The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

The Summer that Melted Everything is NOT your average debut novel. Tiffany McDaniel does not shy away from dealing with some of our society's biggest taboos. I must start this review off by applauding Ms. McDaniel. This could not have been an easy novel to write especially given our current political and societal atmosphere. With that said, this is an incredible read and is marvelously written. 

This novel focuses on some very thought provoking subjects and does not shy away from society's views of these subjects. McDaniel addresses racism, religion, homosexuality, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980's. The way McDaniel weaves each of these subjects into this story creates a powerful and thought provoking work of art. The character development is so well done that you feel as though you have known these characters your entire life and have grown up with them in their small Ohio town. 

The story is an amazing tale of loss and heartbreak. It addresses so many topics that NEED to be discussed and does it in a way that encourages thought provoking conversation and intellectual discussion. The Summer that Melted Everything is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. McDaniel's writing is fantastic and adds to the magnificence of the story. I am not sure I could state how much I recommend this novel. It is definitely a MUST read for mature audiences and it will not disappoint. Tiffany McDaniel is an author to watch out for and I am excited to see what she has in store for us next!

Afterimage & Encender (The Enertia Trials Books 1 & 2) by J. Kowallis

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

Afterimage
J. Kowallis
(The Enertia Trials #1)
Publication date: May 7th 2015
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult

Reggie’s dreams . . .
aren’t dreams.
Visions of the future flood her mind like shards of broken puzzles. Caged in her cell, every morning begins the same. She’s drugged, tortured, and images are torn from her memory by Public One.
Until the morning everything changes. The vision is different. The future’s never been about her, and now she knows they’re coming for her:
Nomads.
How will she convince them to keep her alive when Nate, their leader, doesn’t like or even trust her? To him, she’s a science experiment. A machine.
When Public One will do anything to keep her, Reggie must make a decision: remain a slave to her past, or risk her future to venture into a world more terrifying than she’s ever known.

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Encender
J. Kowallis
(The Enertia Trials #2)
Publication date: February 29th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult

They say you feel cold when you die.
The people I’ve killed would beg to differ.
For twenty-something Ransley, the adopted daughter of famed street fighter Estevan Benitez, fighting is all she knows. One hidden detail separates her from the endless string of her pathetic opponents: she can craft and influence heat and fire.
When she’s pitted against the strongest fighters at the infamous Argolla, Ransley faces something she never expected:
A man like her.
Roydon can duplicate himself. When the two collide in the ring, a chain of deals turns Roydon over to Public Four and he’s taken away to undergo the disturbing process of the Nexis. What it is, or what it does, no one outside of The Public knows.
Driven by guilt and a desire to release the only person she’s ever met who’s like her, Ransley isn’t about to leave him for dead—not when he might hold the answers to her missing past. Now she must trust a pair of strangers: a former military man out to collapse the system, and a woman whose premonitions could tear them all apart.

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Author Bio:
J. Kowallis, the only girl of four children, grew up in northern Utah with a head full of wild stories (most often unreal). At the age of 9, she wrote her first poem, a dedication to E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. It was so intriguing, her third grade teacher requested to keep the original. Between living in various fictional worlds, and spending time on her studies, she managed to graduate from Weber State University’s creative writing program. She now lives in Utah with her Mini Schnauzer, Etta, and spends most of her time still bouncing between this world and the fantastical while enjoying delectable über-dark chocolate and lavender baths. She enjoys dreaming about, flying to, and writing about distant lands (real or unreal).

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Overall Rating: ★★★★

 

J. Kowallis has a gift for telling a brutal dystopian story. I had the privilege of reading the first two books of The Enertia Trials, Afterimage and Encender. As soon as you start with Afterimage, you immediately become entwined with the entire plot line. You will immediately fall for the characters and find yourself imagining the story as if you are one of Kowallis's characters. Kowallis develops her characters in such a way that you feel as though they have become your best friends and part of your family. As a result, you will be turning the pages nonstop to find out what happens next. This continues through both novels and takes on some truly unique plot twists and story lines. 

The Enertia Trials is the series fans of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner have been waiting for. These novels are full of heart wrenching moments and brutal action and adventure. Kowallis does not focus on the typical dystopian plot lines. Instead the reader is transported to a unique and devastating world and thrust into a fascinating dystopian and sic-fi future. 

There is something for every reader with The Enertia Trials. You have the brutal action sequences, the heartbreaking character deaths that would make George R.R. Martin proud, and a realistic love story (without the sappy buildup). 

The characters in the series are constantly developing and growing and the story lines make for a page turning and exciting read. You will not be disappointed with The Enertia Trials and I highly recommend these books to readers looking for new adventure and a well written novel. J. Kowallis is an author to watch and I am excited to see where this series goes. There are so many questions to be answered and I am sure more hearts to be broken!

 

Make sure to check out the Afterimage & Encender Blog Tour Here!

 

FERTS by Grace Hudson

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Grace Hudson delivers a new take on dystopian fiction with, FERTS. This story looks at a world controlled by men. These men see women as nothing more than sexual objects created to breed, fight, and please the men of the surrounding communities and within the containment facility. We are shown what life looks like inside the facility from the point of view of one of the prisoners. Not worthy of a name, Beth 259201, goes about her day and tries to fit in. but she is not as complaint as the other Beths. This leads to some trouble for the young woman and is the catalyst for the entire story as outsiders attempt to take back the world they lost and 259201 looks to find her place. 

Hudson does a great job of creating a unique universe with dynamic characters. Hudson includes the lovable heroine and the easily despised antagonist. This is a book for fans of such dystopian novels as, The Hunger Games, The Divergent Series, and The Maze Runner. Hudson branches out and creates a new world and a new look at the apocalypse and what would happen if men ruled (shudder)! Pick up this book and quench your dystopian needs with a fast paced and page turning story.

Mortal Showdown by Nik Krasno

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Nik Krasno's novel, Mortal Showdown, is a thriller of international proportions. Our main protagonist, Misha, has awoken from a coma as a result of an attempted assassination and is thrown into an adventure full of political upheaval and a fight for power. Krasno does not waste any time getting into the meat of the story and has created a fast paced thriller. A bit jumpy at times, the story redeems itself with the fantastical James Bond-esque action sequences. 

The characters are well developed and every character introduced plays an important role in the story's plot. The action is non-stop and makes for a page turning story. This is an easy and fun read for mature audiences. Krasno does not skimp on the action, sex, betrayal, and power hungry characters. Mortal Showdown is perfect read for this summer for fans looking for action and adventure with political undertones. 

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker by Rebecca Yelland

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is a powerful debut novel from author, Rebecca Yelland. The story is a non-stop page turning adventure filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. Yelland does a fantastic job at grabbing her readers from the very first page and making sure she holds on throughout the story. I was blown out of the water with Yelland's writing and ability to tell a powerful and emotional story in a page turning and detailed manner. I found myself holding my breathe with every turn of the page and experiencing heart wrenching moments of despair for June Parker, our main protagonist. 

Yelland created such powerful characters that I actually felt as if I knew June and her friends for years. The pain she experienced and the way she continued on with life was incredibly moving. 

The style used by Yelland, turning this into a journal found by June's daughter after her death, is absolutely perfect for this story. It allowed you to feel every emotion and experience the closure felt by her daughter upon completing her mother's story. It is filled with some amazing twists that simply add to the beauty of the story. 

If this is what we have to expect from Rebecca Yelland in her debut novel, I can only imagine what she has in store for her readers with her future writing endeavors. Dancing at Midnight: The Life of June Parker is the story of the summer as Ms. Yelland delivers with an absolute knockout!

Crossbones (Omega Days Series #4) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

Crossbones is the fourth novel in John L. Campbell's Omega Days series. This story picks up with our survivors on the Nimitz and introduces a few new not-so-friendly faces. Crossbones is certainly not lacking when it comes to suspense and ultimate thrills. The characters are forced to face something even deadlier than zombies when it comes to protecting their prize, the Nimitz.  

Campbell continues to impress with his ability to tell a realistic down and dirty fight. Crossbones is filled with heartbreak, revenge, and pain. This novel will leave you chomping at your fingernails and cringing with anticipation. We continue with some of our favorites from the Omega Days series and some favorites finally meet their demise with this story. 

As a huge fan of John L. Campbell and the Omega Days series, I am impatiently waiting for the next book in this series. The ending of Crossbones will leave you counting down the days until the release of book five. Campbell is a master at telling a horrifying zombie story and tugging at your heartstrings with his characters. Keep an eye out for the next book in this series and of course my review when it comes out!

Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance by Cynthia Yoder

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is a very different novel than I typically read. It had a fantastic message and I found myself relating to many of the protagonists adventures and questions regarding life and how it "should" be lived versus how you want to live. Cynthia Yoder tells a marvelous tale of two young newlyweds and their journey to find themselves after leaving a life of religion and structure. 

The process of finding who you are is a journey we all take and this novel does a fantastic job asking and answering the questions that usually arise during that journey. Our main protagonists are very relatable characters and we truly see them grow as the novel progresses. Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is the perfect novel for young adults who may be in the midst of their personal journey. I personally found myself highlighting several passages that I felt perfectly summarized my current situation and how I see my journey moving forward. As I stated, this novel is a far cry from my usual reading material, but it is one I am glad I decided to give a go. It is the perfect read for the summer due to the easy page turning story and fantastic message.

Yosemite Rising: A Zombie Novel by Julie Dawn

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★

 

Julie Dawn's novel, Yosemite Rising, is a unique zombie tale. The plot is intriguing and has the potential of being a fantastic zombie series. I found some of the storytelling to be a bit scattered at moments, but I can still see the potential in this novel and the future series. The story takes on a unique approach with the zombie apocalypse by incorporating Native American folklore into the "origin story." Dawn has a knack for describing the setting in a realistic and accurate manner that aids in the overall reading experience. The characters were a bit hard to follow. I would have personally liked a bit more background information in regards to our main protagonists and some of the other supporting characters.

Yosemite Rising is a good read for zombie fans and is one I would recommend. I had a few moments of confusion, but the overall story is there and I look forward to the next book in the series. There are a lot of questions left unanswered and I am hopeful that the next novel will address and satisfactorily answer these plot holes.

The Disturbia Ritual by Lilith K. Duat & Maria DeLynn

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Lilith K. Duat and Maria DeLynn deliver a unique and dark erotica story with, The Disturbia Ritual. This is not a novel I would typically choose to read, but the writing and the character development is so well done that I found it hard to put down once I started. The authors use erotica to create a unique and beautifully detailed world that requires a lot from its characters. 

The character development and the scenes are told using powerful imagery and is written in a style unlike other erotica stories we may have happened upon. The Disturbia Ritual is filled with twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the very last page. The writing is so well done that you quickly forget that the story is based upon erotic fantasies and out of this world characters. This is a fantastic novel that I would recommend to all (age appropriate of course) readers who are looking for a fantastical and well written story. 

Drifters (Omega Days Series #3) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

In Drifters, the third book in the Omega Days Series, John L. Campbell shows us that there is more to fear than the walking dead. In this continuation, we are shown that sometimes the living are the real monsters. Drifters takes us on a rescue mission and a battle of wits with some of the original Omega Days survivors. Campbell is a master when it comes to describing and setting the scene for urban warfare. The battle scenes, the nail biting situations, and the character developments are done so well you'd be hard pressed to believe you are reading a work of fiction.

Drifters is the novel in the Omega Days Series that we have been waiting for. It addresses many of the original predicaments faced by our survivors. It also introduces some new and not so friendly faces. Campbell does a fantastic job showcasing the zombies and making sure you realize this is still an apocalyptic zombie novel. He also introduces the idea that the dead are not the only monsters we should be afraid of. 

Drifters is a story of fierce survival and the power of love and the lengths we will go to for our loved ones. We see some of our favorite characters take on this new world and are given the revenge we have been seeking. This book will certainly bring fans back for more and will leave everyone on the edge of their seat. The heartbreaking moments, the nonstop action, and the promise of more adventures will keep readers coming back for more of the Omega Days Series. 

Ship of the Dead (Omega Days Series #2) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

Ship of the Dead is the second book in John L. Campbell's Omega Days Series. As a fan of the first novel, I knew it would be difficult to top. However, Campbell creates a fantastic urban warfare setting with this followup. The suspense is nonstop and you will certainly find yourself holding your breath on more than one occasion. Ship of the Dead takes place on an infested aircraft carrier, the only option left for our survivors. As we watch the survivors attempt to take back this ship from the dead, we are just sitting on pins and needles for something awful to happen with every turn of the page. 

The characters in this novel return from Omega Days and we see who the true leaders are and are introduced to some vile personalities that many managed to hide in the first novel. This novel took on a darker tone and we experience the loss of some beloved characters. However, others step up and you find yourself rooting for some unlikely characters. 

John L. Campbell has a talent for writing thrilling urban horror scenes. Campbell is the perfect author for fans of The Walking Dead and other novels and comics at the top of their game in the zombie genre. He does not leave out the important fact that the dead are not the only threat in this hellish new world. The ending of Ship of the Dead is one that will leave  you with your jaw on the floor and running for the next book! This is every zombie lovers ideal series!

Aftershock: A Collection of Survivors Tales by Valerie Lioudis & Kristopher Lioudis

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Aftershock: A Collection of Survivors Tales is my first attempt at an audiobook. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how the audio version of this novel made the entire experience more realistic and enjoyable. The narrator does a fantastic job portraying each of the characters and their adventures and journeys of survival. Kristopher and Valerie Lioudis have created a fantastic apocalyptic story with some unique and memorable characters. Each character is given the appropriate attention and his or her story is told in great detail to help grab the reader (or listener) to make sure you are completely absorbed in the journey. 

The book is fast paced and utilizes an easy to follow structure that does not leave the reader or listener confused with the many characters/storylines. The authors do a great job with connecting each character, so that ultimately everyone will collide in this hellish world. The characters also represent the various survivors you may happen upon in the apocalypse. Each character deals with their own inner demons and the paths they must take in order to survive, ultimately questioning their overall morals. I look forward to the continuation of this story, as I was a tad disappointed at the abrupt ending of the novel. However, I believe there is a fantastic series here and look forward to reading more from these characters.

As for my experience with audiobooks, I will certainly give them another go.  They have a very relaxing aspect to them and allow for multitasking, which can be a good and bad thing! 

Omega Days (Omega Days Series #1) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

John L. Campbell has created the quintessential zombie series with his novel, Omega Days, and this is only the first novel in his Omega Days Series. Without skipping a beat, Omega Days jumps right into the zombie apocalypse with amazing adventures and some very unique characters. 

 

Campbell does an incredible job creating characters you just know you are going to love and some others you just know you are going to absolutely despise. 

Omega Days shows that it is not just the walking dead the survivors need to be afraid of, but their fellow survivors as well. The characters in this novel are not your typical apocalypse survivors. Campbell has given the title of survivor to some very unlikely individuals and he makes them true heroes and makes the overall story a more realistic adventure for the reader. 

 

Fans of The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Strain will fall in love with Omega Days. This is the novel zombie aficionados have been craving! This is going to be an amazing zombie apocalypse series and one that will keep the reader involved from the very beginning.