The Apollo Academy

The Apollo Academy #1

by K.P. Lovely

Take off with this dynamic, thrill-seeking, sexy science fiction academy romance series. Slow burn MMF.

It’s the year 2163 and the world is screwed. Over population, low energy sources and little food have caused most people to become addicted to mind altering technology. That means anyone with half a brain wants to be accepted into the Apollo Academy. Their mission, to ensure the survival of the human race.

And Aurora Titon knows better than anyone not to use the technology her father produces. Determined to escaped her world for the stars above, she will do anything to become an astronaut at the Academy.

But training isn’t as easy as she thought it would be…

Her sexy flight instructor is nothing but a bully who will do anything to get her kicked out. The hot mysterious boy in all her classes runs hot and cold. One minute he wants nothing to do with her and the next they're making out between classes.
But what’s scariest of all is the fact that someone is trying to kill her. Because why else would shit keep malfunctioning during her training?

Praise for The Apollo Academy:

"I am obsessed with this book! Suspenseful, sexy, and just a great read!" -Cora Carmack, New York Times Bestselling author of LOSING IT.

“Exquisite worldbuilding, thrilling suspense, and a sexy flight instructor! Chase’s exciting debut novel is one you don’t want to miss.” - K.A.Tucker, Author of Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie

"Chase’s first in a four-part series is fast-paced, thrilling and wildly imaginative. Though it takes place more than 100 years in the future, the author makes the world feel contemporary, and it’s a breeze to follow — unlike heavier sci-fi. Aurora is unforgettable and a great role model for new adult fans because she is the epitome of strength. The sexy pilots add just enough spice to this space saga." -RT BOOK REVIEWS

Genres: Science Fiction, New Adult, Romance, Young Adult, Dystopia, Space, Fantasy

236 pages, ebook

First published August 2, 2013

About the author

KP Lovely holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, which basically means she’s kind of a geek and loves flying airplanes. Naturally, her books tend to include aviation, hot flight instructors, aviator glasses, and — let’s not forget — kissing! When Kimberly’s not writing or reading, she can probably be found at the airport.

Reviews

[Emmeline (The Book Herald) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope, Nope, Nopidy- NOPE!

Why did I read this? Why!?

Potential spoilers and a lot of honest ranting below...read at your own risk!

So, um, I think it's pretty clear that to me this book didn't cut it.

I'll explain why I wanted to read this, first of all, the large amount of 5 star reviews. I kept thinking this book 'gone-be-guuuddd!' and then to aggravate the situation, it came highly recommended, so when i read what it was about, saw that it has romance...i threw my hands up in the air and caved in.

I bought it, even though my gut told me i'd possibly regret it, i still bought it...and now i regret it *face-palm*

This makes me sad, because it had such awesome potential! okay let me talk about the plot *sigh*

Aurora Titon knows one thing. She needs to fly.
Becoming the captain of an airship...an Astronaut is all she wants and all she'll ever want.
Even though she's the heiress of Titon Technology, she chooses to leave it all behind to be trained at the prestigious Apollo Academy.
The night before the test, she and her best friend go to a nightclub to dance their last care-free night away, and there she meets a guy.
A man so beautiful he takes her breath away, his grey eyes pierce her soul...all she can think of is him.
Zane Paxton is an unknown, not registered...an illegal.
He never thought that he would be so attracted to a red-headed girl who makes him feel things he shouldn't.
When entering Apollo Academy, his heart nearly leaps out of his chest when he sees her there,
maybe they may have a chance to be together...
Until plots and murder follow in their wake.
All the sudden, surviving Apollo Academy is nigh on impossible.

I made that sound good huh? Well....nope!

WARNING LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT, ABORT. I REPEAT, ABORT!

Okay, seriously? It was so unnecessary its ridiculous! From the start Aurora has a thing for Zane, and Zane tries to be all aloof and cold to keep her away because 'he doesn't deserve her' and all that crap. However, you firmly get the sense that they want to be together no matter what, but then there's Sky, Mr. Hot-shot captain who is training Aurora...the youngest one yet! Goodness, how great it is that he's only 3 years older! Total teacher-student romance wouldn't be painful to read now right? WRONG!

So you know Aurora digs Zane and vise versa, though they both try to 'deny' it and 'just be friends'. However, Zane nearly saves her life a few times and the one night he wasn't able to come meet her for a 'date' because he was gathering information to save her life! She flips the lid and goes make out with Sky. Nice. You're a top dog Aurora. Totally deserve Zane *please note the sarcasm*

Also, she's trying to throw off the whole, girls aren't stupid, we can do brilliant things! And heaven knows we can, I'm not saying in no way that we can't. However, Aurora's actions were upid-stupid!
She goes to Flight practice in HEELS! i mean...WHAT? *grumbles*

And then there's Zane, he's such a push-over it's not even funny. This author tried, she honestly did, to portray the bad-boy persona for this character, but it just didn't work. Okay, so if the girl who has practically been panting after you and you her, finally well...'goes on a date' with you and because you're late, she thinks you stood her up. But really, you were trying to save her life, and you frantically look for her only to find her on top of another guy making out...would you just nicely be like "oh *shrugs* okay, you're still awesome." UM, NO! HAVE SO RESPECT FOR YOURSELF MATE!

It was also very typical. 2 guys vying for the attention of a girl, there's a mean girl, the main girl is some kind of flight- prodigy, then there's a best friend who loves the other best friend...i mean come on!

I'm sorry, I just can't...

*Takes a deep breath*

What i did like was the world- building, that was intriguing and pretty cool. The notion of Terra-United, mining the moon etc...was pretty imaginative. I especially like how the author depicted how alternate reality can become like a drug for people. Fascinating.

I'm sorry to rant. I just, I'm honestly bummed.

Anyway, that's all.

Stay wonderful!

-The Book Herald

Tweet me-@thebookherald

[Cora Carmack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am head over heels in love with this book. And I'm so excited to have found a New Adult book that's not contemporary romance that I REALLY love.

I'm looking for this one to really take off.

PUN TOTALLY INTENDED.

[K.P. Lovely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I ever......wrote! :)

[Molly Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE APOLLO ACADEMY by Kimberly P. Chase is a fast pace NA ScFi novel with a fresh concept, a slew of characters worth falling for, and a futuristic world easy to get lost in.
Told in alternating points of view readers get to live through a cast of incredibly distinct and three-dimensional characters, each of which is swoon-worthy.
The main character Aurora Titon is a badass female pilot with a good heart and plenty of ambition. She goes after her dreams with no excuses and doesn’t even let attempts on her life get in her way. She’s the kind of girl I’d want to be friends with and a character that is easy to look up to.
Secondary characters Zane and Sky are both beyond sexy and yet completely different. Each has a closet full of problems and an eye for Aurora and Chase intertwines the three’s stories effortlessly into the plot, creating an intriguing keep-you-guessing until the end story.
Chase’s talent for world building is evident within the first pages of the novel. She submerges you into a futuristic setting that is flush with fascinating (and at times frightening) technology, cutting edge fashion, and surroundings so visual in description they jump off the page. I was immediately sucked into Aurora’s world and found myself flipping through the pages furiously to find out what happens next.
This is a great read for anyone who loves strong female characters, action packed and high stakes scenes, super-hot men in flight suits, and a story with discovery and survival for more than one character. Did I mention all the sexy pilots? I call this a must read and I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment!

[Nora]

An NA book that isn't contemporary? FINALLY!

[Tony Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, this book was intense, hilarious, intriguing, and well written. The Apollo Academy imprisoned me to my room for three days, literally. To add to my imprisonment I fanboyed every page I turned and gasped when the book ended. Not only was the book entertaining; It opened my eyes and made me realize that a world ran by technology has many cons to it and that I wouldn't want to be apart of a world like that.

My favorite character was Zane. He reminded me of myself a bit. The reason being that I'm not the richest person on the earth and that sometimes I feel like if I mask my feelings and think about myself only, I can push through everything with no problem. But like Zane I'm starting to learn that to survive in any universe you have to interact with others, love, and open up in order to get by in life. To top that off I think Zane is a lovable guy because he will do anything in his power to keep Aurora safe from her attackers. Oh I forgot to mention how I felt bad when Zane made sure to eat all of his food and everyone watched him while he did it. I was like "Zane it's OK, let it go and they don't know what you've been through."

As for the other characters:
-Aurora: is different from the average rich girl wanting to drop their last name. Don't get me wrong, she wants to drop her last name but that doesn't mean she tries to dress like a normal person or have limited amounts of clothes. She has what we would call a surplus of items that every rich person has. But her wanting to drop her last name with style doesn't mean she isn't smart. She is and that's what makes her Aurora. Also, I would totally love to befriend her.

-Kaylana: The thing that hooked me onto Kaylana was that she actually cares for Aurora and sticks up for her when she's being looked down upon. For example, when one of their fellow cadets were being mean to Aurora because of her last name, Kaylana shut them down in a matter of seconds. Overall Kaylana is an upbeat, funny, and caring person.

-Sky: can easily be described as a good guy, great teacher, talented pilot, and a great kisser.

-Akemi: I was hoping that he was gay and secretly in love with Zane but that wasn't the case so lets drop that. He for the most part stayed out of the spot light and did what he had to do to get by. Did I mention his lovely dubby connection with a fellow cadet?

-Ms. Lovell: All I'm going to say is that she reminded me of an actual safe because she knew everyones secrets and kept them safely hidden and never spoke of them with anyone.

-Dr. Stevenson: I liked him because Zane liked him and he is a like-able guy. Mainly because he wants to help Zane with his problems and he doesn't get involved with the drama. Also, I want to be a doctor and he's a doctor so I feel the connection between me and him.

-Last but not least, Hailen. I didn't like her much and thought that Kimberly Chase could have done a better job with her.

As for the plot and setting I thought it was developed perfectly and fresh. Fresh being that it was original in a way. When have we ever read a book that was futuristic and not the best place to live? Never. In this universe technology is everything but everything caused plant life to be at the brink of extinction and the world to be overpopulated ( I thought that was quite realistic and fascinating.) On the other hand, the plot was, as I said before, perfect because it didn't make me want to close my Nook app; It made me want to read on.

I know this is going to be a thing so I'm going to go ahead and state what side I'm on. TEAM ZANE! Sky is no match!

Once again, this book was great and a must read. I recommend this to anyone that loves to read.

SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT!

My favorite moment of the book was when Sky and Aurora had their make out session on the hovercraft and Zane busted in dragging Sky outside and punching him in the face. It was both intense and sexy. Oh god I hear the lips smacking and fist punching right now :)

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Aurora Titan: heiress to mega-corporation Titan industries and a favorite target of the paparazzi. But no worries, Aurora isn’t a Paris Hilton. This girl is smart, a bit nerdy (love that), independent, and beautiful. She is so much more than her namesake. In fact, she works harder than anyone else to prove her name isn’t what got her into the Apollo Academy in the first place. Did I mention she is also the first female cadet pilot? I so want to be Aurora.

Meet Zane: He’s hot, sexy, a total tech-geek and an unknown. What’s an unknown you ask? Well in the future, it’s someone with no record. They basically don’t exist. For the complete opposite reason than Aurora, Zane also had to work ten times harder than anyone to gain acceptance in to the Apollo Academy. Graduation means he will finally “exist” again.

There is a great list of supporting characters including sexy instructor Sky, hilarious BFF to Aurora—Kaylana, shotgun to Zane—Akemi, and even the aggravating mean-girl—Hailen. It’s like the grown-up version of Space Camp (awesome 80s movie…I think that’s the right decade).

The book opens with Aurora and Kaylana enjoying a last night out before the Academy at a hot night club. Aurora lets loose a bit and finds herself in the arms of a sexy guy. She’s ready to lock lips with him, but he disappears before she gets the chance. Imagine her surprise when the next time she sees him is at orientation. Awkward, but really cute.

The two have great chemistry. Zane tries to stay away, after all he’s an unknown and she’s an heiress, but he’s won over by Aurora. So when Aurora keeps finding herself in live-threatening situations, Zane is determined to get to the truth. The suspect list is long, from corporate rivals to future “environmentalists,” and each one has a strong motive. It will take a lot of trust and some cool technology to get to the truth.

There are so many twists in the story and each character plays a role that you don’t expect. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but discovering Zane’s personal mystery and how it ties into everything was surprising. I want to know more about him, Sky, and all of the characters.

I’ve been dying for a good college-age series and this is it. There’s romance, hunky guys (still not sure if I’m TeamZane or TeamSky), cool technology, and hello? Astronauts! The Apollo Academy is a great introduction for what I know will be an exciting and slightly nerdy series.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun and full of interesting characters. I loved learning about the pilot training that was weaved throughout the story. Plus, there's mystery and budding romance. :)

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Apollo Academy is a lot like reading a romance novel, without the sex. There's nothing egregiously bad about it, but neither is there anything particularly good. The best thing I can say about it is that there's a much better story lurking just under the surface, but unfortunately Chase isn't the author to bring it out.

The characters are all stock cliches (of course there's a girl with gorgeous flowing waves of red-gold hair, a bad boy named Zane, and a love triangle), and the plot is fully predictable. At absolutely no point did anything surprising happen and you can see the "twists" coming from a mile away. I do give Chase a bit of credit for the setting though- I did enjoy the Academy and the fact that our female protagonists gets to actively and accurately fly planes, and I'm a sucker for scifi futures. (That said, "TerraRists" is the dumbest phrase I've read in a long time and doesn't work as a pun when said out loud instead of written down)

It's been a while since I read a book with writing this bland. Nothing about it was grammatically wrong, but Chase clearly doesn't understand the concept of "show, don't tell". Every time something happened, a character would follow up with an explanation of the underlying emotions- "In his attempt to bottle up all of his unwanted and confusing feelings, he'd spoken in frustration. In hindsight, he should have just told her that he was attracted to her, but he couldn't date someone who garnered so much attention" - that sort of thing.

Also, if an author is going to have physiology matter to the storyline, they should probably gain a better understanding of it. "His heart rate remained the same, but he still felt the increased adrenaline"? How would that even begin to work?

It's biggest problem, though, is the aforementioned lack of sex. No one reads a romance novel for the prose, and Chase's writing would have been better served by not pretending this was anything but a romance novel. There are some sexy scenes, with "tight bodies pressing against each other" and a steamy make-out session, but the whole thing would have been a lot more worthwhile if it had gone all the way (as it were). Otherwise, what's the point? It's just a forgettable way to pass the time.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so thankful I won this book on Kimberly P. Chase's blog giveaway !


Summery of The Apollo Academy :

As the heiress to Titon Technologies, eighteen-year-old Aurora Titon can have whatever she wants—clothes, expensive gadgets, anything money can buy. All she really wants is to escape her pampered, paparazzi-prone life for the stars. Becoming the first female pilot to train as an astronaut for the Apollo Academy is exactly the chance for which she has been waiting. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for her unreciprocated crush on a fellow student, the sexy astronaut bent on making her life hell, and the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her.

Character Breakdown :

Aurora Titon : Aurora is the Heiress to Titon Technologies. With that being said , what she wants is to become the first female to train as an astronaut for the Apollo Academy. Aurora is a nice and quiet girl, that has lived out of the spot light all her life. She decides its time to take control of her life and she does. I liked aurora's character.

Collin Titon : Aurora's father and owner of Titon Technology.

Kaylana : Is Aurora's best friend. She is the outgoing girl, and stands up for people she loves!

Akemi : is Zane's friend that he meet at the Apollo Academy. .

Zane : is the fellow student that wants to make Aurora's life hell, which he does. He is an orphan that wanted a real shot at life and thinks he can get that at the Apollo Academy.

Sky: is a former student at the Apollo Academy, that has been an Astronaut for two years. He's a part time instructor at the Apollo Academy!

My thoughts :

Very Different Story, than all your Average books. This one Is about Space which is awesome! I have never read a book about space, this is my first one and i'm glad. I loved how they had different kinds of gadgets and such. I was very cool. I loved How Kimberly Described every thing that we're not really use too. The Apollo Academy is different from any school you have heard of which is a good thing.

so with being said that I really liked this book i recommend it to people who like things related to space.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an heiress Aurora has grown up in the spotlight, but all she wants is to be left alone while she pursues her dreams of flying. THE APOLLO ACADEMY reminded me a little bit of BREAKING SKY. They both have flying female teens and I found that I really enjoy that type of storyline.

I wasn't crazy about the multiple POVs, but THE APOLLO ACADEMY had great characters, a suspenseful and mystery filled storyline, a little bit of romance and nice world building. Great start to a series that I can't wait to read more of.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alessandra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this read! I'm so happy to read an out-of-the-box NA that's not romance, but has a healthy dose of swooniness in it. The main character has so much grit and determination, and I loved her relationship with her best friend. Even though I'm dying to find out what happens between Aurora, Zane, and Sky, any frustration I had about that was totally swept away by the satisfying reveal of Sky and Zane's backgrounds. It was just enough to be a full story while leaving me salivating for the next! I can't wait!

[Hillary Hunt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the concept here but the writing wasn't my fav.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I read by Kimberly P. Chase and the one that just made me a huge fan...

I don't usually read books (sci-fi) like The Apollo Academy, but this book seriously blew me away and I can't but wait to read the sequel to this new sci-fi NA series.

The author created a whole new world and she did an amazing job! The writing was wonderful and I can't really find any fault to this book! The story had an even and nice flow that didn't confuse or got you lost.

The characters were all unique in their own way and very well developed.

Zane and Aurora are intriguing characters from two different ends of the spectrum. But in the end, they both want the same thing-to fit. As heiress to the Titon Technologies, you would expect Aurora to be spoilt rich brat but that is far from the truth! She's kind, intelligent and always in the spotlight. But that's the last place she wants to be. Aurora dreams of being a pilot at The Apollo Academy...

I liked how she wanted to blend in and seemed to hate the attention drawn to her because of her name. She wanted to be normal and at the same time, be the first female pilot. She's also very amicable and I'd have liked to be her friend. I also liked the love triangle! (Team Zane all the way btw!!!) It added some spice in the story. I can't say that I liked Sky too much. He was a good guy, a good teacher, an amazing pilot but he wasn't Zane. I think that says much.

Zane strives to become known to the society and and finally be a normal citicitizen. Entering the Apollo Academy is his opportunity to finally reach the status he wants. Zane is a fighter and and very adaptable, I liked him from the first time I saw him!!!

Moreover, the secondary characters were great as well. For example, we have Kaylana who drew me because of her humor, her caring nature and the fact that she "protected" those she considered friends. Hailen, is another of the secondary characters but I can't say that I liked her that much...Akemi, I really liked him but I'd have liked to see him in more scenes, he was one of those people who stay-out-of-your-way-and-mind-their-business type of man. Then there's Ms. Lovell who knows everything but tells nothing and Dr. Stevenson who's just a nice guy tring to help Zane dea with his problems but never gets involved.

All in all, the first book in the The Apollo Academy series is a worth-reading book and I totally recommend it!!!

[Jamie Krakover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apollo Academy is the first New Adult book I've read. I wasn't sure what to expect from a book in a genre that is still at its heart finding its place in the market. But when I read the summary referencing, astronaut training, female pilots, and hot boys, I instantly knew I needed to get my hands on this book. And I was not disappointed, in fact I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Zane and Aurora are multidimensional characters from two different ends of the spectrum. But at their cores, they both want the same thing--to blend in. As heiress to the Titon Technologies, Aurora is always in the spotlight, the last place she wants to be. Aurora dreams of being a pilot at The Apollo Academy. However, her goal takes her out of one spotlight and thrust her into another, as the first and only female pilot to enter the program. Despite all the claims that Aurora's father bought her a spot in the program, she is determined to prove she gained entry on her own merits and surpass every challenge laid out for her. Her sheer determination while proving herself time and time again was not only a quality that I loved but also something I identified with as a female engineer.

As an unknown Zane is constantly scraping to get by. He wants nothing more than his status as an unknown to be erased and join society as a normal citizen. Entry into The Apollo Academy is his only chance to make something of himself and elevate his unknown status. Although his strong aptitude for tech might be his ticket into the academy, he faces a different set of challenges. Unknowns usually aren't permitted in the academy and if anyone finds out his real status, it could mean hell for Zane. Not to mention hiding a genetic anomaly that could get him kicked out of training and ruin his chances at a normal life. Despite all his struggles early on, Zane seems to adapt well to his surroundings and is extremely likeable from the moment he steps onto the page. He's a fighter in a much different way than Aurora, and he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the process.

To read the rest of my review visit http://jamiekrakover.blogspot.com/201...

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This epic debut book by Kimberly P. Chase just made me a lifetime fan of her. I seriously couldn't get enough of The Apollo Academy and had a sad little face when I turned the last page. I am dying for the sequel to this hot new sci-fi NA series. I want to shout to everyone to PRE-ORDER AND BUY THIS BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT. It's unlike anything I've ever read before.

The writing and the worldbuilding was just phenomenal. I literally can't find a single fault. I was never confused or wondering what the hell was going on (which can't be said to some sci-fi books out there that I've read) and the pace was just right. The writing style flowed really well. I am so excited to read more work of this brilliant author.

The characters were surprisingly all well developed and each character was interesting and unique. We have Aurora, who you would kinda guess to be this stupid spoilt rich brat from the outside but you learn that she's nothing like that. She was kind, clever and actually thinks before she acts. I love how for once in her life she wanted to fit and blend it and that she hated attention from the paparazzi. She's just a normal girl who wants to be the first female pilot. Speaking of which, the pilot bit was awesome! I never read anything about flying or pilots or astronauts and stuff like that but after reading this book, I felt like I now know a lot. :)

Then we have the two guys. I'm SOOO Team Zane. OMG. I can't stand Skye at all. The only thing that I didn't really like about this book was the love triangle(?). I felt like that the author spent so much time building up Zane and Aurora's relationship and the fact that Aurora hated Skye most of the book and have him in the picture just annoyed and didn't sit well with me. Something happened at the end which I didn't like AT ALL. The ending made me give this book a four rating instead of a perfect five. Sigh.

Overall, this NA sci-fi book was totally enjoyable and really worth the read. I would so recommend it to peeps who love sci-fi, New Adult and swoony romance. :)

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

* This and many other reviews can be found at Rotten Apple Reads

Like many of you know, I LOVE New Adult. But sometimes is hard to find any good non-contemporary books in that category. I then stumbled upon The Apollo Academy. When I saw the blog tour sing-up, of course I had to sign-up and get my hands on a copy. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on it as fast as I wanted to, but it only fueled my excitement.

Aurora is the heiress of Titon Technologies and hates being the center of attention. All she’s ever dreamed about is to become the first female pilot to train at The Apollo Academy. No matter how hard she has to work for it, she will because the sky is where she belongs. She’s a little shy, but strong and determined to reach her goal.

I loved Zane and Sky. Zane doesn’t think he’s good enough for Aurora. After escaping from an orphanage, he has had to fend for himself in the streets of Orlando, Florida. He’s sweet and genius when it comes to technology. Sky is the academy’s star astronaut. He seems a little arrogant and, for some reason, doesn’t like Aurora. Of course, your opinion of him changes as soon as you get in his head. As you read, you will uncover many secrets about these characters that will surprise you.

The story is told form a Third-Person Limited point of view (I believe). I sometimes had a problem with it because I’m not used to this point of view, but it definitely did not take away anything from the story.

This book had action from the very first page and I could not put it down. I loved seeing what they world might be like a couple hundred years from now. All of the gadgets used by the characters were very impressive (I definitely need the AI Styler to get flawless makeup). But these gadgets were also a little scary (the alternate reality glasses that gets you addicted and blocks your view of the state of the world).

This story was packed with action, romance, and suspense. I cannot wait to read the sequel and see what happens next. I strongly recommend it!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! It was funny, intense, intriguing and also very well written. The Apollo Academy got me hooked to my room for a few days. Kimberly Chase did an incredible job with the plot and the writing. Plus I love the cover! We meet Aurora Titan who is the heiress to a mega corporation of Titan Technologies and the main target to the paparazzi. Like any celebrity she wants to be normal and prove her name into the academy rather than her status. Aurora is also the first female pilot to train as an astronaut in the Academy.

The characters were very well developed and I did want to know more about them *the next book* Zane well he is one hot tech geek and is an unknown. The Unknown is someone with no record and they dont exist which Aurora would like to be. Zane is very hard working and trains intensely at Apollo Academy to gain acceptance. It is when they graduate that he will exist again. Supporting characters like Sky who is Aurora's instructor who is sexy and HOT, and the mean girl Hailen.

The book opens in a night club where Aurora and Kaylana are enjoying their last night of freedom before Apollo Academy. Aurora lets looks and falls into the arms of a sexy man. As she is ready to kiss him, he disappears. The next morning she sees him at orientation which would be awkward. These two have a great chemistry between Aurora and Zane but as he tries to stay away because he is an unknown and she is the heiress, Aurora convinces Zane. Aurora is also thrown in situations which are threatening, while Zane wants to know the truth.

There are lots of twists in the story and every character as a role that you would not expect. Zane is another personal mystery which I cannot wait to see what will happen to his character. The major details around this story will leave you wanting more. This is a great series to start for a college age school. It has romance, hot guys (either Zane or Sky) and a new way to look at technology. Be sure to check out this series its out of this world!!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had so much potential. Teens training at a space academy in a futuristic society -- fun, right? Yep. Unfortunately, the writing style ruined the story for me. Too much telling, not enough showing. Each time a character said, thought, or did something, there was an explanation right afterward that revealed their emotions and motivations. Tedious!

There were also cliches, grammatical errors (at least FIVE uses of "you're" when it should have been "your"), and adverbs galore.

I didn't feel connected at all with the cool Apollo Academy (whose mission is to train young people to go on space missions that will save the world). There were many instances where Kimberly Chase tried to weave in scientific facts, but it came across as "look at me, I did my research, and here's what I learned."

Character development = non-existent. The only characters we get to know are the three main protagonists. I'm not even going to describe the plot, but in short, it's about a girl who aspires to be a pilot, and two guys who are both in love with her for no real reason.

I felt like the futuristic society and space academy were all just backdrops for the love story the author tried to spin. A love story that wasn't very good.

I give it two stars because: 1) I did want to find out what happened in the end (even if it was predictable); and 2) I love all things space. The concept of a novel about people training at a space academy is so cool. I wish Chase had really taken us into the school and fleshed out her characters, much like J.K. Rowling did with Hogwarts.

This is the first book in a series, but I won't be picking up the second book.

[Heather Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still fairly new to science fiction books and have had my fair share of experiencing ones I didn’t enjoy, but with The Apollo Academy, that wasn’t the case. I enjoyed the overall story line of the book and the main character, Aurora Titon. I thought it was well written and it certainly kept my interest the entire time I was reading. And Zane, man! He is such a mystery and there is so much about him that is unknown, literally. But then there is Sky, who is a bad boy and someone who has a bit of an attitude. You can’t help but be drawn to him though. I found myself torn between Zane and Sky and I am sure other readers will as well.
The Apollo Academy was an intriguing read and one that I found to be relatable on some levels and also expand my thinking in others. I will certainly be ready to read the second book when it comes out because that ending…..well, you’ll just have to read to find out.
You’ll find yourself enjoying every minute of this book and appreciating the visual imagery that is both realistic and complex in it’s own way.
On major thing that really stuck out to me was the main character, Aurora’s, passion for flying. I just love when a character is passionate about something and the reader is able to feel it and experience that passion. It just makes a book that much more enjoyable.

http://www.theturningpages.com/2013/0...

[S.J. Pajonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super enjoyed this one! Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut SO BADLY. I was into science and chemistry, and I even went to Space Camp and was the pilot of my shuttle the week I was there. Yes, I was (still am) a geek. This book definitely spoke to my inner astronaut.

I loved the world Chase built: a desolate future, an over-populated planet hooked on tech candy, and their only hope is to expand into space. I loved Aurora and her friend Kaylana, even though I felt in the beginning that most of the characters were too molded into their roles. It didn't take long to see how they each evolved into something different!

By the 50% mark, I didn't want to stop reading and stayed up way too late last night until my kindle hit me in the face. I'm looking forward to more by Chase and more books set in this world!

[Ashley Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that is truly considered a page turner. The plot keeps going and there is never a dull moment. I am such a wreck because I have to wait to see what happens Next. Though, it should be known that I am highly in love with Zane, mmmhmmmm. The moral Is pretty much "it doesn't matter who you are that's important, it's how you live your life." I love how this story twisted and turned...

You'd have to be a weirdo to not like this book. What does sex have to do with a book? It's what your mind can think up and that's imagination. Anyone who has read this so far has given some great reviews...and that's because they have imaginations.

Thanks for keeping me on edge, Kimberly P. Chase. I hope I don't have to wait forever to find out what happens next.
Love, your number 1 fan

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start off by saying that I absolutely, completely LOVED this book. I don't exactly remember how I got involved in this book tour, but I'm one of those bloggers who actually reads and looks at every offer I get. I take chances on indie books and books from non-huge publishers and I am SO glad I took a chance on The Apollo Academy. The Apollo Academy is everything a new adult book should be. It's thrilling, filled with drama, and completely sci-fi-tastic! Oh, and don't forget the romance... there's plenty of that too.

Find the full review at Shortie Says

[Lucille]

ASTRONAUTS?!

Fudge, yes please!

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book... even though the authors thoughts and views practically slapped me in the face a few times(ouch)... I still read on.

[Doreen Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read

Not much of a plot and character development was very "breathless", or maybe overly dramatic. Not bad for waiting room reading or laundry mat reading. Don't bother with a hot cup of tea, you'll not be that interested in what part happens next.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out pretty good and then just went downhill.

[Carrie Slager · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

I’ll admit that I was a little wary about requesting anything described as a “sexy New Adult Science Fiction series debut”. I haven’t read much New Adult fiction but my experiences have been mixed with it to say the least. However, I’ve requested a lot of books from this publisher Escape Publishing and I’ve liked every single one so I decided to give it a chance because of the rest of the blurb. In the end I’m so glad I did.

Aurora Titon is an heiress to a technology empire built on the backs of the poor, who indulge in virtual reality classes in order to escape the reality of their dying world. She knows that her father’s business practices have been unethical to say the least and so she’s determined to make a difference, to do something worthwhile with her life. As a child she discovered that this was flying but the problem is that the very exclusive Apollo Academy has never had a female pilot before. Aurora could obviously bribe her way in with her dad’s help but she wants to earn her spot as a pilot. Once she’s there, things really got interesting as she tried to gain acceptance and respect. Of course the instructor, Sky, seems determined to make her life a nightmare while someone seems to be trying to kill her. This sounds like a pretty typical futuristic mystery story but it’s Aurora’s character that makes her really stand out. She’s determined to earn her place at the Apollo Academy but in the beginning she also shows a bit of her spoiled background. As her skills build and she learns more about the Academy’s mission, she becomes just a little bit more humble and more likely to reach out to people to try to understand them. Aurora wasn’t a horrible person at the beginning of the book but she did change for the better by the end.

One of the things I enjoyed other than Aurora’s character was the realistic love triangle. My regular readers know that I hate love triangles with a passion but this one between Aurora, Zane and Sky was actually realistic and relatively believable. Zane tries to keep things between himself and Aurora platonic because he has a bad background that he’s trying to overcome but the attraction between them is undeniable. At the same time, the Academy’s golden son Sky is also hiding his own secrets, including his attraction to Aurora. When someone keeps trying to kill Aurora, it was really gratifying to see the two men actually work together with minimal masculine posturing; they put aside their differences. What a novel idea! I don’t want to give too much of the plot away but let’s just say that every character is hiding something and it gets pretty interesting when the cards they’re playing close to the chest are revealed.

Other than the realistic love triangle (those words are almost an oxymoron, I know) what really surprised me was the world-building. When you picture a ‘dying world’ you’re probably picturing a Hunger Games-esque starving world where everything is filthy and falling down. That’s not necessarily untrue in Chase’s world but she also makes a point of contrasting that with the better sections of the city, which are experiencing shortages but aren’t yet in critical mode. The earth is running out of resources and it’s the Apollo Academy’s mission to train astronauts in order to set up colonies on other planets as well as mine those planets for critical resources. Again, I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say not everyone is super excited about humanity expanding its horizons to the rest of the solar system.

My only real quibble with The Apollo Academy is not the plot in general, but rather the ending. When you’re about halfway through and learn that someone is out to kill Aurora, it’s not hard to guess which student or students it is/are. Kimberly Chase makes it pretty clear who is the likely villain and unfortunately she goes with that likely villain as the actual villain. Most of the book has interesting plot twists and turns but I found that the ending was very predictable. Of course in real life you get scenarios like the one in the book where it’s the obvious suspect but I would have liked to see a better developed villain. Other than that, this is a fantastic debut for the author. The characters are three dimensional and believable, the love triangle is actually realistic and the world-building was pretty darn good. I’d definitely recommend it if you think the blurb sounds interesting.

I give this book 4/5 stars.

[Book Gannet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book. I love Sci-Fi novels that include flight, whether planes or spaceships, I’m really not fussy, so this book seemed to tick all the right boxes for me. Until I started reading. Firstly, this really isn’t New Adult. The main character is eighteen, there’s no sex, she’s in school and although there’s a bit of bad language I’ve read a lot worse in YA before. Everything about it, from the way Aurora behaves to the dumb romantic behaviour of Zane and the stupid love triangle is pure YA.

This isn’t a bad book, but I do think it could have been better. Aurora is a beautiful redhead, who is rich and smart, the only thing that stopped her from being a total cliché is that she isn’t popular. Actually, she’s so unpopular with everyone staring at her and judging her for her family name that she edges towards being a cliché in the opposite direction – poor little misunderstood rich girl. Considering she’s supposed to be super smart, she’s incredibly naive and utterly unaware of the world around her. She’s spent her life hiding from the press and that seems to be her excuse for not knowing anything about her father’s company or his biggest rivals.

Then there’s Zane. He’s an unknown, has a super secret anomaly in his DNA, is a tech genius and spends all his time pining after Aurora who he cannot have, while pushing her away and being a bit of jerk about it. When he’s not paranoid about his blood tests getting him kicked out of the academy, of course. His best friend hooks up with Aurora’s best friend too, just to complete the perfect YA circle. There’s also a young male instructor/astronaut, Sky, who seems to hate Aurora for no good reason and is harder on her than everyone else (and I couldn’t tell where that was going, nope, nope), not to mention a completely bitchy girl, who knows everyone’s secrets and is out to blackmail everyone.

I could have coped with most of that if only the academy had lived up to its promise. I wanted to see what it was like for Aurora and Zane, I wanted to experience their first days, how they made friends (or didn’t), how they interacted with their teachers, what they were supposed to be learning. But we don’t get any of that. We get their initial arrival, a brief look around, then it’s two weeks later and Aurora’s feeling sorry for herself. ARGH! I would also have liked more flight scenes from Aurora, or at least her first few times in the simulators to show some of Sky’s animosity in person, rather than her simply thinking about it later.

There’s an awful lot of skimming and time jumps in this book and not a lot of world-building. I’d have loved to have known more about the tech candy and the way everyone walks around in an altered reality. It would have been great to have experienced it from one of the character’s perspectives, rather than just being told about it (Aurora’s opening flight really doesn’t count). I would also liked to have known more about what the whole world looks like, because the idea that it’s all just built over and hosting a population of 22 billion completely didn’t work for me. There had to be trees somewhere or else the atmosphere would be dead and the weather would be a helluva lot more messed up than it appears in this book. In fact there isn’t any weather to speak of, which now that I think about it is a bit weird, or doesn’t future Florida have weather anymore?

However, there are good things about this book. The scenes where Aurora flies for the first time and the underwater training are good. They have a real sense of action and tension, and the slow reveal of Zane’s super secret DNA issues is quite interesting, if a little predictable. The mystery of the attempts on Aurora’s life could have been drawn out a bit more, but at least Zane’s made some intriguing efforts to sort things out. So there is potential here for a good series. Admittedly a less predictable villain plot would be nice, and I’m annoyed about the whole love triangle thing.

So overall not as good as I hoped, but not without some merit. It’s a standard bit of YA sci-fi with a familiar cast of characters, a predictable plot but the potential to get better. Mostly it’s okay, though I’m not convinced whether or not I want to read the next one.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)