Game Changer

by Chris Bostic

Teenagers. Canoes. A float trip. What could go wrong?

Tom and J.C. are experienced in the woods and on the river; the brothers, too, but Will and Nate are a couple of clowns and not so dependable. Haley, the head cheerleader, is loaded down with her makeup and accessories. Katie just looks at them all and shakes her head.

So what could go wrong?

It all starts with a summer storm and a raging river. Missing canoes. Wild animals. A venomous snake.

And it pretty much doesn’t get any better . . .

Genres: Action

196 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2015

About the author

Young Adult fiction author of action/adventure novels for the young, and the young at heart -- and now branching out into adult themed works including two new psychological thriller series and a couple of moonshine books too.

New Release! Book Two of the Bootleggers Series is out. Check out Rum Runner, the follow up to Distiller's Run.
http://www.amazon.com/Distillers-Run-...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C2...

The Bourbon Heist Series, another series set in central Kentucky distillery country. A blending of Thriller and Action/Adventure with a hint of Romantic Suspense.
Night Cap - http://www.amazon.com/Night-Bourbon-H...
Double Shot - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086...
Sour Mash - https://www.amazon.com/Sour-Mash-Bour...

The Bourbon Country Series, set in abandoned and working distilleries in central Kentucky. A blending of Romantic Suspense and Psychological Thriller.
http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Thief-B...
http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Hug-Bo...
http://www.amazon.com/Barrel-Strength...

Also from 2019, my biggest, most popular release was a three book series comprised of Prepper Mountain, Shadow Warriors, and Jailbreak. The novels are essentially wilderness Red Dawn-style adventures set in the Great Smoky Mountains.
http://www.amazon.com/Prepper-Mountai...
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Warriors...
http://www.amazon.com/Jailbreak-Bushw...

Prior to my newest series, my standalone novel, Creeper Falls was published. It's another classic teen action/adventure that's even more heavy on suspense: http://www.amazon.com/Creeper-Falls-C...

Before Creeper, I released Complex Three, the third in a YA, SciFi, dystopian thriller series. It all started with Savage Hills, an edge-of-your-seat story about teens trapped behind enemy lines. Even if they could, they're not sure really want to make it back to so-called friendly territory. Check it out here:
http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Hills-Ho...

Prior to that series, my latest book was Murder Cove. While not a huge departure from my usual outdoorsy wilderness survival adventures, this one has a bit of an indoors Die Hard feel too--and a nice dose of humor.
On Kindle and paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Cove-Chr...

One of my more recent releases, Game Changer, is a float trip gone wrong. It's perhaps a bit like Deliverance...for teens.
http://www.amazon.com/Game-Changer-Ch...


Then there's the trilogy, which was finished in 2015. Hard to believe it's come to an end, starting with...
Fugitives from Northwoods -- a dystopian, action/adventure novel:
http://www.amazon.com/Fugitives-North...

Then there's Book 2 in the series, Rebellion in Northwoods. Find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rebellion-North...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebel...

And, finally, Return to Northwoods. The conclusion to my three year labor of love. Out now in ebook and paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Return-Northwoo...


Look me up on Facebook and send a friend request to "Author Chris Bostic." Also I'm on Instagram @author_chris_bostic and Twitter @cbostic_author

Reviews

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure going into it how I would feel since it's not the type of YA book that I normally read. However, it ended up being really good. It's about a group of teenagers who go on a canoe trip or it was supposed to be but then a storm hits and everything changes. Let's just say they ended up on one hell of an adventure.

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.4
I was kindly gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the title couldn't be more appropriate. 'Game Changer' follows a group of friends on a canoeing trip that suddenly goes awry, forcing Tom and his friends to survive in the wilderness. For how long? No one knows.

I've never really read a wilderness novel before so it was a nice change of pace and location. The plot was interesting and kept me engaged, but was a little predictable at times. The characters are really good; each moving the story along nicely. The descriptions of scenes was done aptly and the amount of knowledge the author seems to know about the wilderness and nature really shone through and made the scenes easy to imagine, but the overall writing seemed to lack a bit for me. It's simple, but not so simple that it became boring. The term 'show, don't tell" is one I would use to describe the way I feel towards the writing. I never really felt like I was placed right in the middle of it all. I was just an observer.

In the end I did really enjoy this novel and I look forward to reading more from Bostic in the future.

[Kathy Easton Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride

The imagery in this book make you feel you are right there with the characters. The plot keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what is around every new turn in the river. I couldn't put it down. This new Author also keeps you wanting more good reads from him! Will be looking out for more down the road or around the river bend.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without A Paddle Meets Survivorman

4.5 out of 5

A group of young adults (I assume they are teenagers) are out on a weekend boating trip to celebrate the last days of summer when a freak rain storm hits and changes their plans. Without their boats and missing half of their supplies, this group of teens must find a way to survive and stay safe amidst unlikely run ins with both animals and humans. Follow these teenagers as they fight for their lives and their safety.

The narration for this audiobook was done by Keith Michaelson. I can tell that it was done by an adult reader as opposed to a more young sounding narrator, but this didn't not take away from the book at all. Keith's voice, inflections, and pacing were all very easy to listen to and I enjoyed his narration a lot. There weren't too many different characters within the book, but he gave each of them a slightly different voice. Keith's narration also added to the tension that author Chris Bostic created, instead of taking away like some narrators can.

I dove into this book quickly and I wasn't sure where it was going to go. But within a few minutes I was hooked. I liked the main character a lot. He reminded me of the jock who knew more than you thought he did. From the get-go I wasn't a fan of his girlfriend (and I think this was done on purpose by the author). She just felt like a fish out of water on this camping and canoeing trip. Katie was by far my favorite. I knew a lot of girls who reminded me of her and while reading I was drawn to my memories of them.

Overall the pacing of this book was good, it was fast paced while still developing the characters deeply. The characters that were meant to be the comic relief and catalysts were understood to be that, and the main characters quickly fell into step as Tom and Katie were going to be the main focus on the story. I don't want to give away any main plot points but I was very happy with the turns that this book took.

As I stated in the title of this review, this reminded me of the movie Without A Paddle (more serious and less of a comedy) mixed with the TV show Survivorman. The teens were good at survival and I enjoyed the parts Chris sprinkled in about Scouting, but were still thrown up against some serious issues along the way. The story was light at some points and was dark in others allowing a great story arc to be completed. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick read on a rainy afternoon. It should take you most of an afternoon but when you finish it... well that could be a game changer.


I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Scott Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read the first few chapters of this book on an author's site and I've been hanging out for months for it to be published so that I could read the rest. Loved it! It lived up to all my expectations. When a group of young people go on a camping trip it goes terribly wrong. Without giving too much away this is an excellent outdoor adventure story that I could recommend to any teenager or adult. It's very well written and the plot will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. I finished reading it all in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

[Heather Vern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very pleased with this read, its a survival story of some teens that go their last float trip of the summer. You'd think that all would be great, but everything that could go wrong did. This story follows Tom and his companions though the twist and turns that they take on this trip. The hardships they face, the near death experiences. It was a great read I enjoyed it very much.

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Game Changer all the boys have experience in the woods. Yet, I kept thinking as I read, what parents in their right minds let's their kids go on a 3 day canoeing trip without supervision?! Especially when there are two girls going!!! OMG!!!

As things go from bad to worse and this is turning into pretty much the worst camping trip ever! I keep thinking their parents should be reported! OMG who's parents now at days would allow this!

The reason this book got a 3 was we got to a point that I felt things just got too unbelievable and a bit silly. I understand it's fiction but up until Tom and Katie go in search of the mysterious light in the dark things were believable. Then we just kinda got silly in my opinion.

I don't want to give anything away because the book was very good and would be great for the YA crowd. As an adult I'm shaking my head calling BS on some of the things that happened.

Overall, Game Changer was exciting, fast paced, suspenseful and we were even given a bit of a love story that was pretty sweet...Sara

http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com

https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Woah! Action movie & soap opera wrapped in a book!"
What made the experience of listening to Game Changer the most enjoyable?
Game Changer is an action-packed story about 7 high school seniors who take an impromptu canoe trip only to run into many, many calamities. It's the perfect novel for imaginative minds. I would have given this 5 stars but for the fact that every calamity and joy--snake bites, drug pushers ,falling in love, shy girl, cool dude, dufus kids--made it fell like a pasta with all the lefotovers thrown in,

What was one of the most memorable moments of Game Changer?
I liked the cave scene and the helicopter shooting scenes.

Have you listened to any of Keith Michaelson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not listened to this narrator but thought his voice was perfect for the part.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I did listen to this book in one sitting, it was that gripping.

Any additional comments?
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like a YA version of Deliverance! The group is similar to the cast of characters from the Northwoods series: We have two brothers who balance each other out, two girls vying for the lead character’s affections, the fun friend, and a leading teen guy who knows his way around the outdoors and is a natural leader. They’re a fun group to watch as they experience the worst rafting trip imaginable! There are plenty of actual outdoorsy hints and tips scattered throughout the story, the biggest being never let your kids go anywhere that doesn’t have working cell service and make sure they have their cell phones charged and in waterproof bag. Just kidding, sort of, but it is a good reminder that being prepared for all possible disastrous scenarios is a smart way to plan.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of friends. The end of summer. A lovely float trip… or not. In this YA adventure novel, Chris Bostic weaves a perfect story of wilderness survival as we follow Tom and his friends through the Missouri Ozarks on a float trip gone wrong. Facing one adversity after another, the group of teenagers must find strength and the will to go on as their perilous journey leads them to discover the meaning of love and true friendship. The author’s knowledge and love of nature shines through every step of the journey, and every page will lead you through another bend that makes this book a true Game Changer. Highly recommended.

[pinK · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first read about this book, I was very interested. I thought it could be a great read to break me out of my current rut. in the end, this book just was not for me.

The author tells a solid story of suspense, I was just unable to connect with the characters. Instead of experiencing the story, I felt more like I was being told a story from a friend that was skipping out on the details I wanted to know the most about.

I would give this author another chance, it's just that this particular story didn't do it for me.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this one. I enjoyed it but I wasn't engaged as I would have liked to be. The characters were fun and there was plenty of action on their camping trip. It all started with a storm when they lost their canoe. Add in a bit of romance, drama and suspense and there is something for everyone. A quick easy read for when you are in between books.

[Sara]

See review at http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com/