Michelle Lynn

There are plenty of story summaries already written so I will go ahead with my review. I read this book from the viewpoint of an editor. I think the overall story idea is a good one. However, there are some flaws in execution which I will outline here.

- lack of character development. I made no real connection to the girls, Gabby & Dawn. An emotional connection must be set early and strong if a reader is to truly bond with the main characters. In my opinion, the author spent too little time show more developing Gabby & Dawn's character early in the novel. E.G. in paranormal fiction an author must "establish the normal" before "violating the normal." In the case of Dawn of Rebellion I felt little empathy for the main characters before the action & plot move forward.
- Backstory was implemented in the wrong places making the story unbelievable and superficial at times
- The pacing was too fast. A novel should be teased out like a marathon not thrust into a sprint from start to finish.
- The author too often breaks with dialect
- The character evolution/arc needs to be "sold" not told. A reader must witness these changes otherwise it feels merely contrived. Subtlety, done well, often hits the target more accurately than direct telling.

I still believe the author has a good story idea. Other than issues with dialect, her technical skills are solid. She also ups the stakes at appropriate times/intervals and allows the reader to get inside the characters' heads, not always in the right place at the right time but it is there. With some wide-angle, big-picture changes & the addition of teases at appropriate intervals this could be a good story. show less

This book was built on the foundation of a clever concept. What used to be the United States has been turned into a dumping ground where the British stick their "criminals." The main characters Dawn and Gabby are sisters. Gabby finds herself dating a guy with a powerful father that doesn't take kindly to his son dating a girl "below his station" so he arranges her to be sent to a slave camp. Dawn boards a cargo plane and the rescue is on.

The author was very good with her setting show more descriptions: not too much, but enough for the reader to get a vivid picture of the characters' world. I could picture the ruins of America in my mind very clearly, and she didn't have to describe every leaf on every tree to make that happen. I would have liked to see more of a differentiation between Gabby and Dawn. Their voice tones seemed to be very similar to one another.

A very entertaining read, which left on a cliffhanger. Will be waiting to see what happens to Dawn and Gabby next! show less

3.5 stars

I liked Rounding third, but I had a couple of problems with the characters and the story. After finishing the book I am still not able to say that I understand what exactly happened that fateful night. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into details. I think I understand it, but I am not sure. Maybe I should stop reading at night. I liked the pace and the story for most of the book even if the heroine had a boyfriend. After a point, though I felt as if the story dragged show more and I was not satisfied with the way the book ended. If I recall correctly Brad's book is next so I will see Crosby and Ella and I will hopefully find what this book ending was missing. This story is your typical second chance romance. It didn't blow my mind, but it was a nice way to spend my day. I didn't connect with the characters who were trying to live their life after everything that happened. The characters are attending college and everyone around them was partying and having random hook ups. Ella because she had a boyfriend and Crosby because he wanted Ella were different from the rest if them since they were focused on each other and it made me feel weird. I would like to read Ariel's story. She and Spencer were the characters I liked the most. show less

This is a great story which will surely be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
I should begin by stating that I received a free copy in return for a honest review.
The first thing to catch my attention was the title; very evocative and a promise of thrilling entertainment which thankfully materialised.
The apocalypse has come and gone, and the USA is the new Botany Bay where two sisters, Dawn and Gabby, must find each other and battle to survive. A story of twists and turns is told from several show more viewpoints, but it is all penned beautifully by the author and keeps the novel fresh and entertaining. The pace is good and the characters engaging and realistic. You can't help but root for them. There's a cliffhanger ending which certainly leaves the reader wanting more, but this is only the first instalment I'm told so fear not. If you're looking for a good read to get your teeth into, something original and thought provoking, this novel might just be for you. show less