The Hands We’re Given by O.E. Tearmann

Title: The Hands We’re given

Series: Aces High, Jokers Wild 01

Author: O.E. Tearmann

Genre: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Futuristic, Dystopian, Transgender

Length: Novel (350pgs)

ISBN: 9781724835499

Publisher: O.E. Tearmann (3rd September 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Aidan Headly never wanted to be the man giving orders. That’s fine with the Democratic State Force base he’s been assigned to command: they don’t like to take orders. Nicknamed the Wildcards, they used to be the most effective base against the seven Corporations owning the former United States in a war that has lasted over half a century.

Now the Wildcards are known for creative insubordination, chaos, and commanders begging to be reassigned. Aidan is their last chance. If he can pull off his assignment as Commander and yank his ragtag crew of dreamers and fighters together, maybe they can get back to doing what they came to do: fighting for a country worth living in. Life’s a bitch. She deals off the bottom of the deck. But you play the hands you’re given.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Aidan is about to embark on his first command and he’s nervous as hell. The Wildcards were the most famous base in the Democratic States Force but since the death of their last Commander they’ve become an unruly force and it’s Aidan’s job to turn them around and make them efficient again or the base will be disbanded.

This is a great story for those who love futuristic/dystopian settings. America’s Government has fallen and seven corporations have taken over, these corporations have their own rules for their territories. Citizens are rated and if you displease those above you then you are dropped down the ranks. Depending on which corporation territory you live in then just being yourself could get you dead.

Democratic States Forces (Dusters) are fighting back the best way they can, but it’s a tough fight that’s lasted for over sixty years. Wildcards are a team who has always succeeded but when their long term Commander dies of cancer the team grieves hard affecting their performance and attitude. Aidan is brought in to repair the team but it’s a tough challenge especially when he’s dealing with his own problems and depression.

We meet the Wildcards and can see the fracturing in their team straight away, Wildcards is a family unit who are grieving for the man who brought them all together, and while they try to keep it together they resent outsiders coming in and ordering them about.  

Aidan finds a home at Wildcards; he’s been rejected at his home base and knows that his life is forfeit if some of the Corporations get their hands on him. Aidan is scared to death of how people will react if they discover his secret, and although he knows it could be dangerous he finds himself falling for Kevin, the logistics officer, and Kevin has his own secrets he’s keeping.

This is a really great story, we see a group heavily affected by the death of someone who was important to them, we see a young man struggling to find a place for himself while whipping them back into shape, we see a romance beginning to blossom, and we see people fighting back against the cruel grip of selfish leaders.

I enjoyed this story, I liked the way that there was a good mix of personal interaction between the characters and the missions they took part in, meaning that neither was overlooked so we become invested in both the characters and their mission to fight against the corporations.

The romance between Aidan and Kevin is perfectly woven, both men accepting the other and their secrets but not making it too easy on either of them. The romance is just a tiny part of the story, because at the end of the day they have much more important things to focus on.

I really liked all the characters and enjoyed seeing them all together; it truly is like a large extended family and with any large family when new people come into it they have to find their own place without upsetting the status quo.

There is danger as they guy’s head out on missions; we also see personal struggles, fears, and anger. 

Just don’t expect to see hands on fighting because these guys are an invisible force, they make raids, help refugees to escape the corporations, and come up with ways to help their forces while disrupting the Corporations as much as they can.

I’d recommend this to those who love futuristic dystopian stories where the oppressed fight back the best way they can, where love is discovered, where a family is rebuilt, and where something precious can be built in a desolate Country.

The Hands We’re Given by O.E. Tearmann Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway!

O.E. Tearmann - The Hands We're Given Banner L

Hi guys! We have O.E. Tearmann visiting today with the tour for their release The Hands We’re Given, we have a fantastic guest post from O.E., a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~ p.s. keep an eye out for my review coming soon!

The Hands We’re Given

(Aces High, Jokers Wild 01)
by

O.E. Tearmann

Mission: Raise some Hell.

Change some minds.

Change the world.

These are the mission files of The Wildcards. Officially Democratic State Force Base 1407, the Wildcards are serving in a new American Revolution. In 2155, corporations run the City Grids for a profit and own their workers body and soul. The Constitution has been relegated to a quaint document. Freedom is just a word in the news vids. But off the Grid and in the shadows, there are people fighting for a change.

The fight begins today.

Will you stand up?

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA ❣️**.•.•.

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grydscaen beginnings by Natsuya Uesugi Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway!

Natsuya Uesugi - grydscaen beginnings Banner 1

Hi guys, we have Natsuya Uesugi stopping by today with his new release grydscaen: Beginnings, we have a fantastic exclusive excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~

Beginnings

(grydscaen 01)
by

Natsuya Uesugi

Faid Callen is tired of life on the run in the Echelons trying to keep his psychic power in check. He founds the Packrats, a group of cyberterrorist hackers. A young powerful Psi Faction operative, Lino Dejarre, is sent on a mission to capture Faid. Wanting to keep Lino under control, the Psi Faction kidnaps his half-brother, Riuho, and they take him prisoner, experiment on him, train him, and subject him to mind control. When Lino is assigned to a high stakes diplomatic mission to reveal a traitor, he finds another psychic operative in play, causing him to question the Psi Faction’s motives. Can Lino rescue his brother before more blood is shed or will Faid step in and destroy the Psi Faction’s plans?

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

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Grydscaen: Dark by Natsuya Uesugi

Title: Grydscaen: Dark

Series: Grydscaen

Author: Natsuya Uesugi

Genre: Dystopian, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Suspense

Length: Novel (268pgs)

Publisher: Pageturner, Press and Media (June 25, 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: A clandestine meet occurs in the Echelons under cover of darkness where Top Secret intel on the stock market changes hands. The insider tip gets the gothic hacker Jester engaged in a high tech game. Parliament votes to lower harsh stock market regulations fueling the Corporation’s bottom line, a payoff from ministers who were propped up by illegal corporate campaign donations.

Ordered by Jester, the teenage hacker Rom infiltrates the largest high volume brokerage house causing wild gyrations in trading. When Jester triggers an insidious stock market payload all hell breaks loose threatening the pristine City. Will Zoon, the leader of the Triumvirate, get roped into the fray? Can Raven, the government hacker, put the cryptic clues together before the market crashes? Find out in grydscaen: dark. Whose side are you on?

ISBN: 978-1643760100

Product Link: PageTurner | paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Let me start of by saying this is the first book in the series I have read. While I was worried I might have missed something the story itself was really good with plenty of mystery, suspense and edge of your seat scenes that are engaging. I loved the characters from Jester to Zoon. The tech in the story was very detailed and intriguing.

There is a lot happening as the story progresses and the suspense of waiting to see what happens was brilliant. I really enjoyed the overall story and was impressed with the way it was written and the attention to the details. All the characters had a role to play in bringing this story to life.

Great read.

grydscaen: dark by Natsuya Uesugi Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hi guys, we have Natsuya Uesugi stopping by today with his new release grydscaen: Dark, we have a fantastic exclusive excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ~Pixie~

Dark

(grydscaen 08)
by

Natsuya Uesugi

A clandestine meet occurs in the Echelons under cover of darkness where Top Secret intel on the stock market changes hands. The insider tip gets the gothic hacker Jester engaged in a high tech game. Parliament votes to lower harsh stock market regulations fueling the Corporation’s bottom line, a payoff from ministers who were propped up by illegal corporate campaign donations. Ordered by Jester, the teenage hacker Rom infiltrates the largest high volume brokerage house causing wild gyrations in trading. When Jester triggers an insidious stock market payload, all hell breaks loose threatening the pristine City. Will Zoon, the leader of the Triumvirate, get roped into the fray? Can Raven, the government hacker, put the cryptic clues together before the market crashes? Find out in grydscaen:dark. Whose side are you on?

Continue reading “grydscaen: dark by Natsuya Uesugi Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway!”