REVIEWS ®
BOOKLIFE.COM54bsave everyone, Thomas leaves Andrew to
find his son. Meanwhile, he realizes that he,
too, has the power to heal, and he develops
even greater powers that may just save two
worlds. The story wends to a heart-
wrenching conclusion. Warner saves time
by making Terra nearly identical to Earth,
but some parallels, such as the priests
dressing like the KKK, feel lazy rather than
clever. The more satisfying elements of the
worldbuilding and the plot are enough to
keep fans of dystopian stories hooked.
The Experiment: The Kinship Series
Robin Lamont. Grayling, $12.95 trade paper
(288p) ISBN 978-0-9858485-8-3
Lamont’s enticing third mystery fea-
turing animal rights investigator Jude
Brannock (after The Trap) finds Jude
working for the Kinship, an animal rights
organization. Her responsibilities include
planning and running covert operations to
obtain evidence of violations of the federal
Animal Welfare Act, which governs the use
of animals in lab experiments. Jude’s cur-
rent target is Vermont’s Amaethon
Industries, a prior offender aiming to test a
new drug on dogs and rodents, to whom
she’s dispatched a new team member, Tim
Mains, to work undercover. She becomes
increasingly concerned when she’s unable
to contact Tim after he sends her an email
stating that he’s on to something big. Since
Jude slept with Tim before he went off on
his mission, her concern is also personal.
Jude eventually heads to Vermont to look
for him, posing as his sister to maintain his
cover. Lamont continues to deepen the char-
acterization of her flawed lead in the service
of an engrossing plot. Readers will look
forward to Jude’s further adventures.
★ The Ex-princess
Fiona West. Tempest and Kite, $12.99 trade
paper (348p) ISBN 978-1-73287-740-5
Desert clippers and light rail, magic-
powered cellphones, black royalty, and a
princess negotiating chronic illness bring
both depth and delight to this kind, light-
hearted romance. Once upon a time,
Princess Abelia Olivia Jayne Venenza
Ribaldi Porchenzii renounced matriarchal
Brevspor’s throne for an anonymous life
working in waste reclamation. Then Abbie
learns her engagement contract to Prince
Edward of Orangiers is still valid—and to
defeat his brother Lincoln’s foreign-backed
coup, she must honor it. Resolved to rene-
gotiate her freedom and say goodbye to her
ailing father, Abbie sets off through the
magic-ridden Unveiled. But duty-driven
Edward’s proposal isn’t just a geopolitical
stopgap: he loves Abbie, and there might
be ways for an ex-princess and a reluctant
heir to be happy on both their terms. Final
Fantasy fans will relish West’s debut, a
vibrant, voraciously readable adventure
whose technocratic fantasy world is
grounded by a generous understanding of
everyday limitations and love. This perfect
confection is socially aware, wonderstruck,
and unforgettably fun.Fatal Encounter
Jannine Gallant. Jannine Gallant, $3.99
e-book (260p) ASIN B07QFCCPQL
Romantic suspense writer Gallant
launches her Counterstrike series with a less
than enthralling mystery set in rural New
Hampshire. Jaimee Fleming left a career as
a covert agent for a quiet life as a dog walker.
When Maureen Croft, the elderly owner of
her canine client, is murdered, Jaimee sees
the murderer and is winged by his bullet
before she escapes. Knowing the killer may
come after her, Jaimee decides to find him
first. She hides out with the victim’s dog
until she encounters bland but handsome
novelist Eli Croft, Maureen’s step-grandson,
on whom Jaimee had a crush back when
they were both students at Dartmouth. As
she works with Eli to identify the murderer,
Jaimee tries to overcome the trauma of her
complicated past to trust the sizzling
attraction that develops between them. The
reader knows from the beginning who
plotted the murder and why, so the only
question is how the truth will be revealed.
There are a few twists, but the overall lack
of suspense creates a lukewarm feeling.The Hands We’re Given
(Aces High, Jokers Wild #1)
O.E. Tearmann. Spine Press and Post, $4
e-book (350p) ISBN 978-1-72483-549-9
Romance adds heart to this dark, char-
acter-driven SF debut, set in a dystopic
2155 where the United States of America
has been replaced by the all-controlling
seven United Corporations. Outside theCorporation grid that spans Colorado and
Wyoming lies Base 1407, home to the
Wildcards, a group of resistance fighters
struggling to regroup after the death of
their commander, Paul Taylor. Two awful
commanders have tried and failed to get the
Wildcards to shape up. When Aidan
Headley reluctantly accepts the command
post, the Wildcards’ Logistics Officer, Kevin
McIllian, expects another brutal tyrant;
instead he gets gentle, compassionate
Aidan. As Aidan and Kevin bond during
movie nights, their developing relationship
heals deeper personal wounds in both men,
freeing Aidan to reveal that he’s transgender.
Themes of bigotry and past trauma make
the Wildcards’ journey occasionally painful
to read, but the found family forged by these
lovable characters is worth sticking with.
This is a lovely paean to the healing power
of respectful personal connections among
comrades, friends, and lovers.Holding Out
Serena Bell. Jelsba, $3.99 e-book (308p)
ISBN 978-1-73289-483-9
Bell’s fourth Returning Home contem-
porary (after To Have and to Hold) provides
a super-steamy pairing of heartsore protago-
nists struggling to put their painful pasts
behind them. Becca Drake, 24, is deter-
mined to reinvent herself from an insecure
child into a confident, self-assured woman.
Part of her transformation includes losing
her virginity, but she can’t find any man
capable of helping her out, until she remem-
bers her brother’s best friend. Divorced
Army veteran Griff Ambrose has pledged
never to lose his heart again, but he’s willing
to consider Becca’s request, not least because
he can’t stand the thought of some other guy
touching her. Then she starts working
alongside Griff and his friends at a retreat
for veterans with PTSD. Forced into close
quarters, Griff and Becca find their one-
time arrangement developing into a con-
suming passion. Though Griff’s PTSD is
more described than felt, both protagonists
demonstrate real emotional growth,
making their journey together as personal
and profound as it is pleasurable. This sultry
novel packs a surprising emotional punch
that will please both the author’s fans and
newcomers.