Book picks similar to
Ensnared by Katie Hayoz


free-reads
freebooksy-freebees
part-of-a-series
steampunk

The Gifted Ones: A Reader


Maria Elizabeth Romana - 2014
    After Ellie’s frightening encounter with the new boy in town, however, Grace can no longer hide the truth. At first, Ellie is thrilled with her new life and her new, Gifted friends, and even Grace starts to reconsider her lonely existence with so many Gifted men around. But when it becomes clear that Grace’s original fears were not unfounded, Ellie learns that “different” isn’t always better. And sometimes, it means running for your life. The Series The Gifted Ones is an episodic series, with each book running 65,000 to 95,000 words in length (250 to 350 paperback pages). Each episode is a complete story in itself, but leaves “dangling threads” to be resolved in later episodes. The stories are chronological and connected with recurring characters, so you will want to read them in order, similar to many action/adventure/mystery series on television. Content The Gifted Ones series is intended for an audience that is 16+. It is NOT intended to be YA fiction, as it does/will contain some violence and sexuality, but nothing graphic, gory, or explicit. The entire cast consists of characters from late teens to centenarians, whose thoughts, words, and actions are not always "squeaky clean", but the series should be acceptable reading material for anyone from 16 to 106.

R.E.M.: The Hidden World


Corrie Fischer - 2013
    The pivotal mark of adulthood and freedom is at last upon her. However, when cast into a strange land, each answer only births more questions. The most prevailing being: Will she make it out alive?

Trying to Survive (Part 1)


C.J. Crowley - 2016
    Crowley brought me to my knees with this trilogy. And when an author can make me hold my breath, I'm reading a book that stretches my emotions and imagination to the point where I felt like I ran far and fast." "Great series. Now in my top five zombie stories. Up there w/ Mark Tufo, RR Hayward to name just a couple." "Loved this series. The author is not afraid to lose characters so be prepared, but it is realistic and well written." They hunt like wolves. Their speed and strength tear away at any hope for survival, just as their teeth do flesh. The few cursed to maintain their humanity will need more than weapons and clever ideas to escape the gruesome fates attached to even a single mistake. The night it began, all we could do was listen to the chaos. The sirens, car crashes, gunshots and never ending cries for help resonated throughout the neighborhood like a symphony of evil – rising up from hell itself. There was no warning. “Why couldn’t it be like it is in the movies?” *Now professionally edited/proofed* *Paperback now available* 18+ Only - Gore/Violence/Language - Aprrox. 36,000 Words - 150 Pages in print form.

A Shaper's Promise


Karen MacRae - 2018
    They might be Musicians or Artists, gifted with the Elements, like Stone, Light or Air, learn a language in minutes or have Speed, Strength or a million other possibilities. They’re not mutants. They’re not aliens. They’re just extraordinarily talented.One of the rarest gifts is Reading the auras that surround every living thing: understanding the patterns of light that reveal a person’s thoughts and feelings, their very being. The rarest gift of all, though, is the ability to not just Read an aura but manipulate it, control it or even destroy it… to Shape it. It’s no wonder ancient lawmakers decreed Aura Shapers be wiped out or that Shaping is still punishable by death.A Shaper’s Promise begins with Anna. She’s just eighteen and possibly the first Aura Shaper born in The Kingdom in centuries. Her Healer mother's always warned her to never let anyone know what she is, but she's determined to head to Ionantis to try to join the Quorum of Gifted. Fate seems to think she should follow a different path and she soon finds herself embroiled in events beyond her wildest dreams. For there is evil heading towards The Kingdom and Anna's gift might be the only weapon that can save them."An entertaining and exciting tale from a convincing and attractive fantasy world”“The finale is crashingly epic. I read it at the speed of sound. People! This is an excellent read!”“Absolutely loved this book. Cost me some sleepless nights cause I couldn’t drag myself away from it!""The whole concept of this magical world is enchanting. Would thoroughly recommend and can’t wait for the next instalment!!”“The first in a trilogy, that draws you in to a wonderful world of fantasy. Great characters, well thought through plot, page turning.”The Aura Shaper Series is dedicated to the author's friend, Ann Clark, who passed away much too early after a lifetime dedicated to healing others.Please note that Karen MacRae is a British author who writes in British English.

I Believe You


Jeanne Grunert - 2016
    Now he struggles to raise his three sons alone and run the financial empire founded by his outlandish father. One night, a mysterious stranger appears to be watching his home. The next day, $100,000 is missing from his bank account. As David untangles the knot of lies, deception and intrigue surrounding his wife's death, he threatens to shatter his close-knit family forever.

Grave Games


James Hunt - 2016
    Millions of citizens have been thrust into the unknown, breeding fear into the minds and souls of those seeking to survive. Wren Burton, an architect from Chicago, has been engulfed by the chaotic aftermath of an EMP blast. Her family is injured. The enemy is unknown. And help is nowhere to be found. Exiled How far will a mother go to protect her family? Limited water. Limited resources. No help. Brooke Fontanne has to find a way to cross the massive sea of sand that is the Mojave Desert. And with the Southwestern United States now exiled from the Union in wake of the water crisis the entire area is in chaos. Brooke is forced to battle not just the desert elements, but gangs and marauders looking to take whatever they want. Agent Hill  Two years have passed since the GSF nearly collapsed. The mole responsible may have escaped, but he was never forgotten, especially by Agent Sarah Hill. Now, the mole has resurfaced as a mercenary for the world's most dangerous terrorist groups. And when Hill discovers what his next job is, it's a race against time to stop him before a nuclear weapon falls into the wrong hands. But if she has to choose between stopping the bomb, or stopping him, will she be able to keep her finger off the trigger? Terror Rising Texas Border Patrol Agent Angela Gannon discovers a terrorist plot by an ISIS sleeper to unleash a devastating attack. After her partner goes missing, the FBI shows up wanting answers, and Angela must convince her superiors that everything is connected. The clock is ticking, and the terrorists are on the move. Will Angela be able to stop them, or will ISIS succeed in delivering massive carnage to America? In "Terror Rising," everything is at stake.

The Compound


Ben Follows - 2017
    In the small town of Crescent Point, Jake will come face to face with an enemy unlike any he's ever faced before, and with the sins he's tried to ignore. He will discover that sometimes when you dig too deep into the darkness, you find something dragging you further down, and the only escape from the darkness is a desperate scramble toward the light.

Red Clay Girl


Emilie Spaulding - 2016
    When she reaches her unplanned destination, self acceptance, you’ll shout hallelujah!

Twist of Truth


Diane M. Dickson - 2016
    Why he has been away, and where he has been will soon become apparent, as well as why his heart is set on bloody revenge. Simon is soon recognized by figures from the past when he enters a pub and the locals make it known they don't want him around. But when Gloria Bartlett, the owner of the Bed and Breakfast in which he is staying, treats him compassionately, Simon quickly draws her into his plans. What follows is an exciting search for the truth about Simon’s past and a terrible murder of a family member. Yet when the couple get to the bottom of the mystery, they find that both of their lives are in jeopardy. TWIST OF TRUTH is set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Ramstone based in the heart of the moors. It explores the difficult emotional connections between people whose lives have been affected by crime. And as the protagonists get closer and closer to the truth, and the terrible secret that is revealed, it exposes the difference between revenge and justice.

Salt of the Earth


Kate Moschandreas
    Jess Prentiss, a chemistry student, starts her day with a jog through the hills – only to realize that she is being chased. Over the course of three days, she barely stops running. Fleeing from one narrow escape to another, Jess learns that it's her own scientific discoveries that are at the crux of a massive power struggle involving water, salt, cut-throat capitalistic contracts, worldwide famine, the Governor of California and a radicalized populist environmental group. With time ticking, Jess must discover which players are the good guys -- and whether 29-year old Matteo Wu, the man who appears out of nowhere to help her, is someone she can trust with her life and heart.

Blood Eye


Morgan Cole - 2018
    Now he’s facing eviction and the loss of his precious freedom. If he can’t turn things around, he’ll be one of the have-nots living in the brutal Benefits Towers. A friend gives him the opportunity to enter the fantastic Land of Dreams, a state of the art DreamStateVR game, and he jumps at the opportunity. However, the idyllic village of Brunewood seems cursed. Innocent young girls are disappearing and the ill-fated conjunction of the three moons approaches—the Blood Eye. Dark magic will be unleashed, can John and his friends save the villagers from a horrible fate? Blood Eye is a LitRPG/Gamelit novel. There are no harems in this book, and no sex.

The Glare


Anissa Stringer - 2015
    That's Jenna's motto. And it serves her well, even before a strange light blinds nearly everyone on Earth and causes the glare. Not that she minds the apocalypse. Why should she? It's the best thing that's ever happened to her. No more secrets. No more lies, and there's plenty of food, just waiting for her to take it. Best of all, she doesn't have to worry about who to trust anymore. Because almost everyone is dead. Or dying. But there are other dangers in the new world: vicious coyotes, legions of rats, and something worse. Much worse. Someone's out there. Someone else who can see in the glare. Someone she has reason to distrust...and fear. And he knows she's all alone... Grab your sunglasses and get the first book in the thrilling Glare Series now, because the apocalypse won't wait!

Blackthorn


Nate Johnson - 2017
     Petty Officer Logan is tasked with escorting Kaylee Williams through the rough streets of Montlake. Little did he know a simple assignment would morph into a race across the galaxy. If he wants to get her to safety, Miller must avoid pirates, the Imperial Navy, and the hazards of deep space. All while keeping a decrepit starship from blowing up along the way. Kaylee Williams desperately needs to get to Taurus. The future of the Empire rests with the secret information she carries. But can she trust this strange man to help her? But, if she can’t trust a man who repeatedly risks his life for her. Then who can she trust.

Repatriate Protocol


Kelli Kimble - 2016
    But she soon learns that there is another path she can follow.In nearly a thousand years, only a few have seen the outside world, and virtually everyone inside is terrified of it. When Hillary is offered the chance to see it herself, she can’t help but want to jump into the adventure.But it isn’t just a matter of opening a door. Hillary must endure a rigorous education and brutal physical training to get outside. Can she pass through the grueling gauntlet to get outside? And what does she risk if she makes it?Part coming-of-age adventure, part survival horror, and part science fiction, REPATRIATE PROTOCOL is the gripping first installment in THE REPATRIATE PROTOCOL series by Kelli Kimble.

Curtain Call


Ryan Kane - 2018
    Follow the twists and turns as this thriller unfolds in to a thrilling ride of who done it and why. Four years on from moving away from the dangers of New York and Damien is still drifting through life, with a list of ‘to-dos’ that seemed to get longer with each passing day. With a drunken father and overly dramatic mother, who is always threatening to leave, he often prefers to snatch some sleep on his friend’s couch rather than putting up with them. When an old friend, Christa, unexpectedly shows up, bereft at the loss of her friend and co-star in the Broadway show they starred in, Damien is astonished but happy to see her. But she is far from the confident young girl he remembered. Other deaths follow, all of them close to Christa, and Damien becomes suspicious. Is his old friend in danger? Why are people close to her dying inexplicably? Damien is determined to find out what’s going on, no matter what the personal cost will be. Can he get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Christa or will he succumb to the Curtain Call?