Guest Reviews: Retribution by Amy Thompson and Broken by M.L. Young

Regan Edison has just moved from California, to enter her first year at Georgia Liberty College, the place where jacked up Chevy trucks and hunting are a way of life. Regan hopes to start a new life for herself and she thinks that Georgia is just the place to do it. That is until she meets an unexpected stranger.

Colter Hayes is a member of the Collectors, a group of wrongfully punished lost souls. Colter and the rest of his team, Finn, Kaiden and Devon, work for the Requiem Council who pass judgment on those souls that are neither tagged for Heaven nor Hell. The Council has charged the Collectors with finding the lost in exchange for a chance at redemption.

When an ex-councilmember known to pass Retribution on lost souls sets his sights on Regan, the Requiem Council dispatches the Collectors to Georgia to work as protectors for Regan. The Collectors must fight to save Regan from a fate they know all too well, but can they work to earn back their chance at redemption or are their fates sealed forever?

Who is meant for Heaven?
Who is meant for Hell?
And who is just lost?

Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Jessica's Review:

3.5 stars. I really liked the idea of this story and the characters were awesome, but the story itself was odd. Some parts were rushed where I felt it should have more detail, and some parts dragged where I hoped it would rush and get to the good part again. I'd happily read the next part, but not sure if pay for it as horrible as that sounds.

Bailey Wrenn is a small town girl with a big back story. Her mother left when she was young, leaving her in the care of an out of touch alcoholic father that barely noticed her existence. After trudging through life with no clear direction, she begins to wonder if she needs to leave this scarred memory of a town behind and finally move on. When Bailey hears from her friend Julie that life in Chicago is great and she should come out sometime, she takes that open invitation, and comes to visit her old friend with no idea of when she’s going to leave.

One night, after Julie drags her from the apartment to see a local fight, she sees Kyle, a mysterious MMA fighter with a winning streak and an elusive personality. He doesn’t talk to anybody after his fights, and disappears faster than Bailey can blink. One day during a chance encounter filling out job applications, Bailey runs into Kyle at his work, and the electricity between them is bright enough to light up the city.

It’s only when they begin to get close, though, that things are turned upside down. An old boyfriend and a brutal and devastating past makes Bailey believe she can’t be close to another man ever again, even if he seems perfect. She feels alone. She’s broken.

HEA and no cliffhanger! This is a standalone novel.

*This book is recommended for readers 17 and up for violence, language, and some adult situations.

Publication Date: April 20, 2014

Jessica's Review:

3 stars. The writing wasn't bad and I loved Kyle, but I didn't really connect with Bailey and the story was boring at times. I'm sorry to say that, I really am, but it was just a bit predictable and knowing what's coming makes it boring.

Thanks to the publishers for copies of these books for review!