Beyond Reach by Siobahn Davis - Review and Excerpt



This is my stop during the blog tour for Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 1 till 21 May, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.
 
So far this series contains 2 books: True Calling (True Calling #1) and Beyond Reach (True Calling #2).


Beyond Reach (True Calling #2)
By Siobhan Davis
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: April 30, 2015

Blurb:
Back on Earth, Ariana is caught in a dangerous crossfire between clandestine rebel organization Clementia and the power-hungry government. Refusing to divulge the location of the secret information entrusted to her by her late father, she desperately tries to bargain for her Mom, Lily, and Cal’s rescue. She’s fighting a losing battle, and the clock is ticking.

Presented with evidence of her fiancé Cal’s apparent betrayal, she loyally defends him despite her concerns. With her emotions in turmoil, matters become even more complicated as she grows closer to her ex-boyfriend Zane.

When the stakes are raised, a succession of shocking revelations rocks her world, setting her on a path that will not only change her destiny but the fate of humanity.

Confronted by a memory so abhorrent comes a truth she would do anything to forget.

But some things just can’t be undone.

***

Beyond Reach is the gripping second novel in the True Calling trilogy, continuing the story of Ariana Skyee in the weeks after she arrives back on Earth.

The author is doing something cool this time around with the excerpt from Beyond Reach. Every blogger who has signed on for an excerpt stop will showcase a part of the story when it’s their turn. If you haven’t read the previous part yet, head over to https://booksandashes.wordpress.com/ to check it out and then re-join my blog to continue the story.

Excerpt: 

 As we round the next corner, a shot rings out behind me, ricocheting off the wall, narrowly missing me. “Holy crap! They’re behind us,” I shout out. Jax and Agent Leena fall back as I release Ben and position myself at the edge of the wall. “Can you help Zane with Ben, and Jax and I will hold them off,” I tell Agent Leena. Nodding, she wraps her arm around Ben. Zane’s face contorts inward. 
“I can handle myself, go. We’ll be right behind you.” His expression is still pained, but he subtly nods and continues forward.

“This is nice and cozy, doll,” Jax says, bending down beside me, his body flush against mine. He’s positioned himself at the very corner, effectively sheltering me.

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Focus, please,” I chastise him.

His head whips around, and I gasp. A shot whirrs by us as he pulls back in. “There’s just two of them. We can easily manage this.”

 My mouth is hanging open. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

“No more than you, doll.” He grins as I shake my head. Twisting around, I scout for something to hide behind.

“There,” I whisper, pointing to a grotty-looking dumpster a few yards behind us. We hop up and sprint toward it, taking a corner each. “I’ll aim left; you take the one at the right,” I say. He salutes me with his hand, and my eyes roll heaven-bound of their own accord.

The Rangers are easy targets as they cautiously round the corner. I inhale and then exhale slowly as I fire the round. My aim is bang-on, and the Ranger falls to the ground in a crumpled heap. Jax has adequately dealt with his buddy. It’s never easy to take a life, and I know it won’t sit well with me later, but there’s no time to dwell on it now. We both take off running without delay.


The excerpt story starts on May 1^st and culminates on May 21^st. Make sure to follow each blog to continue the story The Excerpt schedule is as follows:

1 May Natural Bri - Pursuits of Life Paranormal Books 3 May Reading Addict 4 May Kimber Leigh Writes 5 May Word to Dreams 6 May Book Lovers Life 7 May Deal Sharing Aunt 8 May 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! 12 May MichaelSciFan 13 May T's Stuff 15 May Books Tea and Cats 16 May SoulCleverBooks 18 May Books and Ashes 20 May Romance that's 'Out Of This World' 21 May Love, Laughter, Friendship

*******
MY REVIEW
*******
Siobahn Davis does it again!

The first book in the series, 'True Calling' (reviewed on this blog on 15th April) really had me hooked and I was keen to find out what happened to Ari and who out of her two possible suitors she would end up with.

'True Calling' ended on a cliff hanger, and as 'Beyond Reach' opens, Arianna is apparently safe, back on earth with the rebel organizaition, Clementia. However her sister, fiance and mother are still on Novo and she is faced with bargaining for their lives, as she witholds vital information entrusted by her father.

There are so many twists and turns in this story, it almost leaves one breathless (in a good way.) It is difficult to know who Ari should trust, people and organizations who appear to be working for the 'greater good' and who you feel she is safe with, have a tendency to show another side and as the tension builds in the book, so does the excitement, and sense of danger.

The first and third parts of the book are told from Ari's point of view, and the middle is from Zane's.  Having had both points of view in the first book, I found it easier to adjust to the change this time and having Zane's point of view as well as Ari's certainly adds another dimension to the story.

As in the first book, one of the main strengths of 'Beyond Reach' is the characterization, and the author's ability to really make the reader feel they are 'living' the events on the page.  As well as Ari, Zane and Cal, there is a great cast of supporting characters. I still feel Ari is a bit naive, although she has certainly matured in this book, but I find it surprising that she has not yet put 'two and two' together about an event that happened while she was participating in 'The Calling', but there again I could be chasing a red herring myself!  The world building is effective and well drawn and had no trouble visualizing the various locations.

I kept fluctuating between Cal and Zane.  As fast as I felt she belonged with the one, I found myself rooting for the other.  Siobahn Davis has a knack of piling up one question after the other, and just as you think one question has been answered, something happens that makes you wonder if that's really the case. It takes a skilful writer to structure a novel with so many uncertainties, while still making the story flow seamlessly and and in a way that is perfectly believable.  Again the book ended on a cliffhanger, but I was more prepared for it this time and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of 'Beyond Reach' in exchange for an honest and unbiased review


You can find Beyond Reach on Goodreads
You can buy Beyond Reach here: - Amazon
- Amazon UK
- Amazon Canada
- Amazon Australia
- Amazon India
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- iBooks
 
First book in this series:
True Calling (True Calling #1)
By Siobhan Davis
Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction/Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: August 1, 2014

Blurb:
Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17-year-old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase and distressed at her impending forced marriage and motherhood, Ariana’s plans for the future are thrown into complete disarray.

As the traumatic events within her family life enfold, Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her and feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify as the recently announced pageant, ‘The Calling’, gets underway. Struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane, discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.

You can find True Calling on Goodreads

You can buy True Calling here:
- Amazon USA
- Amazon UK
- Amazon Canada
- Amazon Australia
- Amazon India

About the Author:
Siobhan Davis is the author of YA science fiction romance series True Calling.
A self-diagnosed ‘teenager forever’—at least when it comes to books, music and movies; Siobhan is totally addicted to teen fiction and superhero/blockbuster movies. Siobhan loves baking, crime novels, shoes, bags, make-up, anti-wrinkle cream, anything pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and Robert Pattinson (definitely Team Edward).
Siobhan has forged a successful corporate career, in Human Resources, over the last twenty years.
A member of the IWI writers group, Siobhan resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Contact Siobhan at: www.siobhandavis.com

You can find and contact Siobhan here:
- Website
- Author blog
- Book website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Google +
- Goodreads

Sample chapters, quotes, reviews and book excerpts are all available to download from the authors website

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Beyond Reach. These are the prizes you can win:
- 2 e-copies of Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis
- 2 10$ amazon gift cards
Remember - the more blogs you visit and enter on, the greater your chances.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway