Outlier: Legacy by Daryl Banner Review

"You don't need all the power in the world. You only need enough."

In the second installment of the OUTLIER series, rebels armed with unique and fantastic abilities called Legacies continue to shake the Last City of Atlas from below, rising against the majestic, high-tech Lifted City and its cruel Banshee King, who can annihilate an army with just one scream. Friendships are made and broken as loyalties change. Love is ignited ... and savagely avenged. Can peace ever hope to be found? Will lost loved ones reunite? Unlikely alliances form and incredible new powers are discovered in the wake of the coming war between slum and sky. Weapons find your hand ... It is time to discover your Legacy. 

THIS IS BOOK #2 IN THE OUTLIER SERIES

*It is recommended to read this series in order*

*Some portions of the book end in cliffhangers*


OUTLIER: REBELLION (#1)

OUTLIER: LEGACY (#2)

OUTLIER: REIGN OF MADNESS (#3)

OUTLIER: BEYOND OBLIVION (#4)

OUTLIER: FIVE KINGS (#5)

BOOKS BY DARYL BANNER

The Beautiful Dead Trilogy:

The Beautiful Dead (Book 1)

Dead of Winter (Book 2)

Almost Alive (Book 3)

The OUTLIER Series:

The Slum Queen:  an Outlier prequel novella

Outlier:  Rebellion (Book 1)

Outlier:  Legacy (Book 2)

Outlier:  Reign of Madness (Book 3)

Outlier:  Beyond Oblivion (Book 4)

Outlier:  Five Kings (Book 5)

The Brazen Boys:

A series of standalone M/M romance novellas

Dorm Game (Book 1)

On the Edge (Book 2)

Owed by the Freshman (Book 3)

Dog Tags (Book 4)

All Yours Tonight (Book 5)

Straight Up (Book 6)

Houseboy Rules (Book 7)

Other Books by Daryl Banner:

super psycho future killers

Psychology of Want

Love and Other Bad Ideas (a collection of seven short plays)

Daryl Banner is a writer and composer who graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Theatre and Psychology.

He does not write in any single genre, as his stories tend to span several. He is most inspired by the smart and unlikely hero, but urges you (the reader) not to fall in love with them; they may deceive you with their innocence. He is thrilled by putting his characters in terrible situations where they must face choices and challenges that seem impossible to overcome.

Daryl Banner writes contemporary fiction, sci-fi/fantasy (both in medieval and futuristic senses), unique takes on the apocalypse and paranormal romance genre, as well as magic realism. He cannot wait to hear what you think about his stories and welcomes (and responds to!) all feedback.

Interesting tidbits: Daryl is also an obsessive piano player, video game enthusiast, and occasional actor. He's been remixing video game music for over fifteen years, and is a passionate Final Fantasy fan. You can feed your ears with many of his remixes (as well as his original music) on his YouTube page "www.youtube.com/DarylBanner". Also, he personally answers all emails he receives, so if you have some strange desire to write him, he may enjoy it. He currently resides in Texas.

Outlier: Legacy by Daryl Banner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Outlier: Legacy is amazing! I would probably best categorize it as dystopian urban fantasy. I would place the major traditional themes as man vs. man, man vs. himself and man vs. society and the major updated themes as overcoming the monster, quest and tragedy. It deals in many areas including adventure, mystery, death, family, romance, friendship and more. Examples of many common life sayings can be seen such as you reap what you sew and the world isn't fair.

The setting is Atlas, the last city at some point in the future. People no longer sleep after toddler age, and everyone has a Legacy (sort of like a superpower). The range of the legacies goes from almost insignificant to practically godly. Most of the populace live in the slums. High society, including the king, lives in the Lifted City, which is actually located in the sky over the slums.

There are several characters of interest so the story changes between the points of view of each. This gives the reader a true perspective of what's going on all around Atlas. The actions each character takes or doesn't take affect them all. Everyone is connected (it's like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon). The Lesser family is a major focal point (kind of like the Starks, with hopefully a lower death rate). I could never help but feel that everything centers on them, but they aren't the sole catalyst of the series. Many impressive and disturbing citizens rise and fall during this battle for survival and power. Everyone has their own agenda so it boils down to several basic questions for the reader. What lengths will someone go to protect their family, be with their lover or get revenge? What makes a villain? How far is too far to be justified? What/who is important? What are the Legacies?

I want to discuss so many details, but this is one of those types of books where almost anything is a spoiler. I can't express enough how much I loved Outlier: Legacy. Everyone should read it.

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***

FGMAMTC 

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents 

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PUCKED UP by Helena Hunting Review

****The 2nd standalone novel in The PUCKED Series****

Miller “Buck” Butterson has been banging his way through life ever since a puck to the face fixed his messed up front teeth. After five years in the NHL, deflecting goals on the ice and scoring them with puck bunnies, Miller has decided he’s ready for a girlfriend. A real, non-bunny girlfriend to take on dates, and not jump into bed with after five seconds of conversation.

Miller thinks he’s found that woman in his teammate’s sister. Except, unlike team captain and all-around nice guy Alex Waters—who happens to date his stepsister, Miller’s media reputation as a manwhore is well earned. Beyond that minor detail, Miller doesn’t know the first thing about relationships or the time and effort they require.

Miller learns—eventually—that if he wants to make Sunshine “Sunny” Waters fall for him, he's going to have to do a whole lot more than show her his stick skills in the bedroom.

Pre-Order Links

AMAZON.COM: http://amzn.to/1LQEclc

AMAZON.CA: http://amzn.to/1jE8sCR

AMAZON.CO.UK: http://amzn.to/1LcpEJe

AMAZON.AU: http://bit.ly/1OFLW8y

iTUNES: http://apple.co/1hDZF2u

NOOK: http://bit.ly/1k6Ra1T

KOBO: http://bit.ly/1RJNCxK

REVIEW

Pucked Up by Helena Hunting

4.5 stars

I liked book one, but I never anticipated Pucked Up would pack the punch it did for me. I loved it. The overall mood for the story is pretty light, but it does hit some deeper points.

Honestly, I really wasn't expecting much from Buck, but, after getting to know him, he's found his way onto my top book boyfriends list. First off, his heart is as big as North America. He bumbles into the most ridiculous situations where you want to hide your eyes but can't help but chuckle. Learning of his struggles growing up and his dyslexia issues made me want to snuggle him. Speaking of snuggling, he's the biggest softie ever. Also important, he has excellent bedroom skills.

The main couple of this book is Sunny and Buck. She is the vegan, yoga instructing, no make up wearing, animal shelter volunteering little sister to Waters. He is professional hockey playing, puck bunny attracting wearer of the big dumb jock label. I really enjoyed getting to know them both more. They're both pretty awesome. Much of the plot is about the romance between Buck and Sunny, but many other relationships are included. Violet and Buck have a great one. I get a kick out of how they antagonize each other but are always there to back one another. Also, there are some parent and grown child moments. Teammates and friends aggravate, fight with and rally one another.

I laughed, teared up and my heart grew two sizes. This storyline met all my basic needs for an excellent read. Even if you don't normally like sports romance, you should check it out.

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***

FGMAMTC 

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents 

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NUTS by Alice Clayton Release Day Review

The New York Times bestselling author of Wallbanger and Rusty Nailed is back with Nuts, the first in a brand new series set in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley.

Roxie Callahan is a private chef to some of Hollywood’s wealthiest, and nastiest, calorie-counting wives. After a dairy disaster implodes her carefully crafted career in one fell ploop, she finds herself back home in upstate New York, bailing out her hippie mother and running the family diner.

When gorgeous local farmer Leo Maxwell delivers her a lovely bunch of organic walnuts, Roxie wonders if a summer back home isn’t such a bad idea after all. Leo is heavily involved in the sustainable slow food movement, and he likes to take his time. In all things. Roxie is determined to head back to the west coast as soon as summer ends, but will the pull of lazy fireflies and her very own Almanzo Wilder be enough to keep her home for good?

Salty. Spicy. Sweet. Nuts. Go on, grab a handful

     

www.aliceclayton.com

@alice_clayton

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliceClayton

REVIEW

Nuts by Alice Clayton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While reading the beginning of this book, I didn't think it was going to be for me. I'm not a foodie, but the author is very passionate about sustainable farming and organic cooking. Much of the foundation of the story is detail of these areas. At some point I became interested in looking into these practices. It may have something to do with a certain farmer. *wink*

I really appreciate characters who can be down and dirty sexy and at the same time mature enough to handle it. I'm so thankful for no over the top dramatics or unbelievable sex scenes. I like Roxie. She's confident and able to laugh at herself. Leo is a dreamboat. He's from old money, one of the richest families in existence actually, but he chooses to be a farmer instead of maintaining his spot in the socialite world. He can buy anything he wants, but he does his own manual labor in his worn clothes with his calloused hands. He also has an excellent down-to-earth sense of humor. I think that's the biggest draw to both characters. They are real and decent, the type of people a person wants to know.

This is a story about finding the right spot for you in this world. Many people are living and working wherever they landed in life, but these people discover where they are truly meant to be. It's covered in romance, but it's also heavy on personal growth and understanding. I enjoyed Nuts with all of it's sexy innuendos, and I will definitely return to the Hudson Valley series.

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***

FGMAMTC 

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents 

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