REVIEW - THE THERAPIST EPISODE ONE - A MIDNIGHT FLING STORY BY J.A. BELFIELD

ABOUT THE THERAPIST SERIES

Chase Walker: Founder of C.W. Consult. Sex therapist extraordinaire. 

And, without question, always in control.

After years of schooling his emotions, Chase takes pride in his self-composure and firm lack of commitment. It takes only one, fresh-faced redhead in need of his services for all of that to fall to pieces. 

Abigail O'Shay is everything Chase isn't. Sweet. Innocent. A virgin.

Chase has never wanted to defile anything more.

Except, if that whole therapist-client barrier isn't enough of an issue, Chase's own demons are only too happy to cock-block all the sinful fantasies treatments he has in mind for his latest client.

THE THERAPIST

EPISODE ONE

Title: The Therapist, Episode One

Series: The Therapist, A Midnight Fling Story

Author: J.A. Belfield

Genre: Adult 18+, Steamy, Romance, Erotic Novella's

Release Date: 20th February 2017

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Episode One: Through self-imposed rules and a learned composure, Chase Walker takes a married couple on their first steps into bedroom communication. The same stance he takes with every client on his list. That is, until his newest client walks in and gives a whole new meaning to a hard day at the office. With a face full of innocence and a beauty she seems unaware of, Abi O’Shay might just be the first person to crack his professional façade.

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REVIEW

So I will readily admit that I wouldn't normally choose this genre of book. Erotica is usually way out of my genre comfort zone. Though this year I made a new years resolution to try to read more books from outside of my usual genre range. I began by reading a dew titles by Lauren Dane, both her Moonstruck Series and her more overtly sexual Cascadia Wolves Series. I have read other titles by J.A. Belfield from her Holloway Pack Series and I proudly declare I am one of her "Hollerers" (her street team). I purchased The Therapist, episode one from Amazon UK.

What can I say about the cover? Well I guess I should comment on the two versions of the cover and some "problem" with Amazon that made it much easier for J.A. Belfield to adjust the title of the book and tweak the cover a little too. So the original cover's main feature was the rather buff body of who I would presume is the "therapist" we meet in the first episode. Well of course the hot body on the cover certainly attracts the eye to the cover and makes you want to see . . .and know more about the guy the body belongs to.
The newer up to date, tweaked cover shows a smartly dressed, perfectly groomed male who seems to hover between smooth and sophisticated yet still has a few gorgeous rough edges around him such as the facial hair. Is the hot guy, buttoning or unbuttoning that shirt? Again I'm guessing the man with those eyes that speak to you from the book cover is the main character, the therapist himself, Chase Walker. 

My first thoughts were quite conflicting, was I going to be able to read the whole novella? Was it going to be too overtly explicit for my "reading parameters? As this is a different genre to the other J.A. Belfield titles I have read I am wondering if it will it still have a great plot along with the steamy aspects? I suppose the trepidation I felt about what I would think about this book could maybe compared to a little of what The Therapist's clients feel when going to their appointments with him.

The Therapist business/service called C.W. Consult is headed by a man called Chase Walker, he is an impeccably dressed and groomed in a certain style, and standard he keeps solely for business. It is not just the beautifully cut suits Chase wears, it is right down to the way he styles his hair. 
Chase offers his very own brand and style of counselling to male, females and couples who may think they require some help in the sexual relationship areas of the their lives. Chase offers both verbal, and practical sessions, along with giving his clients very specific homework to do between sessions. Though Chase is physically in the same room as his clients he never initiates his part in their practical sessions, all suggestions come directly from the client. Chase is very composed at all times throughout his appointments with his clients. Not that he doesn't have his own urges and thoughts on what he would like to happen in certain situations.
We meet the rest of Chase's staff, the two receptionist/assistants that he met when they were still "tied" to a pimp. Chase paid the pimp well to have the two women with looks I'd describe as chalk and cheese work for him. It's quite clear both women enjoy their work and find their employer attractive.
We meet a couple of Chase's clients. The first are a couple attending their first physical session, who are shown into Chase's office wearing just plain robes and slippers supplied by Chase's company. Chase asks them to choose which room they want to "play in". Chase has a variety of rooms and settings, from luxurious bedrooms and sumptuous bathrooms, one of the rooms is even decorated very similar to his own office and is usually rather popular with all ages! The other client we are introduced to is Abi O'Shay and without revealing any spoilers she may be the one client that could be capable of ruffling the perfectly groomed and tightly restrained Chase Walker.
Also in this novella, the reader is shown a darker side of Chase. We get a glimpse into his "play-room" and the type of role play he enjoys himself.

I think this novella series really has the beginnings of an intriguing plot, with interesting characters that I would really like to learn more about. I'd be curious to know how Chase ended up in this line of work, as well as wanting to learn more about his employee's, and their lives now and before meeting Chase. 
Then there was the cliff hanger of what Chase is going to suggest as therapy for Abi O'Shay, and the question of will Chase be able to hold on tight to his well practiced restraint.
Another character the reader only meets briefly that I took an instant liking to, despite her only being a voice on the other end of a phone call, is Chase's mother, she seems lie a down to earth woman. Who knows if how much of her sons job she knows about. I can imagine him to settle down with a young woman like Abi O'Shay and give her some grandchildren to fuss over too!

My final thoughts are that I had gotten a pleasant surprise, that I enjoyed reading most of this novella/episode, despite it's few darker explicit scenes. More explicit than I would normally read, though it worked well as it was a novella/episode. I may even read more when the next episode is available for me to do so. I think I ought to try reading outside of my comfort zone more often especially when the books are written by authors I trust to deliver a great plot alongside the hot steaminess!

REVIEW - MONSTER ISLAND OMNIBUS EPISODES 1-5 BY KATIE FRENCH

Monster Island is a Young Adult serial mystery thriller 

where the pages practically turn themselves. Readers who like LOST, Maze Runner, 

and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will devour this action-packed tale. 

Parts 1-5 are included in this complete omnibus. 

For more information, please visit katiefrenchbooks.com.

Title: Monster Island

Author: Katie French

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Release Date: 14th February 2017

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My name is Lucca DiVitas. 
I woke up in a burlap sack to the sound of screaming. 
There's a note in my pocket that says, "Pay For Your Sins." 
The cages are empty. 
The howls are real. 
They're coming. 

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REVIEW 

I freely admit that I don’t normally read this genre, but as I have read other titles by this author and loved them so much I decided to give this book a go.

The cover for the omnibus edition has tall trees, a forest with a dark background to represent the night. So not a place you’d like to be in the dark. The title is in a bright green, so you’ll see this one on the bookshelf, and you really don’t want to miss this one!

I think the specified genres of YA, mystery, thriller are still right but personally I feel it also has a bit of a dystopian, and horror edge to it aswell, maybe thats just me or because I have read other books by Katie French that are dystopian. I'll be interested to read what other readers would say on this. 

When you start reading this book you are pulled straight in, and held there until the last word on the last page. I hated having to put the book down to do other things and would have loved to have had the time to sit and read it all the way through.

The book is from the point of view of the teenage characters within the book. I thought the way the author builds the tension slowly is really great, it keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing along with the characters themselves. I was pleased by the fact that as a reader we only know what the teens know, so we are as puzzled as them as to where they are and why they are there. I liked how both Lucca and Kat try to think if they have done anything bad enough to warrant them being kidnapped from their homes and dumped in this isolated, potentially dangerous place that shows no signs of civilisation. In fact I was curious as to what anyone could do to warrant the punishment or revenge of being put on such a dangerous, horror filled place, let alone what teenagers could have done.

The teens do discover what I would describe as cryptic sayings or quotes in the same handwriting as the note Lucca found in his pocket such as “If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not REVENGE?” Kat instantly recognises it, not that it really reveals anything to the two teens.

The two teens don’t get off to an easy start with Kat thinking Lucca is going to attack her. Both of them are scared, they don’t know where they are, or how they got there either. As he looks back up from his pocket he sees Kat has suddenly stopped and is transfixed by something in the distance. Lucca follows her gaze and sees what she is staring at. There are eight large cages, the metal doors to them are wide open. The two teens discuss what could have been in the cages and where it or they could be now. Worried about being out in the open they notice a cinder block building and head towards that hoping for some way to contact someone, anyone that can help them solve this unsettling position they both find themselves in.

I really loved the astrological desriptions revealed in a scene between Kat, Jos and their Nana before they were taken. Kat is a cancerian, which means though she can be moody and emotional, she is also very caring and is usually the one to fix things. Where as Joslyn is a scorpion, known to be hot headed and having a temper.

I also identified with the solution and action Kat takes against a boy who has been bullying Joslyn, she certainly teaches him a lesson, though she also gives herself a rather nasty scare in the process. Kat comes across as really brave and in control the way Kat is prepared to face anything from a twelve year old boy who is bullying her sister to a large squid, monster wolf/bears and the sadistic people who have kidnapped them and placed them on this island of horrors! She would do anything for her younger sister. 

I grew quite fond of both of the main characters Lucca and Kat they both seem like normal individuals. Neither of them comes from an especially wealthy family, so I guessed that they hadn't been kidnapped for ransom money.

I'd have to say from the first book Lucca has been the character that has been my ultimate favourite! He continues to be a strong character throughout the whole book, and still exhibits a fierce protectiveness towards Kat and also her younger sister Joslyn whom he has only known since they met on this awful island.

The character that probably shocked me and I would have to say was my least favourite teen character, was Jade. We don't really know why she is like she is towards the other teenagers. Jade is a character that puts herself and her own safety first. The reason she was on the Island was not really fully disclosed, neither was her father’s demise, and reasons for it.

The other character that works so well, that you have to have some level of dislike or maybe hate for is Vito, Lucca's father. Vito is easily led, in financial trouble so easily blackmailed and made to toe the line by the person controlling the Island and its horrific experiments. Sadly Lucca learns a lot of un-savoury things about his father, but being the forgiving young man that he is doesn't shun his father when he has more than one opportunity to do so, even though he continually lets his son down. Though I suppose some readers may think Vito manages to redeem himself by making the ultimate sacrifice.

Monster Island will keep you glued to your seat wanting to read through the whole of this book! You will not want to put it down. I didn't. After all the suspense, building up gradually from the very beginning of the section of the book title Taken, right up until the final section titled An Inch Of Light. Finally some “light” is shed on who is behind the teenagers being kidnapped and why they were taken in the first place. We find out whose idea it was to kidnap the children and take them to "Monster Island" and why “they” did it. I was so shocked as to who had kidnapped Lucca though, I hadn't really contemplated that it could be who it turns out to have done the actual deed!

The very existence of the Island and what scientific experiments have taken place there is quite shocking! We do meet more of the adults towards the end of the omnibus, but to be honest I think it is the teenagers all the way through this series that have behaved in a more adult way, than the actual adult characters themselves!

The ending is good, I'm not sure it was how I saw it all ending. There is also the addition of an Epilogue which was interesting to read, but I also felt I wanted updates on all the teenagers, and the adults that featured too. For me things were not explained enough about Jade. . . mind you could that mean there is more to come? Has the horrifying person at the helm of everything that was happening and being created at the Island really been stopped. . . . could that person have escaped or maybe that person had other colleagues/investors/friends who will want to continue the experiments? Having mentioned those questions, it is also feasible that the book just ended with the epilogue which gives the series a fairly good ending.

QUOTES ABOUT THE BOOK

"I've read Katie French books before, and this isn't my first in this YA genre, but this is outstanding in its readability. Just can't wait to get my eyes on episodes 3-5. Superb. Great read and highly recommended." 
"What else can I say about this series other than I am enthusiastically, though a little impatiently awaiting more! I certainly recommend this series so far!"

REVIEW - THE MARKED - KNIGHT'S ACADEMY BY EMERALD BARNES

Title: The Marked

Series: Knight's Academy

Author: Emerald Barnes

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Vampires

Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing
Cover Art: Cora Graphics

Release Date: 10th January 2017

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Myka Williams has never fit in with her peers, and although her adoptive parents are loving and supportive, she feels most at home alone in the woods.

When she's offered a full scholarship to Knight's Academy in the Smoky Mountains of Tennes-see, she takes the opportunity for a fresh start. She soon learns that Knight’s Academy is more than just a school. Within the stone walls of the institution, humans and vampires are mixing, and their offspring are going unnoticed.

As Myka falls prey to the evil plan of the school, she makes a chilling discovery about her own heritage and realizes that she’s at the Academy for more than just an education. Myka must yield to her birthright at the risk of losing everyone she loves or succumb to the fate that Knight’s Academy has in store for her—a fate worse than death.

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REVIEW

As I have reviewed other titles by this author and really enjoyed them I was quick to jump at the chance to read and review this book. After reading the blurb I was interested to know more about both it's characters and the direction the plot would go in too.

The pace of this book is a medium pace, which I liked a lot and became almost immediately captured my attention and held it throughout the book. I really enjoyed the direction of the plot. I found characters that I became quite quickly attached to, had empathy with, and I found I really cared about what would happen to them. Of course for every great character that you love you also have one you dislike, but I'll go into that further on in my review.

I love the different blue hue's used on the cover. I'd definitely conclude that the female on the cover holding her books, and wearing the Knight's Academy Uniform, is Myka, the main female character in this book. There's a full moon in the background as well as a werewolf lurking about in the background, which hint at the paranormal's featured inside. I guess some would count the full moon and werewolf as spoilers but personally they just confirmed I had chosen a book I would enjoy. The building at the very back of the background on the cover is a school/college, Knight's Academy. I adore a great byline, it can be the difference between choosing which book to read first or even be the final thing that pushes me to purchase a book too. The byline on this book say's, "She'd been marked; can she escape a fate worse than death?". So to sum up the cover on this book would certainly make me pick it up from a bookstore shelf, and the combination of cover, byline and blurb would make me put the book in my basket to buy!

The genre's that this book is listed as being, on Goodreads are, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires and I agree the book falls into those. I think both YA, NA, and Adults can read and enjoy this book. As I was reading the book, the Knight's Academy reminded me just a little of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead which is a series that I read and loved.  

This book has a prologue which give's us, the reader some background, and lays the foundations to help us to come to the correct conclusion about one of the male characters. It also gives insight into what looks like a great offer for Myka actually has a hidden ulterior motive. 

The actual book begins on a normal, usual day at school for Myka, she is struggling through her math's lesson, she really doesn't like algebra. Myka would much rather be outside in the fresh air and open spaces, with her sketchbook. So Myka is sat in the hot, humid stuffy classroom dreaming about sitting in the woods with her sketchbook. Then Rachel the freshman who helps out in front office knocks on her classroom door, the very beginning of Myka's life changing beyond recognition! Rachel brings a message that Myka's presence has been requested by Principal Adams. Myka immediately worries about why she is summoned to the Principal's office and Mrs Childress the secretary indicates for her to go straight into the office. Once in the Principal's office Myka notices the two strangers also in the room. Both men are wearing suits, though in totally different ways, creating totally different impressions. The older man, roughly forty has jet black hair, not a hair out of place. His suit is pristine and finished off with a hunter green tie. The man looks eager to be here unlike the younger of the strangers who looks like he doesn't care and he certainly doesn't want to be right there in the room they are in! The younger male looks about 17, so a similar age to Myka. He has dirty blonde hair, rolled up shirt sleeves and a loose hanging hunter green tie. He has bright green eyes that seem to look right into Myka's soul. Myka is so intent on checking out the younger male stranger she imagines kissing his lips and running her fingers through his hair. . . . Myka is brought abruptly back to the present as Principal Adams introduces the men. The older male with the pristine hair and suit is Headmaster Marcus Knight, he looks eager to begin speaking, but the Principal is introducing the younger dirty blonde haired guy now, his name is Milo. . . .Milo Farrar he is one of the students at Headmaster Marcus Knight's school, which is called Knight's Academy. Headmaster MArcus Knight, begins to explain that her Prinicipal has told him about Myka's love of art. then Marcus Knight asks Myka what she would say if he offered her a full scholarship at the Knight's Academy. Myka doesn't immediately say yes, she has the sense to question the offer, noticing that Milo has the faintest smirk on his lips as she does so. Headmaster Knight explains that they make a point to search out students with excellent grade and amazing skills. By the way Marcus Knight stresses the word skills, Myka is in no doubt that her grades alone have not secured this generous offer. Myka has never heard of Knight's Academy before today, but knows private schools are normally very good. Myka enquires about the Knight's Academy art program, Headmaster Marcus Knight assures her it is a marvelous program and equally marvelous offer, but he goes on to say she should come on a tour of the school with her parents. Hmm, her parents are another great reason to accept the scholarship offer, it would mean much less expense for her adoptive parents Jill and Barry Williams.

The next Chapter begins two months after the Knight's Academy tour. Myka is being dropped off at her new school, she had thought she was ready and it was not a big deal until the car stopped in front of the dorm building.  Jill and Barry help Myka move her things into her dorm room, and meet dorm mother Ms Carolyn Peters, who reassures Jill and Barry that she is always available to all the girls at anytime of the day or night. Myka soon settles in with room mate Olivia. They meet some older girls who are in their second year at the Knights Academy, they befriend them, telling them what happens next, the welcome assembley, being assigned a guide etc etc.

Myka soon settles in, she has Preston as her guide who seems to be glued to her side and becoming increasingly possessive over her and her time. Initially it seems a nice, friendly thing but soon becomes more irritating and Preston becomes possessive both during classes they have together like Archery to his insistence he walks Myka to classes, or be with her during her free time. It begins to make an already claustrophobic Myka feel as if she is trapped. Preston seems to think he is boyfriend material for Myka. The first efforts by Myka to remove herself from being glued to his side. Myka honestly much prefers the mysterious and moody Milo. Things look like they are going well when he purchases her a gift of something he has seen her admiring, but then he just falls off the radar for a while. Then there's a parents/family weekend and it turns out that Myka's quiet mild mannered adoptive father Barry takes an immediate and quite strong dislike for Preston! In fact at one point Barry tells Myka to use him, and the fact he doesn't like Preston as an excuse to get rid/avoid him! Sadly even that doesn't deter the possessive suitor.
I don't want to go into more detail as I prefer not to reveal spoilers as much as possible. I will say if you loved the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead I think you'll truly enjoy reading this one too!

Naturally one of my favourite characters is Myka Williams, she is a bit of an outcast, so I guess that's one of the reasons I empathise with her. When given the chance of a free scholarship she has no qualms about acceptiing as she doesn't really have very many friends to leave behind. Myka isn't a fashion enthusiast, preferring to feel comfortable and covered up. Myka especially prefers to hide the strange birthmark she has, that becomes more relevant as the book goes on. In fact Myka doesn't know anything about her life or parents before Jill and Barry adopted her.

I also really liked Olivia, the girl that Myka shared dorm room 4C with. Olivia is the louder, more outwardly confident "Miss Socialiser" friend that Myka needs to help her make friends and settle into the Knight Academy.

My thoughts upon finishing this book were, I want more! When can I read more? Could Milo and Myka ever have an "out in the open" official relationship? What about Luka and Olivia? If it comes down to a war between the human's and vampire's, whose side will the hybrids be on and what about the Knight's Academy staff? Who will dorm mom Ms Carolyn Peters and Teacher at Knights Academy, Mother to Milo,Girlfriend to the headmaster, Ms Farrar, side with in such a war. I am also looking forward to Myka's biological parents being revealed or discussed in the next book too.

REVIEW - MONSTER ISLAND: AN INCH OF LIGHT - MONSTER ISLAND BY KATIE FRENCH

Title: Monster Island An Inch Of Light

Series: Monster Island

Author: Katie French

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Release Date: 31st January 2017

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My name is Lucca DiVitas. 
I've been trapped on an island with monsters, and the worst one is a person who plots my death from cameras high in the trees. 
When a helicopter appears in the sky, we fear the worst, but soon realize it's the salvation we've been hoping for. 
Just when I think we're about to escape this insane island, mercenaries shoot us down. 
We survive, but not the pilot or the copter. 
And now the people who tried to kill us are coming. 
Who can save us now?

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REVIEW

I hadn't realised this one had actually come out until over a week after its release! Once I found out, I of course had to go purchase it so I could find all those answers to my questions from the other novella's in this series. 

After the ending of Monster Island The Mask, I was eager to find out exactly what had happened as well as it being revealed who had survived, and what state they were in.

The cover continues along with the same theme of the other novella's. This time the letters of the title are in a light green colour. The cover certainly makes the novella instantly recognisable as part of the series.

The genre's that are listed on Goodreads for this novella are Mystery, and Thriller which I think do really fit well. Personally I would also add horror, as there are definitely aspects I would class as that.

So, I am being totally truthful here, this is a really difficult one to review without giving away any spoilers! But I am going to give it a go, apologies for any vagueness. This novella's keeps you glued to it! You will not want to put it down. I didn't. I read it in one sitting, before I had even added the fact I was reading to Goodreads, until I had finished it lol! After all the suspense, building up gradually from Monster Island Taken right up until this novella. 

We find out whose idea it was to kidnap the children and take them to "monster island" and why they did it. I was somewhat shocked as to who had kidnapped Lucca though, I hadn't really contemplated that it could be who it turns out to have done the deed.

The very existence of the Island and what scientific experiments have taken place there is quite shocking! We meet more of the adults in this book, but to be honest I think it is the teenagers all the way through this series that have behaved in a more adult than the actual adult characters themselves.

I'd have to say from the first book Lucca has been the character that has been my favourite! He continues to be a strong character, and still exhibits a fierce protectiveness towards Kat and her younger sister Joslyn whom he has only known since they met on this awful island.

The character that probably shocked me and I would have to say was my least favourite teen character, was Jade. We don't really know why she is like she is towards the other teenagers. Jade is a character that puts herself and her safety first. The reason she was on the Island was not really fully disclosed, neither was her fathers demise, and reasons for it.

The other character that works so well is Vito, Lucca's father. Vito is easily led, in financial trouble so easily blackmailed and made to toe the line by the person controlling the Island and it's horrific experiments. Sadly Lucca learns a lot of un-savoury things about his father, but being the forgiving young man that he is doesn't shun his father when he has the opportunity to do so, even though he continually lets his son down. 

I thinks that's all I can really say about this novella without giving away spoilers. I have enjoyed the series. I wonder is Katie will put the novella's together into a box set maybe. They are definitely worth reading! The ending is good, I'm not sure it was how I saw it all ending. There is also the addition of an Epilogue which was interesting to read, but I also felt I wanted updates on all the teenagers, and the adults that featured too. For me things were not explained enough about Jade. . . mind you could that mean there is more to come? Has the horrifying person at the helm of everything that was happening and being created at the Island really been stopped. . . .could that person have escaped or maybe that person had other colleagues/investors/friends who will want to continue the experiments? 

Having mentioned those question it is also feasible that the book just end with the epilogue which gives the series a fairly good ending.

REVIEW - THE GIRL IN THE WILDERNESS - LEAH KING SERIES BY PHILIP HARRIS

L

Title: The Girl In The Wilderness

Series: The Leah King Series

Author: Philip Harris

Genre: Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic

Release Date: 2nd October 2016

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Now that she’s alone, Leah has nothing left to lose…

Leah feels almost nothing now that her father is dead. When she sees the Transport Authority destroy another village, she remains cold as she flees back into the wilderness. Her only thoughts are survival and revenge, but the latter takes hold as she learns a secret about her father’s killer that changes everything… 

To avoid capture, Leah must work with TRACE, Transport’s sworn terrorist enemy. While she’s resistant to picking a side, she finds a kindred spirit in a battle-weary operative. As the attacks grow more and more frequent, Leah will need to make a choice: fight for a worthy cause or lose herself in a mindless quest for revenge…

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REVIEW

I was looking forward to reading more of Leah's story so was eager to read this when I saw it was available. I enjoyed reading this book, though not quite as much as the first book, The Girl In The City. This book picks right up where the other ended. . .Leah watching the city burn. She see's a boy escape the flames only to be shot by the transport soldiers.

The cover shows the outline silhouette of Leah with the forest trees being featured as part of the scene too. I think this cover fits in with the cover of Girl In The City. . .though the colours on this books cover are darker which fit well with the darkness and danger all around from the transport soldiers.

The genre obviously falls into the same Sci-Fi, dystopian area but the post apocalyptic parts of the book are more abundant in this book. In that we as readers experience the wastelands that Leah is forced to navigate to keep away from the corrupt, tyrannical transport organisation and its soldiers. We also see a more flattering side of TRACE, they are seen more as the saviours and freedom fighters, than being the ones causing the trouble in this book. We also learn more and meet some of the "wild ones" in this second book/novella. Leah is terrified when she is "captured" by them. Imagining and reliving in her mind all the horror stories she has heard about them. So we as readers see a different side of the "wild ones" too.

Leah still remains a favourite character for me, not just as she is the main character of the book/novella. We as the reader learn what is the truth and what the government/transport have fabricated at the same time as Leah does. 
In this book Leah also contemplates both whether it would have been easier to have just died along with her father, she also realises that if she hadn't seen the destruction with her own eyes that she too would have been easily fooled by the government. . and believed TRACE were responsible for the carnage.
When Leah meets Alice and finally trusts her enough to talk to her she finds out she is "different". Leah doesn't have either B.I.C.E or Trid. People irritate her repeatedly asking Leah if she is Amish. Leah has no idea how it has happened that she has neither device implanted. Later in the book Leah attempts to access records to find out why she did not have a Trid or B.I.C.E implant. Through Alice, Leah gets to meet TRACE, though initially rejects becoming one of them, preferring to go off alone on her own agenda.
Leah also comes across Katherine again in this book along with the woman she saw order New Leighton to be burnt down to the ground. Does Katherine give away who Leah is? 
Leah also meets people that belong to/with "the wild ones".  She is captured by "the wild ones" and is treated roughly, her arms bound then dragged along, making her feel like her arms are coming out of the sockets. Naturally after all the horror stories she has heard she is petrified that they are going to eat her!
I did enjoy this installment of Leah's story, there was certainly more characters to meet and plenty of action scenes. It has made me want to learn even more about Leah. If this novella answered a few questions raised from the first novella, it also has you asking even more!
If you read the first novella you really need to read this one too. I am finding The Leah King Series highly addictive reading. So looking forward to reading more!

REVIEW - PRELUDE TO MAYHEM - MAYHEM WAVE BY EDWARD AUBRY

Title: Prelude To Mayhem

Series: Mayhem Wave

Author: Edward Aubry

Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian,Post Apocalyptic

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Release Date: 28th November 2016

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On May 30, 2004, the world transformed. Nearly all signs of civilization vanished, leaving in their wake a bizarre landscape of wilderness, advanced technology and magic, and leaving Harrison Cody very much alone. After weeks of surviving in solitude, he hears a voice on the radio, beckoning him to cross a thousand miles of terrifyingly random terrain to meet her, and any other survivors, in Chicago. Eager to find any remnants of humanity, he sets forth, joined by an unexpected—and inhuman—companion.

For Dorothy O’Neill, the end of the world means she will never finish ninth grade. On her own, she builds a home in the ruins of a strip mall, relying on her ingenuity and hard work to maintain some semblance of creature comforts. When another survivor arrives, he brings futuristic technology and stories of monsters he has encountered. Armed with this information, she takes a new interest in exploring her world, but she is not prepared for what awaits her, and the new arrival has brought his own set of problems.

On their separate journeys, Harrison and Dorothy begin to piece together what has happened to their world. Their questions have answers to be found in what remains of Chicago, and from the mysterious voice on the radio offering the hope that civilization can be rebuilt.

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REVIEW

I was looking forward to reading this one as it is a mash up of some of my favourite genres. I have been reading more shifter titles so I feel ready for a change and I do like the sound of the blurb when it describes Dorothy, and her setting up a base in a shopping mall when the world changes around her. How the blurb describes the setting of the book reminds me a little of the setting of Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne and I truly adored that series, so I am hoping this book will be as good, half as good would make it a great read!

I found the sections of the book from Harrison's point of view more difficult to follow, and to be totally honest a little confusing. I much prefer the chapters from the point of view of Dorothy. 

The cover depicts a post apocalyptic scene, but also what to me looks a little like some large gates with a bright light shining through, could this be the gateway to safety and salvation from the apocalyptic world the characters find themselves in?

I would agree with the genres this book is listed as being on both Goodreads, and on Netgalley. Both platforms (Goodreads & Netgalley) classify this book as Sci-Fi. Netgalley also says fantasy, where as Goodreads adds the genres of dystopian, & post-apocalyptic. As I truly love all these genres I have quite high expectations from this book and series.  

I'm afraid I am having to give up and add Prelude To Mayhem to the Did Not Finish (DNF) category of books. It is quite rare that I don't finish a book and I have seriously tried with this one. 
So I'll start with what I like about the book. . .I like both of the settings the main characters have made their homes. The main male character Harrison, in a lockable room in a Motel he has found. He has also been lucky and found a nearby gas station that has fuel left. I thought its was a really good touch that has him visiting a bookstore and taking out items to read, as well as leaving a payment for it. So the detail makes this act of "purchasing" a book interesting, maybe Harrison is craving some sort of normality and that's how he gets it. 
The other main character is a fourteen year old girl called Dorothy. Dorothy has also made her self a base in the Hallmark store in a large shopping mall. She ventures out for food and supplies and seems to be doing very well until animal scavengers get access to some of it, forcing her a difficult journey moving what food she can salvage back to her living base in the Hallmark store.

Things I didn't like were certain aspects of the plot. I truly love the post apocalyptic genre and do enjoy fantasy and dystopian, but this book had to many random things thrown in as extra hints of maybe a futuristic element or even time-travel. I readily admit I haven't read and loved every time-travel book I have read, so that aspect irritated me - to the point I was not liking the chapters of the book from Harrison's point of view. Then to increase my genre confusion, he finds dead dinosaurs and is afraid of coming across a live one. So now we also have a pre-historic element added to the mix. It feels like the book was trying to include as many genres as it could.

My favourite character in the book was Dorothy. As a reader, you easily feel empathy with her. To say she is only just 14 years old, she seems to have great survival instincts and almost certainly made a brilliant choice of holing up in the shopping mall. Though I think I would have wanted to settle in a Debenhams, or John Lewis, somewhere that had a comfy bed on display, and in a store that would stock multiple items I would need in just one place. 
Though I wasn't overly keen on the parts of the book from Harrison's point of view, he was a decent enough character, older than Dorothy, though I didn't find out an exact age, perhaps that was revealed further on in the book.
The character I took an instant dislike to was that of John Roth, he is an older man, Dorothy thinks he is around forty years old. She comes across him when she makes her way to the hardware store in the shopping mall to take a bath. John Roth comes across as rather ignorant, unconcerned, self absorbed drifter. When Dorothy attempts to ask him to stay his response is. . .well in my opinion is rather odd and not what a normal caring human male of his age would ever  be like with a girl of Dorothy's age. I'll try to explain without giving away unnecessary spoilers.  I didn't think a certain comment about "breeding to re-populate the world" was either appropriate or what should be in character for a forty year old man to be saying to a fourteen year old girl! 

The final thing that I wasn't keen on was the whole "voice on the radio" that Harrison hears. The voice belongs to a female called Claudia (no idea of age) who is broadcasting, perhaps from a still working radio station or a pirate radio system she has managed to put together after the apocalyptic event. Claudia is repeating a message imploring any and all survivors to make their way to Chicago. I can't totally put my finger on it why I wasn't keen on this maybe I thought that this message is some form of trap? The other thing that bothered me was: where was everyone else? I mean I know with any apocalyptic event there would be a great amount that would lose their lives but surely Harrison would have seen someone else? Another survivor whilst he has been joyriding around in the car he has? Also if Dorothy thought to head to the Shopping Mall to make a base that was near to a good supply of food etc surely other survivors would have thought the same?

So, sadly I didn't finish this book. I honestly wouldn't say to anybody don't read this book as other people into time-travel/futuristic/pre-historic/post apocalyptic may really enjoy it. I really tried hard to continue and persevere with this book, but when I got to the point where I was actually dreading getting the kindle out to read the book, it was time to call it a DNF. Unfortunately this book was just not for me!

REVIEW - THE MASK - MONSTER ISLAND BY KATIE FRENCH

​Monster Island is a Young Adult serial mystery thriller where the pages practically turn themselves. Readers who like LOST, Maze Runner, and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will get lost in this action-packed thriller. The Mask is 18,000 words and part four of a serialized novel to be released in five parts over the course of two months. 

For more information, please visit www.katiefrenchbooks.com.

Title: Monster Island: The Mask

Series: Monster island

Author: Katie French

Genre: YA, Thriller, Horror, Suspense

Release Date: 8th January 2017

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My name is Jade Miller. 
Someone has kidnapped me and chained me in a dark basement. 
The torture is awful, but what's worse is this masked man's calculated kindness. 
To stop the beatings and gain my freedom, I must join him, but doing so will mean doing things for him. 
Terrible things. 

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REVIEW
As I approach reading this one I am hoping to have at least a few of my questions that I have from the other parts of this serialised novel answered. As a reader we still know very little about Dev and Jade. In fact I'm not entirely sure which side Jade is on after a couple of things she seems to have done quite willingly and easily.
As I read this book I enjoyed learning more about the character of Jade and her back story/life before the terror of the Island. I feel like I want to race on and read this really quickly. Though I wouldn't commit the flicking through pages to get to the answers as that only spoils the feeling of suspense and the trickle by trickle build up. I am still left with some old questions about Jade along with a few more I came up with reading this installment of the novel too. I didn't think it possible after reading Taken, The Noose, and Deep Down Dark but the Island and even some of the characters (who I will not name for fear of giving out too much information or spoilers) become creepier in part of the novel. This Island sure lives up to it's name of "Monster Island"!
The Cover is much along the lines of the other parts covers, though the writing, name of book  etc is in orange on this book. They fit well separately, I wonder if when all the parts are out, Katie will release them all together as a novel under an amalgamation of all the individual cover.
The genres I have said once reading the other part of Monster Island, have been horror, thriller, suspense, and dystopian. After reading this one I would probably drop the "dystopian" tag although in a way the plot does have genetic engineering within it. So I am still unsure about that tag. Maybe I would add "Genetics" or "Futuristic" or even "Sci-fi" to the genre list. 
Once again this section of the five part novel is told from the points of view of the teens, including Lucca our ultimate main character, Jade, whom we haven't learnt a great seal about until this segment and of course Kat. Also new to us the reader, is a section from the point of view of Dev. I enjoyed Kat and Lucca being apart and the fact they parted on pretty bad terms doesn't stop either of them wondering how the other is doing. 
Within this slice of the novel, it is revealed has had some survival type training from her father, so is much tougher than I had thought when first meeting her in the novel. Jade is also prepared to abide by a "survival of the fittest" ethic, and herself is her primary concern. 
The name of the head of the "bad guys" aka "Project Mosaic" is revealed as Mr Hindenburg, I can tell you that little nugget without spoiling anything because it is what you find out about Mr Hindenburgh and Project Mosaic that is disclosed in this piece of the novel. Even when threatened with the "authorities" Mr Hindenburgh does not back down as he has the ultimate weapon to use against those disgruntled by his monster creations. . . .the very same weak point in all those people he employed to do all the genetic engineering for him.
The ending of the book is wow! I honestly didn't see that coming. I kinda just sighed and thought certain characters were finally somewhere, or on course to be somewhere safe and something happens that snatches it all away. . . and ends without enlightening as to if those character survive or perish.
I warmed up a little bit to Jade in this segment of Monster Island, but to say I like her character would be a little too generous at the moment. Joslyn played a larger part fighting for survival alongside sister Kat. . . . I'd say Joslyn is not as naive, or fragile as older sister Kat treats her. I liked the interactions between the sisters. Of course I am still the most fond of, who I would say is the main character, Lucca. Lucca remains the decent noble guy, trying to help everyone, constantly seeing the good qualities in everyone. Attempting to make a plan that will save them all and have them off this horror island once and for all.
A character I didn't like who we briefly met in one of the earlier parts of the novel was Vito, Lucca's father. My opinion prior to this book was that Vito was coming across as an absentee father to Lucca and husband to Lucca's mother. He seems to put himself before all others even in his son. Sadly this installment in the novel doesn't paint a better picture of Vito at all, he still comes across selfish and irresponsible.
My final words on Monster Island: The Mask would have to be "Wow, the end of this book really does leave you hanging! And to the author "Katie! How could you!".