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Cyborgs: Mankind Redefined #1
Peyton 313
Worst epic fail of her scientific career? Falling for a cyborg she helped create.
Kyra Winters never meant for her cyber science discoveries to be used for evil, but that’s exactly what happened. Now returning Peyton 313’s humanity is the last chance she’ll ever have to atone. She can’t get back the lost decade, but she can change the present by restoring the cyborg who was once Marine Captain Peyton Elliot.
Certainly her grand plan for rectifying her mistakes didn’t include madly kissing the confused, passionate Marine when he begged her to. The same scientific mind that constructed the cyborg creator code now warned her not to let Peyton’s tempting offers of heaven cloud her rational decision making. Yet it’s difficult to resist the cyborg she’s restoring when he’s also the most intriguing man she’s ever known.
Kyra Winters never meant for her cyber science discoveries to be used for evil, but that’s exactly what happened. Now returning Peyton 313’s humanity is the last chance she’ll ever have to atone. She can’t get back the lost decade, but she can change the present by restoring the cyborg who was once Marine Captain Peyton Elliot.
Certainly her grand plan for rectifying her mistakes didn’t include madly kissing the confused, passionate Marine when he begged her to. The same scientific mind that constructed the cyborg creator code now warned her not to let Peyton’s tempting offers of heaven cloud her rational decision making. Yet it’s difficult to resist the cyborg she’s restoring when he’s also the most intriguing man she’s ever known.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2014
260 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Donna McDonald
151 books602 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author
I am an active dreamer and find writing to be the best way to use my creativity. Needing to satisfy both sides of my brain, I have become a cross-genre author of contemporary, romantic comedy, fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romances.
I feel blessed that my books appear on bestseller lists for humor, romantic comedy, space opera, and more. I crave laughter from all my readers and focus my attention on making that happen as often as possible.
I love to hear from anyone who has read my books. Each reader is a hero or heroine to me. I am inspired by you.
I am an active dreamer and find writing to be the best way to use my creativity. Needing to satisfy both sides of my brain, I have become a cross-genre author of contemporary, romantic comedy, fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romances.
I feel blessed that my books appear on bestseller lists for humor, romantic comedy, space opera, and more. I crave laughter from all my readers and focus my attention on making that happen as often as possible.
I love to hear from anyone who has read my books. Each reader is a hero or heroine to me. I am inspired by you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 8, 2017
3 Evil Scientist Stars
Mild Spoilers
Peyton 313 the 1st book in the Cyborgs-Mankind Redefined series was a pretty good read. I have never read any books like it before with the whole Cyborg plot so that was cool and got me intrigued. I have also never read any book by Donna McDonald and for the most part I enjoyed her writing style. I really only had two problems with this book that made it the 3 star rating for me.....
1. Kyra cried all the time My God the woman bawled! I get that she feels bad, hell I understand she feels guilt and I could understand a few tears but damn!
2. The story slowed down at like the 30% mark and didn't really pick up until the 75% mark so there was some dragging going on.
Peyton I loved. He really made the book for me. He was sexy, funny, and he stood out from other heroes I have read. I liked Kyra okay she had moments of sass, and she could be brave and good but she just cried at a drop of a hat and it was a little annoying. She was also really good at having pity parties for herself. Blamed herself for everything. I felt that Peyton and Kyra had a great connection and lots of passion, but I was a little thrown off by the age thing. Kyra is 52 and Peyton was 40 something but looked 25? I didn't really get a good mental picture of the two of them. One minute it would say Kyra didn't look a day over fifty and the next it would say people live to 150 and that 50 was middle age, then it would say she looked older, then that she was in good shape. I was confused. Because there wasn't clear details on Kyra or Peyton's looks and because I never could picture them in my head they never felt real to me.
The plot of evil mad scientist turning cyborg soldiers into mindless robot slaves was a good one. It really hooked me. I really did like the layout of the world the story was set in. I really liked the other cyborg soldiers in this book especially Marcus. I am looking forward to Marcus's book he was so sad I just want him to get his HEA. I think this book, though it had a few problems, was a good start to a series.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Mild Spoilers
Peyton 313 the 1st book in the Cyborgs-Mankind Redefined series was a pretty good read. I have never read any books like it before with the whole Cyborg plot so that was cool and got me intrigued. I have also never read any book by Donna McDonald and for the most part I enjoyed her writing style. I really only had two problems with this book that made it the 3 star rating for me.....
1. Kyra cried all the time My God the woman bawled! I get that she feels bad, hell I understand she feels guilt and I could understand a few tears but damn!
2. The story slowed down at like the 30% mark and didn't really pick up until the 75% mark so there was some dragging going on.
Peyton I loved. He really made the book for me. He was sexy, funny, and he stood out from other heroes I have read. I liked Kyra okay she had moments of sass, and she could be brave and good but she just cried at a drop of a hat and it was a little annoying. She was also really good at having pity parties for herself. Blamed herself for everything. I felt that Peyton and Kyra had a great connection and lots of passion, but I was a little thrown off by the age thing. Kyra is 52 and Peyton was 40 something but looked 25? I didn't really get a good mental picture of the two of them. One minute it would say Kyra didn't look a day over fifty and the next it would say people live to 150 and that 50 was middle age, then it would say she looked older, then that she was in good shape. I was confused. Because there wasn't clear details on Kyra or Peyton's looks and because I never could picture them in my head they never felt real to me.
The plot of evil mad scientist turning cyborg soldiers into mindless robot slaves was a good one. It really hooked me. I really did like the layout of the world the story was set in. I really liked the other cyborg soldiers in this book especially Marcus. I am looking forward to Marcus's book he was so sad I just want him to get his HEA. I think this book, though it had a few problems, was a good start to a series.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
December 28, 2023
Cyborg super-soldier gets his humanity restored!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🖤💚💖
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 😟🤭😤😘
The heroine: Dr. Kyra Winters - She was one of the scientists whose work in cybernetic engineering helped to create the first cyborgs. They were military men who volunteered to be enhanced with cybernetics in order to create super-soldiers who could help win the last world war. However, since the end of the war ten years ago, the shady Norton Industries and the unscrupulous world government (UCN) have betrayed those same soldiers by claiming they were no longer human and selling them as cyber husbands to the wealthy. Kyra regrets her part in all that and seeks to do something to help those that have fallen victim.
The Hero: Peyton 313 (a.k.a. Marine Captain Payton Elliot) - He has had 10 wives since he was turned into a cyber husband. All but one of them have returned him for his rebellious nature. He did like wife #6, who just wanted him as a companion, though she fell in love with a fully human male and returned Peyton. Peyton’s rebellions are due to the fact that he has been recovering memories from his former life and working on his internal processes to be able to keep those memories. He had been creating neural pathways between his organic brain and his cybernetics.
The Story: Kyra was working to release Peyton from his cybernetic chains by destroying his main processor and some of the upgrade chips he was given, including torment chips which were basically chips that caused him pain if he didn’t follow orders given to him by his owner or the scientists at Norton Industries.
What was kind of cool about this book was the fact that having Peyton’s memories and emotions restored and then restarting the connections to his data banks which held everything that happened to him since the war ended and his humanity was basically turned off was so similar to what Neo went through in the Matrix and the dilemma it causes. Such as would it be better to be left alone, in a place where you didn’t have emotions and didn’t really know what was going on and the fact that you had no choices, or would you rather see the matrix for what it is and know that your world really sucks. Peyton is now seeing the Matrix and knows that instead of honoring him for his extensive military service, his government made him a robot and a slave that didn’t even realize what was going on. It’s a heck of a wake-up call to know how badly he had been betrayed.
What I didn’t like about this book was the fact that Kyra was in her 50’s. I know it was set in the future and lifespans are much longer than they are today. They said something like 150, but the way she described herself, it seemed that a 52-year-old in the future still looks like a 52-year-old does today. I am a few years older than that and I don’t want to read about a heroine that is my age. My romance fantasies are best when the heroine is 25-35 years old. That was when I was at my best, so it is what I like to imagine for my heroines.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🖤💚💖
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 😟🤭😤😘
The heroine: Dr. Kyra Winters - She was one of the scientists whose work in cybernetic engineering helped to create the first cyborgs. They were military men who volunteered to be enhanced with cybernetics in order to create super-soldiers who could help win the last world war. However, since the end of the war ten years ago, the shady Norton Industries and the unscrupulous world government (UCN) have betrayed those same soldiers by claiming they were no longer human and selling them as cyber husbands to the wealthy. Kyra regrets her part in all that and seeks to do something to help those that have fallen victim.
The Hero: Peyton 313 (a.k.a. Marine Captain Payton Elliot) - He has had 10 wives since he was turned into a cyber husband. All but one of them have returned him for his rebellious nature. He did like wife #6, who just wanted him as a companion, though she fell in love with a fully human male and returned Peyton. Peyton’s rebellions are due to the fact that he has been recovering memories from his former life and working on his internal processes to be able to keep those memories. He had been creating neural pathways between his organic brain and his cybernetics.
The Story: Kyra was working to release Peyton from his cybernetic chains by destroying his main processor and some of the upgrade chips he was given, including torment chips which were basically chips that caused him pain if he didn’t follow orders given to him by his owner or the scientists at Norton Industries.
“There is no universe in which it is fair that such a strong, good man’s free will should be thwarted by a few simple spoken words in his ear. Further apologies for my part in this would only be redundant. However, I remain incredibly ashamed of myself for not acting sooner to rescue all cyborgs from this unnatural fate.”
What was kind of cool about this book was the fact that having Peyton’s memories and emotions restored and then restarting the connections to his data banks which held everything that happened to him since the war ended and his humanity was basically turned off was so similar to what Neo went through in the Matrix and the dilemma it causes. Such as would it be better to be left alone, in a place where you didn’t have emotions and didn’t really know what was going on and the fact that you had no choices, or would you rather see the matrix for what it is and know that your world really sucks. Peyton is now seeing the Matrix and knows that instead of honoring him for his extensive military service, his government made him a robot and a slave that didn’t even realize what was going on. It’s a heck of a wake-up call to know how badly he had been betrayed.
What I didn’t like about this book was the fact that Kyra was in her 50’s. I know it was set in the future and lifespans are much longer than they are today. They said something like 150, but the way she described herself, it seemed that a 52-year-old in the future still looks like a 52-year-old does today. I am a few years older than that and I don’t want to read about a heroine that is my age. My romance fantasies are best when the heroine is 25-35 years old. That was when I was at my best, so it is what I like to imagine for my heroines.
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February 11, 2016
I found that I liked a lot of things about this book. It’s a futuristic sci-fi romance with a military cyborg hero and an older scientist heroine. I liked the premise and I liked the dynamic of this unusual enemies to lovers romance. The story isn’t perfect; I did have a few issues, but overall, I enjoyed the read.
This story follows the efforts of a brilliant scientist who is trying to atone for her past sins. Kyra helped develop the technology that turned soldiers into cyborgs to help end the war. Only, once the fighting was done, no one knew what to do with the enhanced men who still held so much power. So the government took away their free will. They enslaved the men as “Cyber Husbands” to the highest female bidders, while telling the world there was really nothing left of the men’s humanity to save. Kyra knows that’s a lie and she is determined to help the soldiers get their lives back, one man at a time.
She is hoping that with Peyton, the third time is the charm. He is actually the third Cyber Husband she has purchased, with the intention of disrupting his programming. It didn’t end well with the first two. But with Peyton, she has a better plan. She fully expects her new “husband” to hate her, and once he regains enough humanity to realize what’s happened to him, she isn’t exactly his favorite person. But there is an undeniable attraction, despite all of his righteous anger. And it only grows as he recovers from all he has endured.
I liked Peyton, his flirtatiousness and his sarcasm. He is sexy and he knows it. But while I didn’t dislike Kyra, I didn’t love her. I understand that her guilt motivated her, but there were times I felt like I was drowning in it. She cried all the time. She was so full of self derision and flagellation that I truly questioned how Peyton could want to sleep with her. I’m glad she has a conscience and all, but it was a lot. Then once you throw in the trauma she endured at the hands of her ex husband and it was hard to feel the heat sometimes.
There is action to help keep things moving. The other scientists are after Kyra for messing up their plans and she is on the run from them as she and Peyton work to bring in more soldiers. It was engaging, but the villain was a bit predictable and more than a little over the top. The book moves quickly, though, and I liked the sci-fi elements. I also thought the author did a good job laying the groundwork for future stories with Peyton’s fellow soldiers.
It’s not a read that inspires deep feelings, but I did like it for the most part. It moves quickly and delivers on its premise.
Rating: B/B-
*Book provided by author for review
This story follows the efforts of a brilliant scientist who is trying to atone for her past sins. Kyra helped develop the technology that turned soldiers into cyborgs to help end the war. Only, once the fighting was done, no one knew what to do with the enhanced men who still held so much power. So the government took away their free will. They enslaved the men as “Cyber Husbands” to the highest female bidders, while telling the world there was really nothing left of the men’s humanity to save. Kyra knows that’s a lie and she is determined to help the soldiers get their lives back, one man at a time.
She is hoping that with Peyton, the third time is the charm. He is actually the third Cyber Husband she has purchased, with the intention of disrupting his programming. It didn’t end well with the first two. But with Peyton, she has a better plan. She fully expects her new “husband” to hate her, and once he regains enough humanity to realize what’s happened to him, she isn’t exactly his favorite person. But there is an undeniable attraction, despite all of his righteous anger. And it only grows as he recovers from all he has endured.
I liked Peyton, his flirtatiousness and his sarcasm. He is sexy and he knows it. But while I didn’t dislike Kyra, I didn’t love her. I understand that her guilt motivated her, but there were times I felt like I was drowning in it. She cried all the time. She was so full of self derision and flagellation that I truly questioned how Peyton could want to sleep with her. I’m glad she has a conscience and all, but it was a lot. Then once you throw in the trauma she endured at the hands of her ex husband and it was hard to feel the heat sometimes.
There is action to help keep things moving. The other scientists are after Kyra for messing up their plans and she is on the run from them as she and Peyton work to bring in more soldiers. It was engaging, but the villain was a bit predictable and more than a little over the top. The book moves quickly, though, and I liked the sci-fi elements. I also thought the author did a good job laying the groundwork for future stories with Peyton’s fellow soldiers.
It’s not a read that inspires deep feelings, but I did like it for the most part. It moves quickly and delivers on its premise.
Rating: B/B-
*Book provided by author for review
November 11, 2015
I guess I am one of the few readers who couldn't get as excited as the rest about the book.
I love the whole idea behind the book but I had difficulties reading through the first half of the book. Sometimes in the future when we can transform humans in walking, talking, killing machines started so well for me.
I couldn't connect to Kyra. She apologized to much and her thought pattern didn't match her age. In an ageless society Kyra and her actual age put me off a bit. I have nothing with a 50 year old character, woman, but her attitude felt to me much, much younger so it didn't match her. Alternating between guilt and letting go of it gave me a headache.
Peyton managed to save the story for me with his attitude and humor but his relation with Kyra felt at times awkward. He was easy going, flirty and fun and she was just plain boring and when she gave in to her desires I couldn't feel it.
The second half worked well for me but the solution to go to work with the enemy didn't make that sense to me.
I see great potential in the story and I am going to be reading the other books.
Great start of the series.
I love the whole idea behind the book but I had difficulties reading through the first half of the book. Sometimes in the future when we can transform humans in walking, talking, killing machines started so well for me.
I couldn't connect to Kyra. She apologized to much and her thought pattern didn't match her age. In an ageless society Kyra and her actual age put me off a bit. I have nothing with a 50 year old character, woman, but her attitude felt to me much, much younger so it didn't match her. Alternating between guilt and letting go of it gave me a headache.
Peyton managed to save the story for me with his attitude and humor but his relation with Kyra felt at times awkward. He was easy going, flirty and fun and she was just plain boring and when she gave in to her desires I couldn't feel it.
The second half worked well for me but the solution to go to work with the enemy didn't make that sense to me.
I see great potential in the story and I am going to be reading the other books.
Great start of the series.
November 18, 2014
Wow is all I can say.
A self absorb genius trying to atone for what she believe is her fault. (Still self absorb there.) But what I like her best is her woman side. She is a genius scientist to be sure but when her feminine instinct - to protect - was challenge, she is worth watching. After learning her own demon and how she fought to overcome it, I was eager for her victory over her 'enemy' because she really need a good break by then.
Also I love how her self absorption transformed into a healthy goal. That her success did not came by her own alone is also a very compelling part of this book. Success in the scale of her achievement isn't a one man act.
The H, (sigh) if there is ever a man who needed a break - now - it's him. A war vet promised a comfortable retirement only to be betrayed by those he protected to be enslaved, is a crime that just pushes my vengeful buttons. I understand his anger, his hate, and his desire for vengeance. Add his charm and quips and he's a perfect hero for me.
The attraction between them is very evident. The pacing of the story was very good as well. Secondary characters are not wasted in this story as well. They made the story richer and did not just fill a space.
The created world is a play place for any sci-fi fan but will not bore those who are not a sci-fi fan like me. I really want more books from this created world.
I like this book for the sizzling chemistry between H/h and the H's fight for his humanity.
A self absorb genius trying to atone for what she believe is her fault. (Still self absorb there.) But what I like her best is her woman side. She is a genius scientist to be sure but when her feminine instinct - to protect - was challenge, she is worth watching. After learning her own demon and how she fought to overcome it, I was eager for her victory over her 'enemy' because she really need a good break by then.
Also I love how her self absorption transformed into a healthy goal. That her success did not came by her own alone is also a very compelling part of this book. Success in the scale of her achievement isn't a one man act.
The H, (sigh) if there is ever a man who needed a break - now - it's him. A war vet promised a comfortable retirement only to be betrayed by those he protected to be enslaved, is a crime that just pushes my vengeful buttons. I understand his anger, his hate, and his desire for vengeance. Add his charm and quips and he's a perfect hero for me.
The attraction between them is very evident. The pacing of the story was very good as well. Secondary characters are not wasted in this story as well. They made the story richer and did not just fill a space.
The created world is a play place for any sci-fi fan but will not bore those who are not a sci-fi fan like me. I really want more books from this created world.
I like this book for the sizzling chemistry between H/h and the H's fight for his humanity.
January 8, 2016
"Doc... this weeping sh!t has got to stop." HE SAID IT!!!! Sooooo, great ideas, uneven, jittery characterization. Plot flow like a ball of clay rolled through broken glass.
I did like one part! The rest of the time I was repeatedly hitting myself in the head due to frustration... but I was trapped! TRAPPED! I wanted to see how it turned out!
I did like one part! The rest of the time I was repeatedly hitting myself in the head due to frustration... but I was trapped! TRAPPED! I wanted to see how it turned out!
September 4, 2014
Blackraven’s Review:
Absolutely LOVED IT! Although Peyton 313 is Donna McDonald’s first endeavor into the sci-fi world, she passes with flying colors. Peyton 313 has it all: suspense, overflowing emotions, drama, flirtatious banter, a sexy alpha male, a remorseful scientist, danger, passion, betrayal, and most of all, a second chance at love and life. Read More...
Absolutely LOVED IT! Although Peyton 313 is Donna McDonald’s first endeavor into the sci-fi world, she passes with flying colors. Peyton 313 has it all: suspense, overflowing emotions, drama, flirtatious banter, a sexy alpha male, a remorseful scientist, danger, passion, betrayal, and most of all, a second chance at love and life. Read More...
November 24, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this sci fi romance. I found it as a free book when I was searching for a certain crazysauce alien romance (HBs will know exactly what I'm talking about) and picked it up. It actually turned out to be a thoughtful romance with a discussion of ethics around AI and what it means to be human, plus fun technology to play with and a good action plot. I had no expectations coming in and honestly thought it would be terrible given the other free books that came up in that search (I couldn't even make it all the way through the samples for most of them) but it turned out to be a cool, smart read.
August 5, 2020
Interesting read. Felt it could have been shorter, heroine cries way too much. 3 stars for the sexy chemistry!
August 7, 2016
This book was way better than I thought it would be. I love good surprises!
I have been reading a great deal of junky fluffy Science Fiction Romance of late and happily. Sometimes, I just want junk food in the form of books.
I have always loved cyborgs so this book was an easy pick for my glom.
The hero is not really a cyborg but an altered marine. However, there are lots of great scenes where he has to integrate his human and computer self. Enough to make me happy.
The heroine is a scientist with a great deal of guilt for her part in enslaving the soldiers and slowly the others as the government makes use of her work.
I like both the hero and the heroine. The villains are cartoony and the resolution of the external conflict too easy but the internal ones are interesting even if there is a bit of insta lust going on.
I am excited about the rest of the series. Oh, hey, and this is free read right now!
I have been reading a great deal of junky fluffy Science Fiction Romance of late and happily. Sometimes, I just want junk food in the form of books.
I have always loved cyborgs so this book was an easy pick for my glom.
The hero is not really a cyborg but an altered marine. However, there are lots of great scenes where he has to integrate his human and computer self. Enough to make me happy.
The heroine is a scientist with a great deal of guilt for her part in enslaving the soldiers and slowly the others as the government makes use of her work.
I like both the hero and the heroine. The villains are cartoony and the resolution of the external conflict too easy but the internal ones are interesting even if there is a bit of insta lust going on.
I am excited about the rest of the series. Oh, hey, and this is free read right now!
December 10, 2015
I wasn't sure if I'd like sci-fi, but I guess I'm officially a geek now! Sexy cyborg husbands will make everybody want one. Sign me up for more!
July 23, 2019
I got this book on a fluke because Book Cave recommended it. I have previously read and loved Laurann Dohner’s Cyborg series, so I was intrigued. Also, this was the first book I read by Donna McDonald.
I’ll start by saying that I enjoyed Donna’s writing style. She certainly knows how to build anticipation and keep you wanting for more. Peyton 313 was a real page-turner.
By the way, don’t be fooled by the shirtless guy on the cover ( it’s the norm for books in this genre), it’s not erotica! There’s romance and plenty of shameless flirting, but not much sex.
That being said, I’m glad I discovered this author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Peyton 313 is the first book in the Mankind Redefined series. The premises of the book is fascinating. The plot is set in the future where humanity developed cyber soldiers to win a war, and afterward, instead of being freed, they were reprogramed and sold as slaves for corporate profit. Dr. Kyra Winters, one of the original creators of cyborgs, wants to restore their humanity to ease her guilty conscience. The plot twists are entertaining, and the sense of humor and friendly banter make Peyton 313 a compelling read.
“Flattery will only cause you problems you don’t want. Sleep tonight, Dr. Winters. We’ll resume our sarcasm swap in the morning.”
I liked Peyton as a male lead character. Definitely an alpha male but minus the caveman traits that most fantasy/paranormal romance books tend to overuse. Also, Kyra, the female lead character is a strong woman who doesn’t lose her backbone the moment Peyton gets her attention. Such a break of pattern is refreshing.
Peyton is a cyborg, and sometimes the humor stems from glitches. You can’t read that with a straight face.
“Please don’t look so alarmed, Doc. I find you very pleasing to stare at for long periods of time,” he said. For some reason, his compliment struck her as incredibly funny. “I’m sorry I’m laughing, but you’re supposed to say you find me beautiful, Peyton.”
Read the full review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
I’ll start by saying that I enjoyed Donna’s writing style. She certainly knows how to build anticipation and keep you wanting for more. Peyton 313 was a real page-turner.
By the way, don’t be fooled by the shirtless guy on the cover ( it’s the norm for books in this genre), it’s not erotica! There’s romance and plenty of shameless flirting, but not much sex.
That being said, I’m glad I discovered this author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Peyton 313 is the first book in the Mankind Redefined series. The premises of the book is fascinating. The plot is set in the future where humanity developed cyber soldiers to win a war, and afterward, instead of being freed, they were reprogramed and sold as slaves for corporate profit. Dr. Kyra Winters, one of the original creators of cyborgs, wants to restore their humanity to ease her guilty conscience. The plot twists are entertaining, and the sense of humor and friendly banter make Peyton 313 a compelling read.
“Flattery will only cause you problems you don’t want. Sleep tonight, Dr. Winters. We’ll resume our sarcasm swap in the morning.”
I liked Peyton as a male lead character. Definitely an alpha male but minus the caveman traits that most fantasy/paranormal romance books tend to overuse. Also, Kyra, the female lead character is a strong woman who doesn’t lose her backbone the moment Peyton gets her attention. Such a break of pattern is refreshing.
Peyton is a cyborg, and sometimes the humor stems from glitches. You can’t read that with a straight face.
“Please don’t look so alarmed, Doc. I find you very pleasing to stare at for long periods of time,” he said. For some reason, his compliment struck her as incredibly funny. “I’m sorry I’m laughing, but you’re supposed to say you find me beautiful, Peyton.”
Read the full review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
May 19, 2015
It's not often that I will give an i-am-the-wrong-reader tag to a 4-star book. Peyton 313 is well-written, intelligent, emotional SFR that I should 100% love, except for all of the rape (my trigger point). It's sad, but it means I will probably never read another of Donna McDonald's books and I wouldn't have read this one either had I known.
The Good: Concept, plot, science, characters, awesome series.
I love, love, love the concept. War heroes converted against their knowledge or will into mindless "Cyber Husband" gigolos for corporate profit are given back their memories and free will. There are also prisoners, kidnap victims, and others forced to become cyborgs. It's a bit of the 1940s eugenics plus forced sterilization in a corporate government state. I think future books will continue the fight.
The characters are highly sympathetic. The war heroes who gave their own bodies to serve their country only to be betrayed at their homecoming strikes an all-too-plausible nerve. The heroine, cyborg creator Kyla, cries her whole way through each free will "restoration" out of guilt for her complicity in making the cyborg program work originally and in not speaking out against the Cyber Husband program when it was later implemented.
How Kyla and Peyton fight the corporation is highly satisfying, as are the surprises, twists, betrayals, and final resolution.
The Meh: Sex, pacing, conversation, rape.
So Kyla is in her fifties and Peyton is also (although we are told he has the body of a 25-year-old). They have what I would call "mature" sex, which is something I haven't really read up to now. There is no hot explosion of passion, and there's lots of conversation and multiple previous partners, so it's definitely like two multiple-divorcees/widow/ers getting together in the sack. I prefer a bit more passion, but that is a personal preference. It's still touching and sweet, and they obviously love each other. Yay!
I would say that 3/4 of the book is conversation, which considering how much stuff gets electrified or destroyed, causes the book to feel slow and out of balance at parts. Kyla talks a lot. Peyton, once he becomes human, points this out and then also fills more than his fair share of pages. I feel like a lot of it could have been cut. It really slows the pacing, even as it reveals their emotional states. Oh, and I strongly preferred Peyton as an eloquent robot to the dick-saluting, "Whatever you say, Doc," human. Again, this is stylistic and just my personal preference.
The real problem for me is the rape trigger points, of which there are multiple examples in this book.
Ironically, in the back of this book (Kindle edition) there is an excerpt of Book 6 in a completely different SFR series. Although it's only two chapters long, that's enough for us to learn that the heroine and her sister were repeatedly loaned out or sold by their powerful father to be victimized in violent or non-consensual sex. This is common on the world and causes many to escape. Home again by trickery, she is imprisoned and intending to be sold once again.
Clearly "sexual trauma survivor" is one of McDonald's major themes. I strongly prefer NOT to have this element present in my pleasure reading, so I will not be picking up any further books, sadly.
The Good: Concept, plot, science, characters, awesome series.
I love, love, love the concept. War heroes converted against their knowledge or will into mindless "Cyber Husband" gigolos for corporate profit are given back their memories and free will. There are also prisoners, kidnap victims, and others forced to become cyborgs. It's a bit of the 1940s eugenics plus forced sterilization in a corporate government state. I think future books will continue the fight.
The characters are highly sympathetic. The war heroes who gave their own bodies to serve their country only to be betrayed at their homecoming strikes an all-too-plausible nerve. The heroine, cyborg creator Kyla, cries her whole way through each free will "restoration" out of guilt for her complicity in making the cyborg program work originally and in not speaking out against the Cyber Husband program when it was later implemented.
How Kyla and Peyton fight the corporation is highly satisfying, as are the surprises, twists, betrayals, and final resolution.
The Meh: Sex, pacing, conversation, rape.
So Kyla is in her fifties and Peyton is also (although we are told he has the body of a 25-year-old). They have what I would call "mature" sex, which is something I haven't really read up to now. There is no hot explosion of passion, and there's lots of conversation and multiple previous partners, so it's definitely like two multiple-divorcees/widow/ers getting together in the sack. I prefer a bit more passion, but that is a personal preference. It's still touching and sweet, and they obviously love each other. Yay!
I would say that 3/4 of the book is conversation, which considering how much stuff gets electrified or destroyed, causes the book to feel slow and out of balance at parts. Kyla talks a lot. Peyton, once he becomes human, points this out and then also fills more than his fair share of pages. I feel like a lot of it could have been cut. It really slows the pacing, even as it reveals their emotional states. Oh, and I strongly preferred Peyton as an eloquent robot to the dick-saluting, "Whatever you say, Doc," human. Again, this is stylistic and just my personal preference.
The real problem for me is the rape trigger points, of which there are multiple examples in this book.
Ironically, in the back of this book (Kindle edition) there is an excerpt of Book 6 in a completely different SFR series. Although it's only two chapters long, that's enough for us to learn that the heroine and her sister were repeatedly loaned out or sold by their powerful father to be victimized in violent or non-consensual sex. This is common on the world and causes many to escape. Home again by trickery, she is imprisoned and intending to be sold once again.
Clearly "sexual trauma survivor" is one of McDonald's major themes. I strongly prefer NOT to have this element present in my pleasure reading, so I will not be picking up any further books, sadly.
July 16, 2017
Book with a number in the title for the MacHalo Reading Challenge.
Actual rating: 3.5
Despite the smut worthy cover this is not an erotica book. In fact it's pretty decent sci-fi with more than a touch of philosophy but served in a very approachable way. Yes, it's mainly a romance story and there are some of the trappings typical of the genre like insta-lust. Still it's very enjoyable and a good way to spend a few hours.
What really caught my attention is the setting of the book. It's a possible world because even nowadays technology is surpassing humanity's ability to feel. It's filled with greedy politicians who would do anything to get more money and more power who expertly manipulate the public into being complacent with incredible atrocities. Sound familiar? And yet there are some individuals who don't blindly follow the crowd and fight for what's right.
I liked Dr. Winters very much and greatly sympathized with her. I can understand how she was played and her talent misused. Because humans ultimately want authority. Someone to tel them what to do and that what they're doing is okay. So while at first I was mad at her for letting the be launched at all and for those poor soldiers to be I quickly moved past the outrage. because I understand how easy it is to just do what the powers that be tell you to. Her eventual "rebellion" and relentless work to right the wrongs inflicted soon made her a character I can root for.
It's a good first book in a series and I think I would like to continue just to see if it can get better.
March 23, 2017
In some distant future, enhanced soldiers are funnelled into a Cyber-husband program, bought and turned back into a market by women whose deep pockets give them the rights to what they wish to do. And it's merely yet another thing that has gone so wrong since the onset of the cyborg soldier program that Dr. Kyra Winters had a big hand in creating. Now remorseful and jaded, Kyra is determined to make amends for how far humanity has degenerated after her creations. Peyton Elliott - a decorated soldier - is her third try at that redemption and restoration, except that he defies her expectations in every way.
The premise of this story is revolting (and disturbingly interesting and dystopic) enough for me delve into this twisted universe, but I found myself derailed by the long, technically-laden dialogues and the rapid head-hopping that somehow prevented me from getting a personal grip on the main characters. For half of the story, Peyton and Kara circle each other with distrust, tied together only by the tenuous and constant references to how much arousal they feel around each other - while a painstakingly fleshed-out backstory slowly appeared. There didn't seem much character depth except for the sheer amount of self-pity, anger and lust that came into play as well as some measure of awkward storytelling that didn't make putting down the book a hardship at all.
This review simply marks my frustration with a book that could have been so much better. Here's hoping to completing the story...soon.
The premise of this story is revolting (and disturbingly interesting and dystopic) enough for me delve into this twisted universe, but I found myself derailed by the long, technically-laden dialogues and the rapid head-hopping that somehow prevented me from getting a personal grip on the main characters. For half of the story, Peyton and Kara circle each other with distrust, tied together only by the tenuous and constant references to how much arousal they feel around each other - while a painstakingly fleshed-out backstory slowly appeared. There didn't seem much character depth except for the sheer amount of self-pity, anger and lust that came into play as well as some measure of awkward storytelling that didn't make putting down the book a hardship at all.
This review simply marks my frustration with a book that could have been so much better. Here's hoping to completing the story...soon.
August 25, 2015
Kind of having ambivalent feelings for this novel. I was entertained but not much else. I don't think there was a good enough blend between the main arc and the romance. I was definitely curious about the first but didn't really care for the second. I liked both Peyton and Kira but wasn't convinced of them as a couple. I didn't detect much feeling between them and, having previously read many novels about cyborgs and humans falling in love, I know for a fact it can be done. I simply didn't feel it here. But the main arc...so much potential and details. I liked it a lot. Although I did get frustrated with not having anyone to blame beyond UCN. People, I mean. Norton was this big bad company trying to pretty much take over the world. Okay. But they didn't have a face 'till Chancellors Li and Owen were presented and I struggled with it a lot. Blaming a faceless enemy is hard and distracting. I also expected some big movement from them to stop Kira and there wasn't. The few fights were handled pretty fast and well. All the hype pretty much for no reason. Again, frustrating, I almost felt like there was no climax. A civilized conversation in the end does not count.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't exactly what I'd thought it would be. Yes, it was a romance- a cute and unconventional one, but it kind of got buried beneath all the cyber-ethics, dry scientific talk, and constant rehashing of the h's guilt over the cyborgs' situation. I think she spent more time crying than not. I feel like this book was just meant to be the foundation for all the rest of the books, and perhaps the rest went be so dry and focused. But since that isn't something I'm certain about there's no way that I'm paying $3.99 for something that could fall flat. I'd read more in the future if it weren't for the price.
October 27, 2014
Cyborgs, science & humanity
This was a very detailed book about creating cyborgs and giving them back there humanity. The world building was extensive but understandable for the story. It was interesting throughout the entire book. If your not into science then this isn't the story for you. I however enjoyed reading about their creation, the reason for it and what happened afterwards.
This was a very detailed book about creating cyborgs and giving them back there humanity. The world building was extensive but understandable for the story. It was interesting throughout the entire book. If your not into science then this isn't the story for you. I however enjoyed reading about their creation, the reason for it and what happened afterwards.
February 15, 2016
This was a different type of Cyborg book for me and I have to say that I really enjoyed the change. I didn't get to see or understand much of the way the world worked during this time period; but the this was a different perspective of why cyborgs were created and also how they became "freed" and allowed to become "human" again. I'm excited to read about the other cyborg characters return to humanity and their stories.
November 6, 2015
I don't know what to say about Peyton, but I loved that boy, “you’re making me dizzy with lust just talking about it. Remind me again why we’re doing this. I’m planning to chant it as a mantra so I can behave myself while I’m under you,” Peyton ordered." Peyton was sweet, kind, and he had that alpha streak that I love in my men, I enjoyed reading this book.
September 9, 2016
Extensive amount of techno-descriptions and Kyra's continuous emotional self-flagellation brought this one down for me. Not to mentioned all the weeping (I have re-named her "wet-one").
October 27, 2022
I really wanted to like this, and I tried really hard to get into the story. I just didn't particularly enjoy the way the book played out and the writing wasn't enough to make up for it.
Kyra, an insanely smart and world changing scientist, one of the few people to remain her actual age, is written as someone much younger to me. She comes across as someone who's maybe in their early 20's, not a woman who is meant to be 50. The wishy-washy way she was portrayed got on my nerves and the back and forth from guilt to remorse to "oh well I'm getting over it" was not particularly enjoyable reading for me. The constant crying was grating it did not need to be described so much.
The love interest, Peyton, a cyborg who was one of the first soldiers made and the last hope Kyra has to undo her guilt, falls in love with her after 2 seconds. I get the whole Husband Chip thing would have messed with this but his whole thing was he was able to overcome them and feel his own emotions. I wasn't aware this was an insta-love story and that really didn't make sense to me. He should have hated her and the more he learned should have gotten angrier about things.
The writing started with a bang and fizzled pretty quickly down. The pacing was a bit tedious to get through and was overall a chore to read about 40% of the book. I didn't get the chemistry between Kyra and Peyton, I'm still unsure what to make of half the relationships in this and a lot of it felt forced. I think this was the disappointing this for me; the premise, the blurb and first 2 chapters were great. But it never followed through and I was always hoping for something more. There was little character depth and their arcs were not very interesting to me. Nothing was a major win other than the premise but I kept going with sheer hope.
The ending actually ruined any positives steps this took for me. W H Y did they team up with the enemy - and not just oh we'll change your mind but the people who sexually assaulted her? This made literally no sense to me. This wasn't just overcoming the bigger evil this was unnecessary. I probably won't continue the series, I don't think there's much else can be done to improve it to me and I'm not that invested in any character to see how things change.
Kyra, an insanely smart and world changing scientist, one of the few people to remain her actual age, is written as someone much younger to me. She comes across as someone who's maybe in their early 20's, not a woman who is meant to be 50. The wishy-washy way she was portrayed got on my nerves and the back and forth from guilt to remorse to "oh well I'm getting over it" was not particularly enjoyable reading for me. The constant crying was grating it did not need to be described so much.
The love interest, Peyton, a cyborg who was one of the first soldiers made and the last hope Kyra has to undo her guilt, falls in love with her after 2 seconds. I get the whole Husband Chip thing would have messed with this but his whole thing was he was able to overcome them and feel his own emotions. I wasn't aware this was an insta-love story and that really didn't make sense to me. He should have hated her and the more he learned should have gotten angrier about things.
The writing started with a bang and fizzled pretty quickly down. The pacing was a bit tedious to get through and was overall a chore to read about 40% of the book. I didn't get the chemistry between Kyra and Peyton, I'm still unsure what to make of half the relationships in this and a lot of it felt forced. I think this was the disappointing this for me; the premise, the blurb and first 2 chapters were great. But it never followed through and I was always hoping for something more. There was little character depth and their arcs were not very interesting to me. Nothing was a major win other than the premise but I kept going with sheer hope.
The ending actually ruined any positives steps this took for me. W H Y did they team up with the enemy - and not just oh we'll change your mind but the people who sexually assaulted her? This made literally no sense to me. This wasn't just overcoming the bigger evil this was unnecessary. I probably won't continue the series, I don't think there's much else can be done to improve it to me and I'm not that invested in any character to see how things change.
May 16, 2018
I haven't read a cyborg story before this, because I couldn't wrap my mind around a romance with a cyborg. I wanted something different to read today though, & liked some other books by this author, so thought to give it a try. I liked the over all story, there were a few places in the story that had hiccups (like her age & looks seemed to fluctuate a bit or didn't make sense to me) but not enough to ruin the whole book. I did feel it started off slow, but it was part of the world building, so I can cut some slack for it. There were some editing/typo type errors as well, not horrible, but enough to distract my reading as I went. The sarcastic humor between the H & h was great, the plot itself was good. I really liked Peyton as the hero cyborg character. The heroine, Kyra, had some moments that I was like really, get a grip lady! Just way too much crying & guilty angst. This does make me curious to see the rest of the rescued cyborgs' stories unfold since I instantly liked them as well. This definitely fell into Sci-fi category for me, with some over the top type descriptions (& world building) about the scientific aspect of creating a cyborg or the futuristic world. For me it was necessary, since I had no prior experience in the cyborg type world (other than the Terminator movies).
August 20, 2017
I did enjoy this book. It is a romantic science fiction story set here on earth in the future. As strange as it sounds, I can see this as a possibility. Mankind tries to build a better soldier and in the process decides to play God. I liked the way the way the heroine, Kyra Winters, stays her course of undoing the damage done to the cyborgs. Peyton is an excellent choice as her hero, in that he is willing to look beyond her surface and see the woman of character. Peyton and Kyra have, both, been victimized and have suffered horrors. Both characters are helping each other get beyond their past and have a fulfilling future. The verbal sparring is humorous. This is not a book for those under 18. I would not recommend this book for anyone that has suffered physical abuse or sexual assault. There is a lot going on in this book. What starts out as a way to help end a war, continues on, to affect those going about their lives and children that are difficult to deal with. Kyra sees this and refuses to be a part of it. This book is science fiction but, so were other stories such as Star Track. Donna McDonald is an excellent author, she can make you think.
September 5, 2019
OMG this book was fantastic and kept u wanting to read to the end. the storyline was one of the best I have ever read. the character development and descriptions were so real and lifelike you honestly felt u were reading about someone's life in today's world. the pace was fantastic to keep you never wanting to put the book down yet slow enough that you got tons of descriptions and rode a roller coaster of emotions as you suffered right along with Kyra's feelings of guilt and shame at her part in cyborg creation. Peyton's ability to forgive and be attracted to Kyra over all he had been thru and see that she wasn't the one to blame for the corruption of her invention and still love her anyway was a testament to the power of love and forgiveness.
I will I could give this book even more than 5 stars because it sure deserves it.
well done and I highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I will I could give this book even more than 5 stars because it sure deserves it.
well done and I highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
April 27, 2019
Kyra Winters/ Peyton
Dr. Winters wrote the initial code that created the first Cyborgs. UCN made soldiers into Cyborgs, once the war was won they were deemed to dangerous to be released into Society. They were turned in Cyber Husbands, programmed to accede to all the wife’s demands both in and out of the bedroom.
Kyra now has plans to release all the soldiers from their restrictive programming. Peyton 313 is the first Cyber Husband she selects for this project.
I enjoyed the plot of this book and will read further. I deducted a star because of all the repetitious inner monologue from Kyra. We got it the first couple of times, she has regrets but this point was driven into the ground. Her continuous guilt proclamations did taper off the second part of the story.
Dr. Winters wrote the initial code that created the first Cyborgs. UCN made soldiers into Cyborgs, once the war was won they were deemed to dangerous to be released into Society. They were turned in Cyber Husbands, programmed to accede to all the wife’s demands both in and out of the bedroom.
Kyra now has plans to release all the soldiers from their restrictive programming. Peyton 313 is the first Cyber Husband she selects for this project.
I enjoyed the plot of this book and will read further. I deducted a star because of all the repetitious inner monologue from Kyra. We got it the first couple of times, she has regrets but this point was driven into the ground. Her continuous guilt proclamations did taper off the second part of the story.
September 28, 2017
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book but not nearly as much as I thought I would.
It took me several days to finish, which is not typical for me since I usually have a very hard time putting down a good read. I found I just didn't have a huge burning urge to rush back to the story to find out what happens next.
It's a well written book with very well thought out ideas and lots of detail.
I found the amount of dialog somewhat annoying. Nothing being said at any point is quick, even their flirting that's meant to be a lighthearted banter comes across as a lengthy conversation.
I get that since all of the beings in this book are very intelligent it would extend conversation somewhat, but I found myself wanting to tell them to speed it up, or just shut up completely multiple times.
That's mostly my only complaint with this book. I enjoyed the story, and I am curious about what will happen in the next installment but I don't think I'll continue the series. If you can get past the very heavy amount of dialog in this book and enjoy the SciFi/cyborg theme, Peyton 313 is definitely one to add to your shelf.
I enjoyed this book but not nearly as much as I thought I would.
It took me several days to finish, which is not typical for me since I usually have a very hard time putting down a good read. I found I just didn't have a huge burning urge to rush back to the story to find out what happens next.
It's a well written book with very well thought out ideas and lots of detail.
I found the amount of dialog somewhat annoying. Nothing being said at any point is quick, even their flirting that's meant to be a lighthearted banter comes across as a lengthy conversation.
I get that since all of the beings in this book are very intelligent it would extend conversation somewhat, but I found myself wanting to tell them to speed it up, or just shut up completely multiple times.
That's mostly my only complaint with this book. I enjoyed the story, and I am curious about what will happen in the next installment but I don't think I'll continue the series. If you can get past the very heavy amount of dialog in this book and enjoy the SciFi/cyborg theme, Peyton 313 is definitely one to add to your shelf.
February 28, 2018
There was a world wide war that needed stopped. They asked for volunteers from the military and created cyborgs to fight. After they stopped the war they were promised to be taken care of for life and brought back into the communities they fought for. Didn't happen they got reprogrammed and sold as slaves. The scientist that created them has vowed to undo the evil done to the soldiers.
This is an awesome read. The ethical questions are scary. The what-ifs beyond belief. Great read!
This is an awesome read. The ethical questions are scary. The what-ifs beyond belief. Great read!
February 16, 2019
5 stars
I really loved this book, I'm rating it so high honestly because this was an adventure, emotional, honest and so compelling I couldn't help but fall inlove with the two main characters and Nero. I won't give anything away but if you're interested in a book with a healthy dose of reality, romance, and some sexy cybrog action give this book a try!
5 stars for a book I couldn't put down!
I really loved this book, I'm rating it so high honestly because this was an adventure, emotional, honest and so compelling I couldn't help but fall inlove with the two main characters and Nero. I won't give anything away but if you're interested in a book with a healthy dose of reality, romance, and some sexy cybrog action give this book a try!
5 stars for a book I couldn't put down!
April 15, 2019
I really liked this book for several reasons. 1. Kira a scientist feels remorse for her actions. 2. She is 52 not a youngster but a grown woman. 3. The plot, a government/corporation turning the males and females into cyborgs for the good of humanity was a good concept until it wasn’t. Now Kira has to undo the wrongs she and her ex-husband started and hope Peyton, her cyborg Captain can forgive her after she helps him find his humanity.
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