Audiobook Review: Alex By Irish Winters

Alex
Series: In the Company of Snipers, Book 1
By: Irish Winters
Narrated by: Troy Duran

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

https://www.audible.com/pd/Alex-Audiobook/B0198WJDG2

Blurb

He's trying to forget....
Alex Stewart, ex-Marine and tough-as-nails boss of the fledgling covert surveillance company, The TEAM, ditches his success and flees to his cabin in the deep woods. He's had enough. Four years after the deaths of his wife and daughter, he's been stuck in the anger stage of grief. Life used to make sense.
Not any more.
She's trying to remember....
Left to die in those same deep woods, Kelsey is the last thing Alex expects to find at his cabin. She's everything he's running from. Responsibility. Memories. Having to care about someone who could hurt him. To make matters worse, she can't remember her name. Neither can she explain the marks on her body, nor why two darling baby boys haunt her dreams.
But Alex can....

My Review

 

Alex by Irish Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Irish Winters's book, and won't be my last. This is the first book In the Company of Snipers Series, an amazing Romantic Suspense. The story is captivating, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and filled with twists and turns. Impossible to put it down! Troy Duran did an outstanding job with the narration. He has a great voice, easy to understand, and the characters were easy to distinguish. I enjoyed listening this audiobook, and I can't wait for the next book in the Series!

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Review: The Hate Game By Winter Renshaw

The Hate Game
Love Game Series, Book 1
By Winter Renshaw

I love the cover!

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47862896-hate-the-game

Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/hate-the-game-by-winter-renshaw

Amazon:  
https://amzn.to/2mvYoDf 

Blurb

Talon Gold is a lot of things: good at football, bad at love. Obsessed with scoring, refuses to play by the rules. Cruel. Relentless. Brilliant. Intoxicatingly attractive.

Despite his demanding reputation and propensity for being the most arrogant a-hole ever to strut Pacific Valley University’s picturesque campus, everyone wants a piece of him: coaches, scouts, and pretty little campus fangirls with pouty lips and perfect top knots.

But Talon … he only wants a piece of me.

And four straight years of infuriating rejection means I’m almost positive he’d take a night with me over a national championship trophy.

But I’m no fool—he only wants me because he can’t have me. And with graduation approaching, time is running out. He’s more desperate than ever, pulling out all the stops and doing everything in his power to get in my good graces.

They say, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

But to that I say, “Why not both?”

I have my reasons ...

Sorry, BMOC. This victory? Not going to happen.

My Review

Hate the Game by Winter Renshaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hate Game By Winter Renshaw is the first book in the Love Games Series, a sweet sports and college romance. I loved it! Talon is a handsome character, sweet, caring and supportive. Irie is a lovely character, sweet and beautiful. I loved their slow burn story. The Epilogue is great! I enjoyed reading this story.

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Release Blitz: Wild Card By Kelsie Rae

 

Wild Card (Advantage Play - Book 1)

Release Date: September 23, 2019

Cover Design: Sly Fox

Synopsis

Rule #1: Keep your head down and your eyes up. It makes you invisible. But not stupid.
Ace, a young cardshark, has worked her entire life to achieve one goal. Bring Burlone Allegretti to his knees. As the the head of a mafia family who dabbles in human trafficking, he’s far from innocent, and Ace can't wait to exact her revenge.
As her plan is set in motion, the alluring head of a rival family, Kingston Romano, approaches her with a proposition. One that she’s desperate enough to accept.
Soon, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a war she isn’t prepared to fight. With a target on her back, and intimate feelings she refuses to acknowledge, she'll have to decide if she's all in, or if she'll be taken for all she's worth.

Goodreads

 

Wild Card (Advantage Play - Book 1)

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mVrwKP

 

 

Dark King (Advantage Play - Book 2)

Release Date: October 7, 2019

Goodreads

Dark King (Advantage Play - Book 2)

Preorder Link: https://books2read.com/u/mqD0V2

Synopsis

Rule #5: Don’t allow distractions. They’ll only break you.

In the blink of an eye, Kingston Romano’s entire world has fallen apart. His sister is in the hands of a rival mafia family, and his only hope of getting her back is by making a wager that includes the mysterious Acely Mezzerich.

Unfortunately for King, his feelings for Ace only escalate the longer he’s around her, muddling his conscience as well as his arrangement with the enemy. And if has any hope of saving his sister and keeping Ace, he needs to execute it perfectly.

As the pieces start to fall, he’ll have to learn who he can trust and who needs to be eliminated before it’s too late.

About the Author

Kelsie is a sucker for a love story with all the feels and enjoys a solid chick flick, too. When she's not chasing words for her next book, you will probably find her reading or, more likely, playing with her three small children who love to drive her crazy. She adores chocolate, photography, and baking. And now that she's actively pursuing her writing dreams, she's set her sights on someday finding the self-discipline to not eat an entire batch of cookies in one sitting.

Connect with Kelsie

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2YPoS3R

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2YuNe3I

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Yzxooy

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/33lf555

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2YXpkta

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Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2YzvxjD

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/33k0A1w

 

 

 My Review

Wild Card by Kelsie Rae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!! This was my first Kelsie Rae's book, and won't be my last. This is the first book in the Advantage Play Series, a Romantic Suspense. This story is well written, suspenseful, fast-paced, and captivating. Impossible to put it down. The storyline is filled with intrigue and mystery. The chemistry between Ace and Kingston is really hot! The story ends with a cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the next book in the Series! I HIGHLY recommend it.

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Audiobook Review: The Hashtag Hunt By Kristina Seek

The Hashtag Hunt
By: Kristina Seek
Narrated by: Andrea Emmes, Tim Paige
Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins 

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Hashtag-Hunt-Audiobook/B07SX5JW2C

Blub

The only reason Lauren entered the Hashtag Hunt was for the $10,000 grand prize. She needed seed money for her startup, and it sounded easy enough: 12 hours to text 12 photos to someone called the Wizard. For hashtag number five, Lauren needs a #HottieInTheWild, and with the help of her best friend, Ivy, she finds the perfect subject.
The only reason Brenner entered Barkley’s Pub was to have beers with Scott, an Army brother back in town. The reunion is interrupted when a woman is caught crouched in a dark corner, taking pictures of Brenner. Lauren explains, and though embarrassed, she accepts Scott and Brenner’s offer to help with hashtag number six.
While hunting for hashtags, Lauren finds adventure and romance with her #Hottie, but she must stay focused to beat the clock and win the cash. 

My Review

The Hashtag Hunt by Kristina Seek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Kristina Seek's book. I loved it! This story is refreshing and original. The friendship in this story is amazing. The storyline is captivating and fast-paced. I loved to follow Lauren and her friends in this Hashtag Hunt. The romance between Lauren/Brenner and Ivy/Scott is cute and sweet. Andrea Emmes and Tim Paige did a great job with the narration. I enjoyed listening this story.

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Immortal Promise
Vampire Mates
By: Kim Loraine, Midnight Coven
Narrated by: Wen Ross, Kai Kennicott
Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins 

https://www.audible.com/pd/Immortal-Promise-Audiobook/B07W7L7W6H

Blurb

It happened without warning. My vampire heart began beating as her human one stilled and she slipped away. I didn't know her, but everything in me demanded I save her.
She was my mate. I couldn't let her go. So, I turned her rather than let her die, and we've been fighting ever since.
They say love at first sight is magic. But what happens when the one you're bound to for eternity wants nothing to do with you?
Claire is nothing like the woman I thought would be my match. Now to convince her she belongs with me before she ends up killing us both.
Are you willing to taste immortality?
Come with us and let our vampires glamour you into a world full of dangerous magic, toe-curling heat, and a love to last forever.
The Vampire Mates series by the Midnight Coven contains 13 tales penned by your favorite best-selling paranormal romance authors.
Each novella can be enjoyed as a complete stand-alone, but of course, we hope you’ll bite into them all.
With our Vampire Mates at your side, immortality is sexy AF.

My Review

This short novella is part of the Vampire Mates, a Midnight Coven Collection. Brandt and Claire's story is fast-paced, suspenseful, fun, sexy, and twisted. I love the ending. Wen Ross and Kai Kennicott did a great job with the narration. I enjoyed listening this story. If you like this story, I recommend you also read Forever Claimed and Blood Captive. Kim Loraine never disappoints.

Audiobook Review: Falling for the Playboy By S.L. Scott

Falling for the Playboy
Playboy in Paradise, Book 1
By: S.L. Scott
Narrated by: Wen Ross, Kai Kennicott
Series: Playboy in Paradise, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins 

https://www.audible.com/pd/Falling-for-the-Playboy-Audiobook/B07WG44411

Blurb

It's good to be me.
Thanks to my last name, money is no object. According to the ladies, I'm charming.
And if I do say so myself, and I do, I'm good looking too.
I'm used to getting my way. Every. Single. Time. That is until Mallory Wray, a brunette beauty, lands in Hawaii. Now my new favorite pastime is how to bed the gorgeous co-ed. Again.
*
An escape.
I'll call it what it is. But there are worse places to spend the next three months than in paradise. A fresh start without the chill of Colorado or cheating exes is exactly what I need.
No one is going to ruin this for me, especially not gorgeous playboys. That is until I decide to throw caution to the wind and fall right into Evan Ashford's bed. Unlike him, I can't separate my heart from my head, so I get out before I get hurt. Again.
I thought I left my broken heart on the mainland, but now I'm starting to wonder if Evan can heal it. Here goes everything....
The Playboy in Paradise Trilogy is the perfect beach read. Told in dual POV, this emotional, contemporary, new adult romance will sweep you right off your feet.
*Please Note: Playboy in Paradise was previously known as the Welcome to Paradise series, which included Good Vibrations, Good Intentions, Good Sensations, and Happy Endings. With a fresh and gorgeous update on the outside (cover, synopses, etc.) and tightening of the inside (now three books versus four), I'm thrilled to relaunch this series.

My Review

Falling for the Playboy by S.L. Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Playboy in Paradise Series. This is a great start to this Series, sets in Hawaii! Evan and Mallory's story is sweet, fun, and emotional. They share an instant attraction, and an undeniable chemistry. I love the characters, the storyline, and the scenery. Evan, a playboy, is a complex character, and I can't wait to know more about him and Mallory, in the next book in the Series, Redeeming the Playboy. Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross did a great job with the narration, as always! I enjoyed listening this story.

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Audiobook Review: Cold Pursuit By Toni Anderson

Cold Pursuit
Series: Cold Justice, Book 2 
By: Toni Anderson
Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

https://www.audible.com/pd/Flame-Audiobook/B07XPKT124

Blurb

Single mom Vivi Vincent is thrust into her worst nightmare when she's trapped inside a mall during a terror attack along with her eight-year-old son. With the help of Jed Brennan, an FBI special agent on enforced leave, Vivi and her son survive the assault. But the danger is far from over.
Vivi's son may have witnessed critical details of the terrorists' future plans and is targeted for death, but he's mute, and he's traumatized. Still someone launches a strike against the FBI's safe house, and Jed fears the bad guys have an inside man. No longer knowing who to trust, he hides mother and son in a log cabin deep in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. There Jed and Vivi try to figure out how to unlock the information inside her son's head. What they don't bargain for is the red-hot attraction that flares between them, or the extent of the sinister plot that threatens to rip apart not only any chance of happiness they might have together, but also the very fabric of American society.

My Review

 

Cold Pursuit by Toni Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Cold Justice Series, a romantic suspense. This standalone novel is suspenseful, action packed, filled with mystery, danger, intrigue, and romance. The first scene in the mall is breathtaking! Jed, Vivi, and Vivi's son are great character. Jed, an FBI special agent, is handsome, protective and very supportive. Vivi is a really strong and brave woman. The storyline is well written and captivating. Eric G Dove did an outstanding job with the narration. I enjoyed listening this story, and I can wait for the next book in the Series, Cold Light of Day.

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Release Blitz: Aces High By M. Never

 

Release Date: September 25, 2019

Cover Design: Sara Eirew

Models: Lucas Bloms & Jacqui Pogue

Synopsis

I have two weeks left to live. Two weeks to come up with one hundred thousand dollars. Two weeks to convince the woman I love she loves me too. When The Bowman passed away — my dead father’s best friend and bookie — the payoff arrangement he made with my loan shark died with him. Now, I have two weeks to cough up the money or else. The only silver lining? The Bowman’s death brought Liv, his daughter, back into my life. Ten years ago, all she wanted was my love. What she got was a broken heart instead. But time apart and grief do strange things to people, bringing them together in unexpected ways. Like drunk and horny and naked in your bed. Now I’m in a race against time, fighting for the woman I want back, all while trying to figure out exactly how to stay alive. Life, I tell ya. It can sure deal one hell of a mutherfkn’ hand.

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links

 Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2M6gLJE

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Ml73mX

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2y6eTbE

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/32Hf23c

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/aFys

Available Now

 

Snowfall: A Slashes in the Snow Prequel

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2U79oCF

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Swyols

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2TgXJV0

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2T61QUi

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/ARyv4ac

 

Slashes in the Snow 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2XGsrpF

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HcpSGh

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2ENXAQD

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2EPgVBe

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/MNSlashSnow

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d525/?

 

About the Author

M. Never resides in New York City. When she's not researching ways to tie up her characters in compromising positions, you can usually find her at the gym kicking the crap out of a punching bag, or eating at some trendy new restaurant. She has a dependence on sushi, a fetish for boots, and is stalked by a clingy pit bull named Apache. She is surrounded by family and friends she wouldn't trade for the world and is a little in love with her readers. The more the merrier. So make sure to say hi!

Connect with M. Never

 Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2HaWbW2

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Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sT69oa

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Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2tKXh0N

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2wGdgjg

 

 

 My Reviews

Snowfall: A Slashes in the Snow Prequel 
by M. Never
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella is a great introduction to the Series, a MC Romance. Gerard and Kristen's story is fast-paced, sexy, and beautiful. I enjoyed reading this story. Now, I can't wait to listen to the first book in the Series, Slashes in the Snow. 




Slashes in the Snow: A Baum Squad novel 
by M. Never
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Baum Squad Series, an amazing MC Romance/enemies to lovers/stepbrother romance/romantic suspense. Ky and and Kira's story is fast-paced, action packed and suspenseful. The storyline is filled with intrigue, mystery and danger. Jacob Morgan and Muffy Newtown did an outstanding job with the narration. I would love to have the short Prequel, Snowfall, also in this audiobook. I enjoyed listening this story, and I highly recommend it! 


Aces High by M. Never
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Baum Squad Series, a MC Romance/second chance to love/romantic suspense. I love this Series! You have to read this Series in order for a better understanding. Anyway, you don't want to miss one book in this amazing Series, believe me! Damon and Liv are great characters, and their second chance to love is fun, hot, suspenseful and amazing. The secondary characters are also great. The storyline is captivating, intriguing, filled with twists and turns. I loved to see the other characters from the previous books. The brotherhood between the men is wonderful. I loved how Kira and Liv connected. These women are sassy and strong! I enjoyed reading this story. I highly recommend this story and Series. I can't wait for the audiobook version of this story!

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Audiobook Review: Flame By Chelle Bliss

Flame
Series: Men of Inked: Heatwave, Book 1
By: Chelle Bliss
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke
Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins 

https://www.audible.com/pd/Flame-Audiobook/B07XPKT124

Blurb

Could you love a man surrounded by danger?
Gigi Gallo’s childhood was filled with the roar of a motorcycle and the hum of a tattoo gun. Fresh out of college, she’s about to start working at her family’s tattoo studio - Inked. But when she shows up the first day, she never expects to run into someone tall, dark, and totally sexy from her not-so-innocent past.
Pike Moore is a bossy biker with a cocky attitude and an even bigger ego. He came to Inked to start over. New town. New job. New roots. None of that included coming face-to-face with the hot chick who spent a week in his bed before she vanished without a trace.
But when Pike’s dark family history catches up with him, can he stop Gigi from being caught in the crossfire?
Flame is book one in the Men of Inked: Heatwave series by USA Today best-selling author Chelle Bliss. The Men of Inked: Heatwave series features steamy romance, hot heroes, and strong women. 

My Review

Flame by Chelle Bliss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Chelle Bliss's book, and won't be my last. This is the first book in the Men of Inked: Heatwave Series. This is the next generation from the Men of Inked Series. This is a great MC romance. Gigi and Pike's second chance to love is fun, sexy, and suspenseful. Gigi is sassy and strong. Pike is handsome, protective, and possessive. They share an instant attraction, and a hot chemistry. I love the Gallo's family spirit. The Gallo's women are strong, sassy, and beautiful. The Gallo's men are alpha, protective and possessive. The secondary characters are great. The story ends with an unpredictable twist, and I can't wait for the next book in the Series, Burn, to know what happens next! While waiting, I need to listen to Men of Inked Series, the first Gallo's generation, to know more about them. Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor did a great job with the narration. I enjoyed listening this story.

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Release Blitz: Married to the Alien Doctor By Alma Nilsson

🎧🎧 Release Blitz 🎧🎧

Married to the Alien Doctor By Alma Nilsson

Narrated by Holly Holt

Audible US 🎧 http://bit.ly/MarriedToTheAlienDoctorUS 

Audible UK 🎧 http://bit.ly/MarriedToTheAlienDoctorUK 

Blurb:

Traded. She had been traded by her own captain to the Alliance Empire. She and the rest of the female crew from the human starship Dakota were to be married off. As the Alliance was suffering from a demographics issue, there weren’t enough Alliance women. Dru didn’t care what kind of problems the Alliance had, she didn’t come this far in her short life to end up as a grey alien man’s slave, no matter how powerful his civilization was. But that was the problem, humans were next to nothing, and the Alliance Empire ruled the galaxy.    

Ket of Imperial House Vo had not thought much about the human women being brought to the Alliance, until his eyes rested on the young, red-haired beauty, and he knew it was the gods’ will that she become his wife. He would make her submit to his strict Alliance culture and make her humbly accept her new life in the Empire. He knew from the moment he saw her picture that she was his destiny.

The Alliance Series is set in a fictional future where humans are small-time players in the big-time galaxy. There are no heroes or women being rescued, instead, listeners are led through an intricate maze of alien courting customs, duplicitous strict religious codes, vicious culture shock, and uncomfortable compromises. These books are meant to ask a question about a fictional, what-if scenario: "How connected are love and sex?"

Sex is a primal instinct, but is love? Separating love from lust. And, asking if it is possible to separate sex and love in a marriage that will last centuries? And finally, how far are we prepared as a society to acknowledge adultery? Each book in the Alliance series follows a completely different woman on her individual journey into this alien world. Don't expect hero boy meets beautiful girl and happily-ever-after stories. Every character gets what life throws at them, and their decisions have consequences.

Release Blitz Hosted by Dragonfly Ink Publishing

#NewRelease #NowLive #ReleaseBlitz #MarriedToTheAlienDoctorAudioTour #AlmaNilsson #HollyHolt #AudiobookObsession #DragonflyInkPublishing

Preorder: Million Miles Away by Alice Bane

 

🔥🔥 AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER 🔥🔥

Million Miles Away by Alice Bane 
is releasing October 5th! 
Preorder today!!

   

BOOK BLURB

I won’t bore you with details about the mysterious medical issues I’ve had over the last year;   the sudden severe allergies to food and medication, the sleep paralysis. All I’ll tell you is that they turned my life upside down.   But I’m a rational person.   Naturally, I assumed that my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw the strange figures standing over me.   But it felt so freakishly real;   especially one face in particular that always stayed with me long after I woke up.   Something about him always drew me in and I knew he was different. He made me feel different.   All my life, romance has felt like something that was reserved for everyone but me. I’d accepted that the only love in my life would be experienced through my artwork.   Now I’m questioning everything I know about myself, about reality, and especially about love.   

Add to your Goodreads TBR:  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47486080-million-miles-away    

PREORDER LINKS:  

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KiCAV5  

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GIVEAWAYEnter to win a $20 Amazon gift card!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8032cec7445/?  

EXCERPT
EXCERPT from Chapter 1
The girls would always tease me about how put together my life was. Sure, it looked good on paper; top-rated artist in my department, an amazing house which I always kept immaculate, and when I wasn’t working, I was at the gym. They seemed to think that I had a perfect life. They had no idea how much I envied them. They both had incredible relationships with gorgeous men who doted on them endlessly. They were always commenting on how jealous they were of my body, but they also never missed a chance to eat delicious foods that I couldn’t so much as smell without getting sick. They didn’t realize that my house was always clean because it was empty and sterile; just like the rest of my life.   I didn’t even have a pet. Ever since little Ivan died, I accepted that I wasn’t pet owner material. If I couldn’t keep a goldfish alive, what chance did I have with a more complex and emotionally dependent animal? Besides, with my work schedule, it would be cruel to even try.   “Before we get started with what we’ve got on today, I need to ask you guys a really important favor,” Abiola said, circling the desk to take both mine and Laura’s hands in hers. “The two of you have been such a huge part of my life. You’ve been there for me through all my family drama and I couldn’t love you more if you were my flesh and blood sisters.”   “Abi,” Laura pushed out her bottom lip. “That’s the sweetest thing you could possibly say.”   “Well, I would be so honored if the two of you would be my bridesmaids this spring. Please say yes!”   The three of us all wrapped our arms around each other in a sickeningly sweet display of female solidarity. I forced a smile and swallowed the lump in my throat as I imagined walking down the aisle on the arm of some random groomsman who had a wife or girlfriend somewhere in the church. This would be the second time I was a bridesmaid at someone’s wedding. The old saying ‘three times a bridesmaid, never a bride’ rang out in my mind.   “I would love to be a bridesmaid at your wedding,” Laura crooned.   I mustered the minimal amount of excitement I could get away with for the situation and said, “Me too. I love you, woman,” then patted Abiola on the back.   Abiola nodded and wiped at eyeliner from beneath her watering eyes. She was an old soul with a soft heart. She spent her weekends volunteering at a children’s group home. That was where she met her fiancé Trevor, and they bonded over their dysfunctional family situations. They would probably adopt a bunch of foster kids right after their wedding and live happily ever after. She deserved that; it was all she ever wanted.   “Okay ladies,” Abiola clapped her hands. “Today we’re looking for something we can use for the promotion of the OSA campus, which will be opening next year in Portland, Oregon. Boss says our primary focus is to attract engineering and architectural students for the Lunar-retreat that’s in the works.”   “So, where do we start?” Laura said, looking right at me.   “I am going to need to work up some concept drawings for the Lunar Resort. Also, if you could give me the clearest photos of the most beautiful views the Lunar Surface has to offer, that would be cool to show exactly what the students should be aspiring to be a part of. I want to see some dramatic landscapes with visible craters, maybe some rock formations. Anything to pull people in.”   “I’m on it,” Laura nodded and sat down at her touch responsive computer.   “I’ll go to engineering to get permission to use blueprints of the resort that you can use to make the concept drawings,” Abiola said, then turned and headed towards the elevator. It was an exciting project. I used to fantasize that by the time I was ready to retire, I would be able to cash in on all the vacation time I had accrued and maybe even spend a few of my golden years at that resort. The thought of waking up in the morning and looking out the window to see the Earth just as we see the moon from down here always gave me a sense of calm. Four hours later, all final decisions had been made on what I wanted to use on the project. Right on cue, my trusty assistants started complaining that they were starving to death.   “If I don’t get some corned beef nachos in me in the next ten minutes, I might actually die,”   Laura said and stood up dramatically from her desk.   “I want waffles and bacon,” Abiola rubbed her belly.   I sighed at the memory of bacon; I would probably just have some raw vegetables and berries. I was still looking at my screen and inspecting one of the photos, trying to decide on how I would alter the image to bring it to life. My eyes burned. I clenched them shut and rubbed them, forcing them to rest. Eye strain was the enemy and this day was proving to be particularly difficult since I had hardly slept the night before. I couldn’t shake my anxiety about today’s social gathering after work. Stress and lack of sleep usually meant a big fat migraine, which was the last thing I needed at Laura’s party.   “I’m going to head to the chill room. I need a nap more than anything.”   “You better be rested for tonight’s festivities,” Laura wagged her finger at me.   “I’ll bring my party face, I promise,” I said. I stood up but couldn’t stop the oncoming yawn. “The fatigue is killing me.”   “Yeah, no coffee or sugar in your morning will do that to you,” Abiola said with a shake of her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”   “Well, it’s easy since a cup of coffee could put me in the hospital again, I guess.”   “Jesus,” Abiola pressed her fist to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to…”   “It’s fine, Abi,” I assured her. “I just need to get a little rest.”   The two girls headed down to the food court while I made my way to the sleeping pods. White, plush, and stacked like a honeycomb, they were an inviting image that screamed comfort. I smiled and breathed a sigh of relief to find my favorite lower level pod was unoccupied. Turning on the sound system, I selected a playlist I knew I could sleep through. Sometimes I would choose guided meditation tracks or audiobooks. Today’s selection was soft cello. Something about the deep tones helped me unwind no matter what was on my mind. I settled in, turning on the heated cushions and closing my eyes.   I practiced the deep breathing exercises the doctor had taught me as I pictured myself floating through a dark endless sky toward the moon’s surface. The pictures I had looked at for over four hours served to be the subject of my meditation. I inhaled deeply, focusing on relaxing my arms and legs. Exhaling, I imagined moving further out into space. In… and out…   As soon as sleep found me, I was swept up in a flurry of blinding light. My stomach turned as the light began strobing violently, causing me to feel disoriented. My body tensed as I realized it had been several weeks since I’d had an episode. Right on schedule, it hit me like a ton of bricks.   Oh no, no, no, no… I can’t deal with this right now, not at work!   I struggled to wake myself, I couldn’t move. The cold sensation of a smooth metallic surface beneath me was confusing. I felt my fingertips twitch as I tried desperately to flail any and all limbs that might respond to my will, but my body remained where it was. I strained to sit up or scream, but I couldn’t even open my mouth. I was trapped, overwhelmed by the weight of my chest collapsing in on itself. If I didn’t put every ounce of will I possessed into sucking air through my nostrils, I had a very real fear that my body would simply shut down, leaving my body as a cold stiff corpse which might be found hours later in my cozy little pod. Filling my lungs with intention, I gasped for air, breath after panicked breath, hoping someone would notice and wake me.   The strobing intensified for what felt like several minutes and when it finally stopped, there remained a constant blinding light that made my eyes water. Tears streamed from the outer corners of my eyes into my ears.   “Help… me…” I managed to whisper to no one in particular.   From the edge of my vision, a blurry figure leaned over me.   “Please,” I sobbed, trying to turn my head to get a better look at who it was, but I couldn’t.   My chest burned as my heart pounded out of control. I tried to calm myself by reciting the scientific facts about what I knew was happening.   During REM sleep, your muscles are essentially turned off to keep you from sleepwalking. When a person wakes up during REM, they are fully conscious but completely paralyzed. Usually, physical stimulation from someone rubbing or shaking them will pull the victim out of the purgatorial state. Unfortunately, living alone means I have no one to rescue me during these episodes, which can sometimes last for hours.   “Just close your eyes. Everything will be okay,” a distorted voice spoke through the fog of my half-conscious state.   Maybe my brain is morphing the cello music into a voice. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by waking dreams or hallucinations, after all.   I thought I could force myself to come out of it but, instead, I moved even deeper into unconsciousness. It wasn’t like falling, but more like being underwater and sinking slowly. I struggled against what felt like a chemically induced calm. I tried again to force myself awake but couldn’t. The darkness swallowed me up and I finally surrendered to it.   To my surprise, I suddenly found myself vividly aware of two things; one, the fact that I was breathing without much effort, and two, I was no longer in my cushioned sleeping pod, but rather stretched out flat on my back on a cold metal surface. All efforts to move just made me realize that what I was experiencing was very different from the sleep paralysis I was familiar with. I could move my fingers and flex my wrists and feet. There were actual physical restraints fastened around my wrists, neck, forehead, and ankles that were preventing me from moving. Blinking hard, I strained to look around at my surroundings. The entire room was reflective as if every surface and object was made from surgical steel. It was shockingly cold, almost like the inside of a walk-in refrigerator. I grunted, twisting my wrists in hopes that I could slip out the straps.   There was a continuous hum that was so low I didn’t hear it so much as felt it vibrating through my entire body. There was a spherical light that seemed to be floating in the air a few feet over me. The ceiling was high above that and almost too dark for me to make out anything but the vague shape of what might have been a reflection of myself and the rest of the room around me. I strained to see past the light so I could study what else I could make out in the reflective ceiling. My heart pounded in my ears as my attention was drawn to a distorted human shape in the darkness at my side.   A chill spread through my body as I realized that someone, or something, was quietly watching me struggle but I couldn’t for the life of me work out who, as the silhouette disappeared from my view the moment I noticed it. Even when I turned my eyes as far as I could, the dark corners of the room remained completely obscured. Regardless of the deafening silence and the fact that I couldn’t see anyone, I knew someone was there.

VISIT www.alicebanebooks.com/excerpts for the Full Chapter One and an opportunity to read Chapter Two

TRAILER   https://youtu.be/_peaaHUpBy4    

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