My Review Stop on the DARK FUTURE series tour by KC Klein with #excerpt + #giveaway

DARK FUTURE Series

by KC Klein

To Buy A Wife – To Keep A Wife – Dark Future

TO BUY A WIFE (Book 1)

In a harsh land where corruption rules and women are few, cold realist Hudson Land must purchase a wife to save his farm. Instead of an auction, he witnesses the start of an execution. With his first look at a beautiful woman in years, Hudson knows he has to have her—no matter the cost. Lake, a chemist and a rebel fighter, is resigned to her death, but when some back-hill farmer rescues her from the chopping block she has no intention of simply becoming his wife. She’s pledged her life to the Rebellion and being bought for some stranger’s bed doesn’t change a thing, even if his soft caresses are damn distracting. As lies and secrets build between them, are the quiet moments they’ve shared enough to stand against two warring factions in a world where only the strong survive.

My Review:

TO BUY A WIFE is Lake's story. Yes, we meet Hudson first, but we learn what he needs from Lake—protection for his farm, his men, future children, and companionship. I feel we even get a hint of his wanting love. After Hudson brings Lake to his farm, he makes a deal with her that she may have twenty-four hours to do what she needs—something she won't tell him—but that she must return willingly to him as a wife and eventual mother to his children. Lake agrees but has absolutely no intention of keeping her promise. It's at this point that I feel Hudson becomes a secondary character. It becomes Lake's story, her journey, her mission, and eventually her fight. Hudson comes across as nothing more than a second thought, and bodyguard. When he does go after her and makes a deal with the Rebels to retrieve Lake's brother, Vonn, I felt it even before he declared it that he would easily accept Vonn into his family—I like Hudson.

Lake is a strong character, a strong female character—KC is good at writing strong female characters—but I get the feeling of Lake resigning herself to being Hudson's wife more than desiring it. There’s a bit more feeling from her at the very end of the story. The romance wasn't wholly evident in this science fiction romance.  

You're probably saying to yourself, uh oh, she didn't like TO BUY A WIFE— not at all—I liked it very much, I just would like to have seen Lake recognize the good man that Hudson was from the beginning. He was gentle with her, caring, treating her like the dove in the story he tells her. The premise of the story is intriguing. It carries a sci-fi western-esk feel about it reminiscent of FIREFLY and I like that. I just wanted to feel that Lake really was falling in love with Hudson.

As the start of this amazing series that truly does work best read in order, TO BUY A WIFE is a must read to understand what comes next. 

TO BUY A WIFE (Book 1) is currently available for FREE at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobobooks, and iTunes.   

TO KEEP A WIFE (Book 2)

In the shards of civilization ruined by a global war, Lake has gotten the life she never dared dreamed of—a safe haven, and the love of a good man, her husband, Hudson Black Creek. But Lake’s hard-won happiness doesn’t last long when powerful Elders lay siege on Black Creek Manor in retaliation for a past defiance. As Lake watches everything she loves go up in flames, she sacrifices herself for the chance to keep Hudson and her brother alive. Syon, a diabolic Elder with his own agenda, will push Lake to her breaking point, forcing her to compromise—heart and soul— in order to survive.

Hudson wakes from a head wound to find that his whole world is reduced to ashes. With no memory of why he’s sacrificed everything for a woman whose name is tattooed on his chest, Hudson is determined to make his heart match the emptiness of his mind, and wipe out everything except the hatred for those who are to blame—the Elders and the wife he sought to protect.

As evil and fear spread across a war-torn land, Lake and Hudson are tested like never before, and both will have to forgive betrayals and risk greater heartbreak if they want a chance at saving their lives… and their love.

My Review:

We met Lake and Hudson in TO BUY A WIFE, and learned that a man, who has a wife, is revered with respect, envy, and believed to have great prestige in this war-torn society. We catch up with Lake, Hudson, and Lake’s little brother, Vonn, in the midst of an attack on the farm. Lake realizes that the Elders want her and will stop at nothing, and spare no one to get her in their clutches. She convinces a wounded Hudson to protect her brother, let the Elders take her, and come for her later. Things don’t work out exactly how Lake had hoped. Now a prisoner of the maniacal Syon, too much time has passed for her to believe that Hudson is ever coming for her. It’s just her again, alone to fend for herself, and her unborn child.

This story covers so much in so short a time that you will almost feel like you’re watching a film in your head. Lake was almost content to be on her own in TO BUY A WIFE, but in TO KEEP A WIFE, KC Klein weaves a wonderful story about the fear of loss, fear of abandonment, and the wonder of how love can pull back loving memories from the darkness and bring a family back together. TO KEEP A WIFE by KC Klein is the perfect finish to a couple’s story that began with a match not exactly made in heaven, but ends with a happy ending which will lead us on even more adventures.

I highly recommend TO KEEP A WIFE by KC Klein, but do be sure to read TO BUY A WIFE first because without that lead-in, the fast paced action of this one might confuse and sully the wonderful intricacy of this amazing tale. 

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DARK FUTURE (Book 3)

A woman caught between two futures…

Awakened in the middle of the night by a future version of herself, Kris Davenport is given a mission: go travel in time to save the world–and his life. Of course, her future self doesn’t tell her who he is just sends her into the darkness and straight into an alien invasion.

…must choose between the man who has her heart…

He turns out to be ConRad Smith, the callous, untrusting military commander of Earth’s army and the world’s last defense. There’s only one way for Smith to know for sure if this strange woman is an alien spy–slice her throat. Except, he didn’t anticipate the desire he would feel as he interrogates the hot-tempered, warm-blooded woman.

…or the fate that saves the world.

As Kris and ConRad struggle to trust each other in a world on the brink of destruction, they each will have to face the ultimate choice of whether to fight or die… survive or forgive.

My Review:

DARK FUTURE by KC Klein is just that—dark, and dangerous. There’s no deception in the title. The story, written in first person, takes the reader on a journey with Kris Davenport into a very dark future where danger exists 24/7 and not always just from the aliens trying to destroy every human being in the universe. This riveting tale about a future resembling TERMINATOR SALVATION without the giant machines is dark, bloody, and action-packed.

Kris is a normal girl trying to make her way in a normal life as a medical intern when suddenly she finds herself confronted with her future self, who in comparison is more Sarah Connor than Kris Davenport. Her future self tells her that she must travel to the future and save him. Who is this mysterious him? He is ConRad, the Commander of a military force located on a dark world that is the last barrier between an alien force and Earth. Kris reluctantly goes. The connection between these two is turbulent, hot, sexy, and at times frustrating but if you’ve read the first two books, everything begins to come together. The adventure Kris embarks on is none like she ever expected, and over time, she discovers a stronger self and a love that is stronger than time itself. As a time travel, it has its flaws, they all do, but KC does it up well, and this is by far one of my all-time favorite futuristic dystopian science fiction romances—ever! And I’ve read all of KC’s. This was her debut, and oh what a debut!

I highly recommend this amazing dystopian/sci-fi romance, but I warn you that although this is a romance, it is not for the faint of heart. It's a futuristic tale with lots of action but if you're at all squeamish about blood and torture, this might not be for you. If you're good with lots of action, gun battles, evil men, mysterious women and don't mind some scenes of torture, then you'll not be able to put it down. I know, because I couldn't.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobobooks | iTunes

Excerpt from DARK FUTURE:

“Mmm, you taste human. Like salt or more like … warm sunshine?” He pinned me with his gaze. His eyes spoke a primal language. Desire warred with anger; need against punishment.

I looked away. Embarrassed. Violated. His body crushed mine, suffocating in its nearness. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe without crushing my breasts against him. I always considered myself strong and physically fit, but he subdued me with barely any effort. Heart racing, I panicked.

The feeling of no control would break me—complete powerlessness always did. I used whatever weapon was available; whatever maneuvers would give me a fighting chance. This was no different. I turned my head, opened my mouth against his neck, and … sunk my teeth in.

He cursed. Grabbed hold of my shirt, picked me up, and slammed me back against the wall.

A painful whoosh came from my lungs. My vision rocked—brain swished inside my skull.

“You bit me.” He sounded shocked.

My head hurt so bad I had to blink hard to keep my eyes in their sockets. “You licked me,” I shouted back.

He assessed me, aqua blue eyes hooded with thick, long eyelashes, for what seemed like an eternity. “I will ask you one more time. Who are you?”

“I’ve told you everything.” My voice sounded desperate, tired, even to me. “I went running and fell into the dark … I’m a doctor at a hospital. If you don’t believe me, just call them. I’ve worked there for years.”

He stood still, his body hard against mine, creating an insurmountable barrier. His face so close I could see his pupils enlarge, almost hiding the hard blue of his irises. The rage in him lived and breathed. One hand ran along my scalp in a mock caress, grabbed hold of my hair and pulled.

“Liar,” his voice barely a whisper, the knife was back … shaking at my very exposed, very vulnerable artery. “There hasn’t been a hospital anywhere on Earth since the year 2075.” And in one efficient movement, he drew the knife across my throat. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

About the Author

KC Klein has lived most of her life with her head in the clouds and her nose buried in a book.

She did stop reading long enough to make a home with a real life hero, her husband, for over seventeen years. A mother of two children, she spends her time slaying dragons, saving princesses, and championing the belief in the happily-ever-after. Her debut novel, DARK FUTURE, was a 2010 Prism finalist and has been honored with a reviewer’s choice award. She’s the author of the sexy cowboy Texas Fever series, which starts off with, TEXAS WIDE OPEN, available now, and HUSTLIN’ TEXAS, due out December 2013, and also a contributing author to the fun, sci-fi romance anthology, HOTTER ON THE EDGE and HOTTER ON THE EDGE 2. KC loves to hear from readers and can be found desperately pounding away on her laptop in yoga pants and leopard slippers or more conveniently at www.kckleinbooks.com.

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Cover Reveal & Review for RAVEN'S AWAKENING by Ella J Phoenix - a re-released novel

RAVEN’S AWAKENING

by Ella J Phoenix

a re-released novel

Since she was a child, Chloe has endured horrible nightmares about a Native American prince living in a time long forgotten. She never understood why, until she finds a stone that matches the one in her dreams. It has unimaginable powers, powers Chloe doesn’t understand. Fueled by memories of someone else’s past, she sets off on a wild quest for the stone’s birth place, hoping to also find answers to her foreboding dreams.

On the outside, Mason Green looks like a hard-working, self-made millionaire, with too busy a life for romance. Very few people know the real reason for his self-imposed seclusion. It’s safer that way. But when a sexy historian shows him a supernatural stone from a forgotten tribe, Mason is intrigued - maybe the relic is the salvation he’s been waiting for. Ignoring the irrational attraction that threatens to crack the cask around his heart, Mason agrees to help Chloe.

As their wild quest becomes a dangerous mission, they must find the relic’s birthplace before Mason’s past catches up to them.

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My Review based on the original manuscript published under another title:

Having suffered recurring nightmares for most of her life, Chloe Doyle put what has haunted her into real-life use by becoming an expert in Native American Indian studies and folklore at the Smithsonian. When she discovers a stone that is more than just interesting to her, she sets off to learn more about it and to find out if there are more. Her hope is that she will finally understand the strange dreams that plague that seem to belong to someone else, but that she’s become part of without knowing why.

Mason Green is a man of mystery right from the start. He is a Native American man who has managed to build a fortune and leads a busy life, but has unusual abilities and a mysterious past that makes him even more interesting. He’s tougher than he appears and is able to handle himself most effectively when he encounters trouble - deadly trouble. When he journeys to Arkansas to solve the mystery of the client who obviously wanted him out of the way, he discovers Chloe and her Tula artifact. Interested in both, the beautiful blond expert and her artifact, Mason agrees to play guide and lead her to the mythological Valley of the Vapors, which he doesn't believe exists. What they both discover on their journey is what makes this story pulse with paranormal mystery.

What drew me to RAVEN’S AWAKENING by Ella J Phoenix was the unique story built around American Indian folklore.  

RAVEN’S AWAKENING by Ella J Phoenix is a sweet romance built on a mystery based in American Indian folklore with elements of paranormal, Indian magic, and a backstory that pulls in the belief of reincarnation – everything I could desire in a story. I do wish the romance was more the center of the story but it was sweet, mild, and although took some time to develop, it was worth waiting for in the end. I don’t give spoilers so I’m not going to tell you who the bad guy is or how things end, let’s just say that many things come to light and will leave you surprised, yet with a pleased, “just as I thought.” I will say this – pay attention to that first chapter, it might seem out of place but will play a great role. Ella even leaves us with a bit of a … hmmm, so what happens next for Chloe and Mason.

Ella's characters are intriguing and personable, and when applicable, downright deserving of our dislike. I would like to have seen a bit more about Mason's past as I imagine it was intricate to the plot, but I liked him and Chloe very much, and I hope I meet up with them again.

I recommend RAVEN’S AWAKENING by Ella J Phoenix to anyone who enjoys the unusual, be it paranormal, historical, or folklore. Whereas RAVEN’S AWAKENING isn’t perfect, it is a fascinating story that will keep you enthralled and surprise you with its mystery and magic. A quick read that will surely spur your imagination and have you asking for more.

About the Author:

Ella discovered she was addicted to the paranormal when she was quite young. She likes to blame it on super heroes. That passion led her to her love of the arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts.

Her first foray into the literary world was writing children’s plays for her family’s language school and after a couple of blunders, she translated Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM into a dancing and kicking play. It was then she truly caught the bug.

But it was her mother who truly brought her into writing. She calls her mother her catalyst. She was always the one she went to for advice about everything and her mother always told her, “Go for it!”

So, she did. She traveled around the world, lived in several different continents, met several great people, and had not-so-great lovers. In one of her “go for it” adventures, she met her husband. After settling in to married life, Ella discovered erotic romance and in particular, vampires and werewolves. While working on a project with her mom, who is also a writer, she suggested writing a paranormal. Her mother immediately suggested Ella write it. And, so her first novel, DRAGON HEAT, was born.

Feel free to visit Ella at her website, and follow her on Facebook, and at Goodreads.

Happy Reading Everyone!

RAVEN’S AWAKENING by Ella J Phoenix, self-publish, available now in ebook formats at Amazon and AllRomance Ebooks.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information

   

New Cover Reveal for SECRET MANEUVERS, an Ex Ops novel by Jessie Lane

Back on June 15, 2013, I reviewed a fabulous suspense romance by Jessie Lane – a writing duo – called SECRET MANEUVERS, the first book in the Ex Ops series. It seems a lot of folks weren’t too thrilled with the cover, although as I said in my review, once you read it, you’d understand the strange filter color – well, Jessie Lane decided to give it a new cover and re-release it with its new showstopper! Feel free to stop by my review of SECRET MANEUVERS by Jessie Lane to get my thoughts, simply click the title. This is one to read – whichever cover graces it.

Blurb for SECRET MANEUVERS:

Some mistakes from the past haunt us forever...

One 'dear John' letter haunts Bobby Baker's every living moment. It’s the letter he stupidly wrote to his high school sweetheart, Belle, right after he left to join the Army. The letter that he told her that he wasn't so sure if they were ready for forever yet. But before he can let her know that the letter, and his second thoughts, are nothing but a mistake, she up and disappears from the small Georgia town they were both raised in.

unless fate steps in with a second chance.

Fifteen years later, Belle unknowingly walks back into Bobby's life when her job as an ATF Agent forces her to work with a group of men secretly headed by the CIA to help her track down whoever is involved in funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico.

Bobby will use this mission to try and soothe Belle's hurt feelings while proving to her that their love is still meant for forever. He'll use every dirty trick he's learned since he joined the Army to maneuver her back into his life for the long haul. But Belle's not making it easy as she keeps him at arm's length in the hopes that mistakes of her own never come to light.

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Excerpt from SECRET MANEUVERS:

Belle headed out of the room first to disappear in the parking lot while the guys proceeded to file out a few minutes later. Being at the back of the group I missed what made the guys catcall and laugh until I came into full view of Belle leaned up against a black jacked up Ford F350 decked out with a ram air hood, brush guard, monster-sized tires and a banner on the top of the windshield that read ‘G.R.I.T.S.’.

Lucas’s slightly New York accented voice sounded confused as he asked, “G.R.I.T.S.? Isn’t that like a food or something?”

Logan clapped him on the shoulder as barks of laughter echoed in the parking lot. “Naw, buddy. That stands for ‘Girls Raised In The South’. You could say that Agent Roberts is showing off her southern pride a bit, that’s all. It’s a damn good thing to be proud of, too.”

Belle climbed up into the cab of the truck. Still hanging out of the door a bit she yelled, “Come on Sullivan brothers. We’re gonna have some fun before we head to the bar!”

Declan and Riley Sullivan looked wary. “What kind of fun exactly?”

“Muddin’ and Jason Aldean. Let’s go, baby!” The heavy rumble of her engine came to life as ‘She’s Country’ blasted out of its open windows.

The Sullivan brothers looked at each other nervously. Riley spoke in a low voice to Declan, “You think she’s alright upstairs or should I be worried?” Declan clapped his brother on the back before hopping up into the passenger side of the truck.

I was insanely jealous as the truck tore out of the parking lot to head down the highway while the rest of us piled into our respective vehicles to leave. It almost felt as if she was trying to rub my nose in one of our best memories. When you lived in a small southern town, out in the middle of nowhere, muddin’ with your buddies, your girl, and pilfered beer where you could cut loose and be free was one of the few options for entertainment. There went my buddies. There went my girl. Here I still stood, looking like a jackass.

Jaxon watched the retreating vehicle with a mix of amusement and trepidation. Turning to Sheriff Jenkins he asked, “Should I be worried about any of that?” His finger pointing in the direction of where Belle’s truck had already disappeared.

The Sheriff’s easy smile didn’t seem to convince Jaxon. “Not at all, Commander Wall. Annabelle is harmless. Swear.”

I snorted. “Tell that to the guy she knocked unconscious her senior year. He was twice her size.”

Sheriff Jenkins’s eyebrows shot to his hairline as he turned to face me in the back seat. “You knew Annabelle in high school?”

My mouth kicked up in a half smile. “Yeah, you could say that. We grew up in the same small town. Belle and I were as close as you could get until I left for the Army just after graduation.”

The Sheriff’s eyebrows pulled down into an intense expression as something flashed over his face before he could cover it up. He quickly turned around to start the car. “I’m just going to turn on the radio. Hope you don’t mind.”

The radio kicked on and a local country station came on. All conversation in the car stopped. The last look the Sheriff had made bothered me. There was something there that made my instincts flare up. The Sheriff knew something. What in the hell could that possibly be?

*             *              *              *              *

About the Author:

Jessie Lane is the writing team of Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl. The two sisters-in-law share a passionate love of naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them. Because

Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl - aka JESSIE LANE

really, it is ALL about the characters. (They’re kind of megalomaniacs – but don’t tell them that we said that.)

 

Crystal lives in Kentucky with her husband, little 7 and 9 year old Rock Chicks in the making, and her Dad who likes to play the air guitar while listening to George Thorogood’s Bad To The Bone. Melissa just moved to Minnesota with her husband and giant furry Rottweiler baby named Yuffi. Crystal is now trying to talk Melissa into “polar bear” swimming in Lake Superior, but so far Melissa is adamantly telling her no.

  

Their first YA novel, THE BURNING STAR, was released in May 2012. BIG BAD BITE was their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance, and released in January 2013. Their third book, SECRET MANEUVERS, just released this past June, and will be the start of a new adult contemporary romance series (Ex Ops Series). They are now working on their next three novels, WALK ON THE STRIPED SIDE (Big Bad Bite Series #2), STRIPPING HER DEFENSES (Ex Ops Series #2) and THE FROZEN STAR (YA Star Series #2).With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!

Feel free to visit the Jessie Lane website, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, at Goodreads, and their Amazon Author page.

Happy Reading Everyone! This is a good one!

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:

Signed paperbacks, custom glow in the dark swag bag, Ex Ops dog tags, $20 gift card – lots of goodies to win, so use the rafflecopter to enter and Good Luck!

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SECRET MANEUVERS, an Ex Ops novel by Jessie Lane, self-publish, in re-release and available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobobooks, All Romance EBooks, and Smashwords.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information