were still the main focus of the book. I was on pins and needles with Venus Galaxies foaling. That whole chapter had me biting my nails. I know that twin foals sometimes don’t survive birthing, and I wondered if that was how the author would go with the storyline. Also, Fluorescent Cheerio was a welcome distraction to the book. I loved her personality. She also came so far in the book. From an abused horse to one that was happy but had quirks. I loved it!!

I didn’t see the twist in this storyline coming. Honestly, I thought it was Brad stalking Alex. I didn’t expect what was revealed. My jaw dropped, and I had to put my Kindle down. After the shock wore off, I got very angry with North. This was something that Alex should have known way before she found out the way she did. But, at the same time, I was pretty excited to see how this twist will affect Alex.

The end of Against the Odds was interesting. It set the stage for book 8. There were no endings of storylines; everything was left in the air.

I recommend Against the Odds to anyone over 16. There is language, mild violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Against the Odds. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Against the Odds, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Ann Hunter: