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Archangel Down by C. Gockel FREE on Prime Reading
In the year 2432, Command Noa Sato was trying to enjoy a vacation on her home planet of Luddeccea when she was arrested, interrogated about "Archangel Project" that she knew nothing of, mutilated, then dumped in a concentration camp, where living conditions are so horrible many simply opted to die. When a chance presented itself, with friend's sacrifice, she escaped... but not very far, for she was severely weakened. Elsewhere, professor James Sinclair woke up in the snow, with no memory of the past 24 hours, except he knew the ship he was in was shot down, and somehow, he had to get to Noa and save her, even though he was sure he had never met her in his life. And on the radio, someone broadcasted "Archangel Down". When James finally got to Noa, Noa recoiled in shock, for James looks exactly like her departed husband, Timothy, but that's impossible. Tim is dead. With the planetary government broadcasting about aliens who can take over bodies through the Ether wireless ports of people and the planetary Ether network down, there is nowhere to run. James found he had skills he never recalled learning, including taking down the pursuers and making impossible shots. James must protect Noa, who have to somehow get off the planet. But as they found, that's much tougher than it seems, as the government had not been totally lying... SOMETHING had taken over TimeGate 8, the jump gate to other systems. Its defenses are engaging any and all threats approaching it, and not even the planetary navy dare to approach too closely. And without the gate, a transit to the next system will take... 10 years. But the people on the planet can't wait that long. Religious fanatics are putting ANYBODY augmented in any way into concentration camps, and dusk to dawn curfew. Noa, James, and a few others desperate to leave decided on a desperate plan... just in time for Noa to realize she was betrayed by someone she would have died for... But who is Archangel, and who is Heretic?
Nice yarn of adventure, lots of bodies, and disturbing images. 6.5/8
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Faith in a Cowboy: Mail Order Bride by Cassandra Michaels
A short story followed by about 900 pages of extra stories, sheesh. That's a LOT of filler material.
4/8
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Death Becomes Her by Michael Anderle
What you know about vampires, werefolks, and such was wrong, but there are some elements of truth in them. There had been a thousand-year-old conspiracy to keep the Unknown World hidden from the public eye, and the patriarch to ruled over it all, Michael, was very tired. Michael, the first, had accidentally encountered a crashed alien ship a thousand years ago. Vampires do age, merely much slower. And the turning was so painful not many survive the process, thus vampires are always few in number. And now that someone had figured out a way to kill vampires permanently... And someone is targeting the top vampire operatives. Michael needed to find a new recruit, perhaps even his replacement, fast. And the only candidate available, one with the right mental, physical, and spiritual qualifications... is a woman named Bethany Anne, who is also dying of a rare blood ailment. Bethany Anne is a do-gooder... she helps those in need, solve cold cases, and so on. And now that she gained the ultimate power... ability to live a thousand years, amazing strength, super speed, heightened senses of smell, hearing, and vision, as well as short range teleportation and perhaps other abilities... She is STILL a do-gooder. And as she emerged from the turning, Michael is nowhere to be found, may have been lost or dead. And someone is turning werekins and vamps against each other. Bethany Anne has her work cut out for her... reestablish order, and prepare Earth for a possible alien invasion that may or may not have already occurred...
Good world building and kickass action, for Bethany Anne is a daywalker, if you want to use vampire lore terms. Fun read, if a bit slow at the beginning due to all the world-builidng bits, as we see Bethany Anne leave her old life behind, as well as a lot of blah blah about how Michael's family, all of whom have some special abilities, had helped a lot of historical turning points, including General Washington and World War II (even goes onto adding a conspiracy that the choosing the two cities to bomb in Japan was NOT an accident, but that Japan was about to turn out supersoldiers) 6.5/8 due to a lot of talkiness at the start. Once Bethany Anne turned, you get some serious action.
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True North by Kelly Collins FREE
Alexa left LA with a scarred heart after suffering indescribable abuse. A man has wormed his way into her family... and her bed and taken away her family business. He even killed her baby by giving her morning after pill to induce an abortion, then even told her that he's actually gay and has a male lover. She tried challenging him in court to get the business back, but after losing even that in court, she is in need of a fresh start... So she bought a $900 jalopy, one suitcase, and left for parts unknown. Having her car broken down in the middle of nowhere was not a fate she planned, nor was being rescued by a scruffy tattooed but very handsome guy named Zane. But it seems fate had dealt her a different hand, for when she walked into the bar named Last Resort needing a beer and some food, there was her rescuer, who needed Alexa as a temporary barmaid. And the more Alexa learned about Zane, the more she fell for him... for Zane is actually a single father, and motorcycle club member, and someone who can make her very happy... if she will let him in...
Now that is an interesting villain. The solution is kinda ho-hum though.
6.5/8 Chemistry is okay. But not too much redemption, unlike her Second Chance Ranch series.
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Meet Me Under The Full Moon by Kelly Collins
Ava Sawyer knew the cost of war, being one of the volunteers at Walter Reed, helping to heal the men and women who gave bits of themselves for their country. Using music and movement, she helps the wounded vets find a new path in their lives. She, however, did not expect to find Mark Taylor, who thought there was no hope... Until he encountered Ava.
Not bad for a short. 6/8
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Stay With Me by Kellye Elliott FREE
Thano lost his fiancee on their wedding day. She collapsed while walking down the aisle, moments away from getting married, and died of a heart attack, a congenital defect even she didn't know about. He did not want to move on... Even though his entire Greek family wanted him to, preferably to a Greek girl, preferably setup by one of mom's various friends. That is until he met Kilyn O'Kelly, a thoroughly Irish girl with the most charming green eyes, and something stirred within him... While Kilyn was flattered, she was sure that Thano, with his Greek god looks should have women flooding him, and she doesn't do one-night stands. But as he hired her to do his cabin, that lead to knowing each other a bit more... But will they let each other into their hearts?
Not bad, not bad, if a bit angst-y about Thano holding a candle for his dead fiancee for YEARS, and finally moving on. And since this is Greek, it'll be a bit of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" 6/8