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Marina Alexander Adventures #2
Amazon Roulette
Marina Alexander Returns in a Thrilling New Mystery of International Intrigue, Lost Treasures, and High-Stakes Adventure
“Gleason mixes historical mysteries with current events and exciting technology—creating a fast-paced story that takes you on an action-packed ride!”
—New York Times bestselling author Jana DeLeon
The Lake Superior Basin, 2000 B.C.E.: Two hundred tons of raw copper are mined and removed by white-skinned strangers who leave behind a mystery of their own.
Tunguska Siberia, 1908: The earth rumbles and roars, destroying everything in a thirty mile radius…except for an infant, miraculously left untouched.
St. Louis, Missouri, Present Day: A far-reaching blackout brings the economy in the Midwest to a halt…and the only explanation is a swarm of rare beetles from the Amazon.
Napo, Ecuador: The body of a Korean businessman, still dressed in his suit and loafers, is found in the Amazon jungle…with no indication of how he got there.
Marina Alexander, search and rescue expert, is fortunate enough to be on hand when a young couple gets lost in an old cave in Northern Michigan. She also discovers what brought them deep into the ancient copper mine: possible proof of European visitors to North America far earlier than believed.
Though it could be the biggest find of her career, Marina fears there is a connection to her grandfather—the patriarch of a Siberian tribe and eco-terrorist group—and that he will draw her back into the fold.
Meanwhile, it’s clear the eco-terrorists are planning a new attack on U.S. soil, for they leave a trail of dead bodies and injuries in their wake…leading up to something far-reaching and deadly.
From the ancient copper mines of Northern Michigan, to the suburbs of Chicago, the thick, humid rainforest of Ecuador, and a hidden temple deep in the Amazon jungle, Amazon Roulette will have readers on the edge of their collective seats as Marina races against time to stop her family from its destructive plan.
“Gleason mixes historical mysteries with current events and exciting technology—creating a fast-paced story that takes you on an action-packed ride!”
—New York Times bestselling author Jana DeLeon
The Lake Superior Basin, 2000 B.C.E.: Two hundred tons of raw copper are mined and removed by white-skinned strangers who leave behind a mystery of their own.
Tunguska Siberia, 1908: The earth rumbles and roars, destroying everything in a thirty mile radius…except for an infant, miraculously left untouched.
St. Louis, Missouri, Present Day: A far-reaching blackout brings the economy in the Midwest to a halt…and the only explanation is a swarm of rare beetles from the Amazon.
Napo, Ecuador: The body of a Korean businessman, still dressed in his suit and loafers, is found in the Amazon jungle…with no indication of how he got there.
Marina Alexander, search and rescue expert, is fortunate enough to be on hand when a young couple gets lost in an old cave in Northern Michigan. She also discovers what brought them deep into the ancient copper mine: possible proof of European visitors to North America far earlier than believed.
Though it could be the biggest find of her career, Marina fears there is a connection to her grandfather—the patriarch of a Siberian tribe and eco-terrorist group—and that he will draw her back into the fold.
Meanwhile, it’s clear the eco-terrorists are planning a new attack on U.S. soil, for they leave a trail of dead bodies and injuries in their wake…leading up to something far-reaching and deadly.
From the ancient copper mines of Northern Michigan, to the suburbs of Chicago, the thick, humid rainforest of Ecuador, and a hidden temple deep in the Amazon jungle, Amazon Roulette will have readers on the edge of their collective seats as Marina races against time to stop her family from its destructive plan.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
51 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Gleason
105 books1,677 followersAward-winning, NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Gleason (who also writes as Colleen Cambridge) has written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres…but always feature smart, strong women determined to right wrongs and get shit done.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 1, 2015
With Amazon Roulette, the second book in the Marina Alexander Adventures series, Gleason has created a really intricate and exciting world full of mystery, thrills, politics, science, and even a dash of romance. I love how the characters and events are all intertwined. This book kept me on the edge of my seat! It’s so tempting to read to the end to find out how all the threads are connected—but don’t do that to yourself! Enjoy the ride as everything unfolds beautifully.
Marina Alexander is a kick-butt heroine for contemporary times. She’s smart, tough, she doesn’t “need” a man to validate her (but isn’t afraid to go after what she wants!), and she makes mistakes and owns her faults. This book delves further into Marina’s relationships with members of the Skalas, showing us her conflict between family and her sense of duty. Characters like Rue (please, give us a book about Rue!), Gabe, Helen, and Lev continue to develop and evolve in this story, and a geeky but fierce entomologist named Eli is thrown in the mix to stir things up. No one is truly what they seem, on the surface. Makes me wonder what direction Marina will take in the future as her relationship with “Gaia” is starting to present itself.
The “roulette” game is awesome and scary, as are the Skalas. But, it takes a talented author to make me sympathize with the “devil.” What the Skalas do is fundamentally wrong, but they are so convinced in their beliefs, and on the surface (not in execution) their beliefs are noble.
This book made me want to Google all sorts of things about science, history, even bugs, just to see what factual and what wasn’t! That’s how committed this work is, it’s so convincing I want to “research” it further!
Amazon Roulette can definitely be a stand-alone (and that’s coming from someone who hates to read books out of order). There is enough detail given to understand the character’s motives and to drive the plot forward (five years after Siberian Treasure) without dumping a lot of useless info on the reader at once. I also liked how, as the story progressed, more nuggets from Siberian Treasure’s story were given.
Marina Alexander is a kick-butt heroine for contemporary times. She’s smart, tough, she doesn’t “need” a man to validate her (but isn’t afraid to go after what she wants!), and she makes mistakes and owns her faults. This book delves further into Marina’s relationships with members of the Skalas, showing us her conflict between family and her sense of duty. Characters like Rue (please, give us a book about Rue!), Gabe, Helen, and Lev continue to develop and evolve in this story, and a geeky but fierce entomologist named Eli is thrown in the mix to stir things up. No one is truly what they seem, on the surface. Makes me wonder what direction Marina will take in the future as her relationship with “Gaia” is starting to present itself.
The “roulette” game is awesome and scary, as are the Skalas. But, it takes a talented author to make me sympathize with the “devil.” What the Skalas do is fundamentally wrong, but they are so convinced in their beliefs, and on the surface (not in execution) their beliefs are noble.
This book made me want to Google all sorts of things about science, history, even bugs, just to see what factual and what wasn’t! That’s how committed this work is, it’s so convincing I want to “research” it further!
Amazon Roulette can definitely be a stand-alone (and that’s coming from someone who hates to read books out of order). There is enough detail given to understand the character’s motives and to drive the plot forward (five years after Siberian Treasure) without dumping a lot of useless info on the reader at once. I also liked how, as the story progressed, more nuggets from Siberian Treasure’s story were given.
April 2, 2015
CONFLICT, FAMILY, SUSPENSE, AND SEX
This book has everything I want in a book. Suspense - from rescues, from romances, to something more intense. The romances get tangled in the suspense, past romances complicate things, and potential romances keep you guessing.
I love the characters. Not only do they have depth, but the have realistic flaws and internal conflicts. The mysticism of the driving protagonist ( rarely seen in the book) is definitely a pleasant surprise - who would have thought the bad guy would have, ultimately, a good agenda.
The plot(s) were quite intense. A romance of the "friends with benefits" type. Another of the "really electric attraction" type. The overall plot, sinister forces plot major destruction.
Now, I will admit, I read parts of this as a consultant. While the beetles are made up, they are really cool, and the entomologist...well, he acts like an entomologist.
This book has everything I want in a book. Suspense - from rescues, from romances, to something more intense. The romances get tangled in the suspense, past romances complicate things, and potential romances keep you guessing.
I love the characters. Not only do they have depth, but the have realistic flaws and internal conflicts. The mysticism of the driving protagonist ( rarely seen in the book) is definitely a pleasant surprise - who would have thought the bad guy would have, ultimately, a good agenda.
The plot(s) were quite intense. A romance of the "friends with benefits" type. Another of the "really electric attraction" type. The overall plot, sinister forces plot major destruction.
Now, I will admit, I read parts of this as a consultant. While the beetles are made up, they are really cool, and the entomologist...well, he acts like an entomologist.
December 10, 2017
It was refreshing to see a thriller with an environmentalist as the villain, but beyond that, this was pretty standard stuff. We have the spunky, conflicted female protagonist, swayed by affections to two men, and lots of narrow escapes. It's well-written if not exactly ground-breaking.
September 17, 2022
can’t wait to read the next one!
I love the intrigue! The caves and fear of the bugs just keeps you hooked! I want to read Sanskrit Cipher right away!
I love the intrigue! The caves and fear of the bugs just keeps you hooked! I want to read Sanskrit Cipher right away!
April 1, 2015
With Amazon Roulette, the second book in the Marina Alexander Adventures series, Gleason has created a really intricate and exciting world full of mystery, thrills, politics, science, and even a dash of romance. I love how the characters and events are all intertwined. This book kept me on the edge of my seat! It’s so tempting to read to the end to find out how all the threads are connected—but don’t do that to yourself! Enjoy the ride as everything unfolds beautifully.
Marina Alexander is a kick-butt heroine for contemporary times. She’s smart, tough, she doesn’t “need” a man to validate her (but isn’t afraid to go after what she wants!), and she makes mistakes and owns her faults. This book delves further into Marina’s relationships with members of the Skalas, showing us her conflict between family and her sense of duty. Characters like Rue (please, give us a book about Rue!), Gabe, Helen, and Lev continue to develop and evolve in this story, and a geeky but fierce entomologist named Eli is thrown in the mix to stir things up. No one is truly what they seem, on the surface. Makes me wonder what direction Marina will take in the future as her relationship with “Gaia” is starting to present itself.
The “roulette” game is awesome and scary, as are the Skalas. But, it takes a talented author to make me sympathize with the “devil.” What the Skalas do is fundamentally wrong, but they are so convinced in their beliefs, and on the surface (not in execution) their beliefs are noble.
This book made me want to Google all sorts of things about science, history, even bugs, just to see what factual and what wasn’t! That’s how committed this work is, it’s so convincing I want to “research” it further!
Amazon Roulette can definitely be a stand-alone (and that’s coming from someone who hates to read books out of order). There is enough detail given to understand the character’s motives and to drive the plot forward (five years after Siberian Treasure) without dumping a lot of useless info on the reader at once. I also liked how, as the story progressed, more nuggets from Siberian Treasure’s story were given.
Marina Alexander is a kick-butt heroine for contemporary times. She’s smart, tough, she doesn’t “need” a man to validate her (but isn’t afraid to go after what she wants!), and she makes mistakes and owns her faults. This book delves further into Marina’s relationships with members of the Skalas, showing us her conflict between family and her sense of duty. Characters like Rue (please, give us a book about Rue!), Gabe, Helen, and Lev continue to develop and evolve in this story, and a geeky but fierce entomologist named Eli is thrown in the mix to stir things up. No one is truly what they seem, on the surface. Makes me wonder what direction Marina will take in the future as her relationship with “Gaia” is starting to present itself.
The “roulette” game is awesome and scary, as are the Skalas. But, it takes a talented author to make me sympathize with the “devil.” What the Skalas do is fundamentally wrong, but they are so convinced in their beliefs, and on the surface (not in execution) their beliefs are noble.
This book made me want to Google all sorts of things about science, history, even bugs, just to see what factual and what wasn’t! That’s how committed this work is, it’s so convincing I want to “research” it further!
Amazon Roulette can definitely be a stand-alone (and that’s coming from someone who hates to read books out of order). There is enough detail given to understand the character’s motives and to drive the plot forward (five years after Siberian Treasure) without dumping a lot of useless info on the reader at once. I also liked how, as the story progressed, more nuggets from Siberian Treasure’s story were given.
April 8, 2015
Marina Alexander is a rescue expert called to a cave collapse and things only get more interesting from there! This is the second Marina Alexander book and I find that I just can't put them down! The excitement and suspense make this one of those books you stay up late to read. You don't want to do anything except find out what happens next.
Marinas family is a bit different than yours or mine. They are the Skaladeskas. They worship Gaia, or mother earth, as if she were a benevolent being. And they will stop at nothing to prevent her continued destruction. Even eco-terrorism. They need Marina to join them, she is the last in the ancient blood line of the Alexandrovs. The last in line to be able to lead the Skaladeskas. But she doesn't believe.
Marina's grandfather wants her back, before it's too late. He is old and tired and ready to join his "Mother" Gaia. The only thing he has to offer Marina, is his library. A library said to house scrolls, stone tablets and artifacts from ancient civilizations never seen before. It is a hard choice for Marina. But the way they go about stopping the destruction of the earth is a bit unconventional. They use things that mother earth already has on her arsenal. Natural occurring this. The FBI & the CIA are doing all they can to stop the actions of this group of eco terrorists. They know Marina is the key and their link to the Skaladeskas.
The journey in this book takes us from a Michigan cave all the way to the Amazon rain forests, with some excellent science thrown in to the awesome and mysterious goings on. All the way to New York boardrooms. You will not be disappointed!
I want more! What happens with the characters? New and old? I can't wait for the next book. Marina is one tough lady.
Colleen Gleason is a very talented writer. She can draw you in and make you care what happens to her characters. She can make you wish the book was longer and shorter in the same instant. You want get to tell you what halogens but not too fast! You want to know how things play out, but she leaves you with just enough of a question that you must get the next book. Highly recommended! 5 out of 5 starts for me!
Marinas family is a bit different than yours or mine. They are the Skaladeskas. They worship Gaia, or mother earth, as if she were a benevolent being. And they will stop at nothing to prevent her continued destruction. Even eco-terrorism. They need Marina to join them, she is the last in the ancient blood line of the Alexandrovs. The last in line to be able to lead the Skaladeskas. But she doesn't believe.
Marina's grandfather wants her back, before it's too late. He is old and tired and ready to join his "Mother" Gaia. The only thing he has to offer Marina, is his library. A library said to house scrolls, stone tablets and artifacts from ancient civilizations never seen before. It is a hard choice for Marina. But the way they go about stopping the destruction of the earth is a bit unconventional. They use things that mother earth already has on her arsenal. Natural occurring this. The FBI & the CIA are doing all they can to stop the actions of this group of eco terrorists. They know Marina is the key and their link to the Skaladeskas.
The journey in this book takes us from a Michigan cave all the way to the Amazon rain forests, with some excellent science thrown in to the awesome and mysterious goings on. All the way to New York boardrooms. You will not be disappointed!
I want more! What happens with the characters? New and old? I can't wait for the next book. Marina is one tough lady.
Colleen Gleason is a very talented writer. She can draw you in and make you care what happens to her characters. She can make you wish the book was longer and shorter in the same instant. You want get to tell you what halogens but not too fast! You want to know how things play out, but she leaves you with just enough of a question that you must get the next book. Highly recommended! 5 out of 5 starts for me!
April 20, 2015
Ms. Gleason brings us story with a bit of romance, a great mystery, science, politics, and adventure. I have to admit it’s not my normal cup of tea but this one kept me reading and wondering what thrilling ride would come up next. Her characters are strong and well defined and the story flows nicely.
Marina Alexander is strong, direct, and has her faults but owns them. This installment looks into her relationships, with colleagues, family and friends. It seems that the other characters continue to develop and we get to know them better by the end of the novel. You have to read to see what happens next with all of them – there are a few surprises thrown in.
The roulette game is horrifying at times, as is the Skalas. The Skalas are kind of the bad guys but the feel they are doing what think what they are doing is for the good, but is it?
It is obvious that the Ms. Gleason, did her research while writing this novel. I fact checked a few things dealing with the history and science. She is spot on! Well done.
If you are looking for a great adventure, with some romance thrown in the Amazon Roulette is a keeper. I look forward to seeing more in the Marina series.
For original review: http://www.bittenbylovereviews.com/20...
May 7, 2015
Move over Lara Croft! Marina Alexander is a smart, strong, level headed and courageous female lead! Under the extraordinary storytelling pen of Colleen Gleason, the adventures of Marina are fast paced, nail biting and extremely well-written. This book is the second instalment of what I hope will be a series with many more page-turning adventures for Marina.
April 3, 2015
I enjoyed this book a lot. Colleen Gleason is great at weaving a mystery and not giving anything away until she wants you to know what is going to happen. I recommend reading this if you like mystery and care about the environment.
August 21, 2015
My favorite series written by Gleason. Complete page turner and one that cannot be put down until it is done!
April 9, 2015
Second in the series. The first is Siberian Treasure. This one was just as much fun as the first! Can't wait for the third in the series which will obviously be forth coming. Enjoy!
September 14, 2015
This is book #2 in this series and I am eagerly waiting for book #3. Good character development plus an interesting storyline set in unique locations make this series a very enjoyable read.
August 22, 2016
More, I want more. Adventure, science, history.....this has it all and I eagerly await book 3
September 30, 2017
The author reminisces about the events of the first book in the series too much. There are to many things that are unbelievable in this book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews