Blinded by his love bombing and the desperation to shed her perfect image, Reese plunges head first into their world.
It feels instantly thrilling… until it’s not.
Girls are disappearing from nearby towns, however no one in their quiet small town seems concerned. But when Liam’s behaviour grows darker, Reese’s new life begins to unravel. She ignores the warnings. The red flags. The little voice screaming to her that something’s not right. Until she’s far from home, trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape.
With no one left to trust, Reese has to fight to reclaim the life she was so eager to leave behind. She wanted freedom. Now, she just wants to go home. At least she has to try.
Told with searing honesty and lyrical depth, At Least I’m Trying is a poignant novel about mental health, girlhood, and what happens when the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to become starts to fall apart.
The friendship becomes a lifeline for both girls. Their lives bear striking similarities, yet the differences are equally profound. While Sarah is spared from the perils of social media, she gains self-assurance and begins to discover herself. In contrast, Emma’s struggles intensify as she faces dire consequences for her actions online and misguided romantic entanglements.
Sarah watches helplessly as Emma’s life unravels, yearning to help but bound by the constraints of time. Emma’s perilous descent accelerates, and the danger of not receiving the help she desperately needs looms large. Sarah, trapped twenty years in the past, must find a way to intervene before it’s too late.
This gripping tale of bridging the gap between eras explores the enduring power of human connection, the complexities of teenage life, and the lengths to which a stranger will go to save a life.
Tara Hodgson has been teaching junior high for the past sixteen years. She spends her days surrounded by teens and has witnessed the changes that technology, especially social media, has had on the teenage experience. She lives on an acreage in Sturgeon County, Alberta with her husband, two children, and a crew of cats and dogs. Information about Tara can be found at: TARA HODGSON – Home
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman imprisoned and alone must find a means of escaping her confinement and warning her allies before its too late in author CC Robinson’s “Caged,” the second book in the Divided series.
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The Synopsis
The second book in the gripping, award-winning Divided series is here!
The walls are closing in on Rose. But when powerful enemies move her from house arrest to a literal prison, Rose finds herself alone. Caged. And without help.
Isolated from her friends and allies, yet stumbling on the truth of her captors’ schemes, Rose must free herself. If she doesn’t make it out in time, evil oppressors will take over her city.
Can Rose escape her cage before her foes win and destroy what took the Underground generations to build?
Find out in the second book in the award-winning YA dystopian Divided series that reviewers say reminds them of such classic YA dystopian as Divergent and The Giver.
This book is best read AFTER reading Divided: Book One in the Divided Series.
The Review
In a time when most of the world feels like it is teetering on the edge of a dystopian event, this book perfectly captures both the struggles of living under a tyrannical government and the hope that can stem from finding community and solace in the company of friends and allies. The visceral, gritty tone that the author captured in this novel will sit with readers long after the book ends, and yet the glimmers of hope that arise in those small moments between the characters will resonate with readers as a welcome reprieve for characters that feel relatable and earnest in their desire to free their family, friends, and city.
The balance of action-driven narrative and emotional character growth was well-developed in this story. The fear, rage, and mistrust that comes with living in a society where anyone can turn on you in a moment’s notice, while also finding those moments of hope and joy amongst those you love and trust, was a fine line the author perfectly articulated in this story. The protagonist especially brought this to life, showcasing a fierce loyalty and strength of character as she relentlessly pursued her path, as well as the steady growth of her friends and allies like Marcos, Jason, and Harriet, felt well-earned and encouraging in the face of such overwhelming odds.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and entertaining, author CC Robinson’s “Caged” is a must-read addition to the Divided series and a fantastic dystopian YA thriller. The twists and turns in the narrative, the glimmers of hope that resonate with readers, and the emotional undertones will stay with readers and leave them eager for the next chapter in this series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
CC Robinson is the award-winning debut author of the Divided series, a dystopian series set in a racially divided world. CC has more than two decades’ experience working in cross-cultural settings as both a medical doctor bringing healthcare to post-civil war nations around the globe and as an Associate Pastor at a multi-ethnic congregation led by an African-American man in Cincinnati, the setting for Divided. She wrote Divided out of concern for our nation’s divisiveness and racial hatred.
Divided portrays a racially divided world in which four teens meet in an underground rebel organization and must work together despite cultural differences to prevent the dictator’s nation-annihilating territory grab.
CC lives in Cincinnati, OH with her husband, three Gen Z grown and flown kids, one cat named Newt who thinks he’s a dog and a real lap dog named Sadie. When CC’s not writing or working at her church, you can find her in the garden, elbow deep in dirt. Follow her on socials (@ccrobinsonauthor) or sign up for her monthly email newsletter on her website.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A small group goes undercover on a cruise to uncover the nefarious plot of a predatory CEO and thief in authors Charles V. Breakfield and Rox Burkey’s technothriller, “Enigma Tracer”.
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The Synopsis
The clock is ticking … can Gracie uncover the truth?
Phillip Pliant is the wealthy opportunist plastics dealer, and CEO of Pliant Industries. He’s also a master thief—creating a pervasive threat to the manufacturing infrastructure in the Caribbean islands markets. With the cartel as his stealth client, the naïve city leaders have been seduced, enabling the production of more than 3-dimentional building materials.
And set the stage for massive chaos and destruction.
Pliant has locked up contracts, assets, and control of any future expansion. His contacts and clients salivate over their probable financial reward—the expected profits are monstrous.
Is the R-Group, now led by Gracie and the family heirs, strong enough to win against this predator? Can JJ’s CATS (Cyber Assassin Technology Services) act on the root-cause analysis in time?
Will the R-Group and CATS sabotage Pliant’s plan before it’s too late?
Can Jeff and Keith use their covert skills to put the bad guys away for good?
Will Gracie be able to squash Pliant and the cartels?
Can the chain of islands survive the underhanded tactics and threats?
Gracie never considered their lives would hang in the balance between winning and losing. Will the devious plot be uncovered in time? The clock is ticking. Five … four … three …
The Review
This was a fast-paced and enthralling technothriller. The authors managed to build an almost YA setting and tone to the writing, adding a new level of the genre to their growing series. While this book serves as the first in a brand new series, the story falls into the overall Enigma universe and while enough backstory is laid out for the reader to enjoy this book, an understanding of the first books in this world will allow the reader to really appreciate the stakes and history behind the protagonists’ role and backstory.
The authors did a wonderful job of capturing the thrills of the genre while also balancing it out with rich character growth and the emotional roller coaster that the protagonists find themselves in while trying to maintain their own balance between their personal lives and their professional lives. The ruthlessness and cold nature of the villain made him someone readers will enjoy rooting against, while the heroic journey and evolution that Gracie especially goes on will serve as a great counterbalance to the villain’s journey. The drama and passion that develops for the characters romantically serve as a great foundation for the evolution of these characters in an International technothriller setting.
The Verdict
Astonishing, heart-pounding, and entertaining as ever, authors Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey’s “Enigma Tracer” is a must-read technothriller that meets YA international mystery that readers are not going to want to put down. The blend of the previous novel’s mythos with the modern-day characters and the rich themes and character arcs will keep fans wanting more as this epic struggle and battle unfolds. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab your own copy on March 31st, 2023!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
BREAKFIELD-Charles works as a data/telecom solution architect and supports digital security, blockchain solutions, and unified communications. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles’ love of wine tastings, cooking, and Harley riding often provides writing topics.
Much of his personality comes from his father who served in the military for 30 years and three wars. Charles grew up on multiple bases and different countries. The multi-cultural exposure helps him with the various character perspectives they bring to the series. His personal ambition is to continue to teach his co-author Burkey, humor.
BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY together build stories as fictional story writers. Storytelling is the best method to share excitement, thrills, and insights to today’s technology risks.
EnigmaSeries.com has information on their 12 books, 10 short stories, audio books, book trailers, and the upcoming Enigma Heirs.
Look for our cozy mysteries/murders in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.
Rox Burkey is a Customer Experience Specialist who works with businesses around the world. As a gifted speaker and accomplished listener, she bridges the chasm between business problems and technical solutions to optimize business productivity. She has written technology papers, white papers, but launches into high gear when plotting our next technothriller or short story.
As a child, she led the other kids with her highly charged imagination generating new adventures with make believe characters. She is proud of being a Girl Scout until high school, and contributed to the community as a member of a Head Start program. Rox enjoys her family, learning, listening to people, travel, outdoor activities, sewing, cooking, and thinking about how to diversify the series.
BREAKFIED AND BURKEY
We have traveled to many places around the world. These travels are pulled into stories that requires real knowledge of specific locals. We deliver well-rounded thrillers that include levels of humor, romance, intrigue, suspense, and mystery.
We love to talk about their stories at private and public book readings or events. Burkey conducts podcast style interviews with a couple of author groups, and enjoys extracting the tidbits from authors, especially new ones. Her first interview was, wait for it, Breakfield. You can learn where they will be from the calendar on their website.
EnigmaSeries.com has information on the Enigma Series, 12 books, 10 short stories, audio books, book trailers, and the newest series Enigma Heirs releasing in 2023. We have proudly earned multiple awards for our fictional creations.
We are also part of the Underground Authors group writing cozy mysteries/murders in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. We are committed to providing an installment for Season 2 and Season 3 to accompany The Flower Enigma, released in Season 1.
Please enjoy snippets of our stories, book trailers, audible sections, CONTEST and get FREE stuff at www.EnigmaSeries.com.
