Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Baxter and Addison are meant to die, but their love for each other won’t let them choose that future.

In 2134, the United States of America no longer exists as the super power it once was. Americans fight to keep from being completely conquered by their enemies. Scientists have begun to genetically engineer soldiers to fight the war. These men are stronger, faster and more impervious to injuries. The soldiers are created in labs, then once they are birthed, they are shipped to compounds where they are trained from their very first breath to fight.

 

Baxter and Addison are two such soldiers. They are from different compounds, but they serve in the same unit. Baxter isn’t the most intelligent, and he knows it. His job is to kill the bad guys, and not to do anything else. Addison understands his place in the world, but he finds he wants more at times. He doesn’t want just to be a killer. He wants to have some other kind of life, and he’s discovered that he wants his life to be with Baxter.

 

When their unit decides to make a desperate run for the border and freedom, Baxter and Addison only have the certainty of their love to get them through the dangers they are about to face.

 

 

NOTE: This book was originally published by Amber Allure in February 2014.

 

Book Review

‘Hearts on the Line’ focuses on genetically engineered (GE) soldiers who have been bred by the military for superior strength and trained to be the perfect warriors. But as this story shows, there is much more that could happen – after all, the soldiers are still human. And we all know what that means… automatic obedience and a lack of emotions are not part of human nature. In this novel, Baxter and Addison represent two possible types of genetically altered soldier, and that alone gives rise to speculation about how they might deal with each other. But they are also two men who need companionship, maybe even affection and love – and nobody else will give it to them. The story that follows was riveting on many levels, but I was most fascinated by the basic interactions between Baxter and Addison, the way they react to the disdain from “true humans”, and all the consequences that arise and ultimately influence their actions in a way very few people would have predicted.

The back story is a dystopian setting in which the US is no longer a world power and about to be overrun by the United European Army. GE soldiers are used as cannon fodder to try to stop them, and that alone got my hackles up. I mean, they are still human beings, right? And not only have they been genetically manipulated against their will, but they have also been “trained” – read: brainwashed – to be soldiers. The thought experiment of how these people would feel about being treated as inferior may sound futuristic, but their dilemma is that of every human who has ever been made to feel “less” – be it due to their gender, the color of their skin, their religious beliefs, their sexual orientation, the list goes on. A revolt of those mistreated humans is bound to happen – and this novel describes just one of many possible scenarios.

Baxter and Addison may trust each other as much as they do based on fighting together and a slowly forming friendship, but it easily extends into all areas of their lives. The fact that they are also attracted to each other allows them to take their relationship to the next level. They have to hide their feelings at first, but once they decide to make a run for it and their emotions are allowed to grow, love develops quickly. There are some very touching moments between them, and I enjoyed them as much as the more physical expressions of their love that follow later.

If you like dystopian settings, if you want to know what effects genetic manipulations for military purposes might have on the people involved, and if you’re looking for a read full of action, emotion, and an unusual and powerful love story, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 154 pages/56195 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	28-June-2016
Price	$5.25 ebook, $10.49 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/hearts-on-the-line