ARC REVIEW Malfunction by Nina Croft

Dark Desires Origins #1, Damn Good Sci-fi Romance! Which I'm not surprised I love her Beyond Human series and with this being the prequel to the Dark Desires series I really need to get all of those and read them. I thoroughly enjoy Nina Croft's writing, her books are immersive they pull you in and don't let go and this one is no different.

The Earth was dying, with twenty-four ships big enough to hold ten thousand people each there was a lottery the winners were the lucky ones, or as they were called "The Chosen Ones" they set off to find a new home. The crews were big enough to man each ship in fifty year rotations and their family got a free pass and an army. But after five hundred years supplies are running short and they still haven't found a new planet and now a "malfunction" is causing cryotubes to fail suffocating the person inside.

Logan Farrell is with the army his current assignment had him with the MPs and that's what they need an investigator, to make sure the failure of the cryotubes was just a malfunction. Well the Captain of the second ship doesn't quite trust the higher ups and wakes up his friend Katia Mendoza a detective with the London Police, or at least she was before they left Earth, to help investigate. Rico the captain of the second ship has his own reasons for putting in his own person on the case, he can't afford everyone to know the truth about his ship. The truth that a good portion of "The Chosen Ones" who were suppose to be on his ship were left behind and replaced by his own people, his own supernatural kind including Katia.

Together Logan and Katia try and find out who is behind the sabotage but with every step closer they get they have a new near death experience that just brings them closer and closer together. The chemistry between them is instant and hot, every spare moment they have is together. But what will Logan think when he finds out not everyone is human? 

Overall, I loved this book. The characters, the situation, humor, romance , hot hot (not limited to the bedroom) scenes. I inhaled this book and I want more!

ARC REVIEW Entropy by Jess Anastasi

Atrophy #4, This is one book I have been anticipating, I kid you not everytime I would get an Entangled email this series is one I would always look for and now here it is, YAY! When I say I love everything about this series I'm not kidding the major events down to the little details are things that would have me say, "Oh that's a nice touch" or "I would have done the same" they make the book, the whole series something I gravitate towards because it's damn good story telling. This is one book where you should read the previous books with the overall story arc carried throughout the series it would be like walking into a movie at the halfway point.

It's been a year since the events of the last book and cousins Qaelan and Rian are running small jobs for space pirate mastermind Blackstone and have so far Rian has been biding his time before going after the Imojenna. Rian decision also coincides with Qae's horrible mistake of making out with Blackstones only daughter Camille. Now to save his own neck he has to bring Blackstone an insane amount of creds. Cami was the one who got him into the mess so she kind of forces Qae to take her along so she can help. While her intentions are good, Rian still wants to keep her in the dark about the Raedar. That, of course, doesn't last long especially after some poor stupid soul tries to collect on the bounty on Rain's head and Cami witness first hand the Raedar handywork. Now getting the Imojenna back, collecting the required amount of creds all while avoiding the Raedar and the bounty on Rian's head maybe a little difficult, but Cami takes after her dad and comes up with a brilliant but insane plan.

Nothing is ever easy in this world, but boy is it worth it. Qae and Cami are like flint and steel they keep going at each other and creating sparks and not just physically, but mainly verbally and it's interesting in a witty and amusing way. There is no one better for Qae than Cami, she gives as good as she gets and then some and she can hold her own in a fight. The on going Rian and Ella story gets heavier and hotter as Rian starts to accept their connection.

Overall, another fantastic book from Jess Anastasi. There is so much going one but nothing the crew of the Ebony Winter and the Imojenna can't handle.          

ARC REVIEW Forbidden Stranger by Megan Hart

The Protector Series #3, Megan Hart's sci-fi-ish series takes place in a futuristic place that puts me in mind of Philip K. Dick, where at first appearances it's very Utopia like but under the surface lies a dark side that threatens to unravel it all. If you are going to read this one I really recommend reading the first two books in the series first because the events in those books rely heavily on what happened previously. If you are interested in the other books I'll post my Goodreads reviews links below. My main issue with this book is that after two books with the back and forth I love you/I'm angry at you and never want to see you again between Nina and Ewan got old. The events in this book felt paltry compared to the other books and the external conflict was so short and underwhelming. Keeping with the theme of the other two books the first half of the book was Nina and Ewan falling in love all over again. I kind of wish it was switched that the romance part was much shorter and the external conflict with Jordan and the other enhanced lasted longer. 

Due to the events of the the previous book Nina has no memory, it's been several months since Ewan and Al found Nina and since then they discovered not only did they take her memory they activated a self destruct type switch in her programing. (For those of you who don't know, Nina was a soldier who died in battle and was brought back using nanotech now she is enhanced. She's stronger, faster, an all around better soldier but when the world found out about it they ostracized her and the fourteen like her and they weren't allowed to be soldiers anymore so they went into private detail which is how Nina met Ewan.) The bad guys activated that switch so when ever Nina tries to remember what happened when she was kidnapped the self destruct coding gets activated and she tries to kill herself. She has already failed at such attempts, she was lucky Ewan was there with his team of doctors to save her. Now she's on an isolated island protected from the world while she tries to figure things out on her own without killing herself. 

As much as it kills Ewan to not tell her he loves her for fear of everything that can happen he tries to keep Nina at a distance. Although Nina might not be able to remember she still loves Ewan, she just thinks it is wrong to lust after your boss that way. Nina works up the courage to make a move and Ewan isn't strong enough to turn her away. While they maybe enjoying their island paradise Ewan keeps getting reports the one by one the other enhanced are commiting suicide. Ewan has his people working on it as fast as they can but he's not the only one a former friend and now bitter enemy is working to figure out the coding too. 

Overall, I did enjoy it the story fell a little flat for me especially the ending. 

For my reviews on the first two books check out Goodreads Dangerous Promise and Wicked Attraction 

ARC REVIEW Unspeakable by Nina Croft

Beyond Human book two , and I warn you even though there is a nice "Previously on Beyond Human" at the start of this book I would recommend reading the first book before this one. It has a very complex bad story the is even a bit confusing in the first book so I can only imagine how it might be confusing if you haven't read the first one especially since the end of the last book explains so much. But not so much that this book doesn't have secrets it has plenty to reveal too. This is definitely leaning more toward sci-fi than just paranormal and I'm loving it.

Sadie and her family have always been special, they each have extraordinary abilities. They were being held against their will forces to do the bidding of a secret agency and experimented on. After they escaped they discovered they had more abilities than they knew. One of Sadie's new talents has been dreaming the future, and she has lately been dreaming of one man. She manipulates it so she can meet him but she doesn't realize until it's too late that he is part of the secret agency that kept her prisoner most of life and was responsible for the death of her sister.

Ethan Weiland was born into the Conclave and is destined to one day rule the whole organization, but ever since the death of his mother he's been having doubts. Even more so now members have been dying and his cousin is missing and now a mysterious woman is trying to blackmail him. When Sadie reveals who she is and Ethan looks into her claims he discovers she's telling the truth and everything he suspected about the Conclave was right, but he wants one thing from her in return she can dig through all the records and find out where her people (who were kidnapped in the last book) have been taken. In the meantime Sadie and Ethan deal with their strong attraction to each other and learn to trust each other.

Overall, much like the first book a lot happens and it's all very exciting and very intriguing. Sadie and Ethan are hot! I can't wait to see where Nina Croft takes us next.   
    

ARC REVIEW Diffraction by Jess Anastani

OMG! My first read of the new year and wow. I love this series, it is best if you read all books in order because the main story arc that continues throughout all the books. Diffraction is no different from the first two books, it has a great emotional connection between all the characters and nice chemistry between the two main characters. There is great external conflict between Varean and various other characters and Varean's internal struggle with himself; what he's been hiding all of his life gave the character so much more depth. Kira much like everyone else on board the Imojenna has a past she'd rather not remember or think about. Continued through the story along with the silent war on the Reidar is Rian and Ella's hectic love/hate romance. Love that I hope their book is soon, stop teasing us Jess Anastasi, PLEASE!

Kira's path up 'till now has been clear keep everyone alive and help defeat the Reidar but when a soldier is brought on board because he reacts strangely to the new weapon the use to expose the shapeshifting Reidar. Rian and the crew automatically assume he's a spy and the enemy but to Kira she sees something different she thinks she knows what happened and why he reacts the way he does but she needs to keep him alive long enough to find out for sure; that's if Callen and Rian stop beating the crap out him long enough for her to run some tests. When Kira finally gets around to being able to convince Varean to give a blood sample and to start the test Rian is backstabbed and the crew must abandon the Imojenna. Split into two groups they each have their own missions to complete before meeting at the rendezvous point later. Kira knows this is her only chance to get to a real hospital and run the test, but what the tests say is something so completely different from what she thought. ( I was half right with my guess). With the new information Kira and Varean face a decision and even though both of them fell in love they make the wrong choice that they both realize days later. But another betrayal has Varean rushing to save her before he's had the chance to tell her he loves her.

This book is so jam packed with everything. I can't believe Jess Anastasi even went as far as she did it left me awestruck at what happened in this book. I can't wait for the next one! Overall this book just continues with the awesome.  

ARC REVIEW Unthinkable by Nina Croft

First off, cliffhanger I warn you now, so if you hate cliffhangers do not read. I am torn between liking this book and being utterly confused by it. It jumps you into the story, I was a little confused I had to check to make sure this was actually book one in the series. I really liked the plot, I liked the concept. It's one of those big twisted, nothing is what it seems, no one is what they seem kind of stories. Their is deep history with many of the characters and it's kind of summarized but I still felt that so much was left out. I know it will probably revealed in the later books but it left me wanting more like a prequel explaining everything before the point where this book started. The characters are all very interesting and even the "bad guys" you want to know more about their story.

Jake is the leader of The Tribe a group of people with special abilities they were until recently under control of the government, but one of them died and Jake went in search of what happened and was disturbed by what he saw and it lead him and the others to escape. Now that they are free from the confines of the government and their ability repressing drugs The Tribe is discovering a whole new set of talents they never knew they had. They had only a few months of freedom before their former boss raided their safe house and kidnapped several of their people. To get them back Jake sinks to their level and kidnaps the one thing his former boss hold dear, his daughter.

Christa Winters is completely oblivious of her father's activities. Christa is so strongly attracted to her kidnapper she has convinced herself that she's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She can't stop thinking about him, and since Jake is telepathic he can read her thoughts he finds her absolutely fascinating. Jake has been drawn to Christa since he first saw her weeks before he kidnaped her. The fact that she is the daughter of the man he wants to kill should keep him from getting too attached but he finds peace when he's with her and when the events unfold and they must run they become closer. Jake tells Christa everything, about The Tribe her father and their supposed origins. Christa is a scientist specializing in DNA and she tries to help find out if the origins they think is the truth is really the truth.

There are so many twists I don't want to say too much and reveal what really happens, it really is a captivating story once you get into it and their are so many surprises it keeps you guessing what going to happen next. Overall, it was a good read once you get into it it's really non stop. I enjoyed the good guys forced to do bad things in order to protect their own.    

ARC REVIEW Quantum by Jess Anastasi

Sci-fi Romance yummmmmm. This is the sequel to last years Atrophy. Captain Rian Sherron and the crew of the Imojenna are back with a little help from their friends. It's not necessary to have read the first book but it wouldn't hurt just for the added background of the characters and their mission. The main characters of this book were introduced separately in the first book, Captain Admiral Zander Graydon and Lieutenant Marshal Mae Pertos. This was a great book just as good as the first. It's an intense action packed story even more so than the previous one. In the beginning it does flip flop between Graydon and Mia's story with what's going on aboard the Imojenna and the animosity/sexual attraction of Rian and the priestess they saved in Atrophy, Ella. (their book/relationship is still in development and probably won't be out soon, but I'm giddy about that one) New characters are introduced, including Space Pirates! and a new plot twist has been revealed.

Rian is concerned about the hit list Tannin discovered. It's a list of people who have been or are potential targets for the Reidar to take or have taken over. On that list is one of his best friends. Rian send Mae undercover to figure out if he is himself or a Reidar clone. In the span of a day Graydon is attacked and almost killed three times. Stranded on a planet days away from civilization Gray and Mae have to walk. On this walk Mae is constantly fighting her attraction to Gray just as much as she is trying to figure out if he's human. Gray knows about the Reidar, he doesn't know everything but what he does know is that Mae is hiding something from him and as much as he wants to figure out what it is he can't help but be drawn to the beautiful, strong, and witty woman.

It is impossible to summarize this book and include everything that's awesome about it. So much happens, Mae and Gray finally meet up with the Imojenna, The Reidar Imposter has already taken Grays place aboard his vessel the Swift Brion. Luckily Rian is a crazy genus and comes up with a plan. They discover a couple of new things but for every question answered about the Reidar five new questions pop up.

Overall, OMG okay, other than having to train my brain not to read Rian's name as rain, I freakin' loved this book everything about it! I am really looking forward to the next book and the book after that and so on.  

ARC REVIEW Atrophy by Jess Anastasi

I'm always on the look for a new sci-fi romance to fall in love with. This is the book. I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book. The best way I can think to describe it, it's like a darker twisted version of Firefly meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both of which I loved). The characters, like with those in Firefly, are all unique and have their own little quirks that makes them charismatic and well just plain likeable. The storyline is captivating and full of mystery and conspiracy, the love story is an easy one, instalove, with an overprotective big brother standing in the way.

The Imojenna is a cargo ship, she is also falling apart. But Captain  Rian Sherron uses her for his own reasons, if only the crew could keep it in one piece. At the beginning of the book she is falling apart and the stubborn AI is ready to dump the cargo hold to keep it on one piece. Their only solution is to land on the nearest planet and make repairs. Unfortunately said planet is Erebus a prison planet, fortunately Rian has connections being an ex-military and a War Hero.

Inmate Tannin Everette has spent the last twelve years of his life on the prison planet of Erebus for a crime that he didn't commit. Tannin learned early on he can have an easy life, well for an inmate at least, by volunteering to do all the menial admin tasks no one else wants to do. In doing this he was in the right place at the right time to overhear the plans for a cargo ship to land for repairs. Tannin sees his opportunity to escape and against all odds was able to escape the inescapable prison planet.

Zahli Sherron is the heart of the crew, little sister to Rian and the money manager she also finds them all their jobs. Zahli is also the first one to meet Tannin, he helps her escape the guard who tricked her and tried to rape her. Zahli in truth saves herself by killing the guard but escapes with Tannin's help. When later she finds him stowed away on board the ship she agrees to help him escape. Rian catches him and the only thing keeping him from turning the ship around and turning him in is the fact he likes the challenge and outwitting the system. As it turns out Tannin ends up being more helpful than any of them imagined. During Tannin's twelve years in Erebus and working in the admin building he because a genius computer wiz. Tannin and Zahli fall in love at first sight, but Rian's no fraternization rule gets in the way especially after Rian kind of threatens Tannin with his freedom if he messes around with Zahli.

The dilapidated ship and her crew are more than they seem. Tannin soon realizes that the cargo business is more of a cover for their real purpose which is to stop a shapeshifting alien race from taking over. I won't go to much more into because I don't want any spoilers but damn. Overall this was a really good book and I am really looking forward to more books especially Rian's.          
 

ARC REVIEW Zara & Xin by Jade Kerrion

So Jade Kerrion has both Zara and Xin ebooks releasing today! Zara and Xin are both part of the Double Helix Women series. Zara takes place in between books two and three of the series. Xin takes place after the last book. I am no stranger to this series and I do not hide the fact that I love this series. Jade Kerrion writes in a why that tangles you up inside emotionally and satisfies your sci-fi addicted brain with brilliant ideas and excitement; this is after all Zara we are talking about, anything that can go wrong will and more than likely explode or die. Zara is such a strong woman the only thing that has ever knocked her off balance was Danyael. Xin has always been a mystery not much has been said about her past just that she is a clone of a Chinese Warrior Queen. These two books give an insight to how both of their minds work and why they may have made the decisions they did and quite a bit more about their pasts. Zara is filled with action and subterfuge and Xin is action and medical science gone horribly wrong.
 

Zara has the habit of acting before she thinks and that has always lead her straight into trouble it also gets the job done. In this book Zara's Uncle calls in a favor; a group of girls has been kidnapped by one of the local terrorist in Zara's hometown in Beirut. Zara flies in with SEAL team Three to rescue the girls one, one whom is the daughter of a U.S. ambassador. Before Zara can leave she learns she is pregnant, almost into her third trimester. Zara knowing this has got to be Galahad's baby wants to terminate it. Her doctor advises against it but Zara knows the hell she and the baby would go through with Galahad as the father. Not to mention Galahad has turned into a bit of jerk.

Zara while in Beirut steps into a big pile of political bullshit. Conspiracy shrouded in secrets covered in lies, and Zara is stuck in the middle. Soon she is on her own trusting no one, trying to rescue those she calls friends. Meanwhile she is constantly thinking about Danyael and trying to figure out her feeling for him; the feelings she never wanted to let herself feel, the kind of feelings she told herself she should have had for Galahad and not Danyael. You find out more about Zara's past and for once she actually stops and thinks about her actions before she acts on them. Basically WWDD, What Would Danyael Do?

Xin, gee where to start because there's so much you don't know about Xin there is a lot in this book. You discover so much about her past and how it shaped her into who she is. You discover just how guilty she feels for Danyael going to the maximum security prison and almost dying. One night she meets with Danyael and finds out he was going to work with the National Institutes of Health. Danyael has a bad feeling about the people, Xin tells him that as an Alpha Empath his gut feelings account for a lot and should act on it. When she digs a little deeper she discovers some startling information. When she tries to contact Danyael again to warn him she is too late he is already on his way to China. Xin must do something she never thought she would do, she is going back to China... with her mother. Okay so she's not her mother in the traditional sense. When Ching Shih, the clone of China's notorious Pirate Queen Zheng Yi Sao, fled China with a baby Xin, she lawfully adopted Xin as her daughter.    

Xin works it out with the Chinese government to "visit" but soon realizes they need her help. A series of murders has been happening the locals are calling it a vampire and there is also a new drug out that is killing people. Xin agrees to help as long as it doesn't get in the way with what she and Danyael have to do. But things go from bad to worse and it seems like all hope is lost, man if she gets Danyael killed Zara will kill her.

Overall, these two book are outstanding. A great addition to a fascinating story.    

ARC REVIEW Under His Skin by Stacey O'Neale

Yea! a Sci-Fi Romance from Entangled Covet. Under His Skin is the start of Stacey O'Neale's Alien Encounter series. science fiction-wise it falls a little short of my expectations but the romance was nice. It had fantastic sexual tension and a little bit sweet. I love that Annabelle made her career on a reality cooking show, Cupcake Wars. I enjoyed the story but it really didn't stand out to me, I kinda hoped for more suspense and sci-fi.

Annabelle Sparks is in love with her best friend and has been since he first walked into her bakery but Kaden Chance has a secret that keeps him acting on his feelings. Kaden is an alien a refuge from another world working with the government with their alien technologies in return for safe haven, but one of their restrictions is they are not allowed to form any attachments. Kaden's species isn't like human's they had to take a human form, their kind doesn't have a beating heart until they meet the one true mate. Kaden thinks it's safe with Annabelle until she goes on a date with another man and then his heart starts to beat. But breaking the rules set in place to protect them and humans isn't the only problem another alien has landed on Earth with vengeance on his mind and Annabelle stuck in the middle. Kaden is willing to risk his life to keep her safe. But will Annabelle forgive him for the lies and accept him for who he is alien and all?

Overall, I wanted more from this book but it was a good read and I look forward to reading the next one. Kaden's brother's are intriguing.   

ARC REVIEW Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels

One of my favorite dark romance/urban fantasy writers has written one of my top favorite genres, science fiction, to say I was happy is an understatement. When I finally stopped bouncing up and down in my chair and settled down to read it I was absorbed into a futuristic world of demented villains and tortured anti-heroes and strange alien races. I enjoyed it, I didn't love it but it was still a good read. One thing that kept throwing me off was all the alien words it was hard to keep track of what meant what. There was a lot of internal monologue, it is in first person POV so she tends to get overly depictive in describing the setting and how it made her feel. Some of it felt rushed, parts I wish there was more of and other parts I wish there was less. What I did love was the characters and the emotional strength of Silence. Silence is the quintessential Shiloh Walker/J.C. Daniels Heroine.  

*It is not for the faint of heart, if you feel rape doesn't belong anywhere in romance then don't read this.*

Silence was born ten years ago to lies, abuse, and rape; if she existed before then the memories only live in her dreams. Her owner, Gold, a disturbed man uses her as he sees fit and that usually means as an assassin. She was trained to kill and yet the one person she wants to kill more than anyone else in the world as rigged it so she can't. A biochip in her brain that he can tap into at anytime to track her down or strike her dead, Silence has no choice but to comply. Gold has spewed his lies to her over and over that it has her convinced that what he said actually happened and that the love of life used her to pay a debt. Her dreams have gotten more vivid; like her sub conscience trying to tell her something but she still only sees part of the story.

Silence has refused to carry out her last mission of killing an old man, instead of killing her Gold gives her an out, one last job and she is free and clear of him. The man who gave her up is her next target. Silence is no fool she has planned for the last few years a contingency plan whether she is free of him after this by his hand or hers she will be free she goes to complete her last mission. But Gold messed up he never should have underestimated Silence and Orion. An emotional revelation of truth and an all around love conquers all ending, even if it was kind of abrupt.      
   

SPRING READING ARC REVIEWS

Spring reading I am going to be replacing that horrible "C" word cleaning, with books starting with the letter "C". I'll present to you three book from different genres, different authors, they have nothing in common except they all have titles starting with the letter "C". 

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb. Crushed by Lauren Layne. Carnival Tricks by Jade Kerrion. 

Crushed by Lauren Layne

First up Lauren Layne's Crushed is book two in the series Redemption. In the previous book we meet Michael St. Claire since then his life has been turned upside down. Michael left Manhattan leaving everything behind, except his car, he learned the truth that the man he thought was his father is not and that his biological father is in Texas. So Michael leaves the lights of New York for teaching tennis at an upscale country club. The idea was to see his father first then wrangle an introduction. His plan to do that involved one of his students a gorgeous young lady Kristen Bellamy. Kristen is dating his half brother, Devon. Kristen is a conceited cock tease and Michael was going to use her to get close to Devon until Kristen's twin shows up. Chloe is the exact opposite of her sister plump instead of model thin; smart and witty instead of clothes and makeup, the only thing they share is their love for Devon. Michael convinces Chloe into letting him be her personal trainer, not to lose weight but to get healthy, and it works the longer she stay at the better food choices she makes and drops a few pounds. The more time Chloe spends with Michael the more she likes him, and Michael her. Michael even confides in her the real reason he's here and where he comes from. But as always something happens that tears them apart just after they both realize they love each other and must both face some hard truths before gaining their HEA.

I loved this book, I didn't think I would like Michael after reading the last book but WOW, Chloe brings out the good in him. Chloe is fabulous and I wish I could be her, outrageous head of curly hair and everything.The relationship between Michael and Chloe was great, the sparks fly and even when they don't see it themselves it's there and it's palpable. A great book a must read!

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb came out last year and is the first book of the Buried Secrets series was also her debut novel. Carly Jo Simonwas up shit creek without a paddle, she just found out she was pregnant and her boyfriend a boy she thought the sun rose and set on broke up with her the day before and when she went to her father for help but he just got made and said he wasn't raising a bastards child. Devastated and without the support she needs she ran away. Seven years later her Father is dying and she comes back to make amends. Her plan was to go back to her life but her father left her the whole company, and the CEO position in charge. Colton knows he screwed up and has never stopped loving Carly Jo and will do anything to prove it to her. After telling her the truth about why the breakup happened she accepts and forgives, but Colton is pushing her too hard and too fast for her to feel comfortable about making any decision. Throw in to the mix an old friend, a kindred spirit Luke has Carly Jo even more confused. Top it all off with finding out secrets buried by her father and a nemesis out to ruin everything having to do with the Simon name. 

 I loved the story I loved the premises, what I didn't like was Colton, I did not like him at all with shared first person POV with Carly Jo didn't help, it just made him seem more on the verge of unhealthy obsession and the most upsetting of all... I didn't know it was a cliffhanger!!! I think my exact words were.. " H..How the Fuck could it end there!" but none the less I will be getting book two and three...

Carnival Tricks by Jade Kerrion

Carnival Tricks is a special book it can be read as a stand alone or as an introduction to the Double Helix World. This science fiction universe that Jade Kerrion created seemed to me like a mix between Gattaca (loved that movie) and The X-Men. Like in Gattaca creating the "Perfect child" through genetic manipulation has become the thing to do, what no one expected was that these in vitro children would gain psychic powers. The Genetic Revolution has sprouted purest calling them Human Derivatives, and mutants like in X-Men they are categorized and rated the really powerful ones are rated Alpha and are some of the most hated and feared. Kyle Norwood is 100% human and proud of it everything he has and done has been by his own merit and hard work. Now working for The Three Fates he is charged with protecting two scientist as they make a transaction. Everything goes SNAFU and ends up in a firefight between a ruthless South American cartel and the IGEC (International Genetics and Ethics Council). Sofia Rios is just barely human, the telekinetic powers don't even register on any scale. Working and going to school Sofia gets caught in the middle of firefight at her job when she tries to save one of the men who got shot she was injected with a microchip. Sofia uncertain about what is on the chip isn't just about to hand it over to a drug cartel, IGEC, or even Proficere Labs. Kyle might not like her decision but he will stand by her and protect her with his life, but when he discovers the truth that Sofia is one of those "mutants" that he hates so much can he look past it and maybe see things instead of how he thinks he sees them.

You can't see me but I'm doing the grabby hands gesture. I want all the other and the ones to come. I love Sci-Fi and this world is so in depth and intricate it ties you up in knots, it digs in and spreads it roots into your brain not letting you go. I read Jade's contemporary first and love 'em and when I saw sci-fi was also a genre she wrote in I knew I had to read them and oh boy I love it.   

These books were given as ARC by either the author or publisher in return for an honest review. It was my choice to put them in my spring reading post. 

REVIEW Katalina Leon's Forsaken Realms and Hoodoo Blue

Katalina Leon has released not one but two novellas for Fated Desires new lines. Earlier this month Forsaken Realms kicked off the On the Run line and now Hoodoo Blue starting off the Set-Up line. The On the Run line I think is pretty explanatory the characters are on the run from someone or something; the Set-up line is where blind dates go wrong. (I love it already!)

Forsaken Realms is a Sci-Fi Romance set in the distant future. Retrieval Specialist Gemmina Nayar is asked specifically to pick up and turn in a corporate spy who tried to infiltrate the isolated and mysterious billionaire/ inventor Jason Naveen laboratory. But when she gets there she discovers the spy is one of the forbidden race Kironian. The Kironians isolated themselves away from the humans determined to keep them separate the human government agreed and forbid the Kironian space forbidden. Gimmina knows something is hinky when she finds out who she is transporting and when the huge Kironian opens his eyes and something passes between them she crosses her fingers that she is wrong. She's not. Soon Syan the gorgeous way off-limits alien is talking to her telepathically something they can only do with fated mates. He tries to warn her that Jason Neveen is not who he appears to be and will not let them go easily. He is soon proven right when her ship's engine blows up and they crash and are soon running for their lives.  I love a good sci-fi and this one satisfied my craving for sci-fi and a good romance.

Hoodoo Blue is a funny PNR laced with good intentions gone wrong. The Blonde Bombshell witch also known as Fredi hasn't had the best luck with dating swearing it off because with every dirty/erotic thought she has green plasma flies out her fingertips setting things on fire. Gus is a Lycan shifter who hasn't had the best control of his shifting lately. When Fredi's best friend laces the Hoodoo Blue mix with a special potion to keep Fredi and Gus together and talking because she knows they are perfect for each other it all goes wrong. First they blurt out everything that comes to mind and then they can't move far from each other and that radius keeps shrinking not to mention the fact that Fredi keeps shooting green fire and it's a full moon so Gus isn't in control with his shifting. This is a funny funny story I enjoyed it immensely.