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Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver – Review by Shea Gilkerson 1/2/24

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Alien RedemptionAlien Redemption by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Claudia Zimmerman is a former medical researcher who was blamed by her employers in a very public arena. She is now blacklisted amongst both her peers and, well…everyone else, too. Her funds are running low, she’s feeling desperate, and she doesn’t know what else to do besides become someone else. So, Claudia becomes Aya and applies for a medical job aboard a merchant vessel. She expects to get the job without trouble, and is shocked to find the captain of the vessel recognizes her and blackmails her into joining the crew.

Captain Bennet assigns her to the medical bay of his dilapidated ship, and she tries to stay out of his way as his temper and behavior is absolutely atrocious – a cruel and dangerous man. He punishes crew members on a whim. Before she knows it, Claudia is assigned to an mission aboard an uncharted planet where they discover an intelligent avian species. She is excited to work with them and then discovers that Captain Bennet has plans to utilize the new species as servants, and Claudia has seen up close and personal just how he treats those around him. She can’t stand the idea of the Avians being subjected to his brutal abuse and desires to save them, even though it will bring her the attention she’s been trying hard to avoid.

There is assault in this book, and a lot of terrible treatment. Some people are likely sensitive to some of the things described. SciFi novels aren’t usually my “thing”, and it was difficult to get through the assault, but this book did draw me in and have me rooting for Claudia. I was often on the edge of my seat and bouncing between emotions. Will Claudia keep herself and the Avians safe, or will Captain Bennet beat his way to the top?

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A Heart So Savage (The Savage Duet Book 2) by April Moran – Review by Shea Gilkerson 1/2/24

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A Heart So Savage (The Savage Duet #2)A Heart So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kingston and Ava have returned shortly after the events at the end of book 1. Ava continues to fall further into her confusion over her feelings for King. In his own way, he protects her – while he keeps her captive. There’s no doubt his “punishments” have taught her some things about her desires and her body. He breaks and rebuilds her time and again, yet she still yearns for freedom. Maybe not freedom from him, but freedom to at least make her own decisions once in awhile. Would she abandon Kingston if given the right opportunity? He has handled some threats against her and is working to solve some more, while keeping her locked up. If he has to handle extra danger to protect Ava and keep her safe, then so be it. But as much as he makes dark decisions, her safety is his main priority.

As you see some seriously terrible decisions being made here, you also get to learn about what King and Oliver had to endure as kids, and what a terrorist their father was within their own homes. It’s no wonder they don’t do better – they were never shown better, and the abuse they suffered changed them as people. Their father was the REAL monster, terrorizing his wives and children. We also learn throughout the book how King feels about Ava, and battling the actual love he holds for her – until she is seriously injured and King feels the terror of what his life would be like without her. What way will Ava’s decision go – is she going to accept King’s way and admit her desires, or is she going to get out? Will the Winter family be able to protect her from all of the dangers in her path?

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A King So Savage (The Savage Duet) by April Moran – Review by Shea Gilkerson 1/2/24

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A King So Savage (The Savage Duet #1)A King So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Ava Blue was a sophomore in college, her parents died and left her and her brother Carson as orphans. Their parents were very wealthy and left them a hefty inheritance with multiple protectives put in place by their lawyer father to protect them from the impulsive decisions of youth. What they didn’t consider, though – was Carson’s hatred and mistreatment of Ava and dedication to blowing through every cent he could get his hands on. While he was living large, Ava paid only for bare necessities and saved her allowance from the inheritance and stowed it away.

We open the story with Ava coming to after being drugged and kidnapped by the men of Kingston Winter, the head of the Winter family brought up under his absolute tyrant of a father – until his stepmother shot him and then herself. Since then, Kingston has accepted the role of leader of the family, continued to amass massive fortunes, made decisions he didn’t want to but had to, and has wanted Ava Blue since he first set eyes on her as a teenager. Now, Carson has blown through a fortune, borrowed money from anyone willing to loan it, and owes the Winter family to the tune of 2.6 MILLION dollars. He kidnapped Ava as an excuse, hoping Carson doesn’t pay. Regardless, now that Ava is in his possession, he doesn’t intend to let her go.

There’s a lot happening in this book, and I’m constantly cheering on Ava as she taps into her inner wildcat. King is a man used to getting what he wants, no matter the consequences. In many instances, it is against the wishes of someone else and the situation with Ava is no different. Kingston is a gorgeous man, but absolutely brutal – he has no problem taking whatever he desires regardless of other peoples feelings about it, and he treats Ava no differently. In spite of his brutality, Ava is completely drawn to him and disgusted by him and his proposition. While he pretends to consider selling Ava and her virginity to recoup Carson’s debt to him, the reality is that he claimed her long ago. Will Ava resist her attraction and get away, or will King keep her?

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