If you came for Fashionista Friday, scroll on down, but why not read my book review first?
Saving Raine (The Drone Wars: Book 1)
by Frederick
Lee Brooke
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Matt,
Raine went to California because her parents thought it was safe. It’s not.
You’ve got to get her out as soon as possible. She could die, Matt.
When
19-year-old Matt Carney gets a cryptic message from his father telling him to
go to California and save his girlfriend, Raine, he doesn't hesitate—he grabs
his AK-47, revs up his blue pickup, and gets ready to make the 2,300-mile
roadtrip.
But
cross-country travel in 2021 isn't easy—or, sometimes, even possible. The U.S.
has become a near-military state: 17,000 checkpoints severely restrict
interstate movement, Predator drones target innocent civilians without cause,
and explosions rock cities daily. Matt and his stepbrother, Benjy, face deadly
attacks from a corrupt government, ruthless local law enforcement, and
bloodthirsty terrorist groups as they embark on their trek. They're about to
find out that their trip is much more than a private journey, and their success
could change the face of the country—forever.
Can
Matt and Benjy outrun the drone missiles raining down on their heads? Can they
avoid assassination by government officials hell-bent on taking over what
little is left of the country? Can they outsmart the deadly schemes set in
motion against them?
Break
the rules.
Save
the girl.
He
only gets one chance before she's gone forever.
Excerpt:
The GPS took them to an exit in suburban Salt Lake City.
They followed smaller roads into a subdivision. All the houses were dark, not
surprising at one in the morning. The house of their contact was a long,
one-story ranch in the middle of the block. They sat with the engine off and
the windows open, studying it.
All the windows were dark, just like every other house on
the block. A quiet, residential neighborhood. The garage door was closed.
“I’m sending my Viper around back,” Benjy said. “Maybe we
can see something through a window.”
They watched Benjy’s Jetlink as the quadcopter circled the
house. From the deck in back, the camera gave a clear view through a sliding
glass door. Benjy increased the setting for ambient light. Something by the
couch on the floor looked like a body.
“Zoom in,” Matt said.
A very overweight man wearing briefs and an undershirt lay
in a massive puddle of blood. The undershirt and briefs were stained.
“Someone got here first,” Matt said.
Benjy looked a little green.
Matt scanned the neighborhood for signs of a killer, but
there were no people and no other vehicles. Still, this made him nervous. Some
killer had been here, and he didn’t feel like waiting around. Maybe Pastor
Peaches was even behind it.
“Get that Viper back in. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
My Review
Saving Raine is set in the year 2021. American democracy is almost dead, replaced with near-military rule. Technology has expanded and is used by both the military and civilians. Resistance groups dot the country, but with the futuristic technology, they have a hard time evading the authorities.
Things I Liked:
1. The characters are well-drawn. They aren't flat, and I don't think they were stereotypical.
2. There's a lot of action and suspense which is also well done and keeps you reading.
3. The plot works well, and has some nice twists and turns to surprise you.
Things I Didn't Like:
1. Personally, I didn't care for so much futuristic technology, but it was woven into the plot, and this is a personal thing on my part. Most people won't mind.
2. Again, a personal thing, I thought some of the scenes were too violent, but I know most people will disagree with me here as well.
All in all, I liked the book and enjoyed reading it. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Frederick Lee
Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and
following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor
sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013.
Saving Raine,
the first book in Fred’s entirely new series, The Drone Wars, appeared in
December 2013. Inferno, the action-packed follow-up to Saving Raine, is
releasing in June 2014.
A resident of
Switzerland, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school
owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate
both washing machine and dryer. He makes frequent trips back to his native
Chicago.
When not
writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the
Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search
of his lost umbrella.
CONNECT LINKS
Website:
www.frederickleebrooke.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/frederickleebrooke
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/frederickbrooke
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/4856232.Frederick_Lee_Brooke
BUY LINKS:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Raine-Drone-Wars-Book-ebook/dp/B00HBMKPSC
B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saving-raine-frederick-lee-brooke/1117915543?ean=9781494738471
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/388361
Frederick will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card (international) and an autographed copy of Saving Raine (US only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Use the link below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A very helpful review thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteNice Excerpt! I hope to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveway!
v_theberge@hotmail.com
I like the excerpt and the review was really good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excerpt and the review, I enjoyed both.
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ReplyDeleteSounds very exciting. Appreciated the review. It is always nice to know the pros and cons from the view of others.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt.
ReplyDeleteLooks intriguing
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