A soldier, a doctor, and a stark white laboratory full of lies.
Specimen by Shay Savage is NOW LIVE!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SvKxVI
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1SLBgHp
Blurb
I awaken in a laboratory.
I don’t know who I am.
I’m inexplicably drawn to the doctor who cares for me. She tells me I’ve been altered, that I’m stronger and faster, that I’ll be a key component in a war between corporations. She says I volunteered for this. She says I volunteered to be transformed, but I have no way of knowing if what she says is true.
Something isn’t right. My memories have been taken, wiped clean, but dreams begin to slip into my conscious mind. I can’t let anyone know when that happens, or they’ll remove my memories again. Somewhere inside of me, I know I need to remember something important.
I’m fighting a war I don’t understand, and the one woman I rely on can’t be trusted.
Review
Specimen was my first Shay Savage read, and I absolutely loved it. The writing flows seamlessly and the development of the characters is easily shown by their words and actions. One thing I’ve learned from looking at Shay’s list of books is that she creates very unique storylines and makes the oddities work well together despite the fact that they shouldn’t and that definitely speaks to the kind of writer that Shay is.
Specimen is set in a dystopian society where lines have clearly been drawn due to conflicting beliefs as to how society should proceed forward and what things should be deemed most important. It’s a futuristic world that illustrates how advancements in technology can lead to dehumanizing people and turning them into weapons for a cause they don’t know anything about nor would they choose to be manipulated like they are at the hands of those in authority who believe they know best.
The relationship that develops between doctor and specimen, Riley and Sten aka Galen is complex and dangerous, and because it was manipulated from the start, it’s hard to ascertain the reality of what’s been done to Sten and the reasons behind those adjustments, and if the feelings he has for Riley really do exist or if it’s simply a result of these modifications. The fact that the story is told from Galen’s point of view allows readers to deal with his progressions and regressions right alongside him and try to sift through the data and come to the conclusion as to what is true and what are lies.
There are many missteps along the way that Sten/Galen has to work through – some more painful than others, and once he wraps his mind around what seems to be the reality of his situation versus what he’s been told to believe, the stakes get that much higher and the risks prove to leave him with very few options.
Riley plays a significant role in Sten’s actions throughout the entire story, but she also has her own concerns to deal with and because readers are only privy to them through Sten’s perspective, we don’t know if he can trust her or if he’s simply her “lab rat” and a means to advance her position/career as a doctor who can create super soldiers.
Specimen is an incredible look at a futuristic world filled with corruption and the need for power and control by any means necessary. What I find most intriguing about the plot is that it’s not necessarily the government leading the charge for change and putting people’s lives at risk; rather, it’s all due to the economy and which group – Carson Alliance or the Mills Corporation – can control the food supply and make the most profit. Advanced technology and money are two powerful tools for people and their power can be easily abused, which is exactly what happens in Specimen.
Shay Savage has definitely made herself known on my TBR! She’s a great storyteller who weaves steam, suspense, and intrigue together in a way that keeps readers’ interest until the very end and even if they don’t agree with the outcome of the storyline, they cannot deny that the journey there was exceptionally written.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Poison Apples
Excerpt
“That’s why I can’t stop thinking about fucking you.”
Her eyes widen, and she quickly looks away from me. She stands and starts to pull her hand away, but I push myself off the bed and grasp her arm before she can go anywhere. Our bodies touch, and I reach one arm around her back and pull her tightly against me.
I cup her face with my hand and run my thumb across her lips. Her scent is all over me now, and I want to experience her with my tongue. Would her taste resemble her scent or complement it? I have to know.
Pulling her closer, I press my open mouth to hers. Her body stills, and she grips my shoulder with one hand as the other presses against my chest. Her mouth is warm. I can feel her breath as my tongue slides inside. Her taste is indefinable, smooth like sweet liquor I can’t recall ever tasting.
There is a shift inside of her. It can’t be seen or heard, but I can smell it and taste it. The smell of her skin becomes darker, thicker. I feel her flex her fingers on my shoulder as she tilts her head to allow me to deepen the kiss.
How would her scent change if I were inside of her? What sounds would she make when she comes? Would she muffle her cries or be loud enough for all those watching us to hear? How would it feel to come inside of her? What sounds would I make?
I don’t even know if I’m a virgin.
Reaching behind her, I shove whatever is on the side table to the floor, lift Riley up, and set her down on the edge. I grip her hips and pull her against my stomach. The table is too high. I can’t fuck her from this angle. I break the kiss, lift her effortlessly, turn, and drop her ass to the edge of the bed.
“Sten, stop!”
I freeze my actions. My entire body tightens, and my dick throbs in my shorts.
It’s too much. I need this. I need her.
I don’t move.
“You have to let go of me.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and withdraw my hands only enough to release her. I keep them close enough to still feel the heat from her body and detect the shift of air when she moves. She uses her hands to push herself backward on the bed, away from me.
The muscles in my legs shake. I’m so wound up, and I can’t let it go. The tension becomes painful and the need for release so prevalent, I can no longer think. I grip the edge of the bed until my knuckles turn white. As soon as she pulls her legs back and pushes herself off the edge of the bed, on the side opposite me, I grab the bed and throw it, smashing it into the mirror.
I glare at my reflection, and the strange dark eyes glare back at me. The unfamiliar lips are curled up in a snarl, and the unkempt beard creates a frightening image. Everything about the man looking back at me is alien.
Didn’t I just shave last night?
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About the Author
Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves soccer in any and all forms – especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich – and anxiously awaits the 2014 World Cup. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
Stalk Shay Here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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