#Review of Beyond His Control by Clarissa Wild

Beyond His Control by Clarissa Wild
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'll start off with saying that although this book was good, I enjoyed the first book more. The conclusion wasn't what I'd expected, but this installment didn't have a bad ending. The reader gets their HEA. I can only imagine the Good Reads Review uproar if it didn't end on a positive note!

I had no problem finishing the story. Nearly every scene had some kind of conflict-the making of a good story. Wild is an excellent story teller...one of my favorites. But there were a couple of points that didn't click, and one thing that was a downright annoyance. So, I'll start with the annoyance.

NATALIE THE NUISANCE
Throughout most of the story (especially book one and the beginning of book 2) I found myself despising her. She treated people as if they were stupid and beneath her. She was downright mean to sweet Emmy and the others. I had absolutely NO sympathy for Natalie, and at times I wished Noah would've just dumped her, locked her up in a hut and forgot about her.

Too often dark romance authors are called out for writing weak heroines. It's almost as if an author has to mold them into unlikable characters to keep the psychos from trashing their books. (You know who I'm referring to, don't you? The reviewers who love to tear down an author's hard work by posting degrading graphics in their reviews and then use profanity to get their points across. The same ones who use the hashtag #Abuse, #WeakFemale, #DNF) It's such a shame that a person feels the need to degrade someone's work. :( If you don't like a book, that's okay, but use some class about it. You only discredit your blog and your reputation.

NOW, I'm not a card carrying feminist, but I wholeheartedly believe that abusing anyone or anything is never okay. However, I have no idea how the typical alpha male got such a bad reputation in fiction because they are commonly key characters in dark romance. Many female readers are drawn to books about power exchange. Don't forget that FSOG sold over one million copies and many strong females grabbed a copy. Also, don't forget the male species was created by God first and whether you like it or not, men do have their place in society and always will.

For the Ladies Who Like Alphas: It's okay! There's nothing wrong or weak about being attracted to a strong man or book character. There's nothing spineless about that. There's nothing weak about that. I'd much rather have a softer female character over an arrogant, big mouthed, disrespectful witch.

WHAT DIDN'T CLICK:
Natalie made no attempt to hide after her escape from the Holy Land. She returned to the same apartment she lived in before she was taken.

Noah knew where she lived--she should've known he'd come for her. Considering her 'super hero female status', I would've imagined that she'd go to a police station to report the abuse that was going on behind the fence.

This would have left Natalie and Emmy with a sense of safety, thus giving Noah and his helper a great opportunity to find them. The story could have continued as written but would lend more credibility to her decision to return to her old apartment.

EDITING INCONSISTENCY
When Natalie and Noah were taken from her apartment, sacks were put over their heads and they were thrown into a van. My question is how did Natalie know they were in a van if their heads were covered?

DIRTY TALK IN THE HOLY LAND
The community was isolated from the outside world. Their vocabulary (use of profanity and dirty words) was inconsistent with a group of people who had never been exposed to any kind of media or influence outside of a pure environment.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I've read other reviews and I'd like to make one thing clear: this book wasn't about power to women only. It wasn't about degrading men. It was about power to ALL PEOPLE. TO THE HUMAN RACE. It was about freedom for all and liberation from an oppressive government. No matter the gender, we all have God given rights that no one should ever be able to take away.

My RATING = SINGLE SHOT OF ESPRESSO

4 stars. Couldn't put it down!

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Columbian Betrayal by Randall Krzak

Colombian Betrayal
A Bruce and Smith Thriller
Book One
Randall Krzak

Genre: action-adventure thriller, political thriller, suspense thriller
Publisher: Randall Krzak Books
Date of Publication: March 30, 2020 (Kindle)

ISBN: 0978944100

ISBN-13: 978-0978944100

ASIN: B0854CFJTV

Number of pages:  330

Word Count: 82,039

Cover Artist: Matt at www.darngoodcovers.com

Tagline:  Colombian Betrayal exposes the death and violence behind the entangled interactions between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.

Book Description: 

Colombian Betrayal tears the cover off the drug trade and exposes the death, and violence behind the twisted connections between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.

Watch as an unholy alliance is formed when the profits of a Columbian drug lord Olivia Moreno, begin disappearing and deadly new international competitors appear on the horizon.

Moreno, head of the Barranquilla Cartel, strikes a deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Little does she know she is signing her own death warrant! FARC has a group wanting a foothold in South America—the Islamic State, and she is in the way.

On the run, Moreno is captured by a CIA team. She spins a tale to use her money and manpower to destroy ISIS in an effort to save herself. Laws and rules of engagement are meaningless to Moreno, her life and her family are her only concern. Will the CIA leader fall for her offer?

Will team leader AJ Bruce strike a deal to turn the tables on Islamic State? Can she stop them from launching an attack on the United States? Or will she be too late?

Is it worth trading control of Afghanistan’s poppy fields with Moreno as a reward for her cooperation? Or is Bruce playing her in an attempt to double-cross her and kill two birds with one stone?

Get your copy today, and watch this high stakes game of kill or be killed.

Amazon     Amazon AU     Amazon CA     Amazon UK

Excerpt 1 (688 words)

Dawn broke with birds twittering outside Olivia’s country estate. She opened blue-green eyes and focused on the view through the open window. Tinges of red and orange stretched across the horizon, seeking the deep blue heavens. More songbirds joined in, their melodious voices adding to the morning’s chorus. Nearby, a rare Colombian screech owl hooted. Other birds shrieked, their wings beating the air as they scattered.

Olivia yawned and crawled out of bed. Twinges cascaded through her aching muscles caused by overexertion in yesterday’s intense personal security training. Time for some fresh air while it’s quiet. She slipped a purple velvet robe over her slender athletic body and pulled on matching slippers. Padding toward the balcony, she opened the doors and stepped outside. She gazed at the tranquil countryside and smiled.

Craack! Craack!

Bullets ricocheted off the stonework, missing her head by inches. She dropped to the floor amid a hail of flying rubble and dust. Hunched like a hermit crab, Olivia crawled inside and slammed the doors.

“Madre de Dios!”

Stomach lurching, chest heaving, she rolled across the floor to the bedside table. Her hands shaking, she grabbed the handle, opened the drawer, and removed her FN Five-SeveN handgun. She fumbled for a second magazine and stuffed it into a pocket on her robe. Keeping out of view, she crept back to the side of the balcony and slid down the wall.

She peered through a small opening, looking for signs of intruders.

Nothing. All seems normal.

Pushing through the doors, she dashed around the corner, squatted, and fired three times without aiming. An incoming round smashed into the wall in front of her. She leaned into the stone for cover as rough-edged shards whirled toward her face. Startled by the fast-approaching slivers, Olivia ducked and dropped the pistol. Blood trickled from a cut above her right eye. She sucked in her breath and wiped it away as anger replaced fear.

“Alto.” A man of medium height climbed over the railing from the patio. Piercing dark eyes shone beneath a mop of black hair as he plopped into a chair at the small bistro table, and helped himself to a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

“Diablo.” Olivia spat the word as the man with the physique of a bodybuilder stood and helped her into the other chair. “Ramon, one day you’ll cause my death. The training becomes more intense every day.” She grabbed his goblet. “Salud.” She drained the glass.

“Doña Olivia, you hired me to provide protection. When I’m not here, you must do this for yourself and your family. Your enemies will give you no warning, which is why the lessons must become more realistic.”

Olivia nodded. “Si, you are correct. I want to live a long time and enjoy my fortune—unlike my father, brother, and first husband, who died before their time.”

Ramon Cristobal Alvarez and Olivia Perfecta Moreno gazed at each other.

* * *

The following morning, Olivia woke again to the hoot of the owl. She rushed to the balcony to find the bird’s hiding place. Two shots rang out. Following her training, she crashed to the floor and squirmed back into the bedroom.

She grunted and laughed, thinking Ramon had upped the training. A moment later, a loud thump resounded against the door as Ramon forced his way inside, gun drawn.

“Olivia, this isn’t training—it’s real.”

Ramon pushed aside a balcony door. He crawled outside, peeked between ornate pillars, and scanned the area for would-be assassins. After completing his sweep from the balcony, he returned inside.

“They’re gone.” He twirled his right index finger in the air several times. “Stay here. The guards will scour the full perimeter for those seeking to harm you, while I check on Pedro, Alonzo, and the girls.”

Olivia nodded. Shaking, she wrapped her arms around herself.

Ramon walked to the door. Before he opened it—

A gunshot echoed in the corridor.

“Madre de Dios!” Ramon leaped toward Olivia, shoving her to the floor with one hand, a weapon in the other.

A high-pitched scream pierced the air, followed by a second.

Silence.

About the Author:

Randall Krzak is a U.S. Army veteran and retired senior civil servant, spending thirty years in Europe, Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. His residency abroad qualifies him to build rich worlds in his action-adventure novels and short stories. Familiar with customs, laws, and social norms, he promotes these to create authentic characters and scenery.

His first novel, The Kurdish Connection, was published in 2017, and the sequel, Dangerous Alliance, was released in November 2018. Both placed in the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards, with The Kurdish Connection finishing as a semi-finalist and Dangerous Alliance being selected as one of seven first in category winners. The third novel in the series, Carnage in Singapore, was released in August 2019, and is currently a semi-finalist in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards. He also penned "A Dangerous Occupation," a winning entry in the August 2016Wild Sound Writing and Film Festival Review short story category.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a general Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Focus, both from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. He currently resides with his wife, Sylvia, and six cats in Dunfermline, Scotland. He's originally from Michigan, while Sylvia is a proud Scot. In addition to writing, he enjoys hiking, reading, candle making, pyrography, and sightseeing.

Website: www.randallkrzak.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjkrzak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallkrzak/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011369255833

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Clean Water for Developing Countries by John Dracup, PhD

Environmental Studies

Date Published: January 8, 2020

Publisher: Clean Water Press

The main purpose of this book is to assist the reader in choosing the best method for providing clean and safe water in a developing country. Most of the book’s content comes from the knowledge gained from:

-Fifty-plus years of research and teaching in water resource engineering, hydrology and clean water for developing countries at both the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of California, Berkeley.

-Thirty-five years as an expert witness on numerous hydrologic and water resource engineering legal cases.

-Clean water projects that I was involved with in Kenya, Peru, Honduras and Guatemala between 2011 and 2017.

-Attendance at various courses including ones at the Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technologies (CAWST) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and at “Potters for Peace” in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.

-My many colleagues and students.

The sites needing clean water can be diverse, e.g. an individual household, an entire village, a group of villages, a school, a clinic, an orphanage, etc. The focus of this book is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of how to bring clean water supplies to these entities. The optimal approaches will depend on both the Point of Use (POU), which may be large or small, and the state of the water (quantity, turbidity, type and concentration of pathogens/bacteria/viruses present) at the water source. Point of Use (POU) is the location where the water is to be consumed.

The majority of those impacted by unsafe water live in isolated rural areas of the developing world. Cost, sustainability, cultural differences and acceptance by those who will use the water are all important factors in providing clean drinking water to these people.

These factors include:

-Community Involvement. By far, the most successful water enhancements in developing countries are tied to community organizations, particularly among the female population.

-The Source of Water. It could be from groundwater, rainwater harvesting or surface water, such as springs, creeks, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

-The Quality of the Source Water. The water may have physical, biological and/or chemical pollution.

The Size of the Demand Population. Is it an individual household, a school, an orphanage, a small or large village, or a group of villages? Obviously, this affects the amount/volume of clean water needed, and this affects the methodology to be used.

-The location of the population to be served. Are they close together or widely dispersed?

                                 

About the Author

John Dracup was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, where his parents settled because the climate reminded them of their native Glasgow, Scotland. He is a civil engineer and hydrologist. He holds degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley.

He has taught water resource engineering and hydrology at both the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley for over 50 years. In his research, he has focused on the optimization of large-scale water resource systems and the impact of climate change on hydrologic variables. He has conducted clean water projects in Africa as well as in Central and South America.

Professor Dracup is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Geophysical Union among others. In 2001, he was a Fulbright Scholar to Australia. In 2015, the Rotary Foundation cited him for his efforts in supplying clean, safe water in developing countries. He lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife and family.

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Letters to God by Krystal Doolittle

Letters to God
Krystal Doolittle

Genre: Religious/Spiritual
Date of Publication: March 13, 2020
ISBN: 9798612411468
ASIN: B08544CKH9
Number of pages: 120
Word Count: 37,413

Cover Artist: Krystal Doolittle

Tagline: What if God looked like you and me?

Book Description:

Rowan MacAllister never realized that she had become stuck in a boring cycle in her life until one day everything comes crashing down. Her best friend insists that they go to a new local psychic shop as a way to break out of the rut she’d been stuck in. But Rowan finds herself receiving wise advice that she takes to heart. She should start writing letters to let out everything that had been bottled up for far too long.

Penning a letter to God, she finds strange things happen the next day along with meeting an older woman named Mary. The two become fast friends and Mary seems to unknowingly address the letters that Rowan continues to write to God while they are apart. The coincidences become too much for Rowan who begins to wonder if perhaps Mary IS God.

Rowan searches for answers while putting the pieces of her life back together. Meanwhile learning that her thoughts truly do alter her reality and that sometimes the things you think are a curse can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Amazon

Excerpt:

She stood and hurried toward the hall and I saw her slip into the bathroom. After a moment, I heard the sink turn on with a rush of water. Soon, it was turned back off and she reappeared with a damp rag.

“Here,” she said as she draped it over my face. “Lean back and relax for a moment.”

I did as I was told, resting my head on the back of the couch and closed my eyes. She positioned it so that the bulk of it was on my swollen eyelids. It was cold, but it felt good against my skin.

“Your clothes are fine, so you don’t need to change. But where could we go?” she said as if she were speaking to herself. Plus, I had to admit that it felt nice to have someone taking care of me at the moment. Even if she was trying to force me out into the world.

“We can go nowhere,” I pointed out. “That would be a win in my book.”

“You need to get out of your rut,” Lila said, sounding unperturbed by my stubbornness. “That means we need to do something you’ve never done before,” she mused.

“I’ve never stayed home and eaten a whole pizza by myself,” I said as I lifted the washcloth from one eye so I could look at her.

“You aren’t winning,” she said raising an eyebrow at me. “So get over it.”

“Ugh,” I said as I dropped the washcloth back. “Why am I friends with you again?”

I could hear the smile in her voice when she responded. “Because I’m the only one that can put up with that stubborn streak you have. I know how to get you to open up and see what a wonderful world awaits you. There’s a big, bright world out there waiting for you, Rowan. I’m the one that can convince you to do things that you don’t want to do but are actually good for you.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, not convinced. “You’re doing a bang-up job at that, you know?”

“Oh hush,” she said. Finally, I felt as if my face had cooled and my eyes weren’t as puffy, so I pulled the washcloth off and tossed it on the glass coffee table.

“Look, I don’t really have the money to go out anyway,” I said shaking my head.

“Oh, I got it!” she said loudly as she clapped her hands. “I know the perfect place.” I looked at her, waiting for her to tell me what it was but she kept talking. “It must be luck that I drove by and saw the place. But it’s absolutely perfect. I wanted to go anyway, I just didn’t know who else to take.”

“Earth to Lila. What are you talking about?” I asked as I waved my hands in front of her.

“Sorry,” she said as she turned to me. “I saw this place that must have recently opened. It’s a psychic reading shop. They had a sign out front that said two readings for $100.”

“I definitely don’t have that kind of money right now,” I sighed. “I’m a single woman now with bills to pay.”

“Don’t worry, I do,” she said waving her hand at me. “It’s perfect. You can get a reading to find out what exactly is going on in your life and how you can change things up!”

“I don’t know. That’s a lot of money for someone to tell you a bunch of vague words and silly predictions,” I said shaking my head.

“Oh, come on. Live a little, Row. Let’s go have some fun and see what’s in store for your future.” She wiggled her fingers at me and I laughed.

“If I do this with you, does that mean I’m off the hook for the next nail salon trip?” I asked. Lila was always convincing me to go with her so she had someone to talk to. I, on the other hand, hated having my nails done.

“Yes,” she said with a nod before grinning so wide I thought her face would split.

“Fine, I’ll go then,” I said. “As long as you’re paying.”

“Definitely,” she said with a nod. “Oh my gosh, Rowan! I’m so excited.” She couldn’t seem to hold still which for me, wasn’t comforting.

“Well, that makes one of us,” I said grumpily. “Let me get my shoes.”

 

About the Author:

Krystal lives in rural southeast Kansas, on the outskirts of an official ghost town with her husband and children, along with a multitude of animals. She can often be found taking a walk in nature, shuffling one of her many decks of tarot cards or finding something new to watch.

As a writer, she loves to craft stories that may be shorter in length, but are packed with unforgettable characters and situations that her readers can relate to. She understands that every villain can be a hero and every hero a villain.

My website is: https://www.krystalthewriter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystalthewriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystalthewriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5224372.Krystal_Doolittle

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/krystal-doolittle

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Suppose the Relevance of Daniel by Bobby James

Religion

Published: November 2019

Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing

Too much to be coincidental.

Were Daniel's dreams and visions almost 3000 years ago talking about today?

Not many pages but crammed full of hair raising comparisons to what the world looks like today.

About the Author

Bobby James is a first time author and devoted follower of God, who lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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Obadiah by Eldon Spady

Historical Novel

Date Published: January 2020

Obadiah is the story of how Obadiah, a worshipper of the true Jehovah, and who is mentioned in only one chapter of the bible, got the job of palace administrator for King Ahab, who, along with Queen Jezebel is trying to rid the country of ancient Israel of Jehovah worshippers, and how he survives the machinations of the Queen who tries everything from seduction to outright murder to remove Obadiah from his position.

About the Author

Growing up on the family farm, Eldon Spady used his teenage imagination to spin stories to his helpers, two foster boys who lived with the family for a number of years. The purpose? To encourage their cooperation in helping with the chores. Some of these stories would last days. As long as the tales continued, his helpers never staged a mutiny.

Since writing four non-fiction books, the Billy Bob Joe Block trilogy, and My Uncle Vellanoff's Journal, Spady has continued using his storytelling talents - this time to expand the fictional history of Obadia, a Biblical character briefly but tantalizingly mention in the Book of Kings.

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Outcase and an Ally by Caitlin Lochner

An Outcast and an Ally
Caitlin Lochner
(A Soldier and a Liar #2)
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: April 21st 2020
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Dark secrets and conflicting loyalties abound as four superpowered teens are torn apart by war in Caitlin Lochner’s An Outcast and an Ally, the epic YA sequel to A Soldier and a Liar.

Lai, Jay, Al, and Erik are on the run after the military accuses them of being traitors. Tensions between everyone are high, but they have to stick together if they want to survive. And somehow stop the war that’s now in full swing.

But when Erik returns to the rebels to find answers about his past, Lai, Al, and Jay have no choice but to go to the Order―a peace coalition bent on stopping the rebels and dissolving the enmity between gifted and ungifted. However, the longer the war drags on, the more Lai’s long-kept secrets threaten to destroy everything she’s ever worked for. Sparks fly as the team constantly questions whether they can trust one another and everyone tries to navigate a war that will change everything.

Filled with the same high-stakes superpowered action and complex relationships as A Soldier and A Liar, Caitlin’s first book, An Outcast and an Ally brings this story to a dramatic and satisfying close.

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Author Bio:

I’m a nerd, traveler, and architecture enthusiast who worked as an assistant English teacher in Tokyo for three years before pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Central Florida. I love reading and writing anything with magic, adventure, and complex found-family relationships. I can typically be found absorbed in books, games, or manga, or else obsessing over said books, games, and manga.

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Between the Cracks by Carmela Cattuti

One woman’s journey from Sicily to America

Historical Fiction

Publisher: HenschelHAUS Publishing

Join Angela Lanza as she  the experiences the tumultuous world of early 20th century Sicily and New York. Orphaned by the earthquake and powerful eruption of Mt. Etna in 1908, Angela is raised in the strict confines of an Italian convent. Through various twists of fate, she is married to a young Italian man whom she barely knows , then together with her spouse, immigrates to the U.S.

About the Author

Carmela Cattuti started her writing career as a writer for the Somerville News in Boston, MA. She is a writer, painter, and yoga instructor in Boston. After she finished her graduate work in English at Boston College, she began to write creatively. As fate would have it, she felt compelled to write her great aunt’s story. Between the Cracks and The Ascent have gone through several incarnations and will become a trilogy.

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Bad for Me by Lee Piper

Title: Bad For Me

Series: Rock Me Series

Author: Lee Piper

Genre: Rockstar Romance

Release Date: April 22, 2020 Cover Design: CT Cover Creations

I’m not supposed to crave the drummer of the hottest new rock act or notice his tortured green eyes. I shouldn’t care that he shies away from everyone. I’m a journalist and I have one job to do.

Get the story.

But selling his secrets for tomorrow’s headlines would not only ruin him, it would destroy me. Yesterday, I had a future. Today, I have a choice—career suicide or protect a drummer who hates me.

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