Guest Post: REGINA SHEN WORLD by Lance Erlick

REGINA SHEN WORLD by Lance Erlick

The seed of the idea for the Regina Shen stories and her world was a challenging realm of the future that tested a resilient young woman every step of the way. In fact, the budding scene was of the outcast, Regina, adrift in a storm with no safe port.

In the story’s mythical past, abrupt climate change, rising seas, famines, and wars caused a collapse of the old order. In the final days, an all-female militia rose up, denying men procreation rights until they became extinct. The heroic, three-century-old Grand Old Dames saved the world and created an all-female society, vowing that there would be no more wars and no more gender strife. They created the World Federation to restore peace.

Before the Grand Old Dames took over, they were able to perfect fertility research to enable two women to have a child without men. This enabled them to make this a foundation for building their new society. Then, as a means to maintain order and control, they introduced a defect into the human genome so that only regulated Federation fertility clinics could bring forth new life. Only those who receive the blessing of the new order are allowed to have children.

This gave the new leaders complete control over the people and their futures. Then something happened so that the process began to decay and fail until there were no live births. For unknown reasons, Regina Shen’s DNA does not have the defect; she was not the product of a Federation clinic. Now the Federation is hunting her down to control her genes amidst a power struggle over a successor to the dying World Premier.

Because of desperate times after the worldwide collapse, the Federation adopted a caste system to help maintain order and to fill the necessary roles in society with Working Stiffs on the bottom, Professionals and Elites in the middle, and the Grand Old Dames at the top. Outcasts like Regina Shen were thrown over massive barrier walls built with slave labor to hold back the rising seas. The outcasts were left to fend for themselves, and fend they did, becoming stronger and more resilient than citizens of the Federation. In fact, many are captured as slaves to work the toughest Federation jobs.

The Federation created the Department of Antiquities in its early days to find and destroy all evidence of life before the Federation. The Grand Old Dames banned all print books and took control of their mesh, a future version of the Internet with one distinction. All information resides in Federation cloud-type databases and can be rewritten or purged in support of Federation goals. Rising in power and requiring military resources, the Department of Antiquities became the police and military rolled up into one, enforcing the laws of the Federation.

It is the Department of Antiquities that discovers Regina Shen’s DNA, turning her into a pawn of a worldwide power struggle.

Author's Bio:

He was raised by a roaming aerospace engineer, growing up in various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as traveling through Asia. He took to stories as his anchor, including the works of Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein, and has been writing since age eleven.

Growing up, he was inspired by his father’s engineering work on cutting-edge aerospace projects to look to the future.

In an ideal world, Lance would find time loops where he could step out for a week at a time to read and write. Then he would return to the moment he left, without life getting in the way. Of course, since everyone would have the same ability, he suspects life would still sneak in.

Lance is also the author of short stories and novelettes.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads

I have found the series engaging. My reviews of the four books (and giveaway links) can be found through this link.

Book Review: Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart

This story is entertaining and fast-paced but has a cliffhanger ending.

Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1)
by J.R. Stewart

• File Size: 4571 KB
• Print Length: 201 pages
• Publisher: Blue Moon Publishers (November 10, 2015)
• ASIN: B014LLM1XW

Genre: Sci Fi, Dystopian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

When the real world is emptied of all that you love, how can you keep yourself from dependence on the virtual?

Animal activist and punk rock star Larissa Kenders lives in a dystopian world where the real and the virtual intermingle. After the disappearance of her soulmate, Andrew, Kenders finds solace by escaping to Nirvana, a virtual world controlled by Hexagon. In Nirvana, anyone’s deepest desires may be realized - even visits with Andrew.

Although Kenders knows that this version of Andrew is virtual, when he asks for her assistance revealing Hexagon’s dark secret, she cannot help but comply. Soon after, Kenders and her closest allies find themselves in a battle with Hexagon, the very institution they have been taught to trust. After uncovering much more than she expected, Kenders’ biggest challenge is determining what is real – and what is virtual.

Nirvana is a fast-paced, page-turning young adult novel combining elements of science fiction, mystery, and romance. Part of a trilogy, this book introduces readers to a young woman who refuses to give up on the man she loves, even if it means taking on an entire government to do so.

Review:
Larissa was a talented musician when she met her husband, Andrew. She was reluctant to become involved but she finally succumbed to Andrew’s persistent charm, leaving her music behind to join him on the primary military base where he was recruited by the government.

Andrew was a brilliant scientist and the Hexagon organization snagged him to do research for them. He loved Larissa but he was also dedicated to the programming work he was doing, which included keeping secrets.

Larissa is devastated by Andrew’s disappearance during a research expedition. She refuses to believe he is dead because he seems so alive when he visits her in the virtual world of Nirvana. Several of Andrew’s friends try to get her to accept that Andrew is gone but they are giving her mixed messages that he may not be ‘dead’, but still he is unavailable.

Larissa struggles with her feelings until her therapist, Dr. Krag, sends her to the Bubble, a privileged, sheltered community designed by Larissa’s closest childhood friend, Serge. Larissa seeks help from Serge and follows up on another mysterious clue. Serge is thrilled to see Larissa and he is determined to convince her that she can find love again… with him.

Larissa doesn't realize that the primary military leader, Dr. Krag and Serge are connected by a history of deception and cover-ups. They will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the secrets of the true events that led to their profitable programs.

I was engaged by the story and by Larissa's determination to pursue the mystery of what happened to Andrew. I was fascinated by the description of the society changes resulting from the extinction of bees. On the other hand, I was horrified by the political and corporate manipulation and corruption.

The author did a good job building the various communities, but particularly Nirvana, the Bubble and the open source virtual world. I found the plot to be twisty and I easily understood how the real world and virtual world were becoming twisted for Larissa. (Think of "the Matrix".) I was eagerly waiting to get answers when there is a surprise revelation and a sudden end that had me saying "What??"  I really felt it was a terrible place to end the book because it forces a reader to make a choice – buy the next book to figure out what is happening or walk away possibly disgruntled.

The story is entertaining, fast-paced and reads quickly. I recommend it with the caveat that a cliffhanger ending leaves many questions to be answered in the next book.

This is a selection received through NetGalley for an honest review. It adds to my NetGalley challenge and is N for the Alphabet Soup Challenge.

About the Author:
J.R. Stewart has worked on many corporate projects throughout a prolific IT academic and consulting career, and is involved with many confidential virtual reality projects. After working on advanced “VR” technologies for over a decade, Stewart grew concerned about the implications of this work and the possible psychological effects that it may have on its users.

Audio Book Review: Helper 12 By Jack Blaine

This has an interesting premise but the story is too simplistic and the narration is lackluster.
Helper12

• UNABRIDGED
• by Jack Blaine
• Narrated by Renee Chambliss

    LENGTH    4 hrs and 52 mins
    RELEASE DATE    04-29-13
    PUBLISHER    Jack Blaine Books
Genre: Dystopia, YA
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Helper12 works as a Baby Helper in Pre Ward, the place where babies spend their first six months of life before they're tracked for vocations and sent to training. She does her job well, and she stays out of trouble. But one day, the Sloanes, Society members who enjoy all the privileges of their station - family unit clearance, a private dwelling, access to good food and good schools - come to "adopt" one of the Pre Ward babies. The Director makes a deal and the Sloanes walk out with a brand new child.

They also walk out owning Helper12 - the Director sells her to them, and there's nothing she can do but go. At the Sloanes, Helper12 enters a world where people should be able to enjoy life - with high position and riches come the opportunity for individual freedom, even the chance to love - but that's not what she finds. The Sloanes are keeping secrets. So is their biological son, Thomas.

Helper12 has some secrets of her own; she's drawing, which is a violation, since Baby Helpers aren't tracked for Art. And she's growing to love the child she was bought to care for - at the same time that Ms. Sloane is becoming disenchanted with her impulse baby buy.

When all your choices are made for you, how do you make some for yourself? Helper12 is about to find out.
©2011 Jack Blaine (P)2013 Jack Blaine

Review:
Helper 12 is a worker in a society that directs the roles of it’s citizens. Children are tested for their aptitude and then trained and tracked for the job they are assigned. Helper 12 is designated, and branded, to help care for babies. Oddly her branding was changed which is unusual. Once it had been a B which would have made her a Breeder. But the B was modified to become an H. Helper 12 is accustomed to working her shift and returning home to her small apartment. She tries, not very successfully, to remain detached from the babies because they will be released to chosen parents or she may be required to release them from life if there is anything unsuitable.

One day she is caring for an infant she calls “Jobee” when strangers barge into the nursery with her boss. The excited, demanding woman is frantic for a child while her husband and a teenage son stand back and watch. The director sells the child to the Sloanes and he also sells Helper 12 to them to care for the child. Helper 12 dare not raise a fuss or she will most likely lose her job and “disappear.” Besides, she would just as soon continue to watch over the growing infant who will have a better level of life with the wealthy family.

It is quickly clear that the mother, Mrs. Sloane, really doesn’t have the patience or inclination to care for the boy.  Helper 12 grows more protective and is surprised and wary when the biological son of the household, Thomas, takes a personal interest in her and the child. As Helper 12 learns more secrets she becomes more concerned for the safety of Jobee and herself. But she has limited choices until Thomas suggests a daring move. 

This is an interesting concept but I felt the characters were a little weak. Added to this the plot itself was lacking because the solution or escape came too easily. There could have been a better build of tension and action to increase the excitement for the story. The writing is okay, there were some interesting comments on society and it is a shorter work so a quick read or listen. Unfortunately, what started as a good story idea fell short in the delivery.

Audio Notes: I'm sad to say that the very lackluster narration did nothing to help the story. This was much more of a reading than a narration. There was very little emotion or nuance added. If the thought was to try to reflect Helper 12 as a limited character it may have succeeded for that but the narration failed to enhance the overall story presentation.

I received this download from Jack Blaine Books through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audiobook Review: Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2 by Kassy Tayler

This is a good sequel with a cliffhanger ending setting up book 3.

Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2

    by Kassy Tayler
    Narrated by Nicola Barber
        Series: The Ashes, Book 2

LENGTH  9 hrs and 40 mins
RELEASE DATE  07-23-13
PUBLISHER  AudioGO

Genre: YA Dystopia

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

Wren’s world has changed. The thing that she fought for - escaping the dome - has come to fruition, but it’s not the paradise she thought it would be. Most of the shiners have died, and according to James she is to blame for many of the deaths, a burden which sits heavy on her shoulders. Still some have survived and Wren is determined to keep them safe as they fight to establish a home outside while hiding from the rovers who have weapons that can kill from far away. But as long as she has Pace she knows everything will be fine. Still Wren wonders, as she sees the smoke that continually pours forth from the dome, how did her friends inside fare? Will they ever find out if Lucy, David, Jill, and Harry, along with Pace’s mother survive the explosions?

Meanwhile, someone else has also seen the smoke. A band of explorers from across the sea arrive in an airship, curious about the dome, and offer help to those who survive. When Wren meets the handsome Levi Addison, she suddenly questions her love for Pace as Levi offers to show her the world from his airship. Does she really love Pace? Or was it just the circumstances that made her think she did? Meanwhile, word arrives from inside via Pip, and Wren is forced to go back inside the dome, a thing that terrifies her more than anything else, to save her friends. Once she’s back inside will she be able to escape again?

©2013 Kassy Tayler (P)2013 AudioGO

Review:
In this sequel to Twilight of Ashes, Wren, Pace, James, Adam and a few more shiner friends have survived the rushing waters that drove them out of the exploding tunnels. Some of the blind ponies and goats have also survived. But there are many more deaths and losses. The small group is now forced to survive, with little in the way of supplies, in an alien environment where even the sun they have rarely seen can harm them.

Wren discovers that her friend, John, who was forced outside, has survived and established a place of shelter. He warns of the threat of barbarian rovers who raid and carry off females. Wren is filled with self doubt and guilt that is fueled by the bitter James. She questions if living in freedom, with starvation and fear, is better than living the life of drudgery, but safety, that they had before she dared to dream of the outside.

Suddenly Wren is faced with more strangers in an airship but she soon realizes that these foreign explorers are friendly. The remarkable family set out to help the small group of survivors to establish a safe community, offering even staff and weapons to protect against the rovers. The young man, Levi, is smitten by Wren’s simple beauty, her bravery, strength and determination. He doesn’t mean to come between Wren and Pace but if there is a chance for him to win her attention he intends to pursue it.

Pip, Pace’s intrepid canary, brings a message to Wren from Lucy who is still inside the Dome. The call is “Help us!” Pace has to go back inside if he wants to rescue his mother while Wren feels she must find a way to help her friends inside. Levi’s Uncle agrees to use his ship to help get them inside where they soon are trapped into more danger. As this book closes, Wren, Pace and Levi face the angry leader of the Royals, Wren’s father.

I liked the addition of the exploring US characters. It was interesting to try to imagine how the outside world, and strangers from far off, would effect Wren and her friends who have had little schooling. Presenting Levi as another romantic interest to catch Wren’s attention creates more conflict in addition to the struggle of surviving. Although it makes Wren appear shallow in her feelings I attribute some of her confusion to her youth and the stresses she has been experiencing.

I felt there was too much repetition of Wren’s fearful doubts and thoughts for a good part of the first half of the book. Again this may be consistent with the angst of being a teen but it was a bit annoying. The story was entertaining and I was engaged and anticipating what would happen with the confrontation inside when book two abruptly ended. For those who really don’t like cliffhangers, be forewarned. I will be interested to learn the conclusion in volume three.

Audio notes: Once again Ms. Barber does a good job giving emotional input to characters. She does a nice job with the accents and I enjoyed the listening.

I received this title for review from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audible Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

This is a different, thought provoking, dystopia.

The Giver
UNABRIDGED
    by Lois Lowry

    Narrated by Ron Rifkin
        Series: Giver Quartet, Book 1
    LENGTH    4 hrs and 41 mins
    RELEASE DATE    11-07-03
    PUBLISHER    Listening Library

Genre: Dystopia
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve-year-old receives a life assignment determined by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to an unnamed man, the man called only the Giver, he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile perfection of his world.

Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs.
©1993 Lois Lowry; (P)1993 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of Random House Audio Publishing Group.

Review:
Jonas is an eleven year old about to go through the annual Ceremony for twelve-year-olds to be assigned their role or job in the community. The adults have watched and monitored the youth to determine their best placing. Jonas realizes that his friends, Fiona and Asher, have been assigned jobs appropriate to their personalities and desires. Fiona, a caring young girl, will be trained to become a Caretaker of the Old, helping the elderly with bathing, dressing and daily living until they are released in a joyous celebration. The release celebration is believed to mean that they are moved onto another community across the river.

Jonas’ active friend Asher is assigned to train in the department of Recreation which Jonas sees as well suited. But what position will Jonas be assigned? To his surprise he is initially passed over and then proclaimed to train to be a keeper of memory. This is a greatly honored position which pulls him away and apart for everyone else, including his family. He finds himself being trained by a man called The Giver. This aged man holds all the memories of the past, including all the nuances of emotions–from pain to joy and love. He has the wisdom to help the leaders of the community to make decisions to avoid the mistakes of the past. But none of this information can be shared with others so The Giver leads a pretty solitary life.

When Jonas begins to share the burden of The Giver he learns of happiness and love but also pain and grief . He realizes certain lies that control his family and community. As he questions The Giver on the rightness of the system they begin to plot a means to force change on the community.

This story is set in a (presumably) future time when certain communities have settled around a system of control that is based on “sameness”. Personal emotions have been limited and controlled by trained (manipulated) family and educational teaching along with imposed medication that apparently suppresses natural emotions. Personal choice doesn’t exist.

I found myself captivated by the idea of the story and was eager to know what would happen as Jonas began to see and experience a fuller life of color and feelings. Would the emotions of love, joy and freedom overcome the trauma of physical pain and grief? That seems to be the real issue of the story and it makes you think about the value of free choice.

This is the first of several (four I think) books in the series. This ends at a point that leaves the reader to wonder what will happen to Jonas and the community. I will seek out the next book to see where it goes.

Audio Notes: I had some issues early in the book with the whininess of the narrator, especially for the younger characters like Jonas and his younger sister. As I began to accept that this might be fitting for the characters I relaxed into the listening. After that I was able to focus on the storyline and for the most part enjoyed the reading. I recommend listening to a sample before you decide to purchase as an Audiobook.

I read this from my own Audible Library TBR files.

Audio Book Review: Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler

Fans of The Hunger Games won't want to miss this engaging YA dystopia!
Ashes of Twilight
by Kassy Tayler (Author)
Nicola Barber (Narrator) 

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 9 hours and 24 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 14, 2012

Genre: YA Dystopia
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent and the coal is running out. Plus, there are those who wonder: Is there life outside the dome? Or is the world still consumed by fire?

When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome’s way of life. But Alex’s final words are haunting. "The sky is blue." What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy, and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

Review:
The city was built with glass domes and air filters to shelter humanity from the fire expected to burn up the surface when, in 1878, a comet was on collision with earth. The society was set up to protect the bloodline of the royals in England. The various classes are restricted by their duties to preserve the lifestyle and line of the pampered royals with their arranged marriages.  The coal miners live below in caves, providing coal to keep the fans running. Above ground, workers maintain the giant fans and clean the domes; others serve as gardeners, bakers, weavers and the various merchants who sell wares in the markets. Enforcers , called “blue coats”, guard the privileged royals from all the lower classes. Although the system was set up without criminal expectation, through the 200 years that have passed, a group of evil thugs, the filchers, dwell on the fringes and prey on those they can snatch in the streets.

Wren is an underground worker, a “shiner”, tending the ponies who pull the coal carts. She is now sixteen and has always had a bit of a crush on Alex but he is focused on Lucy. That leaves Wren stuck with her best friend’s brother, James, who is impetuous and sometimes cruel. Wren is a bit of a dreamer who sneaks up to the dome each day to watch the sunrise. She stares at the dome and wonders if there is really fire outside as the leaders say or if the world outside has returned to the green earth it used to be.

Alex and a few of their friends have started to gather as “seekers.” The group includes members across the class structure, including some royals who do not want to be forced into marriage. Suddenly the world as they know it is plunged into uproar. Wren witnesses a burned-alive Alex declaring with his last breath that “the sky is blue.” Alex had made a run for the outside but the blue coats dragged him back to let him die in the streets. Wren is chased by a blue coat, Pace, who has seen and heard more than he should. Soon the two are in hiding, wondering about the secrets beyond the dome and wondering what their future may bring. The younger miners want to investigate further but the elders are reluctant to cause trouble.

The story starts with Wren wondering about the Bible and the Heaven she knows little about. I enjoyed Wren’s faithful courage, steady determination and inclination to do the right thing even if that means seeking answers and freedom that could bring danger. Pace is a good match for her as he too is loyal, ready to protect her and ready to fight ‘the system.’  I also like how they both care for animals - the ponies and the canary Pace names Pip.

This is an engaging YA dystopia with wonderful world building and some good surprises. There is a good blend of action and ideological dreams.  I recommend this as a good read for those who like The Hunger Games and Divergent. I like that there is less senseless killing than in Hunger Games, although there is violence through the revolution that occurs. I will be interested in the sequel when released.

Audio Notes: Ms. Barber does a great job giving emotional input to Wren’s tale. She conveys her wonder, her frustration, her fear and sorrow. She presents the other characters equally well.  My only concern was that the narration was very soft making it hard to hear. Although that might have been the fault of my MP3, I realized the problem exists with the Media player too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren has to make a decision when escape becomes possible:

"....yet, everything and everyone I love is still inside and something is desperately wrong in there. I can’t leave him....Dreams are nothing unless you have someone to share them with." End of Chapter 27.

I received this for review from AudioGO through AudioBook Jukebox.

Book Review and Giveaway Link:daynight by Megan Thomason

This is  unbelievable at times, but mostly captivating with a unique plot of entangled characters and societal corruption.
daynight
by Megan Thomason

• File Size: 655 KB
• Print Length: 325 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1480226556
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: YA Dystopia
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 12, 2012
“Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story” —Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is Megan Thomason’s debut young adult dystopian novel and first in the daynight series.

Review:
Kira is a character I really like. She is young and often scorned as a ‘goody-too shoes’. She is loyal and determined to stand on her own and make right choices. She has set her goals on a full college scholarship by signing up to serve as a Second Chance Institute (SCI) recruit for a year. The year will also give her time away from the tragic explosion that killed her betraying boyfriend and best friend along with another 100 or so partying teens. That night has a lot of memories for Kira. She also met a truly wonderful young man, Ethan, who gave her butterflies.

Kira travels to the SCI station to begin her training. There she discovers that things truly are not as they seem and she’s “not in Kansas anymore.” She learns that she is on a planet, Thera, where conditions are opposite of earth. The climate is hostile with a burning sun. Everyone sleeps during day and trains or works at night.  She believed SCI to be a place that gave troubled souls a second chance to succeed. It sort of does that. They bring the dead back to life with no memory of their past and set them in a world of strictly dictated and enforced rules. You either following the regulations or you get cast out into exile.

Blake was a strange, aloof boy in her school. Now he is assigned to be her roommate and apparently he is one of the ‘pure darks’ who might be suitable for her to cleave with (marry). The plan of the SCI leaders is to pair a Kira, a pure light with a pure dark to be the mother and father of the next generation. The second choice as a possible mate is the handsome and charming Ethan who turns out to be the son of the horribly brutal dictator.

The author creates an interesting world of ugly dictatorships with corrupt leaders. Blake is the son of an exiled leader who wants to bring down the government. Blake feels he owes it to his father to spy for him even if he doesn’t agree with his militant ways.

There is a lot of conflict throughout the story that keeps it interesting. The ideology struggles, the intrigue and possible alliances were enough to keep me going when a few scenes became just too ridiculous. Most of the details and connections are nicely wrapped up by the end, with the scene neatly set for a sequel.  But there are a few items left unexplained (ie. who was the party girl in the first chapter?)

I enjoyed the style of alternating chapters between the primary characters, Kira, Blake and Ethan. Occasionally the scenes had to backtrack for the other view which created minor confusion until I became accustomed to the technique. I also noted but was able to get beyond a handful of editing errors and a good deal of telling rather than showing to reveal the back story. Fortunately that was spaced in between the action so it didn’t allow the story to drag.

I felt poor Kira’s dilemma at loving one young man who might chose a cause over her and loving a second young man who might not have the freedom from his parent/masters to commit to her. I liked the twists of surprising relationships that are revealed near the end. I appreciate the extra intrigue and mystery that surround Dr. Christo and his son, Jax. The continued conflicts and intrigue make me interested in the next book.

I received this book from the author, for an honest review, as part of BookBlast Tour.  There is a Giveaway below and a Giveaway at the BookBlast post.

Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card

Signed copy of Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Signed copy of daynight

Ends 2/7/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BookBlast with Giveaway: daynight by Megan Thomason

Are you ready for a twisted Second Chance?

Tour Schedule

daynight by Megan Thomason

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is Megan Thomason’s debut young adult dystopian novel and first in the daynight series.

Purchase

Amazon

Praise
“Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story” —Kirkus Reviews

“Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

“The writing is impressive and the story is a real page-turner. So many twists and turns… I’m hooked… I can’t wait for the next installment to come out…4.5 out of 5 stars”—Self-Publishing Review

“Delicious humor, intelligence, and sparkling dialogue” —Amazon reviewer

“Strangely brilliant and imaginative”—Amazon reviewer

“Grips you from the first page and keeps you wanting more”—Amazon reviewer

“Plot twists kept me reading till late at night”—Amazon reviewer

“Every page a thrilling experience”—Amazon reviewer

“Hooked from the first chapter and could not put it down”—Amazon reviewer

“It's like a CW fantasy TV show in a book with a really interesting environment.”—Amazon reviewer

“I'm a little tired of dystopian novels, but Daynight has a unique and fresh story line that didn't have any trouble keeping my interest.”—Amazon reviewer

Author Megan Thomason
Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.

 Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway

$75 Amazon Gift Card
Apple Earbuds ($30 Value)
Ends 2/3/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith

This story is well written and thought provoking, but dark.

The Miracle Inspector
by Helen Smith

• File Size: 340 KB
• Print Length: 254 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Tyger Books (May 17, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003MGK8V0

Genre: Dystopia
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 17, 2010
A dystopian thriller set in the near future. England has been partitioned and London is an oppressive place where poetry has been forced underground, theatres and schools are shut, and women are not allowed to work outside the home. A young couple, Lucas and Angela, try to escape from London - with disastrous consequences.

Helen Smith was the recipient of an Arts Council Award for The Miracle Inspector.

"The Miracle Inspector is one of the few novels that everyone should read, it's a powerful novel that's masterfully written and subtly complex." 5* SciFi and Fantasy Books

"Helen Smith crafts a story like she's the British lovechild of Kurt Vonnegut and Philip K. Dick, only with a feminist slant." Journal of Always Reviews

'Smith is at the very least a minor phenomenon.' The Times

Review:
Lucas and his wife, Angela, live in a future, closed-off London where women are completely restricted to their homes. Groceries and household items are delivered as the women do not go out to those places or any other.  It seems that children are rare and I wasn’t quite clear where the children were in the story.  Lucas seems interested in having a child but either Angela can’t or won’t consider the idea.

The men do all the jobs, and a lot of the work seems to be stifled and a drudgery.  Lucas is privileged to have a prestigious government position as The Miracle Inspector.  His job is to investigate and report on claimed Miracles. Of course no one really expects that he will ever find or approve any of the miracles that are called in.

Artists, whether painters, poets, writers or others of creative nature, are deemed to be subversive rebels of the new order. Most people of such nature, including Lucas’ parents, have been killed. But a close friend of the family, Jesmond, a Bohemian poet, still recites his poetry at forbidden gatherings, dodging capture. This character adds dreams and hope to the story. He has delivered a packet of poems and materials to Lucas who doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. Instead Angela begins to read the poems and she is lured to the freedom expressed by the creative spirit.

The first half of the book there is quite a bit of male fantasizing by Lucas thinking about his own wife and another colleague’s wife.  I found this unpleasant particularly since Lucas seems to love his wife but their relationship is stilted and stagnant because they don’t communicate and she has nothing to share.

I was glad that the pacing picked up in the second half of the book. Lucas had been toying with the idea of escaping London to take Angela to Cornwall. Finally he begins to form a plan and the story moves forward. I would say this was purposeful as the first half really sets the reader in the mode of the lifestyle - the same routine day after day with little outside contact or relationships.

I don’t wish to give any spoiler so I will only say that there is a journey through different, strange and sometimes dark communities.  It is difficult and there exists only a fine thread of hope to keep going.  The entire book is a dark view of societal controls and repressions. It is not a happy or cozy escape, but rather a thought provoking experience. Some readers would find this fascinating - as other reviews note. The writing is superb, at points lyrical which is surprising and a relief with the dark content. My final thoughts: this is interesting but not my cup of tea.

These are some words I jotted down as I read through this book:
                              Cerebral, artistic, thought provoking, complex, dark, depressing.

Sharp description of the silences between Lucas and Angela:

There were whole worlds contained in those silences; millions of gossamer strands of understanding going back and forth between them, like an invisible version of that fibreglass loft insulation that was illegal now. Location 40.

This is a phrase that made me think "ouch":

Lucas didn't like living in a dictatorship, as he did now, but he could see how democracy could be a bit of a burden when you were expected to obey the will of the people and the people turned out to be such a bunch of fools. Location 160.

I received this book for reviewing through Pump Up Your Book Tour.

  About the Author:
Helen Smith is a member of the Writers Guild of Great Britain and English PEN. She traveled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both – from cleaning motels to working as a magician’s assistant – before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel which was published by Gollancz (part of the Hachette Group).

She is the author of bestselling cult novel Alison Wonderland. She writes novels, poetry, plays and screenplays and is the recipient of an Arts Council of England Award. She’s a long-term supporter of the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture and mentors members of an exiled writers group to help them tell their stories.

Visit her website at http://www.emperorsclothes.co.uk.
Friend her on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/emperorsclothes
Become a fan at Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/authorhelensmith
Friend her at Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2833648.Helen_Smith

Pick up a copy of The Miracle Inspector at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Inspector-Helen-Smith/dp/0956517056

Audio Book Review: Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles #1) by Laura Kreitzer

This is a really engaging story and good audio. I'm ready for the next one!

Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles #1)

• UNABRIDGED
• by Laura Kreitzer
• Narrated by Karen Savage

Although I loved this on audio, if you hurry you may be able to pick it up for free on Kindle!

Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Dystopia

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Blurb from Audible.com:
Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she's lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

Review:
This story is told through bounces in time through Summer’s memories from age 4 to the current at age 16. This technique is fitting since the story centers around a time displacement. Even though this was on audio I didn’t have trouble following the time flashes once I knew that was how the past was being revealed.

When Summer was four she was stolen from her mother by human traffickers. Before being sold into slavery to pirates Summer was beaten into silence, learning that she was less likely to be beaten if she never spoke. She has not touched land nor spoken since.  Although she has struggled with the chores on deck and as the cook, at age twelve she found a protector and best friend in Landon. He has helped her in the ship's galley while guarding her from the worst of the leering crew. 

Now Summer is sixteen and a childhood friend, Jaden, arrives on board with a team that is seeking to retrieve Summer because she has a power that they need to control. Jaden helps Summer and Landon to escape from the ship but when they awaken on shore they learn that they are 200 years in the future. 

The world they find themselves in considers them "outlanders". The League of Canadian Federation, under its dictatorial president, is putting the outlanders in camps and it looks like they may starve (or worse) those who can’t be trained and assimilated into the current culture. Summer and her friends are the outcasts even among the outlanders. The outlanders in the camp where Summer is sent seem to be mostly teens and are part of 200 million people who have been transported from 2010 to 2210.  Somehow Summer is the catalyst that unknowingly impacted the timeline.  One of the League authority “cops”, Gage, who found Jaden and Summer, has taken an instant liking to the nearly starved waif. He determines to find a way to protect her not only from the dangers of the camp but from the Clock Society who wants to capture her to either use her or destroy her.

Ms. Kreitzer has combined a wonderfully imaginative future world with some hard issues such as muteness, human trafficking and societal oppression. All of that is woven into a page-turning plot. The characters are nicely developed, especially Summer’s strength, bravery, fears and vulnerabilities. Through the story it is interesting to see the ways Summer learns to communicate. There is a strong, platonic relationship with her protector, Landon, and a new, powerful but frightening romance connection with Gage. The action moves along at a good positive pace. Near the end of this book certain secrets are revealed and a new character, Julian, is introduced. I am ready to follow the characters and their struggles in the next book in the series.  

The story flows easily and the narration is distinct and crisp. The narrator, Karen Savage, has a wonderful accent and uses different voices to distinguish the characters. I particularly liked her expressive reading that portrays the emotions and excitement of the action. It was hard for me to pause the MP3 as I wanted to keep listening. I am sure the story would be good reading but I really liked listening to it.

I will seek out more by this author and narrator. If you liked the Hunger Game series, Divergent and/or Inside Out I think this fits with that category of engaging read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer gets a small revenge through cooking with hot peppers when a crew member destroys her treasured journal.

There is something about being insanely infuriated that makes one forget the consequences of their actions, luring them to commit to and conquer in blinding rage.

Thank you to Revolution Publishing and Audiobook Jukebox for the opportunity to review this Audiobook.

The setting is primarily Canada with some mention and visits to New York. I will add this to my ARC, New Author, Audio and Dystopia challenges.

Audible Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

This is a dynamic dystopia- don't miss it. I wish the second book was here already!
Divergent

• UNABRIDGED
• by Veronica Roth
• Narrated by Emma Galvin 

• LENGTH
  11 hrs and 11 mins
• AUDIBLE RELEASE DATE
  05-03-11
  Genre:  Dystopia
  My Rating: 4.5

Publisher's Summary

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves.... or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Review:

Beatrice lives in a time when there are five factions or communities that work together... or are meant to work together. Beatrice and her brother have been raised in Abnegation where they have been taught to be selfless. They don’t look at mirrors, they dress plainly and their focus is to care for others. When they reach the age of 16 they have to choose either their home faction or they can choose another. Each teen goes through an aptitude test to determine their best match.  Beatrice is told by her tester that she is “Divergent.” She doesn’t fit any one group profile. But she is to keep this fact secret as it puts her in danger.

Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles through the initiation program with the others to determine if they will remain and what their rank or position will for job placement/priority.
Tris makes friends and enemies complete with jealousies, betrayal and loss.  She begins a secret romance with one of her trainers but with all the secrets floating it isn’t clear who can be trusted. There is clear trouble coming when Tris learns that some of the leaders are not who they appear to be but are working towards controlling all the factions. Since the enemy has found a way to manipulate the people of the community Tris and a small band are facing an army.

This story takes a bit of attention initially to keep straight the factions and characters. This might have been more difficult because I listened to the Audible and didn’t have a book to refer back to. The relationships between Tris and the other characters, the inductees, trainees, her family and her new boyfriend, are well developed and realistic.  The narrator does a great job with the numerous characters, the various emotions and with the intensity of the suspense. The story closes at a major turn of events and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

A phrase I liked - stated after one of the other inductees dies.
“...Let the guilt remind us to do better next time.... a tool instead of a weapon...”

I picked this Audible up with my subscription and I am very glad I did.

2012 Challenges - Post Two (5 - 7) - Dystopia & Post Apocalyptic

FIVE, SIX Completed and SEVEN - Failed within time frame set
This is a genre I truly enjoy so I am looking forward to reading these.  I will have to do at least one a month to meet the Contagion level but hopefully that shouldn't be hard.
FIVE, SIX and SEVEN: Two Dystopia Challenges and one Apocalyptic and Dystopia Challenge
I do love this genre.

FIVE: Dystopia

 Hosted by Bookish Ardour

Challenge Levels

1. Asocial– Choose 5 books to read
2. Contagion – Choose 15 books to read
3. Soldier – Choose 30 books to read
4. Drone – Choose 50 books to read
5. Conditioned – Choose 75 books to read
6. Brainwashed – Choose anywhere between 76-135 books to read
7. Totalitarian – Choose anywhere between 136-200 books to read

I'll go with level 2. Contagion - that is at least one per month. I hope to do more but that is a solid commitment! 

SIX: Read Dystopia

Hosted by Book Journey

Challenge Levels:
1-3 Dytstopia Books read in 2012:  beginner  
4-6 Dystopia Books read in 2012:  Intermediate Post World Trainee  
7-10 Dystopia Books read in 2012:  Leader of Your District
11+ Dystopia Books read in 2012:  SURVIVOR!  

So this one I choose SURVIVOR level.

SURVIVOR -11+ Dystopia

Contagion =15 Dystopia

01. Charlinder's Walk by Alyson Miers; Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic;  my rating 4.25.

02.  Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer; YA, Fantasy, Dystopia; rating  4.5.

03.  Eos (The Samsara Chronicles Book 1) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Sci Fi, Dystopia; my rating 4.0.

04.  Nadir (The Samsara Chronicles Book 2) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

05. 77 Days in September by Ray Gorham; Post Apocalyptic, Suspense, Thriller; my rating 4.25.

06.  The Covenant (The Samsara Chronicles Book 3)  by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

07.  Itineras (The Samsara Chronicles Book 4)  by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

08.Tempest (The Samsara Chronicles Book 5) >by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

09. Maelstrom (The Samsara Chronicles Book 6) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25. 
10. Exodus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 7) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

11. Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

12. The Perses Effect: Book 1 by R. E. Robinson, Jr.; Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic; rating 4.25.
13. Netherworld (The Samsara Chronicles Book 9) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction Romance; my rating 4.0.
14.  The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch; Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.
15.  Bloodline (The Samsara Chronicles Book 10) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction Romance; my rating 4.0. 
16.  Entity (The Samsara Chronicles Book 11) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.
17.  Insurgent by Veronica Roth; Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.
18.  Kindred (The Samsara Chronicles Book 12) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 3.75. 
19.  Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.
20.  Equilibrium (The Samsara Chronicles Book 14) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.  
21.  Steel Whispers by Hayden Trenholm; Dystopia, Science Fiction; my rating 4.5.
22.  The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith; Dystopia; my rating 4.0.
23.   Colony Scott Reeves; Dystopia, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
24.  Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck; Dystopia, Thriller; my rating 4.0.


SEVEN: Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian

0/15 books Sign up at Books Ahoy

This one started in June 27, 2011 and runs to June 27, 2012. so I hope its okay if I list some of the 2011 books I read... There are some I still have to review though.

01.  (July 2011) Audible Day By Day Armageddon by J L Bourne; Apopcalyptic; my rating 4.25.

02.  (August 2011) Audible Beyond Exile: Day by Day Armageddon by J. L. Bourne; Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.

03. (December 2011) Audible Divergent by Veronica Roth; Dystopia; my rating 4.75.

04. (May 2012) Charlinder's Walk by Alyson Miers; Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic;  my rating 4.25.

05.  (May 2012) Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer; YA, Fantasy, Dystopia; rating  4.5.

06.  (June 2012) Eos (The Samsara Chronicles Book 1) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Sci Fi, Dystopia; my rating 4.0.

07.  (June 2012) Nadir (The Samsara Chronicles Book 2) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

08. (June 2012) 77 Days in September by Ray Gorham; Post Apocalyptic, Suspense, Thriller; my rating 4.25.

09. (June 2012) The Covenant (The Samsara Chronicles Book 3)  by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

10. (June 2012) Itineras (The Samsara Chronicles Book 4)  by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

These were July or later so wouldn't count for the June to June Challenge but I did more than I thought. 

1. Tempest (The Samsara Chronicles Book 5) >by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

2. Maelstrom (The Samsara Chronicles Book 6) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25. 
3. Exodus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 7) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

4. Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

5. The Perses Effect: Book 1 by R. E. Robinson, Jr.; Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic; rating 4.25.
6. Netherworld (The Samsara Chronicles Book 9) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction Romance; my rating 4.0.
7.  The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch; Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.
8.  Bloodline (The Samsara Chronicles Book 10) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction Romance; my rating 4.0. 
9.  Entity (The Samsara Chronicles Book 11) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.
10.  Insurgent by Veronica Roth; Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.
11.  Kindred (The Samsara Chronicles Book 12) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 3.75. 
12.  Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.
13.  Equilibrium (The Samsara Chronicles Book 14) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.  
14.  Steel Whispers by Hayden Trenholm; Science Fiction; my rating 4.5.
15.  The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith; Dystopia; my rating 4.0.
16.   Colony Scott Reeves; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
17.  Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck; Thriller; my rating 4.0.