Book Review: First of Their Kind by C. D. Tavenor (Chronicles of Theren Book 1)

     After years of work the first sentient machine has been formed. Able to think and feel like a human. While revolutionary and with all the wonders it could mean for humankind there are other struggles in the way. Once announced things quickly go downhill beginning with the lead scientists murder. Theren, however, is determined to stay the course their creator wanted for them in order to make the world a better place. In order to do so they must overcome prejudices of groups, such as the Holy Crusade. Can they show mankind that they are not so different or will the Holy Crusade achieve their goals to rid the world of this sentient being?

    I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review from the narrator. I will start by saying I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last one that I received from this narrator. 

    In both instances I have enjoyed the narrator, but this time I also enjoyed the book. It was odd for me to not assign a typical human gender to Theren. I wanted to call them he for most of the book, but I have adjusted gender mindsets of my friends in the past so it is not impossible. My biggest complaint about this book is it goes so in depth about the politics. All of the hoops that needed jumped through in order for any progress to be made with humans. Just another set of prejudices to overcome. 

    I can't say the book was unrealistic, though. If/when a sentient machine is created I expect many people will react in much the same way as those in this book. Some will have no opinion one way in the other. Some will be for it, seeing the positives it will bring. Still others will consider them unholy beings to be eradicated. I mean there has been tons of machines will take over and destroy the world books and movies. Fear is understandable, but prejudices haven't been known to solve anything. 

    Of all the characters I liked Theren the most. They are the most level-headed while still expressing emotion. Jill is odd. She is more human in some ways, but at the same time she is overly crass. Especially her willingness to sacrifice. But, you will learn more about that later. I do suggest this book and will be beginning book 2 in this series soon. 

    This is an interesting take on a very real possibility of when Earth is submitted to another sentient mind. This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here, but I personally suggest the audiobook. Benjamin is quite the storyteller. 

    Books by this author:

Their Greatest Game

Flight of the 500

Book Review: Cyber Squad Level 2 by Anna Mocikat (A. K. Mocikat) (Cyber Squad Book 2)

 

    Since being promoted to level two following facing The God in the Machine Kai has been a bit of a superstar. In the history of Helltek no-one has been promoted as quickly as Kai. But, with nightmares plaguing him and constant threats it is hard to just enjoy his newfound life. "There's some scary shit out there." is about to take on a whole new meaning, but can Kai just do his job or is he caught in something bigger than he even realizes? Perhaps no-one is what they seem...

    I was given an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. As always, when it comes to anything Anna writes I love it. I love her and her writing reflects everything that I know about her. She is just as amazing and captivating as the books she writes and I fully suggest anything she writes. If you are new to Anna then please go get all of her books. You will not be disappointed. With any of them. Actually, I take that back. You will be disappointed that there aren't more. Yet. But, this review is about Cyber Squad 2, not just the author. 

    Before Anna I hadn't read VR books. Not because I avoided them, I just hadn't ran across any. I was instantly captivated by book one as you can see in my review by clicking here. Afterwards I read a couple other VR books by another author, enjoying them as well. It is safe to say that I found a new favored genre to read in and as soon as book one was finished I couldn't wait to find out what happened next with Kai and his team. Anna didn't disappoint, delivering book two just three months after the release of book one. I don't expect that pace to keep up as she is also working on Behind Blue Eyes Three, but I can't wait for that one either so there has to be some give. As amazing as Anna is she is only one person. 

    In this book I expected to find out a bit about how the CEOs played into The God in the Machine, if at all and what Freya was planning. But, Freya is for later in the series I am told and I am sure the CEOs are as well. During this book my dislike for Raven has solidified into hatred. But, Anna always creates a character the reader loves to hate. Raven just happens to fit this too well. While my initial questions were not answered in this book we get a larger picture of the story as well as how Kai is handling the things he has gone through. It is unsurprising that he has a bit of PTSD as that was definitely a traumatic experience. Hopefully we see more how this angle factors into things that happen in the future. 

    I have to say, of the "good" guys my least favorite it Josh. Mostly a dislike of anyone with that name, if I am being honest. Although the character is basically useless. Much like the person I abhor who shares that name. One the opposite end of things my favorite character is still Lex. The Abby vibes are real and I have to love her. There isn't a choice in the matter. Lex is perfect and nothing anyone can say will ever change my mind on this. 

    This is one VR gaming book that picks up right where the last one left off and leaves you wanting more.  This book is available on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here or read both one and two on Kindle Unlimited!

    Books by this author: 

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angels (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3)

Cyber Squad Level 1 (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Cyber Squad Level 3 (Cyber Squad Book 3)

Nephilim Volume 1

Nephilim Volume 2

Nephilim Volume 3

Space Punks

Book Review: Convincing the Cougar by Jessie Donovan (A Cascade Shifters Prequel)

     Kian had been a strong clan leader to the cougar shifters for years, but when his leg is permanently injured while protecting the clan's cubs from a bear he doubts himself. How could his clan want a lame cougar leading them? Worse yet, how could his mate want to be with him? Best to just step down as leader and release Trinity from her mating bond. Trin would give anything to show him that he is still wanted, but can she convince him that he is still the same man he once was? 

    I got this book on BookBub in 2017. Another impulse buy based on the cover. As always I love the mystery when it comes to paranormal romances, even if it bites me in the ass sometimes. 

    When I began this book I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it because the pair was already mated. They had been together for ten years so there was no mystery of if they would choose each other. He was fighting an internal battle more than a claiming, like most paranormal romances. In fact, this series seems to be going in a direction of getting or keeping someone from their past. 

    After reading the book I am still torn on if I will be picking up the next in the series. I liked the strength showed by the characters and the mystery of the odd shifter attack. But, I don't know how I feel about Trin tying herself naked to a tree in the woods knowing other males would be coming along soon. Sexy is sexy, but I don't know I'm a private person. I know she was trying to keep her mate, but still. 

    This book is available on Amazon for free by clicking here. This is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Books by this author: 

Sacrificed to the Dragon

Book Review: Ajax's Harpy Holiday by Mychal Daniels (Dragofin Clan Mated Book 1)

     Hildy never had a real family. Orphaned all of her life she never knew anything other than bouncing from foster home to foster home. If that wasn't bad enough when she turned twelve she became defective. Being able to partially shift with wings and claws. But she became part of the agency and they her only family. They finished her studies and taught her to use her deformity for good. But, she still had no one to spend the holidays with. This year, however, she was going to have something special. A sweet potato pie. And as luck would have it there is one left at the supermarket when she arrives. That is until a brute of a man grabs it just as she is reaching for it. Now a battle for a pie is about to lead to something bigger. 

    I impulse bought this book off BookBub in June, 2017. As is common with my impulse buys I didn't read the synopsis. I did, however, like this book for the most part. 

    Hildy has a temper that runs very close to the surface and can't stand being touched. I get the not being touched thing. I can't either, unless it is by my husband or my kids. More than one person has about gotten punched for touching me when I wasn't expecting it. So, in a way I related to her. And even with her attitude issues I genuinely liked her. Until she made a comment about being restrained because she was black. It was obvious the situation had nothing to do with race and making it about that just made me lose all respect for the character. Then, when she matures she changes bodily...

    Then there is Ajax. She compared him to the household cleaner, but all my brain was thinking was deadpool. He acts all big and bad. Constantly trying to get a rise out of her and other characters describe him as hard to get along with and short tempered. However, once he got her back to his house the first time he went from antagonistic to 'I will submit to your every desire'. They got in a fight where she was wrong and he is the one who goes belly up first. 

    The romance of this couple is solved during this book, but there is a background plot that continues later into the series. As of now I don't see myself getting any more of the series. This story had its moments where it was fun to read. Mostly the pie fight and the rescue mission. Otherwise I think it was a bust. Unfortunately, even if I had read the synopsis it wouldn't have saved me from the things I didn't like about this book. 

    If you would like to read this book it is available on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here.

Book Review: Mountain Folk by John Hood (Book 1 of the Folklore Cycle)

     Throughout history the fae of different species (Silth, Dwarves, Pixies, and others) have protected and lent a guiding hand to the humans. After-all, the humans do not know the perils they face at the hands of the monsters. So, when the humans travelled to the Americas the fae followed. Now, these humans are trying to distance themselves from their rightful ruler, the King of England. Allowing this to happen would lead to disaster as these humans are not up to the task of self governing. The fae must once more lend their influence to squash this rebellion before things get out of hand. The only problem is not all fae agree. Some believe that these humans have a right to govern. Who is right and who will win? 

    I received a copy of this audiobook from the narrator for a honest review. When I first began listening to the book I was so excited. I am a Kentucky girl, as anyone who has been reading my reviews for a while knows. And the first character we meet in our story is Daniel Boone. I grew up playing in Daniel Boone National Forest and used to pretend that ever gap between the hills was The Cumberland Gap. In reality I only lived about an hour from it. 

    My excitement continued as we began discussing the French and Indian war. It is one of the wars that aren't overdone. We covered it in American History, but it wasn't shoved down our throats until all mystery and majesty was gone from it. Unlike the American Revolution. We hit that point in the book and if I had been reading this book instead of listening to it there would have been a lot of skimming going on. My eyes would have all but glazed over and that would have been that. I liked the monsters. I liked the fair folk. I liked the concept of fae using their influence to get what they want. It fits with what is known of fae. When I read the synopsis, and yes, I actually read this synopsis since it was a book review request instead of an impulse buy, it was focused mostly on the fairy nations. There was exactly one sentence on the American Revolution so I thought it would be a background detail. I was wrong. 

    I do have to say I enjoyed listening to the narrator. It was always easy to tell who the different characters were and he didn't pause awkwardly like some that I listen to do. In fact, I started an impulse buy audiobook as soon as I finished this audiobook the other day and the difference between narrators is night and day. That being said, listening to Benjamin Fife narrating a mail order bride alien romance would be hilarious. Of that I have no doubt. 

    While I will be reading more books done by this narrator in the future I am not looking for any more by this author. The book was well written and flowed continuously, it just wasn't what I wanted. 

    If you are a history buff you are going to love this. This book is available on Amazon for $14.99 for eBook, on Kindle Unlimited, or get the audiobook for $21.83 by clicking here.

Book Review: Jaxson by Alisa Woods (Riverwise Private Security Book 1)

     Jaxson was being pressured to find a mate, but no one could know that he could never have one. Instead, his plan was simple. Stall as long as possible. Get his pack on their feet where they could run without him. Then step down as their alpha. He just didn't know how he was going to stall them until a curvy human was stupid enough to try to "save" him. There is just something about Olivia that draws her to him like a moth to flame. And there is something about Jaxson that Olivia can't help but want to save. 

    I got this book from BookBub in 2017 and am slowly working my way through all of my impulse buys. The Kindle books and audiobooks are basically the only things I have time for right now. I started back to work this week and it feels like I am just going non-stop. Even as I write this I should be in bed. But, with a husband who works third shift and me working first shift plus two kids who just went from constant Mommy Time to barely any Mommy Time the stress is real. My daughter is especially taking it hard. Meltdown crying as soon as I walk in the house until I hold her for a minimum of an hour without putting her down. But, on to the review. 

    I love a good paranormal romance book and have been largely seeking them out when it comes to the eBook I have purchased at one point in time or another. Just been in a mood, I suppose. With Jaxson we have our retired SEAL who is alpha of his pack and harbors a secret about why he can't take a mate and why that is so bad. Then we have Olivia who is basically a marshmallow, but has a dark secret of her own. Which she never actually tells him about. The only one she says it to is her aunt, who already knows. But, whatever. 

    The chemistry is immediate. The sex in the book is decent. Not overdone like in some books where each scene makes you want to sigh and skim. The hero complex is real. But to be honest all through the book I just wanted to know more about Jaxson's brothers. Preferably Jace, but I will take either one of them. Because of that at some point in time or another I will likely get the other books in this series so I find out what happens to the brothers. 

    Nothing really stands out to me as detractors in this book, just overdone stigmas. When I think of detractors all I am thinking of is another book I am currently reading on that I should HOPEFULLY be done with tomorrow. More on that book later. For this book, since I am really getting off topic tonight, the romance is all tied up at the end with a nice little bow. Meanwhile there is a background story that does end with a cliffhanger. The bad guy gets away to pillage another day kind of trope. The story itself is a bit overdone. Guy has a problem and a hatred of a species. Girl is said species. Guy doesn't care because of girl. Girl saves guy. I do have questions as to why she went into foster care after her parents died when she had caring family in town. From my experience children are placed with their closest relative as long as they are willing to take them. And from how the book goes they were willing. 

    For a whirlwind sexy paranormal romance look no further than the pages of this book. You can even get it for free on Amazon by clicking here.

Book Review: Something Shifter This Way Comes by Josie Walker (The Order of the Bear Book 1)

     Crystal just caught her boyfriend, who she lived with, cheating on her and the bastard had the audacity to have her blacklisted from every publishing firm in the area. Hoped she would come crawling back and play nice. So with the threat of homelessness and the crushing pressure of student loans looming she dashed into a job interview as the personal assistant for billionaire Eric Steele. He whisked her off to a secluded mountain home, forced countless tasks on her, and gave strict rules. Too bad he was a rude standoffish jerk because that man had a body to drool over. However his secrets may prove worse than his curfew. 

    I got this book on BookBub in 2017. I have always had a soft spot for paranormal romances so got it without reading the synopsis. If you've read my reviews before you know this is not uncommon for me when it comes to books I get for myself versus books I am requested to read. I get myself into trouble a lot with this, but hey you win some you lose some. In my defense I only review the books I actually finish. Moving on. 

    I want to start by saying I liked Crystal and was even fine with the whole journal entry format of the book. A bit odd, but something different isn't always a bad thing. But, that being said I hated that it was in past tense. Yes, I and most every other romance reader knows that a happily ever after is basically guaranteed. I enjoy this. That being said, when there is a life risk I want to feel as if our character might actually die. I know they won't, but it is the thrill. Past tense removed that. Then there was the three-dollar words. Yes, I know she has a publishing degree. Yes, I know it is her journal because it is stated once. I don't know. I just feel like it detracted, especially with how Crystal was very immature. Not kidding. My favorite line in this book was "Holy intestines, Batman! That's disgusting!" Not kidding. Like I said, though, it was my favorite line which probably says something about my own maturity level. What can I say, I am 25. 

    Other than those things this is your basic shifter romance. With a little bit of billionaire romance thrown in for good measure. Standoffish rich boss hires poor employee and solves all of her problems including sexual. Although there isn't a lot of sexy time in this book. Since this is a series maybe later on. Not sure though considering when I went in search of this book on Amazon it was missing. Did a Google search and found that you can actually get it on Amazon, just not as an eBook. Weird, I know. But, the paperback is less than $3, so I say go for it. I have a feeling this author had a very strong love of Beauty and the Beast. With warnings like "Stay out of the West Wing." and a massive drool-worthy library it was a bit obvious. Not that I am complaining. Love me some Beauty and the Beast. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.92 (pre-shipping) by clicking here.