Review: ECHO Academy by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!

ECHO Academy

by Christina Bauer

Dimension Drift #2

Monster House Books

April 28th 2020

YA Dystopian, Fantasy

“Christina Bauer has a gift with sucking you into a story and not letting go until the final sentence is over. This was one of those stories.” – The Book Herald 

Our heroine Meimi Archer has been assigned to attend ECHO Academy. There, the evil Headmaster believes that Meimi will help the government conquer other dimensions.
But Meimi and her friends have some very different ideas. They’re starting a revolution.
That is, if the Headmaster doesn’t find out and murder them first. 

“If you like books set in a dystopian futuristic society then you are going to LOVE Alien Minds.” – The Avid Reader

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MY TIDBITS

Packed to the gills, this is a read which grabs and races forward, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Meimi now attends ECHO Academy, where the Headmaster plans to use her and her friends for his evil plot. That's not what bothers Meimi. Her boyfriend, Thorne, has been forced to the Exile Void, a place where she supposedly can't reach him. Not that something like that can stop Meimi, especially with her two friends backing her up. Meanwhile, Thorne is busy with his father, who wants to take Meimi as his own wife to secure his hold on the throne. And that's just the beginning.

While this is the second book in the series, it slips in after the others have already been released. It fills in several questions, which still were left unanswered and definitely adds to the characters and plot. Especially the plot. There is so much going on in this book, that there isn't a chance to get bored. Each plot has more underlying plots, creating an extremely complicated, woven web. Secrets abound, and the answers hold even more surprises than first appears. Simple is simply not the word for this book. And this makes an exciting read, which rounds off the series in the most unexpected ways.

I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone, since it does smooth out the plot holes and jumps from the rest of the books. But then, this is an exciting series all around, and not one that should be missed.

And here she is...

 

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates 

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Review: Alien Minds by Christina Bauer

Alien Minds

by Christina Bauer 

Dimension Drift #1

Monster House Books

 April 23rd 2019

YA Science Fiction

DIVERGENT meets OCEAN’S EIGHT in this urban fantasy heist!
On my seventeenth birthday, I wake up in the hospital to find I just survived a sketchy but terrible accident. My parents stand by my bedside—both are beautiful, wealthy, and super-nice. They tell me that once I leave the hospital, I’ll attend the prestigious ECHO Academy, where I’ll churn out equations for the government along with my mega-smart peers.
So, I’m living the perfect life.
Then why does everything feel all wrong?
My parents, my house and even ECHO Academy…none of it fits. Plus, what’s up with Thorne, my brooding yet yummy classmate who keeps telling me I need to remember my true past, which seems to have included a lot of us kissing? That’s one thing I’d really like to remember, except for the fact that I’m pretty sure Thorne is hiding a ton of nasty secrets of his own, including the fact that he may not be from this world. But considering how my own past seems alien to me, it’s not like I can judge. Plus, Thorne has dimples. That’s a problem.
And worst of all, why does it feel so yucky to work on these calculations for the government? It’s all supposed to be part of ECHO, but my heart tells me that I’m helping something truly terrible come to pass. Thorne seems to think that kissing him again will release my real memories.
Maybe it’s time to pucker up. 

“Appealing and engaging. Love the strong female character!” – Arlene’s Book Reviews 

This new series is perfect for: fans of urban fantasy, action & adventure, cool science, evil corporations, forbidden romance and hot new classmates who may or may not be aliens.

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MY TIDBITS

This is an easy to read, fun adventure for fans of multiverses, science fiction and a dash of romance.

Meimi wakes up to find herself in a hospital. Her memory is gone, especially of the couple who stares down at her, claiming to be her sponsor parents. But worse, her doctor is the evil government scientist that even her missing memory can't erase from her mind. She has no doubt that something is up, and it no doubt involves her special talents. When she again wakes to find herself in an almost prison-like room, the man finally tells her the secret plans. She is to develop a weapon, which might not even be possible to create, and that in 2 months. Not only that, but the weapon will wipe out several million undesirables, including her own mother. Meimi starts to come up with a plan to stop the madness, but it's almost an impossible task. Especially when there's a hulk of a guard who won't let her out of his sights and he appears to have secrets of his own.

I read the two prequels of this series before hitting this novel, and I highly recommend other readers to do the same, since the backstory is necessary to fully dive in and enjoy this book.

Action sits front and center in these pages, keeping descriptions short and excitement high. Meimi is a wonderful heroine. She has a heart of gold, is willing to do about anything for what she thinks is right, doesn't put herself first, and is a super amazing scientist. It's refreshing to see a kick-butt heroine who can be qualified as such thanks to her mind. And this doesn't kill her spunk or sass by any means. While the scenes are packed full of action and tension, humor flows right along with it. It's easy to notice that the author had fun writing this tale.

The writing isn't deep but allows the story to simply come across in all of its adventure and fun. There is just enough character depth to draw in, but this isn't a book about deep thoughts and emotions. Although...there are definite sparks flying, at times. The romance is there, and while it's a bit of love-at-first-sight, this doesn't quite describe it either. There's enough tension and surprises on this end to keep those pages turning as well. More secrets unravel as the problems increase, and while some things are wrapped up by the end, enough new troubles arise to guarantee that this series won't fall into the trap of becoming a bore. In other words, I can't wait to see where this series goes next.


And here she is...

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates 

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Review: Umbra by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!

UMBRA

by Christina Bauer 

Dimension Drift Prequels, #2

Monster House Books

March 26th 2019

YA Dystopian, Fantasy

A prequel novella to the new series from USA Today’s ‘must read YA paranormal romance’ author, Christina Bauer.
One day, eighteen-year-old Thorne will be the Emperor of the Omniverse, the single being who rules countless worlds. Trouble is, his father Cole–who’s also the current Emperor–is a sadistic freak.
In fact, Cole won’t even keep his promises to the very humans who got him his throne.
Thorne won’t stand for it. He decides to travel to the human world and make good on his father’s promises. What he doesn’t count on is falling in love….
“I love how Bauer manages to add some awesome new world building to each of her books.”– Woven Magic
This new series is perfect for: fans of urban fantasy, action and adventure, cool science, evil corporations, forbidden romance and hot new classmates who may or may not be aliens.

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MY TIDBITS

This is an easy read story, which is fun to get lost in and enjoy every action-filled moment.

Thorne is the third son to the Emperor of the Omniverse, and in a constant fight to prove himself. Unfortunately, his father is no longer the man he once was and has become a jerk. When the human who helped put Cole on the throne begs for help, the Emperor refuses her. So Thorne goes against orders and sneaks off to the reality of Earth where she resides. There, he not only learns what she wants him to do but meets one of her daughters. And the impossible happens.

I'm not always a fan of prequels, but in this case, they do a terrific job at setting up the background and atmosphere for the first novel in the series...one I can't wait to get my hands on. The read is fairly short, which is too bad. Once the story gets going, it's impossible to put down and left me wanting to know more and immediately grab up the official first novel in the series. Thorne gains immediate sympathy but isn't really the outcast either, which is refreshing. He might have to battle harder than his brothers for any recognition, but he holds his own when he has to. He's not arrogant, nor does he expect the throne. Plus, there's a wonderful sense of brotherly support which is especially great to see considering his father's sour personality.

The writing is fairly simple and keeps this at an easy to read level, but that works wonderfully with this tale. It's the type of book to dive into and expect a fun adventure with interesting characters, while not getting bogged down on the literary end. And still, the author manages to add the right amount of character depth and world building to draw in and feel connected to every scene. Fans of science fiction, inter-dimensional battles, and power plays for thrones and intrigue are sure to enjoy this one.

And here she is... 

 

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates 

Blog / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

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Review: Scythe by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!

Scythe

by Christina Bauer 

Dimension Drift Worlds, #1

April 24th 2018

YA Dystopian, Fantasy

“Fans of A Wrinkle in Time can’t missDimension Drift!” – Christina Trevaskis, The Book Matchmaker

Truth time. I go to a Learning Squirrel High School. Don’t judge.
On second thought, judge away. Learning Squirrel is one step above attending class in a junkyard. But what do you expect? Everything’s made out of garbage these days. At least, I have my freelance work to keep Mom and me housed, clothed, and fed. How? I’m your regular high school science geek for hire, except my work manipulates space-time. The good news is that these gigs pay really well; the bad news is that the government likes to kill people like me. Whatever. I’m not worried; hiding from their detection systems is easy for me.
Then I screw up one of my illegal projects. Badly.
In fact, things go so sideways that my house slips into two-dimensional space-time. The shift only lasts for a few seconds, but that’s long enough to set off a dozen government alarms. If those goons track me down, Mom and I are as good as dead. Long story short, I need to pay someone off, hide the evidence, and keep us safe.
Unfortunately, that means asking the Scythe for help. He runs the local underground crime scene and has absolutely no conscience…Or at least, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t. It’s hard to think straight when a guy’s that hot in an ‘evil Mafioso kingpin’ kind of way. Most importantly, the Scythe is a crime lord who can conceal my slip-up with a few clicks on his minion’s computer keyboards. But the man has his price. In this case, the Scythe wants me to finish a certain dimensional prototype for him in twenty-four hours. I can do it, but it might mean Learning Squirrel High gets blown up in the process. Oh yes, and there’s also my new hot classmate who may or may not be an alien…and he says he’ll do anything to help me.
This job won’t be easy, but I’ve gotten out of worse scrapes. Maybe.

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MY TIDBITS

After reading the blurb, I was excited to get my hands on this one. It was even better than I expected.

Meimi is about sixteen years old and a genius. Too bad, she can only use her talents to create devices for the black market, since it's the only way to keep her mother alive. Thanks to her mother's mental illness, she's been placed on the government's to-be-exterminated list. Meimi makes sure the two of them live off grid, but it's not easy. While semi-stealing parts for her latest order, Meimi runs into more than a little trouble, and she finds herself mind-melding with the government's latest killing beast. It could be a dream just like the ones she has about a hot alien guy...but as things get weirder and more dangerous, she begins to question more than her sanity.

This is a book for multi-universe, science fiction, action, teen romance and imagination fans. Meimi is a tough girl...not overly so, though. And it's this which makes her enjoyable. She's a genius in her area—dimension drifts—but she's social null and more than awkward. Plus, she's not a kick-butt heroine like often found in these novels. Her talent is simply her brains. And heart. Her sass is heavy but it fits very well to her situation and background. Plus, she's aware that she doesn't know everything and can't handle every situation. It's easy to like her and connect with her.

Imagination hits science fiction hard and creates a rich, fun world. There's a dash of dystopian which makes for an interesting mix with the multi-universes and dimensions. Not everything is scientifically sound...not even close, but that's also not the point. There is a ton of fun in these pages, and it's a fantastical dive into Meimi's amazing devices and the shifting of dimensions and creatures. The criminal/mafia add-on gives a nice touch as does the problems Meimi faces with her family situation.

The romance hits fast (as is often the case in young adult novels) and that was a little disappointing. But at least, the author makes sure to give a solid reasoning behind the almost 'instant' love in wonderful science fiction style.

This isn't a literary wonder but an enjoyable read to get lost in and an adventure with tons of thrills. I'll be continuing with this series to see what happens next.

And here she is...

 

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!

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Sneak Peek: Dimension Drift by Christina Bauer with Giveaway

Dimension Drift 

Dimension Drift Worlds, #1

by Christina Bauer

Monster House Books

Publication date: April 24th 2018

YA Dystopian, Fantasy

“Fans of A Wrinkle in Time can’t miss Dimension Drift!” – Christina Trevaskis, The Book Matchmaker 

Truth time. I go to a Learning Squirrel High School. Don’t judge.
On second thought, judge away. Learning Squirrel is one step above attending class in a junkyard. But what do you expect? Everything’s made out of garbage these days. At least, I have my freelance work to keep Mom and me housed, clothed, and fed. How? I’m your regular high school science geek for hire, except my work manipulates space-time. The good news is that these gigs pay really well; the bad news is that the government likes to kill people like me. Whatever. I’m not worried; hiding from their detection systems is easy for me.
Then I screw up one of my illegal projects. Badly.
In fact, things go so sideways that my house slips into two-dimensional space-time. The shift only lasts for a few seconds, but that’s long enough to set off a dozen government alarms. If those goons track me down, Mom and I are as good as dead. Long story short, I need to pay someone off, hide the evidence, and keep us safe.
Unfortunately, that means asking the Scythe for help. He runs the local underground crime scene and has absolutely no conscience…Or at least, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t. It’s hard to think straight when a guy’s that hot in an ‘evil Mafioso kingpin’ kind of way. Most importantly, the Scythe is a crime lord who can conceal my slip-up with a few clicks on his minion’s computer keyboards. But the man has his price. In this case, the Scythe wants me to finish a certain dimensional prototype for him in twenty-four hours. I can do it, but it might mean Learning Squirrel High gets blown up in the process. Oh yes, and there’s also my new hot classmate who may or may not be an alien…and he says he’ll do anything to help me.
This job won’t be easy, but I’ve gotten out of worse scrapes. Maybe.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

SNEAK PEEK

Nothing like waking up at the butt-crack of dawn to find your mother standing over your bed holding a thermos, moldy picture frame, and plastic bust of Albert Einstein.
That wakes me up, fast.
This whole thing is a shocker because for the last year, Mom’s been doing nothing but staring out the window, hoping my older sister, Luci, will come home. Such a disaster. Back in 2611, Luci ran off with her high school beau, Josiah, saying they wanted to start a new life somewhere that wasn’t Western New Massachusetts. For the record, I don’t blame my sister for leaving. Mom isn’t exactly the poster girl for stable parenting. And Josiah is a nice enough guy. You know, in the way that vanilla is a nice enough flavor.
That said, Luci only left us a quick note on the kitchen table the day she took off. Since then, my sister hasn’t sent us any word. Mind you, this is the same Luci who couldn’t go six hours without talking to Mom. Now, twelve months go by without so much as a peep? That’s not Luci.
Long story short, Mom and I are both pretty worried.
We just show it in different ways.
Mom holds up the bust of Einstein and stares at me wild-eyed. She doesn’t say anything, but that’s pretty typical. After Luci left, my mother’s routine has been pretty predictable.
Bed to window.
Window to bed.
No talking.
A little eating.
Not much sleep.
But now, Mom’s out of her chair with a vengeance. Plus, she’s even wearing one of her old lab coats from her researcher days. The frayed insignia of “United Americas” is still visible on her pocket protector. We’re not even supposed to know the name of the United Americas anymore, let alone save themed clothing. My high school teaches us that the only government that’s ever existed are the sickos in power today: the Righteous Command and Ultimate Authority. Mostly, we call them the Authority.
So what’s Mom doing in her old lab coat? Tons of scenarios skitter through my head. Most of them end with Mom getting trucked off to a mediprison. The Authority strives for purity in all things. Any signs of what they call mental weakness, and the Authority declares you an enemy of the state, and you disappear.
At this moment, the words total panic pretty much sum up my life. “What’s wrong, Mom? It’s four a.m.”

And here she is. . .

 

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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Cover Reveal: Alien Minds by Christina Bauer with Giveaway

ALIEN MINDS

Christina Bauer

Dimension Drift, #1

Monster House Books

November 27th 2018

YA Science Fiction

Meimi Archer is living the perfect life. Too bad it isn’t hers.
On my seventeenth birthday, I wake up in the hospital to find I just survived a sketchy but terrible accident. My parents stand by my bedside—both are beautiful, wealthy, and super-nice. They tell me that once I leave the hospital, I’ll attend the prestigious ECHO Academy, where I’ll churn out equations for the government along with my mega-smart peers.
So, I’m living the perfect life.
Then why does everything feel all wrong?
My parents, my house and even ECHO Academy…none of it fits. Plus, what’s up with Thorne, my brooding yet yummy classmate who keeps telling me I need to remember my true past, which seems to have included a lot of us kissing? That’s one thing I’d really like to remember, except for the fact that I’m pretty sure Thorne is hiding a ton of nasty secrets of his own, including the fact that he may not be from this world. But considering how my own past seems alien to me, it’s not like I can judge. Plus, Thorne has dimples. That’s a problem.
And worst of all, why does it feel so yucky to work on these calculations for the government? It’s all supposed to be part of ECHO, but my heart tells me that I’m helping something truly terrible come to pass. Thorne seems to think that kissing him again will release my real memories.
Maybe it’s time to pucker up.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

And here she is. . .

 

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Stalk Christina on Social Media – She Loves It!

Website / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

GIVEAWAY!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway