*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - Warcross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Warcross
(Warcross #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Category/Genre: Young Adult Sci-fi
Publication Date: September 12th, 2017

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

4 “Holy World Building Super Powers” Stars

Of course I’ve heard of Marie Lu before, but this was actually the first book by this author I’ve read, and yeah, I totally get the hype. This author can write! And the world she created? Wow!

I’m in love with the world Marie Lu created for Warcross. It’s kind of my dream world, in fact. I’m not a huge fan of video games, but it totally gave me a The Sims vibe, and who isn’t obsessed with The Sims?

Anyway, Warcross has the kind of world that draws you write in and makes you want to live inside the book’s pages, and in this case, inside the game (Marie Lue and) Hideo Tanaka created. The thought of putting on a glass and then going into a game like that leaves me salivating. The whole concept is new, fresh and unique!!

You know what else I loved? The diversity portrayed in this book with characters from all over the world and non-white main characters, plus the outside-the-USA setting.

There was a lot, a lot right with this book.

Emika was such a strong character. She was so relatable and likable and badass. I loved how smart she was, and how she didn’t back down from a challenge. Go, Emika!

Hideo was also my kind of love interest—mysterious, keeping a secret, hot and damaged. I wish I’d gotten to know him a little better, but I’m guessing that’ll happen in book 2.

The romance was cute. I expected more from it, but I wasn’t necessarily disappointed in what I got. Emika and Hideo made a good couple and they shared some great scenes. Was it just me or the fact that the characters were upper YA suggested the romance would have a little more heat? *shrugs* It was probably just me.

The only thing I didn’t exactly love about this book was the mystery around the villain and the people helping him. It was pretty obvious to me who was involved right from the beginning and I also guessed the identity of the villain when he was first mentioned in the story. I’m also guessing I know the motive behind the villain’s action already.

Having said that, the plot twist involving Hideo and Emika caught me by surprise, so yay for that!

Overall, this was an excellent first experience with this author. I know a lot of people love her books, and after reading Warcross, I’m more inclined to try her previous titles.

 

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Book Blitz with Giveaway - Winter's Kiss (Amethyst Chronicles #1) by K.G. Stutts

Title: Winter's Kiss

(Amethyst Chronicles #1)

Author: K.G. Stutts
Genre: SciFi Romance

Amethyst is a secret team of genetically enhanced humans which is Earth’s greatest defensive weapon. Leading the team of super soldiers is Ember Wilson, a tough woman with a huge chip on her shoulder. The team gets their name from the after effect of the Genesis Project which turned their eyes and even their blood purple.

For decades, Earth has been ravaged by unpredictable weather which began to cause crops to fail. Most of the planet’s food sources have deteriorated. Dr. Clayton Rudo has proclaimed he has the means to save the soil. He has created a weather machine to regulate and help replenish. But Ember knew the truth. He didn’t want to save the planet. He wanted to control it. Amethyst destroyed the machine, but was placed in stasis. Two years later, Rudo recreated the device and has frozen Washington, DC and the west coast of the United States.

General Tom Blanchard brought Amethyst out of stasis to work with an elite Air Force team, led by Major Liam Ross. Tensions between Ember and Liam rise as they butt heads. Can they work together before Earth is completely under ice?

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Croceus Poison

(Amethyst Chronicles #2)

Ember lost it all when she lost Amethyst.

Now, as she recovers physically she must come to terms with her new reality. The struggle to find herself again will push those who care the most away even the men who love her.

In time, an opportunity to recreate her transformation presents itself. Will she risk herself to find what she had? Is it worth her team? Her heart?...

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Past Reflections

(Amethyst Chronicles #3)

An accident has sent Ember Wilson one thousand years into the past! Suddenly face to face with Drs. Madison Brooks and Mackenzie Rhodes, two women who are legends in her time and the foundation of what will be her world and their families. Ember is surprised to find that she connects with the fabled group, especially with Logan Brooks, a strong, handsome man who she can't get out of her head. At first she is content to kick back and enjoy her time before the brilliant women can restore the timeline until she learns the storied team needs her help to ensure the future happens.

With the future now riding on her, Ember faces a challenge that will test even her abilities and skills. Will she make it back to her time? Destiny intervenes as the future becomes entangled in the past in a showdown for any decade.

**Coming in September! **

K.G. Stutts is the author of several sci-fi romance series as well as a few romance stories. She has a degree in massage therapy. As a contributor to Independent Writers Association (IWA) her insights can be seen regularly there and on her own blog at kgstutts.blogspot.com and her website at kgstutts.com

When she's not weaving words, she enjoys reading, playing RPGs, hockey, wrestling, and football, and is a big sci-fi nerd. Currently she resides in North Carolina, USA with her husband, Brad.

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Book Blitz with Giveaway - Bound Souls (Forever Yours #1) by N.D. Jones

Title: Bound Souls

(Forever Yours #1)

Author: N.D. Jones

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy Romance

A supernatural love triangle that tests the bounds of science, truth, and faith.

Regent Lela of Asiya is the most powerful person on her planet but she is powerless to save the life of her beloved soulmate—Zion Grace. For thirty years they lived as husband and wife, but Zion’s time is at an end. Lela must go on without him.

“There will never be anyone else for me.”

Despite having died, nothing can keep Zion from his soulmate. He’s back but not as the man he once was. Zion must help Lela move on with her life, lest he lose her forever. But how can Zion convince Lela to accept the love and affections of another man when he still wants her for himself?

“I love you, Lela. My heart is forever yours.”

Lela and Zion are bound souls, destined to live eternity together. For these lovers, death is not an end, but a fateful beginning.

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N. D. Jones lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. Having earned a M.A. in Political Science, she is a dedicated educator. She taught high school social studies for nine years. Currently, she is a professional development teacher specialist with a local Maryland school system, working on increasing student achievement through teacher and administrator efficacy. N.D. is also a continuing education student who is pursuing her doctorate in education in Community College Leadership.

A desire to see more novels with positive, sexy, and three-dimensional African American characters as soul mates, friends, and lovers, inspired the author to take on the challenge of penning such romantic reads. She is the author of two paranormal romance series: Winged Warriors and Death and Destiny. N.D. likes to read historical and paranormal romance novels, as well as comics and manga.

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Books by N.D. Jones

Winged Warriors Series:

Fire, Fury, Faith

Heat, Hunt, Hope

Death and Destiny Trilogy:

Of Fear and Faith

Of Beasts and Bonds

Forever Yours Series:

Bound Souls

 

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Book Blitz with Giveaway - Pneuma Series by Serena Kearney

Title: Pneuma
(Pneuma Series Book #1)
Author: Serena Kearney

Genre: SciFi, Supernatural Romance

Estelle Caldwell caused a war with her birth.

Estelle Caldwell has friends, family...everything a girl could ask for. But as she looks back on her life andher birthday approaches, weird things start to happen.

Questions are left unanswered. Her feelings are starting to become clear for the one she's been in love with her whole life.

People she knows start to become strangers to her.

She has to leave to protect them... to protect... him. 

pneu•ma

ˈn(y)o͞omə/

noun

the vital spirit, soul, or creative force of a person.

Do you know what it feels like to hold fate in your hand?

Was it fate that my whole life got turned upside down?

He was the reason I had to leave.

Making the sacrifice caused my heart to rip in two.

I wanted normalcy. I wanted my life to be my own.

But it's nothing without the people I love, and it's for

the people I love that I have to leave.

Fate. Please be kind.

Will he still remember me?

Will our first and last kiss be one and the same?

Please remember.

Please be with me.

Family is tested.

Memories are everywhere.

Love is one of the biggest reliefs and hurts you can have at the same time.

**FREE on Amazon!**

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Surge

Pneuma Series Book 2

***The continuation from Book One- Pneuma***

Follow Estelle and Reed's journey in Book Two- Surge.

surge

/surj/

noun

1. a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep.

2. a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something.

Confusion.

Jealousy.

Possession.

When I find out our link isn’t complete, we have a whole other journey to discover. 

Through pain, sweat, and a full out war between the planets, it is laid, not only on my shoulders, but Reeds as well.

And when I find out who Vega has captured and what he has in store for us, I am going to need everyone’s help in the process.

Can I do what I am fated to do?

Will our love survive?

Or will it be a tornado destroying everything in it’s path?

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Camatic

Pneuma Series Book 3

camatic

/ka-ma-tik/

noun

A pair of beings who have formed an unbreakable, metaphysical link. They often experience heightened levels of ESP, including telepathy, telekinesis, and remote viewing.

EARTH

The first place I called home.

The place I lived.

The place I fell in love. The place my family raised me. The place I formed everlasting bonds.

Can I ignore the ache in my chest when all I see through their eyes is hate and built up hostility?

When I think I am done with one war, I have another to deal with.

Can I do this?

Will I be brave enough?

Reed gives me strength.

Earth is my home.

I will save it.

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I am a Leo. Born August 10, living on the east coast. I self-published my first novel, PNEUMA, November 2014, and it's hasn't stopped since.

One of my biggest problems was having too much to read. Now my newfound problem; having too much to write and not enough hands to type it out. Not enough brains to put the stories together fast enough. Not enough tea or coffee to keep me awake 24/7.

So, like every normal person, I have to take it one day at a time.

My cravings for sweets keep me going, any sort of cakes (especially red velvet), pies, cookies, and ice cream.

I have a cat named Bongo-Bongo, who loves to get in my way when I'm trying to work, but is too cute for me to fight him off.

And then I have my family, specifically my husband, who puts up with my endless nights, my tapping of the keyboard, my ridiculous imagination, and yet, he always encourages me to believe in myself and follow my dreams.

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Release & Review - This is Me. by C.E. Wilson

Title: This is Me.
Author: C.E. Wilson

Publication Date: August 11th, 2016

A-SIST
Anthropomorphic Sentient Individualized Servile uniT

Rogan is a robot. More specifically, he is an Asist – a personalized humanoid servant that provides protection, assistance, and companionship for a lonely young woman living on her own in the city. Chloe is trying to get her big break, singing at bars and clubs all over the city at night while she pays the bills as a substitute teacher during the day. Ever since she activated him many months ago, Rogan has been her beautiful, dependable, obedient, dead-eyed security blanket.

One morning she is shocked when he disobeys a direct command in an attempt to please her and his dull artificial eyes flash a hint of something new. Is this the result of the adaptive Asist servility programming or is Rogan actually thinking? Can a robot think? Can a robot feel?

As Chloe struggles with these thoughts she is blindsided by the singular Niven Adams, a handsome, confident man with the voice of an angel who is everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. He’s the perfect guy for her, except for one problem. Niven doesn’t approve of Asists and takes an immediate dislike to Rogan. As Niven charms his way deeper and deeper into Chloe’s heart, Rogan tries to convince her that he is more than a mass-produced disposable servant.

With Rogan doing everything in his power to prove that his thoughts and feelings are real and Niven trying to persuade her to abandon her robot and have a normal human relationship, Chloe is trapped between the two things that mean the most to her. Does she embrace her relationship with the blond newcomer, or face that her Asist’s feelings may be more than features of his programming? 

What really makes a person a person?
Is it a ticking muscle inside their chest, or is it something more?

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Pre-order: Amazon 

2.5 “Killer Concept” Stars

This is actually one of those books that makes me want to cry out of frustration. Look at that damn blurb and tell me if this doesn’t sound amazing?

I was dying to read this from the moment I heard of it (during a cover reveal blog tour), and I was more than happy to request an e-ARC.

The frustrating part? I didn’t like it half as much as I wanted to.

And I tried. I truly tried because I wanted to experience all the possibilities this concept could’ve brought to light. I wanted to watch a human fall in love with her A-SIST – her robot. I wanted to watch her fight those feelings because that couldn’t be good for her or real. I wanted to watch the robot develop feelings and go beyond what he was programmed to do. I wanted this epic love.

But that’s not what I got here.

In my opinion, the book started in the wrong place. When we meet Chloe and Rogan, they’re already involved in some sort of romantic relationship. Or at least a sexual one, and I felt robbed of the moment these two decided to take what should’ve been a A-SIST-companion relationship to the next level. Why wouldn’t I get to see it?

Why didn’t I get to watch Chloe’s decision to look at her A-SIST, Rogan, and go “hmmm, maybe he’s good for other things, too?” Or something a lot less cheesy.

I can’t say we didn’t get pages of Chloe trying to convince herself that Rogan was just a robot and he couldn’t possibly feel something genuine for her, and more pages of her doubting her decisions of being intimate with her. They were there, but they weren’t executed in a way that made me feel anything. And I blame it in my lack of connection with Chloe.

I didn’t like her that much.

Rogan? Yeah. He was an interesting character, though he could’ve been a lot more. But Chloe simply didn’t do it for me. When she wasn’t irritating the crap out of me (which was often), she was just… not very interesting.

The big conflict in the story revolves around Chloe’s relationship with Rogan and Niven. The first is her A-SIST and the robot she’s trying not to fall for. The second is a human who hates A-SIST (although I still don’t understand why) and the guy Chloe is trying to fall for.

My biggest problem with this love triangle is that it can’t possibly be consider one, no matter how hard the story tries. No one will root for Niven because he’s creepy and a jerk half the time. But Chloe, for reasons I can’t understand either, doesn’t seem to see it. She refuses to see what’s right in front of her face when Niven does something horrible to Rogan, and that just pissed me off.

The fact that Niven kept giving her ideas on how to get rid of Rogan and she caught herself contemplating them, when five minutes earlier she had just thought about how she’d never do that? Also not a good thing. At all.

To me, Chloe lacked personality, which explains why I couldn’t care about her in any level.

Like I said, Rogan was a much more interesting character, and although we got a few chapters here and then in his POV, I think the story could’ve benefited a lot from developing him further and giving him more space to shine. I would’ve taken a lot less Niven&Chloe for a lot more Rogan, and even Rogan&Chloe, because she was a little better when he was around.

There were other interesting elements to the story, like the relationship between Fitz and his mini A-SIST, that came as a way to show that you don’t have to have a physical relationship with someone to fall for them. It was a bit creepy (I have to admit), but I understood what the writer was trying to say. Not a bad message.

The world building needed a lot of work. I have no sense of when this story is supposed to be happening. I’m guessing the present from the pop references (Mary J. Blige, True Blood and stuff like that), but that would make no sense because we’re nowhere near having robots like the A-SISTS. Either make it sometime in the future or give me something to explain how our current word got the point that A-SISTS can be a thing. I didn’t get any of that.

The writing also didn’t pull me in, because I spent a lot of time thinking the dialogue was juvenile or getting distracted by the POV violation. Those were bad. Really bad.

I’m sorry I sound cranky, but it’s hard to contain my disappointment. I really, really wanted to love this book, but the problems I had with it were too big to ignore. Sad. Really sad. To be perfectly honest, those 2.5 stars are only there because I loved the concept and I wanted to like this.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.