Category: Science Fiction

Review: To Find You

11/4/2016

To Find You
by Cerece Rennie Murphy

Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 29, 2016

Two Souls
One Desire
To Find Each Other...Again

The journey begins with Ama and Ekow ~ Two lovers betrothed, then torn apart by an enemy disguised as a friend. And in the midst of an unthinkable bargain, their freedom is sold for a bag of gold.

But what their enemies thought would break them only unleashed a power greater than life itself.

From the ancient shores of Ghana to the streets of pre-colonial India,
From the burning embers of Oahu to the heart of a nation’s capitol,
Their souls risked war, death, and betrayal to bend destiny to their will.

Will they survive?
Will they succeed?

Join them on this timeless journey and see…

Review

First of all - can we talk about that gorgeous cover??? I know people say not to judge a book by its cover, but we have to admit that the cover is what draws us in most of the time. And that up there, dear reader, is a fantastic cover. Gorgeous.

Okay, now on to the book. Murphy does a fantastic job writing a well-thought out and thought-provoking novel. The teaser tempts us with describing this work as a timeless tale and it is so fitting, because together (and separately) with Ama and Ekow, we travel to distant lands and times to find out their story. What the reader might be surprised in realizing is that we get the story through 4 individually told tales. There is dealings with reincarnation, so you don't let go of the characters of each story. Entwined and connected, Ama and Ekow somehow find their way back to each other.

Is this book a romance? Fantasy? Science Fiction? All of the above? I think that is for the reader to decide. Although the reader can definitely tell there is a formula to each story, I did not find that it took away from the main concept of these two lovers finding their way back to each other. If anything, it cemented the idea of soulmates for me. Murphy is able to tell this tale without it seeming cliche. If anything, it felt monumental - important. So, whether it's the love story or the concepts of reincarnation and fantasy that get you hooked - no worries. It is definitely a work to be read.

About the Author

Cerece Rennie Murphy fell in love with writing and science fiction at an early age. It’s a love affair that has grown ever since.

In addition to working on the release of the 2nd book in the Ellis and The Magic Mirror children’s book series with her son, Mrs. Murphy is developing a 2-part science fiction thriller set in outer space. Mrs. Murphy lives and writes in her hometown of Washington, DC with her husband, two children and the family dog, Yoda. To learn more about the author and her upcoming projects, please visit her website at www.cerecerenniemurphy.com.

Twitter: @cerecermurphy
https://www.facebook.com/Cerece-Rennie-Murphy-205753729546299/
www.cerecerenniemurphy.com

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Review: The Last Girl

3/13/2016

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The Last Girl
Dominion Trilogy Book 1
by Joe Hart

Synopsis

A mysterious worldwide epidemic reduces the birthrate of female infants from 50 percent to less than 1 percent. Medical science and governments around the world scramble in an effort to solve the problem, but twenty-five years later there is no cure, and an entire generation grows up with a population of fewer than a thousand women.
Zoey and some of the surviving young women are housed in a scientific research compound dedicated to determining the cause. For two decades, she’s been isolated from her family, treated as a test subject, and locked away—told only that the virus has wiped out the rest of the world’s population.

Captivity is the only life Zoey has ever known, and escaping her heavily armed captors is no easy task, but she’s determined to leave before she is subjected to the next round of tests…a program that no other woman has ever returned from. Even if she’s successful, Zoey has no idea what she’ll encounter in the strange new world beyond the facility’s walls. Winning her freedom will take brutality she never imagined she possessed, as well as all her strength and cunning—but Zoey is ready for war.

Review

I'm rather on the fence about this one, readers. On one hand, it was an interesting concept that centered around the reduction of female infant births - very sci fi. However, it is definitely a slow read that did not fully satisfy me with its characters. There were some twists and it did have me interested, but I did not feel compelled to keep going with the story.

I should also mention that I am a little biased in that I don't like many dystopian books. I have to truly care about the characters in order to really enjoy a dystopian novel.

I need to also make it a point to say that one of the major reasons I could not enjoy this story is because it confused me. In a world where women/girls are surviving less and less - why would those who do survive be treated harshly? Should they not be treated like a nearly extinct species? And, granted, this story is not realistic - but in dystopian stories it should feel like it COULD be real - and I just didn't get that from this read.

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Review: Sirens in the Night

11/27/2015

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Sirens in the Night
by Michael Bradley

Synopsis

When three corpses are found at a construction site in Philadelphia, homicide detective Samantha Ballard is assigned to investigate the bizarre deaths. The bodies seem like a hoax – withered like ancient mummies, yet dressed in modern day clothing. As more mummified corpses begin to appear throughout the city, Samantha must embark on an investigation that erodes the line between the possible and impossible.
Jack Allyn, a radio DJ who thinks his career is in a downward spiral, has his world rocked by the unusual murder of his friend. As Jack begins to search for answers, he finds himself coming face to face with a force that is as malevolent as it is entrancing.
With his life in danger, Jack must join forces with Samantha to save the city from an evil that threatens the people of Philadelphia. But with the odds stacked against them, can Jack and Samantha save their city from a primeval force with a deadly purpose?

Review
Sirens in the Night was an entertaining and interesting read! Surely unlike anything I have read before. It is a thriller/detective book that mixes in some mythology, a little pop culture, and a whole lot of intrigue. The characters were quite likable - with the female protagonist being my favorite of course. Any readers of mine will remember how much I like a strong female protagonist and that is what I got in the form of Samantha Ballard. Bradley's writing will have you enjoying the characters and atmosphere of the story. This book may not be for everyone, but definitely will be for some. Mainly, readers interested in science fiction and crime thrillers will deeply enjoy this read.

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Review: The Martian

9/29/2015

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The Martian
by Anthony Weir

Synopsis: Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Review
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded anywhere by yourself - this is definitely a book you'll want to check out. I don't think I've ever had a book keep me at the edge of my seat while making me feel like I'm learning something. That is exactly what I got with this book. Mark Watney is such a likable character because he is basically that really smart guy in your class. You know the one - he seems to know everything, but is kinda funny and dorky at the same time. I honestly loved his character and wish I could take him out for a beer or two.

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