Futuristic - novella
TBR reviewer: Brutally Honest

I’ve read a book by this author before, two stars, so why did I chose another? Simply - the blurb. It was a fantastic idea of a man cryogenically frozen and waking up to a crazed world with a machine that proves he did not murder his wife. They need him to help repopulate the world but all he wants is to find his sons. 

This world is dark, filled with disease and death. I enjoy futuristic stories that portray such. The Innocence Machine had so much potential. The scenes needed to be fleshed out. Some scenes were perfect with details and surroundings while others had none. There was a twist toward the end that I did not see coming. It really pulled me that much deeper into the  story.

Now to the 3 stars. I thought for sure this would have gotten a 4. There were issues but the majority of the story was entertaining and a really interesting tale. Then we come the conclusion, after the startling twist, there are a bunch of sentences smashed together in some kind of closing. It was a string of thoughts, events, an outline and in no way to be considered
an ending. That, for me ruined the story. It was a jumbled mess and as such was downgraded.

Mystery, thriller - novella
TBR Reviewer: B.H.

The Ghetto is the hottest attraction in Atlantic City, an adult fun house where the frights aren’t supplied by skeletons and goblins popping out of the dark, but by ghetto scenes
played out in front of the audience. When a loud mouth patron and his companion are executed, the audience howls with delight. After all, it was all part of the show. Or was it?

I thought this was such a unique concept. New and dark, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I think it could have been great if only the author and editor knew a little something about POV and head hopping.

Oh my God, I hate head hopping. The author, unless this is their first publication and even then, should know not to head hop. Now if she didn't know, the editor should have! This was such a disaster as far as editing goes and it cut a brutal gash into the story. Then there's all the character introductions, add that to the head hopping and it's a mess.

The bottom line: cool plot, but needs a lot of work.