Our second guest of the day is author Teri Polen, who is sharing a terrific review of her book, The Gemini Connection. This one ticks all the boxes for folks who love sci-fi adventure and action, combined with unbreakable bonds between brothers. I know you’ll want to share it all over social media. Thanks!
REVIEW:
June 23, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Oh, what a fun read. Sci-fi fans will have a blast with this thriller, but readers who love human stories will thoroughly enjoy this book too. Simon and Evan are twins with a unique connection even though they are strikingly different. Simon is cerebral, a scientist and gentle soul. Evan is a jock with a temper and a painful chip on his shoulder—he’s never been able to live up to his parents’ expectations.
Despite their differences, the brothers are fiercely loyal to each other, and when Simon goes missing, Evan makes it his mission to find out what happened and bring him home. He’s a successful bender, capable of entering the dreams of clients to unblock their memories or fight their nightmares. Their connection and his talent lead the way.
The world-building is excellent, and though “bending” is a bit of a scientific stretch, Polen does a credible job making it feel plausible throughout the story. The pace moves along at a speedy clip, and there are plenty of tight spots and danger.
The story is told in the first-person point of view of both brothers. You might have guessed that I just loved the characters, particularly Evan and Simon. Their relationship wasn’t without its bumps and bruises, but the steadfast loyalty they felt towards each other had me rooting for them from the start. Secondary characters were richly drawn and three-dimensional, as were peripheral players. A great read that I highly recommend.
BLURB:
Planet Tage is dying, and the best hope of saving it is gone.
Seventeen-year-old identical twins Evan and Simon share an extraordinary bond, a trait that’s both useful and invasive. They use their connection in their work at Scientific Innovations. Evan is a Mindbender, someone who enters the minds of scientists to spark ideas, join thoughts, and battle nightmares. Simon is a science prodigy and Tage’s best chance of survival.
Unfortunately, their unusual link often bleeds into their private lives. When Evan discovers his brother is keeping a secret from him, he lashes out and ignores requests to talk, and even pleas for help. By the time Evan tunes back in, he finds their connection severed and Simon missing.
He suffers a terrible case of survivor’s guilt. Moreover, he’s desperate. The fate of the world rests on Simon’s return, and Evan is willing to do anything to get him back—even working with his greatest rival, who also happens to be Simon’s boyfriend.
Evan finds allies among enemies and adversaries among friends. When nothing is as it seems and everything is depending on him, he must explore a dangerous aspect to his twin connection he never knew he had.
If he fails, he’ll lose both his brother and his world.
Buy The Gemini Connection Here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Black Rose Writing
Author Teri Polen
Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium. She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat. Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Visit her online at www.teripolen.com
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Wow, this sounds exciting!
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I agree, Debby! Can’t wait to read it, myself! 🙂 (I’m very fond of books about the bond between brothers. Just ask the Painter boys! 😀 ) I’ve got this one on my Kindle, and hope to get to it soon! 🙂
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That really adds another dimension to make the plot so appealing, doesn’t it?
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Thanks, Deborah!
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A fantastic book, Marcia. Thanks for sharing this review.
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It sure sounds like it, Robbie. Looking forward to reading it! 🙂
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Thanks for the endorsement, Robbie!
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What an awesome review of Teri’s novel. I loved the Gemini Connection. The story was great and her characters were wonderful.
Wonderful share, Marcia!
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I’ve got it on my Kindle, Mae, and I’m looking forward to reading it before too much longer. (SO many books! Arrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggh!!)
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So happy you enjoyed it, Mae – thanks for the kind words!
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The plot sounds innovative and the review is excellent. Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure, Trish! I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
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Thanks, Trish! Diana’s review had me smiling for days.
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I have this one on my TBR list- congrats on the great review, Teri!
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It’s on my Kindle, too, Jacquie. MUST. READ. FASTER! 😀
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Thanks so much, Jacquie – hope you enjoy it!
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Marcia, thanks for much for featuring The Gemini Connection! You’re so generous to share these reviews on your blog.
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Just paying it forward, Teri! So many people have offered support and help to me along this journey, it’s the least I can do. Sharing the love! 😀
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A great review of Teri’s book. Sounds like there is something for everyone in it. xo
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Thanks, Darlene!
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Wow! This sounds like a fantastic book. What a wonderful review. Looks like another for my TBR list.
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There’s a lot of that going around! 😀 😀 😀 It’s already ON my Kindle, and might turn out to be next up. I do have a thing about brothers. 🙂
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Great review! Sharing…
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Glad you enjoyed it, Bette, and thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
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Thanks so much for sharing, Bette!
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OMG, Marcia … you’ve gone and done it now, lol … I simply cannot. even. look. at. my. TBR!!!! But this review is so good, and I love that book cover … arrrggghhh! If I disappear all of a sudden, you know my growling TBR got the better of me, LMAO. Thanks for sharing. Tweeting out the post now 🙂 … ooops, got side-tracked and somehow hit that BUY button, lol.
Good luck, Teri 🙂
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*Harmony, calling out* “HEELLLLP. I’ve ended up beneath my TBR pile and can’t get up!*
*Marcia answering* “Sorry! I’m buried under mine, too, and can’t get up either!”
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🤣🤣🤣
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Sounds like your TBR matches my own, Harmony, lol. Hope you enjoy my twins!
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The brothers in this book went straight to my heart and set up camp there. Love this story, and so glad to see Teri getting some love for it. What a great review!
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Well, that does it. This book NEEDS to be next up! You know my fondness for the unbreakable bonds between brothers, Staci. Now I have no choice but to propel The Gemini Connection right to the top of the pile!
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They did the same thing to me, Staci. Took me so long to be able to move on from this book and start another. Thanks for the endorsement!
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Reblogged this on Books and Such and commented:
Author Marcia Meara very generously loans out her blog for #ShareAReviewDay every Tuesday and featured The Gemini Connection this week. While you’re there, check out her romantic suspense series, Wake-Robin Ridge and Riverbend. Thanks again, Marcia!
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It was great to be able to share this super review with others, Teri, and I look forward to reading The Gemini Connection myself very soon! 🙂 ❤
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Great review and post. Tweeting it out for everyone.
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Thanks, Craig. Glad you enjoyed it, and appreciate your sharing it! 🙂
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Awesome review to celebrate, Teri. Bravo! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Marcia, as always.
Cheers to you both!
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Thanks so much, Natalie! I’m eager to read this one! 🙂
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I was so happy to see my review of Teri’s book get some traction. Thanks so much for the feature, Marcia. And Congrats to Teri, once again, on a wonderful read. 😀
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It’s a terrific review, Diana, and I can’t wait to read this book. I dearly love reading about brothers who share deep bonds, and your comments spurred me to move it to the top of my TBR pile. It’s up next!
BTW, I FINALLY made it to Amazon to leave a review on Sunwielder. It was one of my favorite fantasy reads last year, and I was WAY overdue in leaving one. Sorry for that, but if it’s any consolation, I have a stack of reviews I’m behind on, and at least one series in it is yours, too. ACK! How did my life get so far out of my control?
Thanks for stopping by, and I loved being able to share your wonderful review of The Gemini Connection. 🙂 ❤
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Yay! Thanks for the review, Marcia. They’re gold as you know, so kudos to you for following through. 😀 You made my day. Have a wonderful week ahead.
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My pleasure! I really enjoyed your take on time travel, and it worked so well in that world. I would recommend Sunwielder to anyone who enjoys fantasy, time travel, or just plain adventure! And some of the scenes were epic! 😀 I’m hoping to set up a Review Page here, where I can transfer some of my faves from Bookin’ It (my old review blog). I also want to start adding my new ones as I slowly catch up on them. If I can make this happen in this lifetime, Sunwielder will be one of the first ones!
Have a great Sunday afternoon and a super week ahead! 🙂 ❤
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Well, phooey! I just checked, and Amazon hasn’t put it up yet. 😦 Hope it shows up soon. I left it, I promise! 😉
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❤
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