Sentinel (The Sentinel Trilogy Book 1)

Synopsis via Amazon:

When a meteor storm knocks out the power grid, the supernaturally gifted become pawns in humanity's struggle for survival.

The meteor storm wasn’t such a big deal until a comet landed in the middle of the road. Now Darien’s car is wrecked, his sister is bleeding out, and the only medical aid is at the reclusive Serran Academy.

Some say the Serrans have blood-bonds with angels. Some say they have surreal mental abilities. Some say the gods grant them elemental powers.

But when the Academy is targeted for harvesting, its secrets—and the collapse of modern civilization—are the least of Darien’s worries.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. It started in the midst of the action and filled in back story as needed. Each character is strong, unique, and full of depth. They interact effortlessly and with  precision. Each character is integral to the story line. And the story line is unique to say the least.
I was drawn into a world very similar to the world I live in yet so different. It made me want to keep reading to see what else would be the same and what would be different. While Darien is the main character, the reader gets to see the world through other character's eyes. This gives the reader a bigger picture of what is going on in the story line.
The story line has drama, angst, humor, and conflict. All of these are woven together to keep the story line moving and the reader engrossed.
I can't wait for book 2 so I can get back to what is going on with the whole crew!! Definitely a 5/5 stars!!

Beyond by Maureen a. Miller

Synopsis via Amazon:

It is the day after Aimee Patterson’s high school graduation. College beckons, as does her dream of becoming an engineer. On an early evening walk, her cocker spaniel charges into the woods on the other side of the pond. Aimee trails after him, and in the stillness of that forest the unthinkable happens. She becomes paralyzed and watches in horror as her hands vanish before her eyes. 

Waking to the sound of voices, Aimee realizes that she has been kidnapped. Little does she know how far away from home she is, though. In an attempt to flee her captors, she launches from their confines only to freeze at the view outside the window. The sky is black and filled with stars, and in the distance is a familiar blue globe. The planet Earth. 

A group of humans forced to flee their planet after an epidemic destroyed their civilization now travel the galaxies in search of an antidote. Retrieving samples of plant life from every solar system, on this occasion Aimee was accidentally seized instead. 

Aimee must learn to avoid the advances of an awkward young scientist who seems intent on dissecting her, as her own fascination turns to the exotic young warrior, Zak. Having fallen in love with Zak, she is now torn with the decision to return to Earth or live beyond the stars.

This was a very unique book. I don't think I have ever read a book with this particular plot. Yes, there have been plots where earth women are taken by aliens, well hot aliens anyway. But this story is unique and very imaginative. The intergalactic travel trying to find a cure for a devastating disease is refreshing.
  I liked that the plot was different. I liked that Aimee is a strong female character. I like that this was an easy read with a lot of feel good moments as well as a few "crazy" moments.
While it is an easy read, I was a little disappointed that the plot wasn't deeper. I like plots that make me think. The ending was somewhat disappointing. I felt like she ran out of story line and decided to just end the story. I would even love to see a sequel. I think there is a lot of story line left between Aimee and Zak.
I have to say, overall I give this book 3/5 stars. It was a "feel good" read that left me wanting more.

Ignite: Book Three of the Resistance Series by Tracy Lawson

Synopsis via Amazon:

The Greatest Risk Is To Take No Risk At All.

Nationwide food shortages have sparked civil unrest, and the Office of Civilian Safety and Defense’s hold on the people is slipping. The Resistance’s efforts to hasten the OCSD’s demise have resulted in disaster, with Tommy Bailey and Careen Catecher taking the blame for the ill-fated mission in OP-439.

Both teens struggle to survive the circumstances that force them into the national spotlight—and this time, they’re on opposite sides. On the run and exiled from the Resistance members in BG-098, Tommy makes his way to a Resistance safe house in the capital.

The OCSD is preparing to monitor all under-eighteens with the Cerberean Link, a device that protects them against hunger and sickness and can even locate them if they’re lost. Tommy’s now living in close quarters with Atari, an operative who has been assigned to sabotage the Link. But does Atari plan to use it for his own purposes?

Through it all, Tommy refuses to believe Careen’s loyalties have shifted away from the Resistance, and he’s willing to assume any risk to reconnect with her. Will they be able to trust each other when it matters most?

Tommy and Careen are back!! Miss Lawson brings this third installment of the Resistance Series to a whole other level.
Careen has been caught by the OCSD and is forced to make propaganda videos for the OCSD. Tommy is still part of the resistance trying to keep his faith in Careen.
Miss Lawson introduced more characters in Book 2, Resist. In Ignite, she expands those characters, explaining their importance to not only Tommy and Careen, but the resistance.
The story continues the action we saw in Resist, but gets a little more in depth of the chaos that ensues. It is fun, interesting, intellectual, and full of excitement.
If you haven't started this series, then you really need to. If you have started the series, then you really need to read Ignite.
I am excitedly waiting for the next book to come out. According to Miss Lawson's website book #4, Revolt, comes out in July.

The Colony by Kathleen Groger

Synopsis via Amazon:

Trust no one
Never go out in the dark
Always have a weapon

Sixteen-year-old Val lives by these three rules etched on her arm. Her rules and her gun are the only things standing between her and assimilation by hordes of human-looking aliens she calls Raspers.

By day, Val gathers supplies. By night, she hides and wishes she could go back in time…before her family died…before the annihilation…before the Raspers began stalking her and demanding she join their collective.

But when the Raspers attack in broad daylight, the truth becomes startlingly clear. 

They’re evolving. 

A fellow survivor crashes into Val’s life. Adam’s full of charm and promises—like rumors of a safe haven—but there’s something wrong. He’s survived with no supplies, no weapons…no plans. Time is running out. With the formula for survival shifting around her, Val must decide how many rules she’s willing to break to escape the Colony.

This story is a breath of fresh air in the YA/Post apocalyptic genre. This is a story about a strong young teenager forced to learn to survive on her own.  A young teenager who finds out she is not the only non-rasper alive. She has developed 3 rules to follow. #1 is "Trust No one". When she is confronted by Adam, also a non-rasper teenager, she starts to ignore her 3 rules and her life changes.
Val and Adam join together and try to get to the safe zone Adam's father told him about.
This is full of action, excitement, drama, perseverance, and survival. Just when you think you have the story figured out, Miss Groger injects a twist.
I really enjoyed this book. Miss Gregor knows how to pull the reader in and captivate them. I really didn't want to put the book down. I read it during lunch at work, on the way home from work, and sitting in front of the television.

Taking It All by Cheyenne McCray writing as Jaymie Holland

Synopsis via  CheyenneMcCray.com:

Lisa Peterson's life is boring and average—until she runs into a man. With her car. Instead of asking for her insurance card, he asks her out for a drink. What can she say, but yes?

Brad Akers is anything but average. He's sexy, witty, interesting and a man with muscles in all the right places. Lisa experiences things she'd only dreamed of—turning over control and allowing herself to be bound and spanked for his pleasure and hers, too. As he draws her deeper into his world of BDSM, she has no qualms about taking it all.


First of all I have got to say "I finally have a computer again!!!". It has been over 2 months since our computer went kaplooey. I am so glad to be able to get back online and post my reviews. So, with that said, for those who follow my reviews, I am so very sorry to have gone dark for so long.

So, I am happy to say I got to read another awesome book by my favorite author, Cheyenne McCray.
This is part of her BDSM series she writes as Jaymie Holland. Her BDSM series is a little more hardcore for those who like a little spice in their sex and relationships.
I have to confess, I do not know about BDSM personally, but I do enjoy the way Chey introduces the intricacies of the lifestyle. She explains through the story how BDSM isn't about one person totally in control of another person. She makes it perfectly clear that it is about the joy, stimulation, and satisfaction one person feels when he is doing things that excite, arouse, and sexually satisfy another.

But let's talk specifically about Brad and Lisa.
Lisa is a lady stuck in a life that she describes as "boring". She works at a bank, drives a beater (my description), and doesn't even have a pet to keep her company.
Then there is Brad. He is a sexy man who knows what he wants when he sees it. And Lisa is what he likes.
After Lisa literally hits him with her car, he takes her out for a drink. During that "one drink", Brad introduces her to his world of sex and submission.
Lisa and Brad are one hot couple that enjoy very hot sex. How do I explain my enjoyment of this novella without describing the whole story and ruining the discovery for yourself? Well, to be very honest, this story made me want to do a little more research into the lifestyle. Her storytelling is very vivid and arousing. Her detail is picturesque and leaves very little to the imagination but invites the reader to view the details in their mind as if it was a personal movie.
She has developed characters that invite you to fantasize about. She creates a world that the reader can imagine being a part of.
Chey is a writer who has gifted us with with her amazing talent.
If you like erotic, sexy, drool worthy stories, Taking It All is definitely for you. Hell, all of Chey's books are for you.
For those readers into erotica, this is a must read!