November 2017 Group Read # 1 with Guest Author, Michael McBride

[Michael]

Killer review, Elke! Thank you! You rock!

[Kenneth]

42% in and absolutely loving this story! Michael, I'm still in the discovery stage where the assembled team are throwing theories around from what information Richards has shown them. My question to you, how much of the "statistics" used by the various team members would you say are factual and how much are fabricated to make the story work? I've never watched any episodes of Ancient Aliens, because I assumed they were all crackpots, but you're making me want to learn more about this!

[Michael]

Right on, Ken! I hope you do dig a little deeper. I don't know which statistics and numbers you're referring to, specifically, but I can't imagine I would have made them up. My editor would have had my head.

[Kenneth]

Michael wrote: "Right on, Ken! I hope you do dig a little deeper. I don't know which statistics and numbers you're referring to, specifically, but I can't imagine I would have made them up. My editor would have ha..."

If that's the case, then I'm hooked. I must find out more!

[Michael]

Excellent! There's a ton of crazy material out there. You never know what you'll find.

[Adam]

I’m around the same point you are, Ken, and was wondering the exact same thing. Part of me thought some of it had to be made up because if it isn’t then I feel like I’ve been totally brainwashed by conformity. I’m tempted to copy some of the stats that had me wondering here.

[Kenneth]

Adam wrote: "I’m around the same point you are, Ken, and was wondering the exact same thing. Part of me thought some of it had to be made up because if it isn’t then I feel like I’ve been totally brainwashed by..."

I'm right there with you. I've been Wikipedian a ton of stuff so far through this read. I like to think of myself as somewhat of a history buff, but I'm being blown away with my lack of knowledge. I may have to download Season 1 of Ancient Aliens stat!

[Michael]

These are the greatest reactions ever! They totally justify the effort invested into research. Thank you, guys.

[Kenneth]

Okay, Michael. I just wrapped this bad boy up and I have to say that you have my head spinning. What a fantastic read! I'm going to need a day to get my head wrapped around this before I'll be able to post a review. Damn, damn, damn. What a great story! I see that I'm going to have to wait another 5 months before I can get my hands on Forsaken. What kind of cruel torture is this?!?

[Michael]

Heh. Thanks, Ken! You made my night! I'm happy the book worked for you. :)

[Lena]

It worked for several of us. Think about moving up the release date.

[Michael]

I have no control over that, unfortunately. I can't imagine it'll be too long before it's uploaded to NetGalley, though. :)

[Lena]

Sweet. NetGalley, with the firm exception of Harlequin, loves me. Give us a heads up when it’s live.

[Michael]

Will do, although you'll probably know before I do. ;)

[Adam]

Finally got a chance to finish. Five stars all the way! Gonna post reviews tomorrow. Great work, Michael!

[Michael]

Awesome! Thanks, Adam! I really appreciate it!

[Kenneth]

Review is up. Nicely done, Michael. 5 Mishapen Skulls out of 5. Absolutely cannot wait for Forsaken!

Http://kenmckinley.wordpress.com

[Michael]

Great review, Ken! Thank you so much! :)

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

Just started...so, Michael- did you purposely set out to make me envision the planet Hoth from the 'Star Wars' universe during the Prologue, or is that just happy coincidence? --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Michael]

Ha! Happy coincidence. Now that I look at it from that perspective, I can totally see it.

[Robert]

Finished over the weekend - loved it! I had intended to post more here as I read, but I sort of read in bursts as time allowed between copyediting, and chose to read while I was on a roll rather than come here and interact .

I know for some (at least a couple, probably more) of your books you add author's notes at the end for research that didn't make it into the story, for whatever reason, and I have really enjoyed those. For anyone who hasn't read Unidentified, check it out and be sure to read the authors notes if you want to read some REALLY creepy and unsettling stuff. Man, I still get the willies thinking about it!

Anyway, did you make a conscious choice not to do that here, or were you not given the choice? I know there are a number of things touched on here I'd be interested in hearing more about.

[Robert]

Specifically about this book, I loved the characters - really glad we're going to see more of them! They all brought something to the table, and I thought the way they interacted (and often conflicted) really rang true.

(view spoiler)[I admit, down the stretch I was glad to know this was the start of a series, because I wasn't totally sure anyone was going to survive it! (hide spoiler)]

Hard to pick a favorite, but I probably identified the most with Roche. I'm an engineer by trade, and pragmatic to a fault. (view spoiler)[I wanted to cheer when a lot of them were standing around arguing theoreticals, while he kept reminding everyone that it wasn't much going to matter if they didn't do something to keep from getting eaten! :-) (hide spoiler)]

Thanks again for hanging out with us - can't wait to read the next book!

[Kimberly]

Only a few more months until FORSAKEN makes it's debut! (I suggest another author group read!) ;)

[Robert]

That's weird, Goodreads must treat anything inside <> as an html tag and ignore things it didn't recognize. In my first message I tried to add "hangs head in shame" at the end of the first paragraph after the note about choosing reading over posting here, but Goodreads ate it! 😃

And yeah, I second Kim's suggestion!!!

[Michael]

Hey, Robert! Thanks for reading it and posting your review. I really appreciate it. You know how much I value your opinion, so I'm thrilled it worked for you!

And I'm always available for you, Kimberly. :)