Tag Archives: Sci-Fi

Hard Worked Days by Lawrence P O’Brien-review

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Hard Worked Days by Lawrence P O’Brien-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2026

THEY WERE MARKED BY SOMETHING NOT OF THIS WORLD. THEN THE WALL CLOSED IN.

In a world turned upside down by a cataclysmic meteorite strike, Fares and Ionna must unravel a terrifying mystery that threatens not just their lives, but the fate of humanity. With a government bent on secrecy and a growing alien presence, every moment counts. The barrier keeping them from their homes shrinks, and as they rally their friends to confront the unknown, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will they uncover the truth in time to save themselves and others, or will they be lost to an alien invasion that could wipe out the remnants of humanity?

••••••

REVIEW: HARD WORKED DAY is the first instalment in Lawrence P O’Brien’s adult, sci-fi thriller focusing on the aftermath of an invasion of Earth by a species they come to know as the Ovidians.

Told from third person perspectives in four parts, HARD WORKED DAY covers over five thousand years in the life of Fares Khalil and Ionna Sari, and their family. Centuries earlier, Earth was invaded, and Brooklyn residents Fares Khalil and Ionna Sari would be taken prisoner, then biologically augmented to survive on another world. Five thousand years would pass before the children of Fares and Ionna would journey towards their parents’ home world wherein their arrival will set into motion a spiral from which very few would return.

The world building is slow, detailed, complex and dark. Another alien invasion of a sort would threaten humanity and the lives of the Khalil-Sari clan, a threat brought about by their arrival onto a post-apocalyptic Earth that had never recovered from the initial attack.

There is a large ensemble cast of interesting, enhanced and resolute secondary and supporting characters. Humans struggle to survive in a world condemned by an alien invasion, allowing for those who hunger for power and control to take aim at the most vulnerable.

HARD WORKED DAYS is a slow building, compelling and thought-provoking story. The premise is intricate as the story line unfolds but saying that, the fascinating aspects do not take hold until midway through part two, as the author continues to build the backdrop for a world no longer its’ own.

HARD WORKED DAYS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Diablo in the Den by Tammy Walsh-review

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Diablo in the Den by Tammy Walsh-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 5, 2026

No one wants to be caged.
No one wants to be used.
No one… but me.

I volunteered to live in this nightmare—because he’s here.
Prisoner #3162.
The alien beast who holds the truth I’ve been chasing for five long years.

And today, I get to Claim him.
Not for pleasure. Not for power.
But for answers.

Even if it destroys us both.

••••••

REVIEW:DIABLO IN THE DEN by Tammy Walsh is an adult, sci-fi,alien romance focusing on Kuana and Violet.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kuana and Violet) DIABLO IN THE DEN follows Violet as she goes in search of the man whom she loves. Five years earlier, an explosion on Verdara-7 left no survivors but Violet knew that her mate had survived. Fast forward to present, Violet allows her self to be captured and imprisoned in Ikmal Prison, in an effort to search for the man whom she loves but all is not as is appears to be, Kuana is not the same man who disappeared five years earlier, and his secrets are now dangerous and dark.

The world building focuses Violet and Kuana’s attempts to escape but betrayal may come at the cost of Kuana’s life. Violet is desperate enough to place her own life in danger, unaware of the changes in the man whom she loves.

The relationship between Kuana and Violet is one of second chances. Kuana was presumed dead and disappeared five years earlier, and in the ensuing time, Violet never stopped looking for our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several aliens species, each with a special power. We are introduce to Kuana’s friend Jeth, and Vrax. The requisite evil has many faces.

DIABLO IN THE DEN is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, rescue and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and engaging; the romance is fated; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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ReInception (ReInception 1) by Sarena Straus-review and interview

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ReInception (ReInception 1) by Sarena Straus-review and interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK

A corporation’s immensely popular technology can rewire your brain to rid you of any bad habits or unwanted impulses in 2126 New York City. The government is using ReInception in a supposed attempt to rid society of criminal behavior one brain at a time. But when a college student and a government-labeled terrorist discover the truth behind what’s happening in people’s head, they are ready to risk their lives to preserve their free will and the future of society.

••••••

REVIEW: ReINCEPTION is the first instalment in Sarena Straus’ new-adult, futuristic, post apocalyptic , speculative, science-fiction story line set one-hundred years into the future,in the wake of an horrific earthquake and flood that destroyed much of North America. This is twenty year old Leanndrea, and eighteen year old Ward’s story line.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Ward and Lea) including testimonials and reports, ReINCEPTION focuses on the power of government, and the control of its’ people in the wake of the unlawful use of a mind altering procedure known as ReINCEPTION. Once touted to help rid humanity of criminals and mental illness, ReINCEPTION is now being used by the wealthy to control their children for all manners of reasons but there is a segment of society considers outliers, both HighQ and LowQ who are fundamentally in opposition, and the people of the below (proles) must fight to survive.

The world building is detailed and complex as the reader is pulled into a post apocalyptic world of communication implants and trackers, them vs us, population control for the wealthy segment of society, and imposed slavery on those without the benefit of money or help.

Leanndrea grew up never knowing the truth behind the use of ReINCEPTION, and as such, finds herself pulled into a world she never knew existed. Although she watched some of her friends receive modifications, others were forced for non-compliance, as a way to control that which was perceived as ‘other’. Meeting ‘Ward’ revealed the reality of what was and what had never been, and in doing so, Ward would introduce Lea to The Originals, and where the secrets and lies would reveal.

ReINCEPTION is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, dysfunctional societies under government control, acceptance and a need to reveal the truth. The thought provoking premise is action packed, intriguing, immersive and haunting; the characters are desperate, determined and edgy. ReINCEPTION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Sarena and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of REINCEPTION and DEINCEPTION

Sarena: Thank you so much!!!

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Sarena:I am a science fiction novelist and attorney living in the Hudson Valley, NY with my husband, two teenagers, two labradors and my awesome barn cat. When I’m not writing or lawyering, I love traveling off the beaten path, especially to scuba dive! I’ve been certified since I was 18 and have logged over 500 dives.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Sarena: I never thought I would be a writer, although I’ve always been involved in the arts. I studied opera in high school and college and I was an art history major and studio art minor in college. Becoming an attorney totally took me by surprise. My first job out of law school was as a child abuse and sex crimes prosecutor. At that time, I started writing for catharsis. That turned into a non-fiction book called “Bronx DA: True Stories from the Sex Crimes and Domestic Violence Unit.” Once I had the writing bug, I never stopped.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your stories?

Sarena: My biggest challenge is carving out the time and space to write. I work full time as a lawyer and have two high school students (although my daughter heads to college in the fall!) It can be hard to juggle it all. If I don’t wake up early and write before the rest of the house is awake and the work day has started, I often don’t get in my words for that day.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of REINCEPTION /DEINCEPTION?

Sarena: The ReInception trilogy is set 100 years in the future where we have the technology to instantly eliminate unwanted humans behaviors. In book one, ReInception, college student Leandrea Justus teams up with government-alleged terrorist Ward to uncover the truth about what ReInception is really doing when it’s in people’s heads.

In Book 2, DeInception, Ward and Lea have to survive the fallout of their rebellion.

Book 3, MassInception, will be out in October!

TRC: How would you describe the style of science fiction as it pertains to RECINCEPTION /DEINCEPTION? Speculative? Near Future? Post Apocalyptic? Dystopian? Or somewhere in between?

Sarena: It’s for sure a sci fi genre blender. It’s squarely near future science fiction and speculative. Some would define it as dystopic, but I think it’s a frighteningly plausible future. A lot of what I predicted is becoming reality far faster than I imagined.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning the series?

Sarena: Keeping track of all of character and threads got more complicated with each book. Book one I mostly pantsed. Book 2 was plotted at a high level and book 3 has been very carefully laid out. In terms of research, each book explores the future setting and technology more deeply. Book one exposes you to the tech at a high level and then I delve deeper with each novel. I ended up having to do some pretty deep research into several kinds of advances, such as medical technology, architecture, weapons, climate change—to build a credible and comprehensive exploration of what things might be like in 100 years.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Sarena: It’s a trilogy. The final book will be out in October of this year!

TRC: Will the same characters be central in each successive instalment, or a new leading character as the focus of each book?

Sarena: The same characters are central, but the scope expands with each book. Book one is from a single POV of Leandrea. Book 2 is dual POV of Lea and Ward. Book 3 is a multi-POV narrative as several of the characters in the first two books come into their own. Each character has their own story arc and a major role to play in stopping ReInception before we face another world war.

TRC: Can each instalment be read as a stand alone or are they all interconnected?

Sarena: You can read them as a stand alone, but this is much better read as a series. I give the reader enough to follow what happened previously in books 2 and 3, but you don’t get the full experience unless you read them in order.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of science fiction. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

Sarena: This goes back to your earlier question about research. I did a ton of research into technology and environment and thought carefully about population and politics. Book one is centered in New York so I started by imagining how New York, faced with climate change, would adapt with the limitations of its current infrastructure. How will the city look in 100 years? What will still be there and what will be gone or replaced? Who will live there? What will they look like? How will they speak? In book two, I imagined another place with no such constraints—a seastead built completely from scratch. What would a city on the sea with none of the limitations of existing infrastructure or politics be like?

Also, probably because I’m an attorney, I thought a lot about legal structure and systems and how they lag behind what is happening in the present. How will we legislate for a world-altering technology with such profound power for good or evil?

Authors fail by not doing adequate research. You have to constantly be reading about current events and technology advances. If you don’t know what we are working on now, how can you imagine what it will be like in the future?

What I find most interesting is how many near future science fiction authors have similar predictions and how fast those predictions come true. That speaks to the fact that most of us are doing the hard work of researching before we world-build, but also that we are writing credible stories.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Sarena: We definitely judge books by the cover. On the one hand, it makes me a little sad the so many book covers have become so formulaic. These days you can tell just by looking if a book is Rom-Com (cartoony), Romantasy (ivy and swords), Sci Fi (portals), Dystopia (crumbling infrastructure), Domestic Suspense (dark house on a dark street with lit windows), etc. I miss creativity in cover art. On the other hand, most people stick to reading in certain genres. There’s so much content out there that it’s nice to be able to tell just by looking at a cover whether you might like the book. I read across genres, so I wouldn’t mind a little more mystery and confusion in the selection process!

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Sarena: I think you are asking if my stories are plot driven or character driven. ReInception is somewhere in the middle. The characters are definitely compelled to act by things happening in the world around them, but they also have a ton of agency. Agency is so important in character development. If they are just reacting to the world around them and not learning and growing from their experiences, they aren’t very interesting.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Sarena: The biggest traps I see sci fi and fantasy writers fall into is data dumping, exposition and no knowing what to leave off of the page. Earlier, you asked about research and credible world-building. Most of the times I’ve seen writers fall short, it’s not because of their world building. Most of the world building is spectacular—writers are so clear about what their worlds look like, how they became that way, what systems guide their world, for fantasy, how the magic works. The trap they fall into is understanding that just because it’s critical that they know all of that, it doesn’t mean the reader has to know everything. What you leave off the page is just as important as what you put on it. When beta reading, especially for new writers (and especially with fantasy), I see a lot of pages and pages of exposition and data dumping in order to build the world. This is the surest way to lose a reader. You have to put your reader in the world, with your character and seeing the world through the character’s eyes. You don’t have to tell the reader everything and you don’t have to reveal it all upfront. The world building can happen organically and slowly as the character(s) move through the world.

The character’s emotions follow from there. Putting aside the showing versus telling, if you are in the place and experiencing it with the character and through their eyes, you start articulating the emotions that go along with it. Once you’ve done all of that, then you can get down to whether you have the right balance between showing and telling.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Sarena: This is going to be such a sad answer, but I listen to white noise. Music and lyrics while I’m writing are extremely distracting to me. I also have a very hard time filtering out surrounding activity and conversation so if I’m writing anywhere when anyone else is around, I have to put on white noise so my ears aren’t picking up words. Music helps me when I’m in the imagining process. I do my best pre-writing and problem-solving when I run and listen to music. Then, my mind can wander and the music and lyrics inspire me. By the time I sit down to write, I often have most of the work done in my head, but when I’m actually there in front of the computer, white noise it is.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Sarena: That writing is a “hobby.” It’s not. It’s a full time job and for many of us, it’s on top of another full time job. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they want to write a book, but most never do. Having an idea is the smallest part of the puzzle.Writing a book takes hundreds of hours and writing a good one can take thousands. I spend as much time working on my writing as I do being a lawyer—maybe more because not only do I have to write the book, I have to figure out how to get it published, market it, sell it, travel to promote it. It’s a massive undertaking and it is NOT a hobby (hear that IRS?)

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Sarena: In high school and college I was a body builder and opera singer. Also, I have photographic memory but only for dirty jokes.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Sarena: I’m finishing second-round edits of the final book in the ReInception trilogy, MassInception. It will go to my editor this week! Next, I’m working on a series of stand-alone domestic suspense novels all set in the same town, but with different MCs. I’m deciding between two concepts I have pretty well outlined. The first book in that world is complete and with my agent.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Sarena: I think that was pretty comprehensive!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Artichokes

Favorite Dessert: Tiramisu

Favorite TV Show: I don’t have one.

Last Movie You Saw: Iron Lung

Dark or Milk Chocolate: DARK!!!

Secret Celebrity Crush : This week? Maybe Travis Fimmel – I’m rewatching Vikings.

Last Vacation Destination: Virgin Gorda

Do you have any pets?: Two Labradors – Julia (black lab) and Nova (yellow lab). And Bandit is my kick ass barn cat.

Last book you read: “The Searcher” by Tana French

TRC: Thank you Sarena for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of REINCEPTION and DEINCEPTION

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The Deilonium Trilogy 1-3 by Orval Wax-reviews

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The Deilonium Trilogy 1-3 by Orval Wax-reviews

THE MALFUNCTION
(The Deilonium Trilogy 1)
by Orval Wax
Genre: adult, futuristic, sci-fi

ebook FREE Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N paper /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK; Release Date February 1, 2026

It was only supposed to be a simple intelligence boost – a routine procedure to make the lovebot better company outside of the bedroom.

And then something went wrong.

Whether it was through mathematical probability, or divine intervention, Lance the LUV U-69 amorous companion droid has accidentally been downloaded with enough brainpower and free will to crack open the lid on a very dangerous can of worms.

Unless AWOL Retentions Agent Charlie Bear Claw can stop him.

•••••

REVIEW: THE MALFUNCTION is the first instalment in Orval Wax’s adult, THE DEILONIUM futuristic, sci-fi series focusing on former Marine Corp raider, old-world hunter for hire, Charlie Bear Claw, and android Lance.

Told from first person perspectives (Lance and Charlie) focusing on intersecting pathways, THE MALFUNCTION follows in the aftermath of the intelligence boost of android Lance, a lovebot /companion droid whose desire to learn outmatches the people in charge. When Lance goes on the run, FBI Agent and bounty hunter Charlie Bear Claw is hired by Droldware Laboratoires, to bring Lance back home but all does not go according to plan, and Charlie finds himself working alone, as Lance goes on a personal mission to retrieve his heart.

The world building follows Charlie as he journeys across the world to take down what he believes to be a rogue android but the closer his trek takes him to Lance, the more Charlie searches his mind for the truth. As Lance endeavors to retrieve the part of him that is missing, the missing part is unaware of everything involved.

THE MALFUNCTION is a dramatic and edgy sci-fi story line blending AI with robots, megalomania with madness, self-awareness and sentience sentience all shrouded in religious undertones.. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are determined and desperate. THE MALFUNCTION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

_______

ROBOTS AND RENEGADES
(The Deilonium Trilogy 2)
by Orval Wax
Genre: adult, futuristic, sci-fi

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N paper /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 1, 2026

Suddenly, everyone wants Charlie Bear Claw dead.

Whether it’s the assassins out to collect a bounty, or Björn Thorson – that pitiless zillionaire with an unhealthy god complex – the hunter has now become the hunted. But no one is more eager to make the kill than Lance the rogue lovebot. He has it in his plasma gel brain that Charlie has committed a crime against him that can only be corrected through a bloody act of vengeance. The ensuing chase will propel both man and mandroid on a test of survival into their own hearts of darkness, as well as the dark soul of the failing humanity from which they both were born.

It’s analog vs. digital in Book Two of The Deilonium Trilogy as the old ways are pitted against the new.

May the best life form win.

•••••

REVIEW: ROBOTS AND RENEGADES is the second instalment in Orval Wax’s adult THE DEILONIUM sci-fi, futuristic trilogy focusing on former Marine Corp raider, old-world hunter for hire,  Charlie Bear Claw, and android Lance. ROBOTS AND RENEGADES should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book one THE MALFUNCTION.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Deilonium Trilogy follows in the aftermath of the intelligence boost of android Lance, a lovebot /companion droid whose desire to learn outmatches the people in charge. When Lance goes on the run, FBI Agent and bounty hunter Charlie Bear Claw is hired by Droidware Laboratoires, to bring Lance back home.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lance and Charlie) following parallel pathways, ROBOTS AND RENEGADES picks up after the events of THE MALFUNCTION wherein Charlie and Lance go their separate ways, not by choice, but by destruction and detonation. Although both find themselves on the African continent, Charlie and Lance journey separately discovering about themselves and the world around them. As Charlie is forced to refocus on the past, Lance amasses the knowledge of several millennia all the while trying to stay one step ahead of the hunters.

The world building is detailed and complex, awash in religious undertones and the devious machinations of a madman hoping to rule the world. As Lance devours a wealth of information and knowledge, Charlie succumbs to the demons from his past. The majority of the story line, Charlie and Lance are separated, following a path towards the ultimate goal but a path that will end in a fiery reconciliation.

ROBOTS AND RENEGADES is a fast paced,intricate and descriptive story of power and control, AI , robots and sentient droids, love and heart break. The edgy premise is contemplative, reflective and haunting; the characters are animated, desperate and energetic. ROBOTS AND RENEGADES ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

 

 

________

OPERATION WAR WHOOP
(The Deilonium Trilogy 3)
by Orval Wax
Genre: adult, futuristic, sci-fi

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N paper /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 1, 2026

Planet Earth is on the brink of an irrevocable evolution engineered by the most dangerous megalomaniac since Adolph Hitler. If you’re not a wealthy white man, you’re an endangered species. Now is not the time for any self-respecting warrior to lay down his weapons.

And yet, that’s just what Charlie Bear Claw has done.

Haunted by the ghosts of his guilt-ridden past, and weary of fighting a losing battle against global tyranny, the old-world hunter has adopted the passive philosophy of a monk.

Now it’s up to Lance the rebel love droid to snap him out of it.

In the final book of The Deilonium Trilogy, the flesh and blood man of the past and the mechanical man of the future must team up with neo-primitive tactics to kick some tyrannical ass and save their dying world.

••••••

REVIEW: OPERATION WAR WHOOP is the third and final instalment in Orval Wax’s adult THE DEILONIUM futuristic, sci-fi trilogy focusing on former Marine Corp raider, old-world hunter for hire, Charlie Bear Claw, and android Lance. OPERATION WAR WHOOP should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book two ROBOTS AND RENEGADES.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Deilonium Trilogy follows in the aftermath of the intelligence boost of android Lance, a lovebot /companion droid whose desire to learn outmatches the people in charge. When Lance goes on the run, former FBI Agent and bounty hunter Charlie Bear Claw is hired by Droidware Laboratoires, to bring Lance back home but Charlie is about to go rogue, alongside the droid he was charged to destroy.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lance and Charlie), following two intersecting pathways OPERATION WAR WHOOP focuses on the battle for survival. Planet Earth is dying, and a megalomaniac has declared himself the almighty God. With his army of robot droids, said megalomaniac continues to target Charlie Bear Claw, and droid Lance, two warriors he has yet to keep under his control. Working together, Charlie and Lance will reach a détente, a cease fire in the hopes of saving the planet they call Earth.

The world building, once again, follows dual pathways but pathways that will intersect, reuniting Charlie and Lance in an attempt to save the world. But I struggled with the believability of this instalment, OPERATION WAR WHOOP reads like a Saturday morning cartoon, or a comic book story of good vs evil, taking away a little bit of thought provoking realism of ‘what if’.

OPERATION WAR WHOOP is an action packed story of betrayal, madness, obsession and power. The premise is graphic and haunting ; the characters are introspective and determined.

Reviews by Sandy

Copies supplied for review

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Vanguard: A Dark Post-Dystopian Romance by Karina Halle -review

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Vanguard: A Dark Post-Dystopian Romance by Karina Halle -review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 12, 2026

Her kiss may be deadly, but he’s indestructible.

Erasmia “Mia” Baxter is her agency’s most lethal operative, genetically engineered to have poisonous saliva. But having the kiss of death is hell on her social life. Her future holds no romance, no family, no intimacy of any kind—only killing for her country.

When her special ops group hears rumors that America’s first enhanced soldier—Vanguard—may be more deadly weapon than savior, Mia is tasked with infiltrating his inner circle to investigate. What she finds is a former military asset with a hidden dark side—and the only man she can kiss without consequence.

Intoxicated by the obsessive passion rising between them, Mia falls deeper into lust with each new sensual encounter. But the closer they become, the more she realizes there might be truth to the rumors. Vanguard is changing—becoming more violent, more devious, less…human. And the truth of her identity might push him over the edge entirely.

In a world where heroes and monsters are separated by the thinnest of lines, Mia must decide: Is the man she’s falling for worth saving? Or is he the weapon he was created to be—one that will destroy her first?

A dark romance special ops spy thriller with a post-dystopian sci-fi bent—VANGUARD has the gripping twists and turns of BLACK DOVES paired with the seductive intensity of Runyx’s DARK VERSE series.

••••••••

REVIEW: This standalone novel combines elements of special ops espionage, scifi genetic engineering, and intense dark romance, set against a gritty post dystopian backdrop.

The story centers on Erasmia “Mia” Baxter, a genetically engineered assassin whose poisonous saliva makes her the ultimate weapon, and a complete social outcast. Intimacy is impossible, her life is defined by lethal missions for her agency. When rumors surface that Vanguard, America’s first enhanced super soldier (think a darker, more volatile Captain America), might be turning into an uncontrollable threat, Mia is sent to infiltrate his world and uncover the truth.

What unfolds is a charged, obsessive romance.

Vanguard is the one man immune to her deadly kiss, sparking immediate chemistry. Their encounters are steamy and consuming, pulling Mia deeper into lust and vulnerability. But as their connection intensifies, Vanguard’s behavior grows more violent and unhinged, blurring the line between hero and monster. 😟

Mia faces an impossible choice, save the man she’s falling for, or eliminate the weapon he could become, especially when her own secrets might shatter him completely. (You’ll need to read the book to find out the secret 🤫)

The plot moves with the gripping twists of a spy thriller, while the scifi elements… genetic enhancements, a fractured post dark society recovering from collapse, add a fresh, edge without overwhelming the romance.

The world building is intriguing, a surveilled America with corporate oversight and tiered citizenship.

Mia is a great character, tough, isolated, and deeply lonely, making her journey into passion all the more gripping. Vanguard is a classic morally gray antihero, he’s charismatic, dangerous, and increasingly unstable, which keeps you reading when you should be asleep! 😜

Overall, Vanguard is a solid, entertaining read for fans of dark romance with thriller vibes. It’s got seduction, danger, and enough heat to satisfy anyone who craves intense love stories.

A spicy, twisty escape that’s perfect for dark romance lovers looking for something with a scifi twist.

Copy supplied for review

🦋 Reviewed by Julie

Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.

You can visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Connect with Karina

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

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Ascendance by Shawn C Butler-review

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Ascendance by Shawn C Butler-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 26, 2025

Is it murder to kill GMO people?

Four teenagers are gunned down at a prestigious private school. Three of them were flawless and beautiful—almost superhuman—but also hateful bullies. The fourth was the vice president’s niece.

Reluctant partners Detective Sara Sanchez and tech billionaire Nathan Marks search for the killer as the world erupts into a war over what it means to be human… or a soulless abomination.

They have only seven days to stop a horror that will tear the world apart.

And the clock starts now.

••••••

REVIEW: ASCENDANCE by Shawn C Butler is an adult, speculative fiction thriller in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a prestigious private school in Boulder Colorado.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives ASCENDANCE focuses on the search for the truth. In the wake of a mass shooting at the Valhalla School in boulder Colorado, seventeen year old student Erik Walker was arrested and his girlfriend Dana Dalton begins to espouse the ills of genetic modification. With the help of billionaire tech mogul Nathan Marks, Detective Sara Sanchez undertakes an investigation that reveals a connection to questionable politicians, religious extremism, greed, designer babies, madness and the strive for perfection. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories abound as they pertain to GMO, vaccinations, population and man-made pandemics, such that the people in charge begin to groom their followers as mindless minions.

The world building is complex, detailed and dramatic. The reader is pulled into a world of neural implants, cyber genetic dogs, dark web, genetic modifications and radicalization of young adults looking for a purpose and a direction ,while others have their entire lives programmed and modified.

ASCENDANCE is an extensive and sizeable story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and madness, artificial intelligence, corruption and genetically engineered humans. The premise is dark, dramatic and edgy, and not without some thought provoking possibilities and warnings.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Only Rogue Actions (Galactic Bonds5)by Jennifer Estep-dual review

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Only Rogue Actions (Galactic Bonds 5)by Jennifer Estep-dual review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 14, 2025

A WOMAN WHO DREAMS OF THE FUTURE . . .
Once upon a time, I was Vesper Quill, a lowly lab rat using my seer magic and engineering skills to repair broken appliances at a Regal-owned corporation. These days, I’m one of the most infamous and wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy, along with Kyrion Caldaren, my partner.

Kyrion and I are hiding out on a distant planet when we are offered a chance to train at a prestigious facility in hopes of better understanding our truebond, the psionic connection that lets us share thoughts, feelings, skills, and more.

Mastering our magic is the only way we can hope to defeat our many enemies and make my dreams of a safe future a reality, so Kyrion and I accept the invitation. But evil forces are at work, and our training exercise is not what it seems, plunging us both into another deadly situation with only bad options.

A MAN WHO CAN’T ESCAPE HIS PAST . . .
I’ve always been Kyrion Caldaren, a Regal lord with telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. I might have gone rogue from the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite warriors, but my fighting skills are as sharp and deadly as ever.

Vesper Quill and I need help with our truebond, so we agree to participate in a rigorous training exercise designed to test the depths of our connection. But a new enemy has other plans, and we’re soon separated and confronted with one dangerous obstacle after another.

But my love for Vesper is stronger than any forces set against us, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make my way back to her—and kill anyone who gets in my way.

•••••••

SANDY’S REVIEW:  ONLY ROGUE ACTIONS is the fifth instalment in Jennifer Estep’s adult GALACTIC BONDS sci-fi, fantasy space opera-esque series focusing on the former leader of the Imperium Arrows Kyrion Caldaren, and his truebond mate/seer/R & D tech specialist Vesper Quill. ONLY ROGUE ACTIONS should not be read as a stand alone as some of the events of the current timeline are as of a direct result from the previous stories.

Told from three first person perspectives (Kyrion, Vesper, Nerezza) ONLY ROGUE ACTIONS follows Kyrion Caldaren and his bondmate Vesper Quill as they are invited to take part in a holographic training session that becomes all too real, more than just images projected throughout a maze. The obstacle course slash labryinth is the stuff of their nightmares, and our couple, separated, and without weapons, find themselves fighting for their lives, in the wake of vengeance and betrayal. Having been set up, Kyrion must face down the demons from his past, as Vesper struggles to save the man to whom she had bonded.

The world building focuses on a fight for survival. A holographic and virtual world with real world outcomes and injuries, finds our couple battling a familiar foe; one man’s personal hunting playground, and every act of vengeance for sins of the past.

The secondary and supporting characters are numerous, energetic and sometimes questionable.

ONLY ROGUE ACTIONS is an action packed story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, dramatic and dark; the romance is fate-the $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied; the characters are charismatic and determined.

__________________

BARB’S REVIEW:  Only Rogue Actions by Jennifer Estep is the 5th book in her Galactic Bonds series. Only Rogue Actions is another wonderful action-packed sci-fi fantasy adventure, with a sweet romantic bond. As noted, many times, I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having enjoyed all of her fantastic series. Refresher: Vesper Quill, our heroine is together with her true bond, Kyrion Caldaren.  Vesper is a seer, as well as being a successful inventor/engineer; always increasing her magical powers. Kyrion is also powerful, especially with his Psionic Arrow abilities.   When the last book ended, both Vesper and Kyrion were accepted at House Collier, allowing them to live in their House.

Siya is one of the daughters, who is in charge of security; Asterin, has helped Vesper in past attacks in the Imperium. They both prepare Vesper and Kyrion for the Maze that has been working very well for House Battis; as most houses use this project.  

In a short time, a trap is set up for Vesper & Kyrion, with Roderick has privately brought his team into the maze, making sure he will be able to kill Kyrion, and Vesper is in danger (with Jeffrey helping Roderick kidnap her).  Also, both Siya and Asterin were handcuffed with Roderick’s staff, and they were also going to be killed; with Vesper going to be sent to one of her enemies. 

Vesper manages to escape a Black Scarub and kill it; and is determined to find a way to help Kyrion, who is being attack by Roderick.  But since she was close to the sisters, Vesper manages to defeat the 4 members of Roderick’s team, and knock out Jeffrey; and rescue Siya and Asterin.  Once the three of them notify House Collier to come for the rescue, Vesper takes control of Jeffrey’s computer to look for Kyrion, before Roderick kills him.  With Vesper powers, she manages to help Kyrion, who is very much in danger; and together they use their ability to stop and defeat Roderick.

Only Rogue Actions was in an exciting, no-stop, suspenseful, intriguing, captivating story that kept my attention from start to finish. Vespers magical powers continue to improve; as she was a fantastic heroine, smart and savvy. I loved seeing Vesper and Kyrion together to fight against their enemies. The last half of the book was very intense, with twists along the way. Only Rogue Actions was very well written by Jennifer Estep. Only Rogue Actions was another terrific, intriguing adventure filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, danger, and magic.  I suggest you read this wonderful book.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Only Bad Options
Only Good Enemies
Only Cold Depths
Only Hard Problems

Copies supplied for review

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Infinity Has Been Stolen by David Sanz-review

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Infinity Has Been Stolen by David Sanz-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 28, 2025

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN, WHEN WE’VE LOST OUR HUMANITY?

It all begins with an impossible signal from an uncharted system. What seemed like a rescue mission soon turns into a chain of decisions powerful enough to tip the balance of the universe.

Speculative philosophy, sharp humor, emotional tension, and humanist science fiction come together in a story that goes beyond it’s an experience that shakes you and lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

Perfect for fans of Becky Chambers, Andy Weir, John Scalzi, Ted Chiang, or Martha Wells, and for those who love series like The Expanse, The Orville, or Black Mirror.

The journey has begun.

•••

REVIEW: INFINITY HAS BEEN STOLEN by David Sanz is an adult, sci-fi, speculative fiction, space opera focusing on the crew of the Vesta: Captain Astrid M’genta, mechanic Glurk-Sath, sentient ship Vesta, and clones Charles and Mike.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives, as well as officer’s log, and journal entries, INFINITY HAS BEEN STOLEN follows the crew of the spaceship Vesta as they journey towards the end of the universe in search of the unknown. A distress beacon hails the crew of the Vesta but an accident will trigger a series of events that pushes the ship beyond its’ original purpose, six months of unanswered questions that will eventually end with the death of two of their own. From AI to clones, cyborgs, space aliens and humans, quantum physics and space exploration, INFINITY HAS BEEN STOLEN asks the questions about which we may never know.

INIFINITY HAS BEEN STOLEN is an intricately layered, cautionary tale of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and friendships all wrapped into a Star Trek™ like fantasy adventure focusing on first contact and survival. The through provoking, character driven premise is intriguing, complex and entertaining: the characters are animated and unconventional.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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