Beautiful Experiment

Island of Defiance #1

by January Valentine

Six unruly teens are abducted on their way to a juvie home. Dumped onto an uncharted island. Could things get any worse? Hell, yeah. Hostility and envy run rampant. Throw in some alphas, divas and demons, and what do you have? Beautiful Experiment. Book One of the Island of Defiance Trilogy.

The teens are referred to as waywards, informed their parents have sent them to the island for rehabilitation. While they struggle with their predicament, and each other, they come to a shocking realization ... for once in their lives, they have to follow rules.

Brook has lived on the Island of Defiance his entire life, with no choice but to believe everything he has been taught. As he approaches eighteen, the secret of who he is, and the ultimate fate he must face, begins to unfold. To complicate matters even more, Brook grows to experience something he has never known ... love.

How do you convince a stranger a dreadful mistake has been made? Gabriella Winslow is an honors student who has always helped others, but now has to fight for herself. Something unimaginable wants her as much as the beautiful island boy with whom she is falling in love.

Beautiful Experiment is Book One of The Island Of Defiance Trilogy (paranormal - fantasy - romance - for teens and adults) Mature 17+ for adult language, drugs & alcohol, mild sexual situations & violence.

Genres: Paranormal

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

January Valentine is the pen name of Victoria Valentine, New York writer and indie book publisher. See Victoria's Author page: amazon.com/author/victoriavalentine

I chose to use a pen name because some of my writing is steamy, and I wanted to separate Victoria, who writes contemporary fiction and children's storybooks. Since my birth month is January, January Valentine seemed an appropriate pseudonym.

I also host a blogtalkradio show: Away With Words, every Wednesday evening at 6 PM EST where I interview other writers and poets and discuss writing in general: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aww1

In June, I released my first paranormal romance, Beautiful Experiment, book one of Island of Defiance Trilogy. Wheel Wolf was released on August 20th, and instantly became an Amazon bestseller in Horror/Suspense/Paranormal.

I've written three other novels: Love Dreams contemporary romance, Sweet Dreams in the Mind of a Serial Killer, and Head Over Wheels New Adult romance. All are available on Amazon and other booksellers, or will be shortly in ebook and paperback.

I publish books for other authors through Water Forest Press, which I founded some years ago. In the past I have written poetry and song lyrics, but now I focus on fiction. I've created multiple websites and blogs that I don't have time to manage very well.
My desire to be in a rock band brought me into a recording studio ... where my lyrics sprang to life with the help of a local alternative rock band. Together, we produced a CD.

I enjoy designing book covers and youtube videos. I enjoy hiking and swimming. I love all kinds of music. Watching horror flicks and Tyler Perry movies are my escape from reality.

I have an addiction to engraved pens that I buy to accompany each of my books. My office is filled with paperbacks and swag.

My sites and pages.

http:// januaryvalentine.blogspot.com
http:// www.januaryvalentine.com
https:// www.facebook.com/ AuthorVictoriaJanuaryValentine
https:// twitter.com/ VictoriaSkyline
http:// pinterest.com/ janvicval/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aww1

Reviews

[Ellie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning you can feel the darkness seething. That feeling already brewing that something ain't right. The island sounds great! But you already sense there is more to it than that; something not quite right.
The main character, Brook, and his father, Latham (or isit?), live on this island and work. They have guests, Waywards they call them. Selected people from other lands, other nations, nations Brook himself has never known, he's never left the island. These Waywards have purpose, "and what purpose is that?" I hear ya say! Well you'll have to read it and see heehee.
In other news, this book differently provides you with intrigue and hunger for more. Especially with Brook and his Migraines, I found I just had to find out what these Migraines were all about, not just the purpose of this Island and it's Waywards. Why does he have Migrains? Why does he have this illusions? Are they Illusions? Bwahahahahahahahahahaha :P x x x

[Fiery Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually gave it 3.5 out of 5

Brook is a 17 year old boy who knows nothing apart from being on this island and helping his ‘Father’ deal with the shipment of ‘Waywards’ that would come to the island for rehabilitation.

As the ‘Waywards’ come and go, Brook gets used to listening to his ‘Fathers’ ways on life until he starts to approach his eighteen birthday and a new set of ‘Waywards’ are delivered to the island, who arrive with more than bad attitudes and the desire to escape…

I personally found the beginning of the book to be a little slow as we are shown ‘Father’s’ personality in detail and we are introduced to each ‘Wayward’, along with their annoying, obnoxious ways.

There is a lot of dialogue between the characters (especially the ‘Waywards’), at the start, which leads us from the beach shore (where they depart the boat) to the showers and although I understood that the dialogue helped establish each character’s insufferable personalities, I felt it went on for a little bit too long as nothing was really happening.

My favourite character as to be Brook and I loved his tormented personality. Although he listened to ‘Father’ out of respect for him, he could not brush off that there was something more to the island (and himself) when the noises started to get into his head and his appearance began to change…

There was a realistic build up to the cute romance with winy Gabriella and she opens his eyes that ‘Father’ may not be as honest as he seems.

I was slightly thrown by the consistency of some areas of the storyline, e.g. the introduction to the ‘Waywards’ was long and detailed but there was a very short dialogue between ‘Father’ and Brook about where his mother is. Something so serious and emotional needed a little more anguish I thought, as Brook seemed to accept it immediately.

If you are looking for a book which has strong characters and slow building fantasy mystery - then I would recommend this book for you!

Eva

Disclaimer: This book was given to Fiery Fantasy Book Reviews Site as a review copy and was provided to us in exchange for a fair and honest review. There was no monetary exchange for this review. The free book held no determination on our personal review.

For more YA, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural and Science Fiction reviews (and FREE ebooks), go to: Fiery Fantasy Book Reviews Site

[I ♥ Bookie Nookie (bookienookiereviews.blogspot.com) · Rating 3 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL EXPERIMENT reminded me a bit of the television series, LOST. It has a dark and mysterious vibe to it that urges you to read just a bit more in an attempt to learn more about this mysterious island known as the Island of Defiance these juvenile delinquents have been transported to.

Teenaged Brook has lived on the Island of Defiance for as long as he can remember with a man only known as “Father.” Brook and Father are responsible for reforming the endless stream of hellions that are frequently dumped on the island.

The latest bunch of delinquents, referred to as waywards, are different and Brook senses that from the moment they enter the island. As the story unfolds, emotions run high; bonds are formed and trust is broken. What is the real story behind this mysterious island?

BEAUTIFUL EXPERIMENT is the first book in a brand new trilogy by author January Valentine. This paranormal fantasy is chocked full of mystery, laced with some light romance and promises to be a very interesting adventure if this first book is any indication of how the trilogy will play out.


✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE STARS. 'From the opening pages this one will grab you right away and keep you wanting to find out what is going to happen next! January Valentine is a beautifully descriptive writer and you feel as though you are there on the island, with the wind in your hair and the crisp salt air and the sun kissing your skin, as you get to know each character from the enigmatic 'Father' and his handsome young 'successor' Brook....to the band of waywards who've been brought to the island, each their own unique set of personality traits. This book is not overtly sexual, and yet passionate, real and romantic in its own way, and the story has a very interesting twist as you get further in and discover the secrets of the island itself and that of the reason why they are there....and of the leading man Brook. For anyone looking for a great weekend read with a mysterious and interesting twist, this one may be just the story for you! The ending certainly will leave you craving more, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.'

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Brook has lived on Defiance Island all of his life helping his Father with the waywards. Every year a different set of teenagers are sent to the island for rehabilitation. But this year his Father has put him in charge of the new group of kids. Brook is almost eighteen years old and he has never been off the island. He has never been to the other side of the island either. Brook has no idea what is beyond the wall. All he knows is what his Father has told him and now as Brook is almost an adult he is starting to question his life and who he really is. Is his Father being honest with him? Brook has no idea and no way of finding out. He tries to talk to his Father but all his Father will tell him is that he will have to figure out all the secrets of the island and who he is all on his own. He tells him that everything will be revealed to him in its due time.

This year's group of waywards is are different than any of the other teenagers that have been on the island before. They all claim that they shouldn't be there that they were all on their way to a juvie home. None of the waywards can remember how they got on the island. Brook starts to question everything that he has been taught by his Father after hearing all of the waywards discussing their situation and how they came to be on the island. Some of the waywards are starting to get their memory back little by little.

Brook meets Gabriella one of the waywards whom he starts to experience feelings for; feelings that he has never felt before. Brook is experiencing love for the first time is his life and when it hits him, it hits hard. Gabriella is a good person and student with all A's and tells Brook that she is there by mistake. Gabriella is also having feelings for Brook as well. They start spending as much time together as possible. Gabriella is finding out who and what Brook is almost at the same rate as he is. But Gabriella is not afraid of Brook she knows that he would never hurt her in anyway. The island is changing or is it? Something is after Brook, Gabriella and .the rest of the group that needs them to survive. Can Brook save them all before it is too late? Or will the island take them all?

Beautiful Experiment is one experience you won't want to miss. I felt as if I got to know all of the characters and I really and truly loved them all one and the same. Although you do get a lot of info on whom Brook is you are still left with a lot of unanswered questions. Like what is Brook, who is he? What was is it really like growing up an island and never leaving it? What is on the other side of the island? What do they do on the other side of the island?

If you like a good mystery with a lot of twist and turns that will leave you hanging then Beautiful Experiment is the book for you. I can't wait to read the next book of Island of Defiance Trilogy.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal Paradise

Who wouldn't like to arrive on a mysterious, paradisal island, and be greeted by a gorgeous, half-naked guy who's going to be your caretaker? The six obnoxious teens who can't stand one another and claim they don't belong there, that's who. These are troubled teens. There is a good deal of cursing and vulgarity. If foul language bothers you, you might find this offensive. However, I found it to be tastefully done with authentic and strong dialogue and characterizations. The personalities and problems of each character are well-defined. The story line is awesome. The book begins with a beautifully written description of the uncharted island, and introduces Brook and a man everyone must call "Father", as the two wait for the new arrival of what they refer to as "waywards."

Right off the bat, chaos ensues. When the group arrives, Brook starts having weird experiences, such as hearing voices, seeing shadows, which intensifies as he discovers his paranormal gift. There is yummy chemistry between Brook and Gabriella, but no graphic sex to speak of.

The plot is intriguing, and intensifies as the story evolves. It's not a quick read, but it's very entertaining and engaging. The more I read, the more involved I became in the adventure, mystery, excitement and romance. Valentine has put together a very creative and unusual paranormal romance. Much of the mystery resolves in book one, however, it's still a cliff hanger. A preview of book two is included at the end, which gives you an idea of what you're in store for. I fell in love this book, and can't wait for the next installments. I highly recommend this book to lovers of hot heroes, fangs and claws.

[Shellie_hedge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much I was late getting my daughter from the mall.She didn't care all the more time for her and her boyfriend to spend time together. This book had me wanting to read as fast as I could from the first paragraph. I want to read every book this author ever writes. She will have you from the start of the book all the way to the end. The way she explains her characters and and the setting of the book is just beautiful. I would love to live in a place like this, just not in that type of world. I don't want to be wayward I just want to be able to read my books and talk to authors like this on. I hope everyone else enjoys this book as much as I did. And always post reviews for authors it is a great way to help them out. So to finish this review off. Go buy her book read it you will enjoy it I promise. And then review it for her.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 9.0/10.0

Review: Book one of the Island of Defiance Trilogy was really well written. The scenes felt real, and the emotions did too. There are no actual sex scenes, but there are some romance scenes. The scenery was fantastic, and the dialogue was very well done. You could tell which character is which by the tone given from the dialogue. I’ve not ran across that too often! The plot is very well thought out, and the idea behind the book definitely had me thinking after I put the book down. There were some points where the dialogue produced nothing more than teenagers talking, but in real life, that happens a lot. I liked the ‘real’ feeling from the book.

[Katie Mayo-Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it from the first sentence! The characters are so relateable, and you feel something for all of them. As they say, don't trust what lurks in the shadows. ;)

A must read for all genres! It has action, romance, sexiness, paranormal yumness all rolled into one! I mean if you haven't read this book yet, you need to ask yourself one question.... WHY THE HECK NOT PEOPLE?!

Brilliant storyline and amazing to be first character and a male, my first one, =) I no longer am a book virgin in that department. :) pfft.

In conclusion, read read READ! xoxo

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Beautiful Experiment. I really enjoyed reading this book! This is an intriguing story. There is a lot of conflict and tension throughout the book, as well as romance and mystery. I love the main character Brook. He is down to earth and good hearted but has a strong masculine side and is sarcastic and witty at times. I felt for him throughout the book fighting his deep inner struggles and demons.

[Big Willy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult fan of Harry Potter genre books, I thought I would check out Beautiful Experiment because I had heard good things about it. For the most part, I enjoyed it because the author has a way of drawing you into her characters in a compelling way. There were a lot of interesting characters introduced and a compelling story. I would recommend this book to anybody, not just for teens. The author left the story open, so I hope there are more to the series. Very enjoyable overall.

[January Valentine]

Beautiful Experiment has just been released 6/21. Available on Amazon Kindle - paperback shortly. Amazon Beautiful Experiment

[Carl Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist on the typical paranormal. I thought I knew what to expect, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by the unusual plot. I would definitely recommend it.